Utah Lions Eye Bank Spring 2015

Celebration of Life Monument Rededication The Celebration of Life Monument in Salt Lake City, Utah, was redesigned and rededicated on September 20th, 2014. Originally dedicated in 2004, this is the only monument of its kind in the United States and currently bears 5,445 names of individuals who have given the gift of life through donation, including living donors.

To honor the heroes who have donated, please contact the Celebration of Life Monument staff at 801.478.7361 or email [email protected]. New names will be engraved on the Wall of Honor once a year. Please have all submissions made by June 1st of each year to include the name of your loved one in the annual August engraving.

The original monument featured curved panes of glass set in concrete. These curved panes of glass would crack due to the extreme temperature changes in Utah’s weather. The redesigned Monument now features straight glass panels that are mounted above ground to allow for expansion and contraction as the weather changes throughout the year. The rededication ceremony held on September 20th, 2014 provided an opportunity for both donor families as well as transplant recipients to gather in remembrance and gratitude for the sacrifices made by Utah’s organ and tissue donors. The ceremony included addresses from donor families and recipients, as well as former Salt Lake City Mayor, Rocky Anderson, who was a driving force to bring the Celebration of Life Monument to fruition during his service as mayor.

CTM Receives Record Donations page 2 - 3

Welcome New Eye Bank Team Members page 4

Dates to Remember page 5

New, Re-dedicated Monument Design

Old Monument Design

Heart of the Lion page 5

Friends of the Eye Bank page 6

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Record donations in 2014 marked milestones for The Utah Lions Eye Bank (ULEB) and Moran’s Center for Translational Medicine (CTM) Due to the concerted efforts and strong collaboration This simple approach was the key to Dr. Hageman’s with the ULEB, the CTM reached a milestone in 2014 career, leading to many landmark discoveries and as well, receiving eye tissues dedicated for research making him of one of the most respected scientists purposes from over 2,000 donors since 2010. In four in the field today. years, the team has almost doubled the donations that The increase in donations previously took over 20 here at Moran has occurred years to recover. Now at in large part due the efforts 6,000-plus pairs of eyes, of the ULEB and the CTM this priceless collection is collaborating as a team. the largest research eye Lisa Nichols, Program tissue repository in the Coordinator for the CTM, world—the next largest is is the liaison between the just a few hundred—and ULEB and the CTM and for most of the donors, is in charge of gathering there are also detailed and collecting the clinical patient histories and data for the eye donors. genetic profiles attached, She garners all the ocular providing much needed records, medical records, Norma Jean Miller, MPH, & Marc Toso, PhD scientific resources to talks to families in order to study age-related macular acquire detailed medical degeneration (AMD) and other devastating ocular histories, and maintains a comprehensive database diseases. with all the donor information. Norma Jean Miller, MPH, Senior Laboratory Specialist, manages the eye Age-related macular degeneration is a potentially donor tissue repository, contained in twelve minus blinding eye disease that affects the macula, which is 80-degree Celsius freezers and three very large the small center of the retina in the back of the eye 4-degree Celsius freezers. She keeps detailed records responsible for seeing color and fine detail. No other of all samples received and used at the CTM. Marc organism on earth has AMD—making it essential for Toso, PhD, Senior Laboratory Specialist, is in charge any scientist studying AMD to work with donated of scheduling staff for eye-call and performs much of human tissue. Gregory Hageman, PhD, John A. Moran the microscopy and morphology imaging on tissue Presidential Professor, Department of Ophthalmology used for standard cell biology work. The team of and Visual Sciences, and Director, Moran Center for scientists at the CTM continues to conduct extensive Translational Research in Salt Lake City, Utah, has molecular and protein research, utilizing samples devoted the bulk of his career to AMD research in from the repository. the hopes of identifying targets and developing treatments that could halt or delay the progression In addition to working closely with the CTM, the ULEB of this blinding disease. networks with staff from organizations throughout the state. The protocol for acquiring donor tissue is Dr. Hageman and his team have been collecting tissue lengthy and requires genuine care and compassion. donations since 1989 when he started examining the The ULEB staff consult with the donor family within biology of AMD in human eyes. The general concept moments after death to ask for donations and to was a simple one: acquire enough eyes from donors obtain consent. “It takes a very special person who had prior clinical histories of AMD and compare to do this, and the ULEB staff members do a them to donors who didn’t have the disease in order wonderful job,” says Nichols. to identify important new AMD-associated pathways. Continued pg. 3

