Mark Patton introduced Dr. Lee Alward who has published over 250 articles and books, worked for the National Health Service in Alaska years ago (and built a dog sled there), and is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Dr. Alward started his talk with "a guy who walks into" and proceeded to describe a patient who had glaucoma and also had many family members who developed glaucoma at a young age. Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Dr. Alward's daughter, Dr. Erin Boese, also studies and operates on glaucoma patients. Because of this gentleman's family and another family, Dr. Alward and others have been able to study the genetics of glaucoma with the end goal of making better treatments. Current treatments may include medical management (e.g., drops) to lower eye pressure and surgical treatment. Dr. Alward's presentation about how "following a family with inherited glaucoma has led to the discovery of an important gene for glaucoma" which has important ramifications going forward, was fascinating.
President Jenny Seylar opened the meeting to order at 7:05 a.m. Guests included John Mark Stensvag (spouse of Nancy) and Dr. Lee Alward (speaker). In Rotarians in the news, Jim Petersen had a letter to the editor published in the Des Moines Register about the environment (focusing on water). The year ender potluck is June 28 at Ann Romanowski's home. June 15 is the deadline to contribute to the Rotary Foundation and Polio. Can recycling was moved to Saturday. Nancy Pacha announced that the West High Interact Club will again do the Walk for Water to the Burlington Street Bridge. Deb Ockenfels announced that the Flight to End Polio is on Schedule and it was noted the pilots are now in Aqaba, Jordan. Alta stated that Truman is doing much better. The meeting adjourned at 8:00.