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Dogulas R. Lazzaro, MD,
FACS, FAAO
The Department of Ophthalmology has a well-established history of accomplishment as an educator of physicians, and one that also holds enormous promise for making eye care more available to the Brooklyn community. The program's reputation as a center of research excellence blossomed under the leadership of Dr. Kevin C. Greenidge, the immediate past Chairman of the department.
In assessing the potential of our ophthalmology program in Brooklyn, a comparison is instructive. SUNY Downstate's catchment area contains a population of approximately 685,000 - roughly equal to that of the city of Boston. In 1996, the residents of Boston were served by 250 practicing ophthalmologists; in contrast, SUNY Downstate's catchment area had only eight. This paucity of ophthalmologists has historically motivated many Brooklynites to turn to Manhattan physicians for eye care, as evidenced by the fact that 30 to 40 percent of ophthalmology patients treated in Manhattan live in Brooklyn. At the same time, a large portion of the Brooklyn population receives no ophthalmology care at all.
These facts point to both an opportunity and an urgent need. A goal that has been attained promoted Brooklyn as a practice environment for faculty physicians and residents-in-training, stressing the borough's many attractions as a place to build a career. A commitment to find ways in which our department can provide desperately needed care for the many community residents with glaucoma, retinopathy of diabetes, and other disorders that are potentially blinding or that otherwise diminish their quality of life has been met with enthusiasm.
The department has been fortunate to win support - and funding - for our plans from the SUNY Downstate leadership and leaders at the department's affiliated clinical practice sites. The financial commitment they made has allowed, among other things, the recruitment of first-rate faculty, and we have managed to contain costs by spreading their expertise around. For example, single individuals are made responsible for each of the six subspecialty programs network-wide, and many faculty rotate among the sites. This approach has permitted us to keep faculty fully occupied and challenged while extending the benefits of their special abilities to patients at several institutions.
Many other details of our program - and their positive results - are described in the report that follows. Suffice it to say that our faculty, plus our improved facilities and expanded clinical offerings, have, indeed, dramatically increased demand for ophthalmology services. At our largest clinical affiliate, Kings County Hospital Center, outpatient visits have increased by 57 percent since 1996. Other positive outcomes include a significant expansion of research, with approximately 60 projects now underway. The Kings County eye clinic will relocate its space which is 5000 square feet at present to 9,500 square feet in a new location by 2006 due to continued growth of the service.
The department's growth has been made possible by the enlightened leaders at SUNY Downstate and our affiliated institutions, the outstanding faculty whose energy, enthusiasm, and ability are achieving for the department new levels of accomplishment and respect our administrative staff who have worked hard to mold us into a new configuration; and our residents and students whose questions and idealism never fail to stimulate and inspire.
We can all look forward to continued growth and improvement throughout the new millennium.
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450 Clarkson Ave / Brooklyn, NY 11203 |
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