These two prevalent diseases were chosen because scientific evidence revealed that blindness caused by them can in many cases be prevented. NEI director Carl Kupfer, M.D., chose Judith Stein, M.A., to develop and direct the new health education program, which was then unnamed. The program's early development also was led by Julian Morris, then associate director of NEI's Office of Science Policy and Legislation. Only by working together could we really make things happen. In these first five years, the program has made significant strides toward incorporating research results into patient care and making the public aware of steps that can be taken to preserve vision.
Much more work lies ahead.
At a planning conference in 1989, more than 65 professionals from around the country representing 35 organizations advised NEI about target audiences, potential channels of communication, and resources needed. The chart above shows how the program operates to use community, media, and interpersonal channels to disseminate eye health messages. In 1992, Alfred Sommer, M.D., now Dean of the School of Hygiene and Public Health at The Johns Hopkins University, became the Chairman of the Planning Committee. And it has been successful in gathering support from diverse groups that don't always work well together. The Committee recently expanded with the addition of members who brought new expertise and influence.