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A Note from our Executive Director
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Executive Director
Cindy Reed, RN, PhD
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I am looking forward to a very productive 2018 here at ILEB, especially within our ever-growing research program. The Iowa Lions Legacy Project is focused on advancing the research efforts of ILEB by providing funding for much-needed equipment, and have pledged $65,000 to the Eye Bank. We learned at the Lions Clubs of Iowa Mid-Winter Leadership Conference that an incredible $57,000 has already been raised. Our Lions rock!
With this funding, ILEB has been able to purchase an Imaging System and plans to use the additional funds to purchase a Fluorescence microscope and qPCR machine. The article below outlines the functionality and benefits of these essential additions to our research capabilities.
We are in the process of choosing a new vendor for our database as the system we have used since 2010 is being absorbed into another company. We are fortunate to have IT and purchasing experts to help us since is a complicated decision and we are working hard to make the right choice.
Another focus for 2018 is growing the ILEB volunteer program. We were very fortunate to welcome the Tau Chapter of Delta Gamma at the end of January to help us package the bereavement folders that are sent to each donor family. We greatly appreciate their time and effort. We are always looking for groups or individuals to help us with projects. Please reach out to us if you are interested in volunteering!
There is a lot happening in eye banking-we invite you to visit us anytime you are in the area and catch up! Our staff continues to work hard, and this month we are having a chili cook-off with a few surprise judges. Look out Scott Van Oss, (last year's winner) the competition is coming!
We are also excited to welcome a new Director of Constituent Relations to our senior leadership team, Ashley Funkhauser. Ashley formerly served as the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, and previous to that was the Marketing Coordinator for UIHC Volunteer Services. We are delighted that Ashley is bringing her leadership, constituent relations, marketing, fundraising, and volunteer experience to help us accomplish our mission to enhance the quality of life through the restoration and preservation of sight.
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The Iowa Lions Foundation recently voted to award $30,000 of the $65,000 they are raising for the Iowa Lions Legacy Project to support the Iowa Lions Eye Bank research team. This funding allowed ILEB to purchase a much-needed piece of research equipment, the Chemidoc MP Imaging System. This is critical for our research into diabetes, which is rising in the population and can present complications for corneal transplants, both for diabetic donors and for diabetic recipients.
On Friday, January 26, 2018, Iowa Lions Foundation President, Alan Olson visited ILEB for an intimate dedication of the Chemidoc Imager with ILEB Associate Medical Director, Dr. Mark Greiner, ILEB Executive Director, Cindy Reed, PhD, and staff members from The University of Iowa Center for Advancement.
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From left: Dr. Mark Greiner, ILEB Associate Medical Director, Iowa Lions Foundation President, Alan Olson, and Cindy Reed, ILEB Executive Director during the dedication of the Chemidoc Imager
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The research and breakthroughs that ILEB will be able to uncover through the use of the Chemidoc Imager fit perfectly into the Lions Centennial Service Challenge in which two of the five areas of focus are diabetes and vision.
Currently, a total of $57,000 of the $65,000 pledged has been raised. The additional funds will be used by ILEB to purchase a Leica Fluorescence microscope and a qPCR machine. The Fluorescence microscope will allow our research team to visualize the organization and function of corneal cells and the protein expressions and locations within those cells. The qPCR will allow us to look more specifically at the DNA within cells which will allow us to find characteristics and traits among different populations and whether or not someone is susceptible to certain diseases.
Individuals, districts, and clubs that each raised over $1000 for the Legacy Project (pictured below) were honored with a banner patch during the Iowa Lions Mid-Winter Convention. ILEB would like to send them a special thank you for all of their hard work.
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From left: Earl Possehn Jr., Fort Dodge Evening Lions; Jess Lewis, Fort Dodge Noon Lions; Betty Shutters, Urbandale Lions; DG Darwin Meyer, District 9NC; PDG Bill Shutters, Urbandale Lions; DG Chris Anderson, District 9SW; DG Judy Stone, Marshalltown Evening Lions
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Paul Fugate, Trustee of the Iowa Lions Foundation and Vice President of the Mount Vernon Lions Club stopped by ILEB on Thursday, January 25, 2018 to see the new Chemidoc Imager. We encourage all Lions who would like to see our facilities and learn more about our research efforts to give us a call and schedule a tour!
