imdsg logoInternational Macular Degeneraton Support Group
Past Presentations

2009
2008
2007
2006


2009
Jan. 8
"Reclaiming Independence--Staying in the Driver's Seat When You No Longer Drive."

Presenter: L. Penny Rosenblum, Ph.D. (University of Arizona)


photo of Penny Rosenblum
Penny Rosenblum

Feb. 12
"Body Weight and Eye Disease."

Presenter: Ellen Troyer, M.T., M.A. (Chief Research Officer, Biosyntrx, Inc.)


Photo of Ellen Troyer
Ellen Troyer


Mar. 12
"Learning Nonvisual Skills--Part One: Using a Cane"

Presenter: Robert Massof, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)


Photo of Robert Massof
Robert Massof

Apr. 9
"Current Thinking in the Prevention of AMD."

Presenter: Dan Roberts (Director, MD Support)


Photo of Dan Roberts
Dan Roberts

May 14
"Crashing Through--Making the Most of Life in the Face of Adversity."

Presenter: Michael May (President & CEO, Sendero Group, LLC)


Photo of Michael May
Michael May

June 11
"The Latest in Research and Treatment."

Presenter: Dan Roberts (Director, MD Support)


Photo of Dan Roberts
Dan Roberts

July 9
"Memory as a Substitute for Vision: The Aging Brain"

Presenter: Colleen O'Donnell, MSA, OTR, CLVT (Visual Rehabilitation and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System)


Photo of Colleen O'Donnell
Colleen O'Donnell

Aug. 13
"You Don't Need a Computer to See--Video and Adaptive Technology for the Low Vision Patient"

Presenter: Michael Fischer, O.D., F.A.A.O. (Low Vision Clinical Consultant, Lighthouse International, NYC)


photo of Michael Fischer
Michael Fischer

Sept. 10
"Celebrating Successes During AMD Week 2009" (A panel discussion of successes in advocacy, research and low vision rehabilitation)

Guest speakers:

Bruce Rosenthal, OD, FAAO
Chief of the Low Vision Clinical Practice, Lighthouse International, New York City

Gerald Chader, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer, Doheny Retina Institute, USC Medical School, Los Angeles, CA

David Herman
Board Chairman, AMDAI


photo of Dr. Rosenthal
Bruce Rosenthal

photo of Dr. Chader
Gerald Chader

photo of Mr. Herman
David Herman

Oct. 8
"A Look at the Future: Low Vision Rehabilitation"

Presenter: Gislin Dagnelie, Ph.D. (Lions Vision Center, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University)


Photo of Gislin Dagnelie
Gislin Dagnelie, Ph.D.

Nov. 12
"Nutrition: Separating Fact from Fiction"

Presenter: Ellen Troyer, M.T., M.A. (Chief Research Officer, Biosyntrx, Inc.)


Photo of Ellen Troyer
Ellen Troyer

Dec. 10
"A Look at the Future: AMD Research and Treatment"

Presenter: Gerald Chader, Ph.D. (Chief Scientific Officer, Doheny Retina Institute, USC Medical School, Los Angeles, CA)


Photo of Gerald Chader
Gerald Chader, Ph.D.



2008
Jan. 10 "The Challenges of Multiple Age-Related Disabilities"

Presenter: Mary Warren, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, FAOTA (Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham)


photo of Mary Warren
Mary Warren

Feb. 14
"Senior EZ Living': Tips and Tricks for Making Life Easier"

Presenter: Charles Schwartz, MS (Support Specialist, Low Vision Products)


Photo of Charles Schwartz
Charles Schwartz

Mar. 13
"Aging Successfully with Vision Loss: Creative Pursuits and Leisure Activities"

Presenters: Colleen O'Donnell, MSA, OTR, CLVT and Mary Ellen Daniel, MSA, OTR, CLVT (Visual Rehabilitation and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System)


Photo of Colleen O'Donnell
Photo of Mary Ellen Daniel

Apr. 10
"Overview of Assistive Technology for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired"

