Alessandro Iannaccone, MD, MS, founding Director of the Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetics Service and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Hamilton Eye Institute of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), was featured in the “Memphis on the Mend” section of the August 2014 issue of the Memphis Medical News.
The article entitled, “FFB Driving Research to Fight Blindness”, highlights Dr. Iannaccone’s involvement not only in patient care and research on retinal degenerative diseases, which he was recruited to UTHSC to do in 1996 by then Ophthalmology Dept. Chairman, Dr. Barrett Haik, but also in his community dedication and volunteering involvement. Dr. Iannaccone serves as the President of the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) Mid-South Chapter of Memphis, which he co-founded in February of 2007. Via the Chapter, Dr. Iannaccone is strongly involved in raising both awareness of retinal degenerative diseases and the funds needed to support the research that is necessary to expedite achieving treatments and cures for these otherwise lawfully progressive conditions. On Saturday, October 25, 2014, the Chapter will host at Shelby Farms its 7th Memphis VisionWalk, the leading community-based fundraising event organized by FFB nationwide. Over the past several years, the Memphis VisionWalk has raised an increasing amount of funds, nearing $50,000 in 2013.
“It is a unique privilege to serve as President of the FFB Mid-South Chapter of Memphis and help raise both awareness and funds on behalf of the patients I care for. I feel wholeheartedly committed to them and to caring for these conditions both at the clinical and research end, and this is a great opportunity to give back to them and to my extended community,” commented Dr. Iannaccone. The Chapter represents Dr. Iannaccone’s patients, who come to the Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetics Service not just from Memphis and West Tennessee, but also from throughout Arkansas, Mississippi and Southeastern Missouri. “being involved with the Chapter is also a way for me to thank FFB for the opportunities it gave me early on in my career.” Dr. Iannaccone was recruited by Dr. Haik after an FFB-sponsored fellowship at the Scheie Eye Institute of the University of Pennsylvania with Dr. Jacobson, a longtime leader in retinal degeneration research, and he has been serving on the FFB Scientific Advisory Board since 2008.
The Germantown Lions Club are also involved in this year’s 7th Memphis VisionWalk and are helping Dr. Iannaccone and the FFB Mid-South Chapter of Memphis to raise these vital funds. “It is a unique pleasure to partner with one of the Mid-South Lions Clubs in raising these funds because, as a Lions Club member and supporter myself, this falls right down our ‘we serve’ avocation,” noted Dr. Iannaccone. “Here in Memphis, I am especially grateful to the Mid-South Lions for the support they gave me when Dr. Haik recruited me. Without the equipment that they donated between 1996 and 2000, we would not have today a Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetics Service at the Hamilton Eye Institute. Thus, it feels truly special to be able to work on the Memphis VisionWalk together with the Lions too.” The core diagnostic facility of the Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetics Servicedirected by Dr. Iannaccone is the Lions’ Visual Function Diagnostic Laboratory. Dr. Iannaccone also serves as Memphis VisionWalk iWalk4iSight Team Captain.
A link to the complete Memphis Medical News article can be found at:
https://www.memphismedicalnews.com/ffb-driving-the-research-to-fight-blindness-cms-2311
More information about the FFB Mid-South Chapter of Memphis and the 7th Memphis VisionWalk, and opportunities to donate towards this cause, can be found at the following links:
https://www.fightblindness.org/site/TR/VISIONWALK/VisionWalktr?fr_id=5467&pg=entry&AddInterest=1561