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Record donations in 2014 marked milestones for The Utah Lions Eye Bank (ULEB) and Moran’s Center for Translational Medicine (CTM)

Congratulations to the Utah Lions Eye Bank for harvesting 2,810 tissue donations in 2014- a record year! See the chart above for tissue volume and growth since 1992. CTM also reached a milestone and received eyes from over 2,000 donors since 2010. The CTM staff members are on call 24 -7—including holidays—52 weeks per year, to receive and process eye tissue that is donated for research. The team processes the fresh tissue within one to four-and a-half hours postmortem, which is a key aspect of this collection. This allows for maximum sample quality and superior data. If you wait too long, the tissue degrades and sample quality is compromised. Processed fixed tissue is submerged in a chemical to use for microscopy imaging, while fresh tissue is flash frozen in liquid nitrogen and used for genetic, cell biological, and molecular studies. The more donor data and medical history collected, the more valuable the tissue is for AMD research. “To answer a question experimentally, you can’t use just one eye; you can’t do the statistics because we are looking for specific things,” says Toso. “This collection enables us to answer many scientific questions that can’t be answered physically anywhere else due to limitations to resources.” Microscopy photos, clinical ophthalmology photos, and genetic data, all provide a detailed picture of the degree of AMD research. And incredibly, Hageman reviews every piece of

data derived from every piece of tissue and knows the history and profile of every donor. The team, the numbers, the process, the data, the Utah Population Database, the CTM, and the scrupulous scientific research conducted by Hageman’s team provide real hope that cures for AMD will emerge from the CTM. “What it means to reach this milestone is profound,” says Miller. “I am proud to be part of this team and yet extremely humbled by it. Without the Lions Eye Bank and the sacrifices the families make, we simply couldn’t do what we do—it’s hard to wrap your mind around it. This is amazing team effort.” “One donor’s family wrote in his obituary, 'His last act of love was to donate tissue to the Lions Eye Bank,' says Nichols. “The beauty of donation is that it represents a mother or father or son or daughter who lives on by playing a major role in the quest to find cures for a blinding eye disease,” says Hageman. “It isn’t an easy decision for grieving families to make, but it is profound, and we are so grateful for these gifts.”

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ULEB Welcomes New Team Members Shauna Ayres is originally from a tiny town near Seattle, WA called Snoqualmie, but has resided in Taylorsville, Utah for 14 years. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion and Education and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, both from the University of Utah. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). She enjoys hiking, backpacking, cycling, and most activities outdoors, preferably when it is warm. She loves spending time with her dog Beau. She is looking forward to earning a Master's in Public Health and eventually spending some time abroad studying and improving mental health policies and systems in under-served regions.

Jared Brown is new to the world of Eye Banking, and really excited about being associated with the Utah Lions Eye Bank organization. He comes from a medical background having previously worked as a phlebotomist. Currently he is working on an undergraduate in pre-medical physics at the U. He enjoys spending time with his wife Kadie and with friends. He also enjoys eating, space exploration, hiking, camping, fishing, playing guitar in bands and playing with his dog Nina.

Angie Ouellette is a fresh transplant from California who is very excited to be a part of the wonderful team at Utah Lions Eye Bank. She has a history in social work and is passionate about working with people. She loves to spend her time roaming the trails and parks that surround the city with her dog Lucy. She also enjoys working part time at a local frame shop and has loved exploring local art and music scenes.

Stephanie Schott is originally from Greenwater, Washington and is currently a student at the University of Utah majoring in Health Promotion and Business and minoring in Pediatric Research. Stephanie is an avid skier, hiker, biker, and climber and is absolutely loving exploring around Utah! She loves to spend time outside in the mountains with her yellow lab Sunny or curled up with a good book about mountaineering or traveling. She is super excited to be joining the awesome team at the Utah Lions Eye Bank!

Ashlee Bright has worked for IHC for 9 years, 7 of which have been in the ER in Murray and plans to start Nursing School in the near future. She loves yoga, running, hiking, and just started mountain biking this last summer. She has a chocolate lab that is six years old. She enjoys taking trips to visit friends in the summer and looks forward to being a part of the Eye Bank.