Presenter: Ike Presley (American Foundation for the Blind)


Photo of Ike Presley
Ike Presley

May 8
"Maintaining Your Quality of Life"

Presenter: Michael Epp, Director, Outreach & Continuing Education (Envision Rehabilitation Center, Wichita, Kansas)


Photo of Michael Epp
Michael Epp

June 12
"Preventing Type II Diabetes"

Presenter: Susan Mills-Gray (University of Missouri, MU Extension)


Photo of Susan Mills-Gray
Susan Mills-Gray

July 10
"Travel Without Trouble (In Spite of Low Vision)"

Presenter: Dan Roberts (Director, MD Support)

Photo of Dan Roberts
Dan Roberts

Aug. 14
"Hearing and Vision Loss"

Presenter: Helen J. Simon, Ph.D., CCC Speech Pathology & Audiology (The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, California)


Photo of Helen Simon
Helen Simon, Ph.D.

Sept. 11
"What You See is What You Eat: Nutrition and AMD"

Presenter: Lylas Mogk, M.D. (Henry Ford Medical Center, Lavonia MI)


Photo of Lylas Mogk
Lylas Mogk, M.D.

Oct 9
"Who Am I and What Am I Doing Here?"

A chat with Dan Roberts (Director, MD Support) about the patient's role in the continuum of care. Moderated by Edward J. Huggett, O.D.


Photo of Dan Roberts
Dan Roberts

Nov. 13
"Adventures in Darkness"

Presenter: Tom Sullivan (actor, singer, entertainer, author, producer)


Photo of Tom Sullivan
Tom Sullivan
Dec. 11 "Cooking Without Looking"

Presenter: Renee Rentmeester (Producer, WXEL-PBS 42, Palm Beach FL)

Photo of Renee Rentmeester
Renee Rentmeester


2007
Jan. 11"A Quarter Century of Treating Wet AMD: The New Era"

Presenter: Janet Sunness, M.D. Medical Director, Hoover Rehabilitation Services for Low Vision and Blindness, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland.


View online | Download MP3

Dr. Janet Sunness

Feb. 8
"Focus on Lighting"

Presenter: Charles Schwartz, M.S., Support Specialist, Low Vision Products.

View online | Download MP3

Charles Schwartz


Mar. 8
"Issues With Low Vision"

Guest: Don Curran, AMD patient and President of the Board, Macular Degeneration Alliance International and representative of The Macular Disease Society (United Kingdom).


View online | Download MP3

Don Curran

Apr. 12
"Sunlight and the Eyes"

Presenter: Charles Schwartz, M.S., Support Specialist, Low Vision Products.


View online | Download MP3

Charles Schwartz


May 10
"Update on Research and Treatments"

Presenter: Dan Roberts, author: The First Year: Age-Related Macular Degeneration, founding director, IMDSG and MD Support.


View online | Download MP3

Dan Roberts

June 14
"A Conversation With Dr. Lorraine Marchi"

Founding director, National Association of Visually Handicapped, New York City, New York.


View online | Download MP3

Dr. Lorraine Marchi

July 12
"Alternative Medicine"

Discussion of the pros and cons of therapies outside the medical mainstream, to include acupuncture, chelation therapy, RHEO procedure, homeopathy, microcurrent stimulation, ECHO therapy, biocurrent therapy and the Santa Fe Protocol.

Presenters:
  • Dan Roberts, IMDSG Director
  • Wendy Strouse-Watt, O.D., MD Support Professional Advisor; Optometrist, Dubois, Pennsylvania
  • Alston C. Lundgren, M.D., Medical Acupuncturist, Santa Fe, New Mexico
View online | Download MP3

Wendy Strouse-Watt, O.D.


Alston C. Lundgren, M.D.

Aug. 9
"What is Low Vision Rehabilitation?"

