What's New at BFS?

Latest News and Website Additions

2/17/12 - Our blog today: Get GVHD and Transplant Support from a Peer Who Has “Been There”

2/10/12 - The latest post on our blog: Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation Aims to Shorten Time to Diagnosis

2/4/12 - On our blog: Willard Traub Exhibits Recovery at Boston Photographic Resource Center

1/31/12 - We are excited to welcome Michael B. Raizman, MD, and Clifford Scott, OD, MPH, to the BFS Board of Directors. Read the press release.

1/31/12 - The January 2012 edition of PROSE Eye View is now available for your reading pleasure!

1/27/11 - Download a comprehensive list of patient resources.

1/25/12 - Visit our blog to learn more about Evaluating the Accuracy of Health Information in the Media

1/20/12 - Today's blog post is about Mobile Apps for Health

1/11/12 - Read our blog to learn how to Be Your Own Advocate

1/5/12 - Our newest blog post is about Tips for Traveling Safely with PROSE.

1/4/12 - We are pleased to announce that Wilmer Eye Institute at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, is now offering PROSE Treatment! Read the press release.

12/28/11 - BFS' Dr. Deborah S. Jacobs and  Dr. Lynette Johns are among the speakers and moderators at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists (CLAO), to be held in Las Vegas on January 26 - 28, 2012.

12/21/11 - Get Fit and Support the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation - on the Connected Visions blog

12/15/11 - The latest blog post on Conencted Visions discusses Successful Steps for Managing Difficult Health Insurance Issues

12/13/11 - Please check out our special holiday edition of PROSE Eye View, including three patient stories and messages from our Founder, Dr. Perry Rosenthal, and our President and CEO, Gene Bonte.

12/9/11 - Our latest blog post: Stevens Johnson Syndrome Foundation Asks for Support for Mandatory Reporting System of Drug Reactions

12/6/11 - Nos complace anunciar que nuestra Guía del Tratamiento PROSE: Uso y Cuidado de Dispositivos Prostéticos ya está disponible en español! (We are pleased to announce that our PROSE Treatment Guide: Prosthetic Device Use and Care is now available in Spanish!)

12/6/11 - We have updated pages 5 and 6 of PROSE Treatment Guide: Prosthetic Device Use and Care.

12/6/11 - Our latest blog post: A Public Service Announcement from Julie McCawley

11/30/11 - Board of Directors member Shaun Levesque has retired at the end of his term. A BFS patient, Mr. Levesque had been a member of the Board since 2009; most recently he served as a member of the Development and Marketing Committee and is also a former Chairman of the Board. We are grateful to Mr. Levesque for his dedicated service to Boston Foundation for Sight.

11/30/11 - The new PROSE Eye View for November 2011 is published and ready for you to read! Interesting features include two new FAQ for those new to PROSE, a PROSE patient poem and a profile of Rebecca Petris, founder of The Dry Eye Zone.

11/18/11 - The latest from the Connected Visions blog: Useful BMT Infonet Webcasts

11/16/11 - We are currently working with The Proctor Foundation at the University of California San Francisco to bring PROSE treatment to Northern California.  Please visit their website to view their job opening for a PROSE Clinical Fellow.

11/15/11 - Our new blog post addresses how Sometimes Patients Teach Doctors.

11/14/11 - Check out photos of the Open House BFS recently held!

11/7/11 - Our new blog post talks about how dry eye impacts productivity.

11/4/11 - New Patient FAQ - Can PROSE help you if you also have Intacs?

11/3/11 - BFS is looking to hire a full time Patient Account Resolution Specialist. Please click the link for more information.

11/2/11 - We have added a list of professional links to our "For Doctors" section of the website.

11/2/11 - We have two new blog posts for your reading pleasure! A profile of Lea Morrison: A Winner on Many Levels; and also information on an upcoming National GvHD Health Symposium in Cleveland.

10/26/11 - Our new blog post tells of a free Keratoconus Seminar in Chicago on November 13.

10/25/11 - Check out the latest edition of PROSE Eye View, featuring a new patient profile, patient resources and much more!

10/25/11 - Read about Lea Morrison, a GVHD survivor who, thanks to PROSE, can now show her love through her eyes!

10/24/11 - Our PROSE Treatment Guide: Prosthetic Device Use and Care now includes a new page with several photos of bubbles in devices for your reference. Click here to download the BFS version or a version for one of our US partner clinics.

