The Annual Arthur and Esther Kane Lectureship | Dr. Emily Chew (l) with Mr. and Mrs. Kane |
This year’s celebration of the sixth annual Arthur and Esther Kane Lectureship, made possible by the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Kane through their longstanding partnership with the Department of Ophthalmology, took place at the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center on the Northwestern medical campus on Wednesday, October 21. Together with approximately 40 guests, the Kanes enjoyed a short reception, followed by an exciting, informative lecture given by guest speaker Emily Chew, MD. Dr. Chew’s current positions with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as the deputy director of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, and the deputy clinical director at the National Eye Institute (NEI) allow her to conduct groundbreaking studies at the forefront of the ophthalmological fields in which she trained. After a brief introduction by Lee M. Jampol, MD, Louis Feinberg, MD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Chew shared with an audience of Northwestern faculty, staff, students, patients, and friends a rousing lecture about her revolutionary research into connections between nutrition and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Dr. Chew is currently conducting a study on the effects of high supplemental doses of dietary xanthophylls (minerals found in certain brightly-colored fruits and vegetables) and omega-3 fatty acids on the development of advanced AMD, and cataract and moderate vision loss associated with AMD. Attendees were left appreciative of the approachable presentation, which spurred a discussion session that extended the lecture.Since 2002, the Kanes have supported the Arthur and Esther Kane Lectureship on New Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Retinal Diseases. Such dedicated philanthropy annually brings leading researchers to Northwestern who provide their expertise and help stimulate our research efforts. | 
