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UPDATE to the membership, which would later take the form of clinical alerts sent via fax and email, about issues that might be occurring with certain devices, implants, or procedures. Dr. Drews also served on the American Board of Ophthalmology's Board of Directors from 1985–1992. From 1980–1984, Dr. Drews was president of the International Intra- Ocular Implant Club, and from 1991–1993 he served as president of the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology. Dr. Drews earned his undergrad- uate and medical degrees at Wash- ington University, St. Louis, and also did his ophthalmology residency at the Washington University School of Medicine from 1956–1959, serv- ing as chief resident in his last year. Following this, Dr. Drews served in the Navy Reserves for 2 years, after which he returned to St. Louis, en- tered private practice, and taught at Washington University, the univer- sity's obituary for Dr. Drews stated. Dr. Drews maintained involve- ment with his alma mater and was also active with the St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired with his father, Leslie Drews, MD, who was also an ophthalmologist. The society's Low Vision Clinic was later named after the Drews in honor of their contributions to the society, which spanned 6 decades. Dr. Drews served on the society's Board of Directors from 1962–2005. Dr. Drews received several hon- ors for his contributions to the field. In 1982, he was presented with the ASCRS Binkhorst Medal for research on explanted IOLs; he delivered the Binkhorst Lecture on "Lens Implant Quality and Changing Indications." According to Washington Univer- sity, Dr. Drews was also honored in his career by the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, the Irish Ophthalmological Society, the United Kingdom Cataract and Refractive Surgery Society, and the Societa Oftalmologica Italiana, in addition to recognition from his alma mater. According to the university's obituary, Dr. Drews was preceded in death by his wife, Lorene Drews. He is survived by his four chil- dren, 10 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Dr. Drews donated his body to the university's School of Medicine, and a memorial service was held on May 27. In his own words as reported in a book commemorating the 25th anniversary of ASCRS in 1999, Dr. Drews described his life as "unusually full, productive, and rewarding." "He will be missed by all lucky enough to have known him," Dr. Hoffer said. EW Dr. Drews described as "a genuine and really wonderful human being" R obert Drews, MD, St. Louis, one of the founding Scientific Advisory Board members and among the first presidents of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, died May 9, 2017, at 86 years old. Dr. Drews is considered a pio- neer in the early years of the Amer- ican Intra-Ocular Implant Society (AIOIS), which later became ASCRS. Dr. Drews served on the AIOIS Sci- entific Advisory Board, was its third president from 1977–1979, and was editor of the AIOIS Journal in 1977. "Bob was a very thoughtful indi- vidual who contributed a great deal in the early organization of AIOIS," said David Karcher, ASCRS execu- tive director. "I could always count on him for a reasoned response to any issue or question that arose during my early years with the orga- nization." Kenneth Hoffer, MD, founder and first president of AIOIS, said the time when Dr. Drews was president of the society was "heaven on Earth for me." Dr. Hoffer described Dr. Drews as a peaceful and calming influence, "a genuine and really wonderful human being." "He never spoke unless he had something worthwhile to say. Many times it would be critical … but he was always on point, succinct, and very logical in the way he would present what he had to say," Dr. Hoffer recalled. While president of ASCRS, Dr. Drews helped ensure the availability of IOLs in the U.S. market, facilitat- ing lobbying for the Medical Device Act Amendments of 1978, designing FDA study protocols for IOL investi- gations, and helping secure medical reimbursement. Dr. Hoffer said that under Dr. Drews' presidency, he approved the mailing of emergency alert postcards by Liz Hillman EyeWorld Staff Writer Remembering founding Board member and third ASCRS president Robert Drews, MD Robert Drews, MD TO VIEW THE CURRENT AND PAST ISSUES OF EYEWORLD VISIT DIGITAL.EYEWORLD.ORG

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