10/20/11 - Please read our new blog post about Empowered Patients.

10/18/11 - Download the Dry Eye Zone 2011 catalog.

10/11/11 - The latest post on our Connected Visions blog is about the White Cane Day Celebration in Massachusetts on Friday, October 15.

10/04/11 - BFS employee Nancy Lemist has been promoted to New Patient Affairs Coordinator! Congrats, Nancy!

9/29/11 - Please visit our blog and check out our three recent posts: A Call for Sjogren's Syndrome Ambassadors; GVHD Telephone Support Group Now Available; and World Sight Day In October.

9/27/11 - Please read the September 2011 edition of PROSE Eye View, featuring SJS Kids Week 2011, stories from our GVHD community and more!

9/27/11 - We are pleased to inform you that we have a new Frequently Asked Questions section of our website. This section features questions frequently asked by people who are new to PROSE and BFS.

9/16/11 - Brenda Diaz' last day at BFS was Friday, September 16. Please join us in wishing her well in her new role in the hospitality industry.

9/14/11 - We are pleased to announce that Sandra Hewitt, MHA, PT, has joined the BFS staff as Director of Clinical Operations. Please read Sandy's bio to learn more!

9/12/11 - BFS Medical Director Dr. Deborah S. Jacobs will co-present a session entitled Dry Eye and Ocular Surface at the 27th Biennial Cornea Conference, hosted by Schepens Eye Research Institute, on Friday September 30.

9/6/11 - Please read our recent blog entry entitled Illness Begets Art.

9/6/11 -BFS will have a table set up at the Celebrating a Second Chance at Life Symposium, Sept 10 -11 in Atlanta, GA. The conference, presented by BMT Infonet, is intended for bone marrow, stem cell and cord blood transplant survivors and their loved ones; and it includes a presentation by BFS Medical Director Dr. Deborah S. Jacobs entitled Chronic GVHD and the Eyes.

8/29/11 - An updated version of PROSE Treatment Guide: Prosthetic Device Use and Care, is now available for download. It includes new sections on inserting your prosthetic devices with a lighted plunger and a plunger stand.

8/25/11 - An AMAZING artist in our community will be on exhibit at the Danforth Museum of Art in Framingham, Massachusetts, September 11 - November 6, 2011. Willard Traub's photography depicts his journey through cancer, transplant, GVHD and beyond. Mr Traub will be there on 11/18 to offer special readings to accompany many of the images in the exhibit.

8/17/11 - Check out the latest Connected Visions blog post: Biking for BFS!

8/12/11 - A new post is up on the Connected Visions Blog: Caregiver Support

8/2/11 - We are very happy to announce that Ralf R. Jarchow raised approximately $19,000 for BFS through his bicycle ride across Canada. Read more about it here: http://www.bramptonguardian.com/community/article/1050794--lawyer-has-endurance

8/1/11 - We are thrilled to announce that August is SJS Awareness Month in many states across the nation, including Massachusetts, Colorado, Georgia, Oregon, Maryland, Illinois, Nevada and New Jersey. Thanks to all those who worked so hard to make this happen!

7/27/11 - On Friday July 29, we will bid farewell to three members of our staff. Research Assistant James Bradley is going to medical school, Clinic Technician Karen Zeiger is moving to Florida, and Amy Watts, OD, is joining the staff of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Please join us in wishing them the very best in all they do!

7/26/11 - The July 2011 edition of PROSE Eye View is now available for your reading pleasure.

7/26/11 - Check out our latest blog post: Awareness Can Lead to Action: SJS Awareness Month

7/20/11 - Leslie Wu recently joined the BFS staff as a Research Assistant. A 2011 graduate of Bandeis University, Leslie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry, graduating magna cum laude. Welcome, Leslie!

7/18/11 - Dr. Gloria Chiu of the PROSE Clinic at Doheny Eye Center and BFS' Janice Epstein will have informational table set up from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, July 23 at the 5+ Year Transplant Survivor Reunion to be held at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. The reunion will be held July 22-23. Please stop by and say hello!

