Message From the Chair: A Fond Farewell

It’s hard to believe it’s been 46 years since I started practicing at the University of Utah as a one-person division in the Department of Surgery.

It seems like only yesterday that I was seeing patients in a pair of tiny rooms at the main hospital with a few colleagues who shared my dream of building an eye center. From day one, I knew we needed to swing for the fences to make progress against blinding eye diseases; and, indeed, our amazing patients and generous donor community handed us the bat.

Your support allowed the John A. Moran Eye Center to become what it is today: an internationally recognized, premier eye center lauded for excellence in specialty care, research, education, and outreach.

I have always believed my job has been to recruit the best and brightest doctors, researchers, and staff and then get out of their way. It’s worked—what they’ve accomplished is nothing short of incredible. It has been an absolute joy to see how they have been at the forefront of advances in vision research and care. They have improved cataract surgery for millions by testing intraocular lenses, created the world’s first map of the circuitry of the retina, developed potential new therapies for age-related macular degeneration, and increased access to care at home and worldwide through our landmark global outreach program.

I could not be prouder of all that we’ve achieved. They say that foundations must be built before bridges can be crossed. There are countless people I want to thank whose support was critical to creating a solid foundation: My family, the University of Utah, colleagues around the country, faculty, staff, donors, and dear friends who have believed in the dream, championed Moran’s work, and provided the resources we’ve needed to excel. I am forever grateful to all of you.

Now on the cusp of my 78th birthday, it’s time for me to pass the bat to a new leader who can capitalize on our momentum, swing for different fences, and take the eye center to new heights.

I will remain head of the department through early 2025, as University of Utah Health conducts a national search for a new chair. That person will carry forward our vision of providing hope, understanding, and treatment for anyone facing an eye disease, visual impairment, or blinding condition.

As we begin a new chapter, I want to assure everyone that the Moran Eye Center is as strong as it has ever been. We are ready to cross the bridge into a new era of growth and development. I am confident that with your continued support, the leadership we have in place, and ambitious plans for the future, Moran will not only survive, but thrive.

Our future is bright.

Our research program continues to expand with exceptional new faculty members taking us into exciting new research areas.

We are building new clinic spaces to meet the growing demand for our care, ranked No. 10 nationwide by U.S. News & World Report.

Our residency program had nearly 700 applications for four spots and is ranked No. 6 nationwide by Doximity.com.

Our outreach program is restoring vision for more people than ever before, especially here in Utah. My dear friend Alan Crandall, MD, would be happy to see the impact we are making in our community and globally.

It is difficult for me to say goodbye to a career and community I have loved. I am grateful to all of you for everything you have done to support me over the years. It has been the journey of a lifetime.

Yours,

Randall J Olson, MD

Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

The Cumming Presidential Endowed Chair

CEO, John A. Moran Eye Center Director, University of Utah Vision Institute

2025 Moran Advisory Council

TONI BLOOMBERG, La Jolla, California

WILLIAM “BILL” CHILD, Salt Lake City, Utah

THOMAS “TIM” DEE III, Salt Lake City, Utah

CHRISTENA HUNTSMAN DURHAM, Salt Lake City, Utah

WAYNE A. IMBRESCIA, John A. Moran Eye Center

CLAUDIA S. LUTTRELL, Salt Lake City, Utah

RANDALL J OLSON, MD, John A. Moran Eye Center

LYNN WARD, John A. Moran Eye Center

NORM A. ZABRISKIE, MD, John A. Moran Eye Center