Presenter: Orli Weisser-Pike, OTR/L, CLVT, SCLV, Baptist Rehabilitation Germantown, Germantown, Tennessee.


View online | Download MP3

Orli Weisser-Pike

Sept. 13
"Who Are Those People in the White Coats?"

Understanding your doctor and knowing what questions to ask.

Presenters:
  • Donald C. Fletcher, M.D., Dept. Of Ophthalmology California Pacific Medical Center/Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, California.
  • Edward J. Huggett, Jr., O.D., P.A., Palm Harbor Rehabilitation Center, Palm Harbor, Florida.
View online | Download MP3

Don Fletcher, M.D.


Ed Huggett, O.D.

Oct 11
"Successful Self-Management"

How you can manage your own continuum of care and be an effective partner in your treatment and rehabilitation.

Presenter: Lynne Noon, O.D., FAAO, Diplomate in Low Vision Rehabilitation; President, LowVision.com

View online | Download MP3

Lynne Noon, O.D.

Nov. 8
"Eye Didn't Know That!"

Presenter: Edward J. Huggett, O.D., Chief of Low Vision Services, St. Luke's Cataract and Laser Institute, Tarpon Springs, Florida.

View online | Download MP3

Edward J. Huggett, Jr., O.D.
Dec. 13"Holiday Food Fun & Eye Health"

Presenter: Ellen Troyer, MT MA (Executive Vice President & Chief Research Officer, Biosyntrx, Inc.)

View online | Download MP3

Ellen Troyer


2006
Mar. 9"The ABCs of Macular Degeneration"

Introductory presentation by Dan Roberts, author: The First Year: Age-Related Macular Degeneration, founding director, NLVSG and MD Support.

View online | Download MP3

Dan Roberts
Apr. 13"Current Treatment and Research"

Presentation by Dan Roberts with guest, Dr. Ed Huggett, O.D. Director, Low Vision and Binocular Vision Clinic, Morton Plant Mease Rehabilitation Center, Tampa Bay, FL

Read the text
May 11"The T.A.S.K. of Living With Central Vision Loss"

Presentation by Dan Roberts about the four elements of living successfully with low vision: Tenacity, Adaptability, Support and Knowledge.

View online | Download MP3
June 8"Learning to Live with Low Vision: One Man's Journey Through Rehabilitation"

A dramatic presentation featuring professional actor Richard C. Brown.

View online | Download MP3

Richard C. Brown
July 13"Machines, Magnifiers, and Gadgets"

Guest representatives from major manufacturers and suppliers of low vision products. Presenters: Enhanced Vision (makers of Merlin, Max, Flipper, Amigo, Jordy and Acrobat), National Association for Visually Handicapped (a "full service" health organization which also provides a complete line of low vision devices) and LS&S Products (a dealer in a wide variety of products that are designed or adapted for the blind and people with low vision).

(No recording available)
Aug. 10"All About You"

An open microphone discussion with our affiliates and their guests.

(No recording available)
Sept. 14"Straight Talk About Cope-ability"

A discussion with Mary Jay Clough, ACSW & Roy Cole, O.D., F.A.A.O. from the Jewish Guild for the Blind, New York City, NY

View online | Download MP3

Dr. Roy Cole

Mary Jay Clough
Oct. 12"Nutrition for Healthy Eyes"

Guest presenter: Ellen Troyer, MT MA (Executive Vice President & Chief Research Officer, Biosyntrx, Inc.)

View online | Download MP3

Ellen Troyer
Nov. 9"With the Heart One Sees Rightly"

Guest presenters: Lylas G. Mogk, M.D. and Prof. Marja Mogk, co-authors: Macular Degeneration:The Complete Guide to Saving and Maximizing Your Sight

View online | Download MP3

Dr. Lylas Mogk
Dec. 14"Living with Vision Loss - Hoping for Coping"

Guest presenter: Tom Perski, Motivational speaker and Director of Vision Services, Vision Care Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc., Saratoga, California.


View online | Download MP3

Tom Perski