7/15/11 - An article entitled Frustration or Fenestration? by BFS' Dr. Lynette Johns was featured in the July 2011 edition of I-Site Newsletter. Read it here: http://netherlens.com/july_2011

7/13/11 - BFS' Dr. Karen G. Carrasquillo was profiled in the blog Central Science. Read it here: http://cenblog.org/just-another-electron-pusher/2011/07/let-there-be-sight-a-chemist-opens-her-eyes-to-the-world-of-optometry/

7/13/11 - The newest PROSE clinic at North Shore - Long Island Jewish Health System in Great Neck, NY is now open!

7/7/11 - BFS and SJS Kids Week are featured on The Needham Channel:

 

7/6/11 - Our latest blog post discusses Making the Computer Easier to Use!

6/30/11 - We are pleased to announce that Gary Knaak has been elected as the new Chairman of the BFS Board of Directors, succeeding Shaun Levesque when his term expired; Mr. Levesque remains a member of the Board and we thank him for his leadership and service. Please read Gary's biography on our website to learn more about him. 

6/30/11 - BFS recently bid farewell to board members Lorne Abony, Steven Nevins and Robert Shapiro, who retired from the BFS Board of Directors at the completion of their terms.

Mr. Abony, the Chief Executive Officer of Mood Media, had been a member of the BFS Board since 2009, and was most recently a member of the Finance Committee and the Development and Marketing Committee. In 2010, Mr. Abony organized two Pro-Am Tennis Tournaments, raising significant donations and making many new friends in Florida.

Mr. Nevins had been a member of the Board since 2002, and was most recently a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Nevins is the President and co-founder of Adeptis, a web systems and software performance consulting firm based in Waltham, MA.

Mr. Shapiro is an executive in the leather industry, a philanthropist and a family therapist. A member of the Board of Trustees of Brandeis University and of the Board of Directors of Hebrew College, Mr. Shapiro had been a member of the BFS Board and generous donor since 1996.

All of us here at BFS are deeply appreciative of their years of service and support to the organization.

6/21/11 - We are thrilled to announce that BFS recently received a corporate donation of $15,000 from Bausch and Lomb to support SJS Kids Week 2011!!

6/20/11 - Our latest blog post is about the 94th Lions Club International Convention, to be held July 4 - 8 in Seattle, WA

6/16/11 - On June 7th, Gary F. Gut stepped down as CEO of Boston Foundation for Sight after two years of service. We thank Gary for his dedicated work these past two years at BFS and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Eugene (Gene) A. Bonte will serve as our new CEO. Please read Gene's biography on our website to learn more about him!

6/15/11 - We have posted a very interesting new blog post entitled Advocacy 101 - check it out!

6/6/11 - Kristina Somers is our new Ophthalmic Technician and she is “very pleased to be joining the team at Boston Foundation for Sight.” Kristina has beenworking in the field of ophthalmology for eight years and enjoys working with patients to help them get the best out of their vision. In addition to her love of the great outdoors, in her spare time Kristina likes to read, knit and sew. Welcome, Kristina!

5/31/11 - Job Opening - BFS is seeking to hire a part time Assistant to the Medical Director.

5/31/11 - The May 2011 PROSE Eye View is now available for your reading pleasure!

5/26/11 - We have two new forms available for medical professionals. Physicians wishing to refer a patient for PROSE treatment can complete the Physician Referral Form. Medical professionals wishing to request complimentary copies of our brochures, a demo PROSE device, and/or a packet of three device removal plungers can complete the PROSE Materials Order Form.

5/25/11 - Our newest blog post details the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation's National Dry Eye Conference, to be held June 25, 2011.

5/18/11 - We have added The Social Security and Disability Resource Center to our list of financial resources.

5/12/11 - Please read the latest blog posting on Connected Visions, honoring Helen Keller Day.

5/6/11 - Corina Busuioc is our newest PROSE Clinical Fellow! A graduate of University of Houston College of Optometry, Corina will be heading up the new PROSE Clinic at North Shore - LIJ Health System in Great Neck, NY, set to open this summer. Please join us in welcoming Corina to BFS!

5/2/11 - The Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation is hosting a National Dry Eye Conference on June 25, 2011 in Andover, Massachusetts. Numerous topics will be covered, including: Overview of Dry Eye and Potential Causes; Management of Dry Eye – What’s in the Aisle?; Clincal Trials Explained including a Dry Eye Patient Panel; Contact Lens Wear for Dry Eye Patients; and Dry Eye Treatment Pipeline. Please visit their website at http://www.sjogrens.org/home/get-connected/patient-seminars/dry-eye-conference for more information.

