Eyeworld Daily News

26 | EYEWORLD DAILY NEWS | MAY 4, 2019 ASCRS NEWS W. Andrew Maxwell, MD, Fresno, California, and Donald Serafano, MD, Long Beach, California, are this year's ASCRS David A. Karcher Hon- ored Guests. They will be honored for their contributions to ophthal- mology at today's ASCRS Open- ing General Session. W. Andrew Maxwell, MD Dr. Maxwell is in practice and a partner at Fogg, Maxwell, Lanier & Remington EyeCare, which has five offices in the Central Valley of California. The practice was founded in July 1980. Dr. Maxwell has served as clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of California, San Francisco and as an adjunct professor of biology at California State University-Fres- no. He has received honorable mentions and numerous scientific paper awards for topics in cat- aract and refractive surgery and has been listed every year in "The Best Doctors of America" since 1992. Dr. Maxwell has presented professional education courses, lectures, and papers throughout the world at society meetings. He has published more than 50 articles and scientific papers in nu- merous industry publications and is co-editor of two ophthalmology textbooks. Dr. Maxwell received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina at Charleston in 1976. He completed his internal medicine internship at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1977. He also complet- ed an ophthalmology residency at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1980. Donald Serafano, MD Dr. Serafano is in practice at Eye Physicians of Long Beach in Long Beach, California. He is an associate clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California. He has received numerous awards such as an Honored Professional in both the American Directory of Who's Who Among Execu- tives and Business and the Na- tional Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals. Dr. Serafano has been selected by his peers to be included in "The Best Doctors of America" and Los Angeles Magazine's "The Essen- tial Guide to Los Angeles' Best Doctors." The American Academy of Ophthalmology recognized his achievements with the Honor Award in 1996. Dr. Serafano has given many scientific presentations and partic- ipated on the faculty at symposia all over the world. Dr. Serafano graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry from Villano- va University, Philadelphia. He received his medical degree from the Wayne State University School of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine internship at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minneso- ta. He completed his ophthalmol- ogy fellowship and residency at the Mayo Clinic. The ASCRS Opening Gen- eral Session will take place today from 10 a.m. to noon in ballroom 20ABC. Drs. Maxwell and Serafano are this year's Honored Guests by Thomas Samuelson, MD, ASCRS President D uring today's ASCRS Opening General Ses- sion, I will have one of the greatest honors of my presidency: the op- portunity to introduce Hal Kushner, MD, as he receives the ASCRS Distin- guished Member Award. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with his incredible story: Imagine life as a handsome young doctor with dark hair and sparkling blue eyes, one beautiful little girl with another child on the way, and a lucrative, fulfilling career ahead. Fast forward several months ... Instead, just as then-Captain Hal Kushner regains consciousness after crashing into a mountain in South Vietnam, he finds himself hanging upside down in his burning, inverted Huey. Hit by exploding ammunition when trying to free the pilot, he will lose his entire crew within days and be left on his own in hostile territory. Shot, broken, badly burned, and unable to see—his glasses lost on impact—he is captured by the Viet Cong and will spend over five years in horrific conditions as a POW. Incred- ibly, Dr. Kushner transcended this tragedy in a remarkable triumph of the human spirit through focusing on the future, not the past, and living each day in gratitude and joy. —Excerpt from "An Interview with Colonel Floyd Harold 'Hal' Kushner, M.D., F.A.C.S, U.S. ARMY Flight Surgeon and Vietnam Prisoner of War" by Paul J. Fardink As a history enthusiast I fervently watched the epic 10-part documentary The Vietnam War by Ken Burns and Lynn Novik. While watching this extremely well-produced series, I became captivated by the story of Flight Surgeon Hal Kushner, the only U.S. physician to be taken prisoner during the Vietnam war. His story of courage, endurance, optimism, and resiliency is truly remarkable. I didn't know Dr. Kushner's story before watching the film, but was extremely impressed by his clear, engaging, and passionate firsthand account of his experi- ence in the war. Dr. Kushner ap- Hear the incredible story of our colleague Hal Kushner pears 14 times in the series. At the end of the documentary, the film's producers briefly describe the fate of the featured individuals. When Dr. Kushner's summary appeared on the screen, I was stunned: After his release as a POW, Dr. Kushner became an ophthalmolo- gist, practicing in Daytona Beach, Florida. How had I not known of his story before now? I discussed this with my fellow members of the ASCRS Executive Committee and suggested that as a society we honor Dr. Kushner during the ASCRS Opening General Session. I learned that Dr. Kushner has been a year member of ASCRS for 35 years, which of course con- nects his story even more to all of us ASCRS members. Join me during the Opening General Session to hear his unique and compelling story. Donald Serafano, MD W. Andrew Maxwell, MD

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