Prevent Blindness Forms New Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee

Prevent Blindness has created a new Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee. The volunteer panel will guide national initiatives to raise awareness, expand access to care, and improve early detection of diabetes-related eye diseases.

The Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee brings together leaders from ophthalmology, optometry, public health, vision science, and the eye care industry, alongside nonprofit advocates for diabetes education, vision rehabilitation, and patient rights. Individuals living with diabetes and their allies also serve on the committee, ensuring programs reflect the lived experiences of patients.

Committee members include:

• Karen Allison, MD, MBA, FACS – University of Rochester Medical Center; Prevent Blindness Board of Directors

• Meagan Baker, OD, FAAO – Cherry Health

• Premilla Banwait, OD, MPH, FAAO – UnitedHealthcare Vision

• Geoffrey E. Bradford, MD, MS – West Virginia University Eye Institute

• Jim Brocato – Ocular Therapeutix; Prevent Blindness Board of Directors

• M. Odette Brown – American Diabetes Association

• Jacobi Cleaver, OD, FAAO – BlackEyeCare Perspective

• Roberto Díaz-Rohena, MD – University of Texas Health Science Center–San Antonio, VA Medical Center

• Luke Ertle, MPH – Association of Clinicians for the Underserved

• Matthew Garza – The diaTribe Foundation

• Patricia Grant, PhD – The Chicago Lighthouse

• Tareq Issam Nabhan, OD – University of Missouri–St. Louis

• Nicole Pogue, OD, FAAO – New England College of Optometry

• Rajeev S. Ramchandran, MD, MBA – University of Rochester Medical Center

• Pat Segu, OD, FAAO, ABO – University of Houston College of Optometry

• Carolina Solis-Herrera, MD, DABOM, DMDNO – University of Texas Health San Antonio

• Serena Valentine – CORE Initiative

• Mary Kate Walters, OD, FAAO – VIEW Optometry; University of Houston

• Patient Advocates: Tamara Joseph, Jennifer Kim

Representatives from Prevent Blindness affiliates in Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin also participate.

Guided by the committee, Prevent Blindness is rolling out several key initiatives:

1. North Carolina Care Model Pilot

In partnership with Prevent Blindness North Carolina, the program will:

• Test new educational materials for children and young adults with diabetes

• Expand tele-retinal screenings for patients under 40 in community health centers

• Improve care coordination (supported by UnitedHealthcare)

2. Bilingual Eye Health Audio Library

This interactive library will deliver short educational segments in English and Spanish via voice request and text message. The tool is in final testing for use in clinics nationwide (supported by Regeneron and Genentech).

3. Bias-Free Care Education for Eye Care Professionals

A modular CEU program will train eye care providers and allied health staff in delivering patient-centered, bias-free care. Developed from community research in five states, the modules will be available through the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association’s paraoptometric CEU program (supported by Regeneron and Genentech).

These programs will complement the Diabetes + the Eyes Educational Toolkit, first launched in 2019, which provides multilingual resources on diabetes-related vision health. This toolkit is funded by Regeneron and VSP Vision.

“We are thrilled to welcome this impressive group of leaders to our new Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “By bringing together different perspectives, expertise, and lived experiences, we are continuing our mission to bring an end to vision loss from diabetes.”