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UPDATE 12 Dr. Boyd directed the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology for 25 years, was founder and publisher of Highlights of Ophthalmology B enjamin Boyd, MD, died on Feb. 5, 2018, at 93 years old. "He was a grand guy," said David Karcher, out- going executive director of ASCRS. "I loved spending time with him. He was gregarious and very dedicated to ophthalmology, to the profession." Those who knew Dr. Boyd say he was best known for Highlights of Ophthalmology, a journal that began production in the 1950s. He also authored several dozen hard cover volumes, including the three-vol- ume set Modern Ophthalmology: The Highlights, which describes the 60-year evolution of ophthalmology from 1950 to 2010. "He was a giant in his field, real- izing very early that timely dissemi- nation of information was extreme- ly important," Jack Dodick, MD, New York, said of Dr. Boyd, noting that they first met in the late 1970s when Dr. Boyd asked Dr. Dodick to contribute to Highlights of Ophthal- mology. "Resultantly, his tabloid version of Highlights was disseminat- ed bimonthly to ophthalmologists worldwide and published in five languages. Later, this tabloid mor- phed into 33 hard cover volumes of Highlights published throughout the years." Maurice Luntz, MD, New York, who was a close friend of Dr. Boyd's, also said he considers Highlights of Ophthalmology to be Dr. Boyd's biggest contribution to the field. Dr. Luntz described it as a journal created to "accurately disseminate the most up-to-date discoveries and concepts in ophthalmology in an easily readable but scientifically accurate format." William De La Peña, MD, Montebello, California, described Dr. Boyd as "one of the most in- fluential authors in the history of ophthalmology." In addition to leading the field with information, Dr. Boyd provided leadership in several notable societ- ies. He served as executive director of the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology for 25 years and was president from 1987–89. According to an introduction in Modern Ophthalmology: The High- lights Volume III, Dr. Boyd served as professor of ophthalmology at the University of Panama School of Medicine from 1954–1968, followed by dean of the same institution from 1969–1970. He was a diplomat of the American Board of Ophthal- mology, served as president of the Academy of Medicine and Surgery in Panama, and founded the Pana- manian Society of Ophthalmology. Dr. De La Peña said Dr. Boyd was an honorary life member of the Ameri- can Academy of Ophthalmology. He received the inaugural Benja- min F. Boyd Humanitarian Award and Gold Medal from the Pan-Amer- ican Association of Ophthalmology in 1987, the International Duke Elder Medal from the Internation- al Council of Ophthalmology, the Leslie Dana Gold Medal from the St. Louis Society for the Blind, and the Senior Honor Award from the Amer- ican Academy of Ophthalmology, among many other honors. Dr. Boyd received his medical degree from Northwestern Universi- ty, Chicago, completed residency in Baltimore, and founded his practice, La Clínica Boyd, in Panama in 1955. Dr. Luntz remembered a story from Dr. Boyd's residency years in Bal- timore. Dr. Boyd was invited to go sailing on a yacht and beforehand went to a men's outfitter to be fitted for an appropriate sailing outfit. "He duly arrives at the yacht dressed in his new outfit and, much to his chagrin, does not find any sign of an easy chair or a server with drinks and snacks, and discovered that he is to pitch in and work the sails," Dr. Luntz said. "His first experience of the American way." He also recalled the reception he and his wife received when visit- ing Panama for the first time. "When we had landed and reached the gate, we were held back from disembarking by the air hostess," Dr. Luntz said. "When we were finally allowed to disembark and reached the aircraft door, we discovered a lineup of soldiers to welcome us and escort us to our hotel. This was Ben Boyd's way of a welcome, but it also attested to his influence in the government of Panama and the respect with which he was held." "Ben Boyd will be sorely missed not only for his warm friendship but also for his wise counsel," Dr. Luntz said. "He had the great gift of being able to fix things." Eduardo Alfonso, MD, Miami, first met Dr. Boyd when Dr. Alfonso was a resident at Bascom Palmer in 1981. "At the time, Dr. Boyd was a leader in ophthalmology in Latin America," Dr. Alfonso said. "Dr. Boyd encouraged the growth and recognition of ophthalmology in Panama and the Americas by his involvement and leadership in the Pan-American Association of Oph- thalmology. … I will always recall his politeness and warmth when he spoke to me about his interests in ophthalmology. His legacy will always be remembered." "If I could find some words to describe him, they would be 'pas- sionate, very focused, and wise,'" Dr. De La Peña said. "He also had a special presence you could feel when you were with him." EW Reference Boyd B. Modern Ophthalmology: The High- lights. P. xi–xii. by Liz Hillman EyeWorld Staff Writer Ophthalmic community remembers Benjamin Boyd, MD Dr. Alfonso, Dr. Boyd, and Ana Luisa Hofling-Lima, MD, in Panama in 2015 Source: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Benjamin Boyd, MD Source: William De La Peña, MD " If I could find some words to describe him, they would be 'passionate, very focused, and wise.' " —William De La Peña, MD

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