Please note that the date for the above named conference has been changed from June 18 to June 25.

4/28/11 - The Discovery Eye Foundation is presenting a FREE one day symposium in San Diego on May 14, 2011. Topics include keratoconus, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Registration is required to attend; please visit their website at http://www.nkcf.org/en/resources/upcoming-events.html for more information.

4/26/11 - Please check out the April 2011 edition of PROSE Eye View, the BFS monthly e-bulletin!

4/15/11 - Please check out the latest post on the Connected Visions blog - PROSE Resources.

4/11/11 - We are please to tell you about The Texas Burn Survivor Society offers services to burn survivors and their families, including Stevens Johnson syndrome patients and their siblings, and the children of burn patients at Brooke Army Medical Center PROSE Clinic. Programs include Camp David, a FREE one week summer camp held in Kerrville, TX, one hour north of San Antonio, at the Lion's Camp for Children. Camp David will run this year from July 17-23, 2011. They also offer a bi-annual Teen Retreat and provide financial assistance to patients and their families who are being treated at burn centers in Texas. Applications for the 2011 session of Camp David will be available starting in April. For more information please visit their website at http://www.texasburnsurvivors.org.

3/30/11 - Please download and read our March 2011 E-Bulletin!

3/29/11 - We are pleased to offer our PROSE patients a comprehensive guide to buying the solutions and accessories you need for your PROSE devices: PROSE Solution and Accessory Buying Guide.

3/28/11 - The PROSE Clinic at Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai, India will begin scheduling patients on April 1.

3/22/11 - The Waltham News Tribune featured BFS in a front page article about 4 year old SJS survivor Damila and her PROSE treatment. Check it out! http://www.wickedlocal.com/waltham/news/x698065599/Waltham-group-helps-girl-4-avert-blindness#axzz1HL0uXelI

Please use this link to download a printable copy of the Waltham News Tribune article referenced above.

3/11/11 - You Tube video of PROSE patient Kendra Schmidt at BFS:

3/8/11 - Please read our latest blog posting - Treatment Options (Dis) Satisfaction.

2/28/11 - We are pleased to announce that the February 2001 BFS e-bulletin is now available!

2/28/11 - It is with heavy hearts that we memorialize PROSE patient Dr. Richard O'Neil, who passed away on January 15 from the effects of graft versus host disease. Please click the link above to read his story.

2/25/11 - PRODUCT RECALL - The Triad Group has issued a recall of alcohol prep pads, alcohol swabs and alcohol swabsticks. Please see the press release for further information and a list of brands included in the recall.

2/24/11 - We are excited to annouce our Community Fundraising Initiative! We invite the BFS community to plan and host a fundraising event to benefit Boston Foundation for Sight. Please visit the BFS Community Fundraising page for more information, incuding our helpful Planning Tips Guide and our Fundraising Event Ideas. Please note that all events to benefit BFS must be pre-approved.

2/23/11 - Please visit the Our Supporters section of the website to view a list of our generous 2010 donors!

2/18/11 - Please read our latest blog post - Study Aims to Improve Transplant Survivors Quality of Life

2/16/11 - PROSE patient and SJS Kids Week 2010 participant Julie McCawley posted a video to You Tube to thank BFS! We thank her, and hope you will check out her wonderful performance of "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes."

 2/10/11 - We are pleased to announce the BFS blog - Connected Visions! Please visit it at http://blog.bostonsight.org/ to read the welcome message from Online Community Advocate Janice Epstein, and also her recent post, Emotional Empowerment.

2/7/11 - Please join us in welcoming Rajeswari Mahadevan, OD, to BFS. After completing her nine-week PROSE Clinical Fellowship, Dr. Mahadevan will return to India to head up our soon-to-be open PROSE clinic in Chennai, India. Check our website and subscribe to the BFS e-bulletin for updates on our new clinic!

2/3/11 - We have added a photo and biography of Dr. Jeffrey Cleland of the PROSE clinic at Brooke Army Medical Center.

2/1/11 - BFS has published a new e-bulletin. Please click here to download a copy of Issue 1, Volume 2 - January 2011.

1/31/11 - Please read our newest patient profile - Ray Carpentier!

1/27/11 - We have added a page