Nisa Fraser is happy to join the Utah Lions Eye Bank from Alpine, Utah. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a Chemistry minor, in hopes of pursuing a medical career someday. She is a Canadian citizen with a love for snowboarding, hiking, and rock climbing. She spent most of her life dancing ballet and jazz and traveling with her family. In her spare time she volunteers at Friends for Sight and as a doula at the University of Utah Hospital.

Shelby Petty is 22 years old working on going to school for her surgical tech. She has her CAN and has been trained in first aid. Shelby is currently working at the medical examiner’s office as a morg clerk and training at the Utah Lions Eye Bank to become a recovery tech. She enjoys learning and participating in new experiences.

Mallory Yeates moved away from her hometown of Logan, Utah last year in search of new career opportunities. She has worked in healthcare for over six years and earned her Bachelor's Degree in English with a minor in Sociology from Utah State University. When she isn't working, Mallory loves to fish, visit her sister's Cache Valley farm, and spend time in the outdoors with her dog, Bee. She was very excited to join the Utah Lions Eye Bank in November and looks forward to a future here.

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Dates to Remember Bereavement Support Groups: May 6th – June 24th, 2015 (Wednesday Evenings) 6:00-7:30 p.m. University of Utah College of Nursing Annette Poulson Cumming Building 10 South 2000 East Salt Lake City, UT 84112

May 6th – June 24th, 2015 (Wednesday Evenings) 5:30-7:00 p.m. University of Utah Parkway Health Center 145 West University Parkway Orem, UT 84058

May 7th – June 25th, 2015 (Thursday Evenings) 6:00-7:30 p.m. UUHC Greenwood Health Center 7495 South State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84047

To Register Call (801) 585-9522 or go to www.nursing.utah.edu/caring-connections

Heart of the Lion Courier Program Please join us in thanking the following Utah Lions for their support of the Heart of the Lion Courier Program by delivering precious eye tissue to local hospitals and surgery centers, July – December 2014.

Participating Lion Number of Tissues Delivered Steve Anderson

4

Bill & Karen Barton

4

Shirley Bowe

2

Steve & Cindy Clinger

3

Lorraine Douglas

3

Carol Eisenburg

1

Eric Ellington

2

Lee Flynn

3

Steve Gibby

8

Elmer Inman

12

Lynn John

4

Sam Mascarenas

10

Jerry & Zella Millard

1

Gary O’Shea

7

James Richards

1

Joe Thompson

4

Merl Thurgood

3

George & Nancy Whitley

3

Al Woodmansee

9

UTAH LIONS EYE BANK John A. Moran Eye Center University of Utah Health Sciences Center 65 Mario Capecchi Drive Salt Lake City, Utah 84132

Demonstrate Your Commitment to Saving Sight: www.yesutah.org

Friends of the Eye Bank The Utah Lions Eye Bank thanks the following individuals for their generous financial donations from July 2014 – December 2014:

Anita & Sylvan Alcabes Quinn & Della Rae Andelin Milton & Dianne Anderson Ekhlas Attia Gene Barnes Grant Bennett Fern Bartholomew Richard & Sharon Bretzing Josephine O. Burton Paul W. Brooks John & Elizabeth Carnahan Pauline & George Childs Janine & Bill Coles Kenneth D. Collins Nancy & Joseph Cook Norma Curran

Phyllis Donley Dale Downard Dennis & Carma Ewing Jack W. Gibbons Stephen & Leslie Goddard Dianne Glanville Dee Ann Gornichec Mark & Mildred Hafey Marlin Hill Jean M. Larsen Betty & Kevin Lash John H. Mabey Kathy Mercy Lucinda & Steven Mitchell Lamar Miller Mark & Linda Moore

Hope & Ben Musselman Bessie Peterson Jerry & Nedra Peterson Blanche Scuderi Richard Shriver Robert F. Smith Dave & Londa Stout John Swalwell R. Burke Teichert Ann T. Wagstaff Betty Wheeler Carole White Stephen & Nancy Williams Maurice Wilkinson Judith & Phillip Yeates

Donations In Memory of: Evelyn Hardy In Memory of Clark Hardy Margaret K. Mumford In Memory of Dave Mumford Samuel & Sharon Nichols In Memory of Steven Nichols

Dinah Anne Rogers In Memory of her Grandfather and Aunt Linda Summers In Memory of Joe Tulpinsky Moab Lions Club In Memory of Lion Bob Erickson

Please use the enclosed envelope to make a donation in memory of, or in honor of, someone you love. Thank you for your generosity.