Eyeworld

UPDATE humanitarian care, physician edu- cation, and research investment in your own specialty? The ASCRS Foundation staff and board would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Cionni, and all of our donors, who make the Foundation's work possible. To learn more, visit www.ascrs- foundation.org. EW Contact information Cionni: rcionni@theeyeinstitute.com Zundel: nzundel@ascrs.org the point of crying. These programs provide needed care to those who would otherwise go throughout life blind. It also gives me the benefit of knowing I have used my skills to help. I truly believe I get more out of it than the patients do—there is no better feeling in the world. ASCRS Foundation: What would you tell an ASCRS member who is thinking about making a gift to the Foundation? Dr. Cionni: What other charity can you support that provides real by Natalie Zundel ASCRS Foundation Development Director work through them. But I really un- derstood the work the Foundation is doing after becoming involved in the leadership at ASCRS. ASCRS Foundation: Why did you decide to give to the ASCRS Foundation? Dr. Cionni: I know first-hand the good these philanthropic funds provide to patients in need. Just learning more about the programs and how the dollars were used was all I needed to make the decision to give. ASCRS Foundation: One of our focus areas is humanitarian eyecare. How important are the programs— in the U.S. and Ethiopia—that serve those in need? Dr. Cionni: I have participated in the Foundation's Operation Sight program and provided numerous surgeries in my community. I have seen patients who lost their jobs due to poor eyesight regain employ- ment. I have seen them elated to Highlighting a donor in celebration of National Thank You Month A s immediate past presi- dent of the ASCRS Exec- utive Committee, ASCRS members know Robert Cionni, MD, The Eye Institute of Utah, Salt Lake City. In addition to his volunteer leadership, Dr. Cionni has been a dedicated ASCRS member for more than 27 years. He is a leading authority in re- fractive cataract surgery, pioneering some of the most advanced cataract and implant techniques. Dr. Cionni has also been a generous supporter of the ASCRS Foundation since 2010. Since Janu- ary is National Thank You Month, the ASCRS Foundation wanted to honor him by asking him to share more about himself and why he goes above and beyond as a donor. ASCRS Foundation: Tell us a bit about yourself. Dr. Cionni: I grew up in Cincinna- ti, Ohio and practiced there for 20 years before moving to Salt Lake City in 2009. I am now the medical director of The Eye Institute of Utah. ASCRS Foundation: How did you first hear about the ASCRS Foundation? Dr. Cionni: I worked closely with the Moran Eye Center, which is a partner of the ASCRS Foundation, so I first heard of the Foundation's Spotlight on a sight giver: Robert Cionni, MD This column provides ongoing insights into the work of the ASCRS Foundation, whose mission is to provide humanitarian eyecare to those in need, in the U.S. and internationally, as well as to promote physician education and fund innovative research. The ASCRS Foundation accomplishes this through the generosity of ASCRS members, industry partners, and those who share its passion for restoring sight. Robert Cionni, MD

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