Prevent Blindness implements Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee to combat diabetes-related eye diseases

The committee is solely made up of volunteers that are leaders in ophthalmology, optometry, public health, and the vision and eye health industry. Image credit: AdobeStock/deagreez

Prevent Blindness has created a new advisory committee in order to provide guidance to the organization for the implementation of diabetes and eye health programming and education.¹ The Prevent Blindness Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee will work to help the organization increase awareness and early identification of diabetes-related eye diseases, improve access to eye care treatment, policy development, research, and surveillance, according to a news release.

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

The committee is solely made up of volunteers that are leaders in ophthalmology, optometry, public health, and the vision and eye health industry. Leaders of nonprofit organizations that specialize in diabetes education, vision rehabilitation, and patient advocacy also hold positions on the committee, with patients living with diabetes and their allies also being represented.¹

Members of the committee are as follows:

• Karen Allison, MD, MBA, FACS – Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Prevent Blindness Scientific Committee Chair and Prevent Blindness Board of Directors member
• Meagan Baker, OD, FAAO – Cherry Health, Heart of the City Health Center
• Premilla Banwait, OD, MPH, FAAO – UnitedHealthcare Vision
• Geoffrey E. Bradford, MD, MS – West Virginia University Eye Institute
• Jim Brocato – Ocular Therapeutix and Prevent Blindness Board of Directors member
• M. Odette Brown – American Diabetes Association
• Jacobi Cleaver, OD, FAAO – BlackEyeCare Perspective
• Roberto Díaz-Rohena, MD – University of Texas Health Science Center- San Antonio, Audie Murphy Veterans Administration 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 – College of Optometry, University of Missouri-St. Louis
• Nicole Pogue, OD, FAAO – New England College of Optometry
• Rajeev S. Ramchandran, MD, MBA – Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center
• Pat Segu, OD, FAAO, ABO – College of Optometry, University of Houston
• Carolina Solis-Herrera, MD, DABOM, DMDNO – Center for Metabolic Health, University of Texas Health San Antonio
• Serena Valentine – CORE Initiative
• Mary Kate Walters, OD, FAAO – VIEW Optometry, University of Houston College of Optometry, Northside Eye Care

Other members of the committee include patient advocates Tamara Joseph, Prevent Blindness ASPECT Patient Engagement Program graduated, and Jennifer Kim. Representatives from Prevent Blindness Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin are also represented on the committee.¹

The advisory committee will be taking on a total of 3 new initiatives with the goal of reducing diabetes-related eye disease, the first being a refining of systems of care in North Carolina Community Health Centers in partnership with Prevent Blindness North Carolina and with support from UnitedHealthcare. This particular project will test new educational materials for parents of children with diabetes and young adults, expanding tele-retinal screenings for patients under 40 in community health centers, and improving care coordination.¹

Additionally, the committee will be developing and launching a bilingual Prevent Blindness Eye Health Audio Library, which will provide short educational content based on the voice requests of the user. The platform is currently in the final stage of testing and will be launched in clinical settings with participating affiliates and partners. Support for this project is provided by Regeneron and Genentech.¹

Finally, the committee will also be creating a modular education program for eye care providers and allied health professionals that focuses on patient-centered, bias-free care. The modules are currently in development and have been informed by extensive community-based research, which includes key informant interviews and focus groups across 5 states to identify gaps in care and patient experiences. The modules will be launched through the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology’s ophthalmic tech Continuing Education Unit program, in addition to the American Optometric Association’s paraoptometric Continuing Education Unit program. This program is also supported by Regeneron and Genentech.¹

More information on Prevent Blindness’s Diabetes + the Eyes program can be found on the organization’s website.¹

Reference:

1. Prevent Blindness announces new Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee. News release. Prevent Blindness. August 12, 2025. Accessed August 13, 2025.