Michael Yu, MD
Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Several awards were presented at the ASRS Award Ceremony to honor ASRS member contributions to teaching, research, and clinical care within the field of retina.
Packo Service Award
The Packo Service Award, established in 2019 in honor of former ASRS President Kirk H. Packo, is presented annually to recognize exceptional service to the Society. This year’s Packo Award was given to Dr. John Thompson and presented by Dr. Reginald Sanders. Dr. Thompson has served as president of ASRS, president of the ASRS Foundation, and ASRS Health Policy Chair. He has been an advocate for clinicians and patients alike, representing retina specialists as an advisor to the AMA Relative Value Services Update Committee (RUC) and launching the ASRS Foundation’s Retina Health Series for patients.
Crystal Apple Award
The Crystal Apple Award recognizes excellence in teaching and mentorship. The award was presented posthumously to Dr. Jared Nielsen by Drs. Basil Williams and Avni Finn. Dr. Nielsen founded the retina fellowship program at Wolfe Eye Clinic and served as its director from 2017 to 2024, training dozens of fellows and residents in the process. Dr. Nielsen’s wife, Ms. Hillary Nielsen, accepted the award on his behalf to a standing ovation. Dr. Nielsen passed away in June 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Retina Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award
The Retina Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes innovators and leaders with exceptional lifetime contributions to retina. This year’s award was given to Dr. Stanley Chang and presented by Dr. John Thompson. Dr. Chang was unable to attend the award ceremony. Dr. Thompson described Dr. Chang’s brilliant career as a surgeon handling complex vitreoretinal surgical cases in New York City, where he served as Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Columbia University from 1995 to 2012. Dr. Chang pioneered several revolutionary surgical approaches to treat retinal detachment, including the development of perfluorocarbon liquids and the use of panoramic viewing during vitrectomy.
Retina Image Bank: Image of the Year Award
The Retina Image Bank Image of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Shilpi H. Narnaware of Sarakshi Netralaya Eye Hospital in Nagpur, India for “Vascular Non- Perfusion in Takayasu Arteritis.”
