Barbara Klein and Paul Kaufman named ARVO 2009 Fellows

Madison, WI - The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology has announced this year's inaugural class of distinguished Fellows. Barbara Klein, M.D. M.P.H, professor in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Paul Kaufman, M.D., professor and chair of the Department, were among the group of members recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and contributions to the Association.

Klein received her M.D. from New York University School of Medicine and her master's in public health from the University of North Carolina, School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology. Klein completed a residency in preventive medicine at the University of North Carolina Memorial Hospital as well as a residency in ophthalmology at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. Klein's research includes epidemiologic studies of eye diseases including the Beaver Dam Eye Study, the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy, Genetic Studies of Ocular Traits and Diseases, and studies of microvascular characteristics of the retina as relates to cardiovascular disease.

Kaufman received his M.D. from the New York School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Kaufman's research includes many issues involving the aging of the eye in the non- human primate. He is seeking to understand and develop new therapies for the human eye diseases of glaucoma and presbyopia.

The ARVO fellows will be officially inducted at the Association's Annual Meeting in May. ARVO congratulates the Fellows and thanks them for their dedication. The UW Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has been recognized as a leader in patient care, research and education. Our physicians, optometrists and researchers are dedicated to preventing vision loss and disability.

As an academic health care system, the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences trains residents and fellows, as well as providing clinical experience to medical students.

The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include some 12,500 eye and vision researchers from over 73 countries. The Association encourages and assists research, training, publication and dissemination of knowledge in vision and ophthalmology. For more information, visit arvo.org.