Dr. Bird receives AAO's highest honor

San Francisco

-The American Academy of Ophthalmology's (AAO) highest honor-the 2008 Laureate Recognition Award-has been awarded to Alan C. Bird, MD, for his distinguished career and contributions to ophthalmology. The award will be presented at this year's joint meeting with the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) in Atlanta.

"Dr. Bird is recognized worldwide as a pioneer in ophthalmic research, teaching and clinical medicine," said David Parke, MD, president of the AAO. "In recognition of his contributions to the profession of ophthalmology, we acknowledge the debt we all owe to him for his commitment, which has enabled many of his students to leave their mark on the field."

 Dr. Bird's expertise is in the treatment of retinal vascular disease and genetic and degenerative retinal disorders and has published numerous papers on the topics. His research has made major contributions to the understanding of retinal disease such as retinal dystrophies and age-related macular degeneration.

Earning his medical degree from Guy's Hospital Medical School, London, in 1961 Dr. Bird came to the United States in 1968 under a fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. Upon returning to London in 1969, he was appointed to the Institute of Ophthalmology as lecturer, and subsequently senior lecturer, reader and professor, and consultant at Moorfields Eye Hospital, where he established a specialized clinical service for retinal disease.