As far as health literacy, what would your top practical pearl be for clinicians treating patients with glaucoma?

Because glaucoma is often an asymptomatic disease, it is important for patients to understand the rationale for treatment. Give patients the essential information in simple terms, and then ask them to repeat the information back to you. In that way, you can determine whether they understood what you said. I also recommend providing written instructions to patients and giving them an opportunity to ask questions without their feeling embarrassed about doing so.

What did winning the Suzanne Véronneau- Troutman Award mean to you?

Each year, Women In Ophthalmology (WIO) recognizes the female ophthalmologist who has done the most during the past year to enhance the position of women in ophthalmology. It meant a lot to me to receive this award, because WIO has been so important to my professional development. This organization taught me how to encourage other people through challenging times and to speak up as a woman. Early in my career, I was shy about self-advocating and assumed that the people around me knew more than I did. That really was not the case. Rather, they were more assertive. Once you take the first step toward being assertive and survive it, you become more confident.

When I talked to other women at various stages in their careers, I heard a lot of frustration regarding the opportunities within their departments or subspecialty organizations. Men are more indoctrinated to speak up for themselves. I think that just encouraging women to speak up, sharing with them advice that I received at WIO meetings, and having some meetings within my own institution with female faculty and residents has helped their professional development.

Receiving the award surprised me, but it made me realize that other people took to heart advice that I had been given and was passing along. That is what mentorship is all about.

You are known to have inspired many medical students. How are you fostering this group?

The National Medical Association (NMA) promotes the interests of physicians and patients of African descent. African Americans are underrepresented in ophthalmology, accounting for approximately 250 of the estimated 19,000 ophthalmologists practicing in the United States. Through the NMA, Mildred Olivier, MD, and I direct the Rabb Venable Excellence in Ophthalmology program, which is named after two prominent African American ophthalmologists and is supported by a grant from the National Eye Institute. The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in ophthalmology and academic medicine. Through the program, we identify medical students who are interested in ophthalmology, and we provide them with the opportunity to conduct research in the field, which they then present at the NMA's annual meeting. Of the students who complete the program, 70% have matched in ophthalmology. At the meeting, there are also National Institutes of Health workshops to educate residents and fellows about sponsored programs and opportunities for clinician scientists.

What is the most gratifying aspect of training fellows?

Your relationship with a fellow is very different than the one with a resident. The former is already committed to the field of glaucoma. A fellow is your right-hand man or woman for the year and will become your colleague in the long term. It is almost as if you are nurturing a friendship as well as a collegial relationship over the course of the year. I love training someone and seeing him or her blossom into independence. Fellowship training is about more than learning the steps to managing glaucoma; it is about learning to communicate as a subspecialist and as a consultant. Early in the year, I tell fellows that they must express what they are going to do in terms of crafting a treatment plan, including secondary options if the primary course of action fails. I encourage them to be forward thinking and to learn how to communicate with referring physicians as well as with patients.

As a Philadelphian, where do your loyalties lie in the great cheesesteak rivalry, and what is your favorite Tastykake?

I grew up in Philadelphia but left for college, medical school, and my ophthalmology training, and I did not return until about 12 years ago. My husband is from Connecticut, and when we moved here, he said we had to find the best cheesesteak. The food critic of The Philadelphia Inquirer had published a list of the top 10 cheesesteak vendors in the city.1,2 We went to all of them and fell in love with Tony Luke's. I get the cheesesteak hoagie, which is a cheesesteak with lettuce, tomato, a few hot peppers, and a little bit of mayo.

If you are not from the Philadelphia area, you are probably wondering what a TastyKake is. The Tasty Baking Company was founded in 1914, and they produce a variety of cakes and pastries. My absolute favorite is the Butterscotch Krimpet (http://tastykake.com/products/krimpets).

  1. LaBan C. The cheesesteak project. The Philadelphia Inquirer. http://www.philly.com/philly/restaurants/ The_cheesesteak_project.html. Posted March 5, 2007. Accessed July 1, 2013.
  2. LaBan C. Craig LaBan's 2002 cheesesteak project: how they scored. The Philadelphia Inquirer. http://www.philly. com/philly/restaurants/20090713_Craig_LaBan_s_2002_Cheesesteak_Project__How_They_Scored.html. Posted July 13, 2009. Accessed July 1, 2013.