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Trustee Paul Fugate with the Chemidoc MP Imager
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Kyle "Gibby" Vosberg (October 11, 1996 - February 12, 2016)
On February 12, 2016, Kyle Vosberg lost his life in a tragic car accident at the young age of 19. Kyle was the middle child of his Potosi, Wisconsin family, and left behind his father, David "Bubba" Vosberg, his mother and stepfather Lisa and Eric "Benny" Gozinger and two sisters Katie and Kalynn. Survivors also include a large extended family and many friends.
Kyle graduated from Potosi High school in 2015, and was a proud member of the Potosi football team. He gave it his all each Friday night on the football field and then worked at his job on a local farm every Saturday and Sunday. He planned to attend Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for the lineman program in August of 2016.
Kyle was known as a thoughtful and caring gentle giant, famous for his "bear hugs." Kyle's mom Lisa said, "When Kyle would hug somebody, he hugged them like it mattered. Because to him, it did. You know they mattered. And so I guess that's why everybody thought those hugs were so special."
As a way to honor Kyle's memory, his family started the Kyle Vosberg Bear Hug Scholarship in 2016 for Potosi graduating seniors planning to pursue a college certificate or degree. There is no grade point minimum requirement for the scholarship; they look for a student who exemplifies Kyle's heart of gold and his willingness to help others.
Kyle's community also rallied around his family after his passing. The city of Potosi renamed its annual Christmas tree "Kyle's Tree" in his honor. Community members donate money for strands of lights or lighted presents that surround the tree, and all proceeds from the tree go to local families in need.
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Kyle's Family in front of "Kyle's Tree" in Potosi, WI
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When former University of Iowa resident and fellow Dr. Matthew Ward needed corneal tissue for transplants during a recent mission trip to Swaziland with The Luke Commission (TLC), he immediately reached out to the Iowa Lions Eye Bank.
Dr. Ward was the cornea fellow at the University of Iowa from 2012 to 2013, and worked very closely with the Iowa Lions Eye Bank during that time. "I consider ILEB to be the best in the business, and feel very fortunate to use ILEB tissue for my patients in private practice," said Ward.
This was not the first time ILEB supplied tissue to help restore sight in Swaziland. In 2014, Iowa City surgeon Dr. Alex Cohen was the first surgeon to operate with The Luke Commission, and performed the first Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP) surgery in the country. Dr. Cohen introduced Dr. Ward to TLC when they were both residents at the University of Iowa. Dr. Ward now travels annually to Swaziland with TLC to help fulfill its mission of delivering compassionate, comprehensive healthcare to rural communities in Southern Africa.
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ILEB welcomed volunteers from the University of Iowa Tau Chapter of Delta Gamma on Friday, January 26th. They packaged the bereavement folders that are sent out to all of our donor families, and prepared correspondence packets that provide each cornea recipient win the information, materials, and encouragement to write a personal thank you note to their donor family.
Three shifts of four volunteers each were able to package enough folders to last us through the end of the year! Their dedication and hard work is greatly appreciated by all ILEB staff.
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Donate Life month is right around the corner. Help us spread awareness and honor our donors!
Across the state of Iowa, hospitals are planning a wide range of activities to promote eye, organ, and tissue awareness during April for Donate Life Month.
The ILEB Constituent Relations team is happy to speak and have a presence at any and all Donate Life Month events and engagements. Please reach out to your representative to schedule a presentation today.
Eastern Iowa:
Ashley Dockendorf
ashley-dockendorf@uiowa.edu
319-335-4087 |
Western Iowa:
Ellie Engelbrecht
ellie-engelbrecht@uiowa.edu
515-235-4690 |
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Iowa Lions Eye Bank partners:
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Iowa Lions Eye Bank | 319-335-4888 |
info@iowalionseyebank.org |
www.iowalionseyebank.org
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