Pets of Ophthalmology: The Power List
Say hello to the top dogs (cats, and others) of ophthalmology: the Pet Power List is here!
Over the last two years of pandemic living, pets have made a big difference in the lives of many ophthalmic professionals, and we want to celebrate them. That is why we are so happy to present our Pets of Ophthalmology Power List 2022!
We have a fantastic final list of PUPhthalmologists, CAT-aract specialists, and even starGOATs! From the nominations that we’ve received, it is very clear that pets are a big part of many of our readers’ lives, and I’m proud to honor them in this list.
Please click on the images below to find out more about each pet.
PUPhthalmologists
Our PUPhthalmologist section includes pets owned by Carol L. Shields, Andrzej Grzybowski, Gladys Atto, Alessandra Balestrazzi, Paolo Michieletto, and members of The Ophthalmologist team.
Click on each image to find out more.
Muffy is the enthusiastic eight-year-old miniature poodle/Brussels griffon. She comes to work at Wills Eye Hospital every Thursday with my husband, Jerry Shields, and me. During our surgical operations, she mingles with our staff in the office, kisses their ankles, and keeps everyone happy and grounded. And, of course, she gets lots of treats.
Carol L. Shields, Director, Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Ami, probably due to her young age (she is one year old) could play all day, and every living creature – humans and any other animal, including birds and deer (we live in the countryside, and have a lot of deer around) – seems to be a potential playing partner for her. Any time she sees Nika (one of our featured CAT-aract Specialists) moving around, she tries to encourage her to have fun together. Nika does not like it, hisses, and threatens with her claws. So, every day we have a dog/cat play-fight ritual, but it is mostly due to the age differences and age-dependent needs. In this aspect, they are like humans.
Andrzej Grzybowski, Professor of Ophthalmology and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland, and Head of the Institute for Research in Ophthalmology, Foundation for Ophthalmology Development, Poznań, Poland:
Meet Pfizer. He’s four months old, and he loves jumping and playing around the house. He can’t wait for me to get home from work every day.
Gladys Atto, ophthalmologist at Moroto Regional Referral Hospital, Moroto, Uganda
Honey (Miele in Italian) is a delightful, affectionate, fun, and always hungry dog. She is two years old and she is the best!
Alessandra Balestrazzi, ophthalmologist in the Department of Ophthalmology of ASL Roma 2 at S. Eugenio and Pertini Hospitals, and Paolo Michieletto,ophthalmologist in the Department of Ophthalmology of ASL Roma 1 at the Ophthalmic Hospital of Rome, Italy
Masie is a 13-year-old dog who sadly lost her twin sister, Tilly, last year. She thinks she is human and she’s not happy until the whole pack (family) is home. Maisie has a huge personality: she’s very stubborn and really knows her own mind. She loves cheese! Her tongue doesn't fit in her mouth, so it’s constantly hanging out.
Charlotte Brittain, Senior Designer at The Ophthalmologist
Zed is a nine-year old collie cross. If anyone has had a video call with me since the start of 2020, you've almost certainly heard or seen him barking. "Barking at what?" You might ask. It's a very good question, but after all this time I still have no idea.
Sam Blacklock, Associate Publisher of The Ophthalmologist
Ellie is an eight and a half year old Labradoodle-Springer cross. She likes mud and water, a lot. This has led to her being dragged out of many an ocean, river, pond, puddle, and, during one recent camping trip, Water Sports and Aqua park.
Sam Blacklock, Associate Publisher of The Ophthalmologist
They are farm dogs who mostly like to nap between zooming around. They are husband (Digger) and wife (Daisy), not brother and sister!
Lilly Pratico, Project Coordinator at The Ophthalmologist
Nana was the inspiration for this Pet Power List. She unfortunately became unwell very suddenly and had to be put down on April 30 of this year – something none of us were expecting. Nana was my wife’s family dog, who I had the pleasure of living with while we completed our PhDs, and she definitely earned an honorary DOGtorate alongside us. She was an extremely special and loving dog that we all miss greatly.
Geoffrey Potjewyd, Associate Editor of The Ophthalmologist
CAT-aract specialists
The CAT-aract specialist section includes pets owned Philip J. Rosenfeld, Carol L. Shields, Andrzej Grzybowski, Sibylle Scholtz, and Ninel (Nell) Gregori.
Click on each image to find out more.
Let me introduce you to Livvy, our 10-year-old lovable rescue cat. Livvy flourished with all the attention she received during the pandemic, but we noticed a gradual change in her right eye. Can you name that lesion?
Philip J. Rosenfeld, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Florida, USA
Buddy is our 2-year-old cat, and the King of our little farm! He is super-agile, and loves to stalk and scare Muffy (Muffy is featured in our PUPhthalmologist section), and never misses a meal.
Carol Shields
The kingdom of Nika is the first floor of our house, where Ami (see her in the PUPhthalmologist section) is not allowed to enter. She can watch everything from above and feel quite comfortable. Due to both her nature and age – Nika is 11 years old – she appreciates calm and silence. She can also go downstairs and outside into our garden, but the ground floor belongs to young Ami.
Andrzej Grzybowski
My lovely Eleonora Duse is 12 years old now. When she was a young cat, she was involved in a car accident and lost her left leg. Thankfully, someone picked her up and brought her to the vet, who took care of her. As there was no one looking for her, she was handed over to a cat shelter where I found her 11 years ago. She has a special personality, and is just a kind and lovely cat with a charming character; adopting her was one of the best choices of my life. She loves to watch soccer on TV, and to be with me when I’m working (she has a perfect spot where she can sit next to me on my desk).
Sibylle Scholtz, The Institute of Experimental Ophthalmology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
The white-and-black Marshmallow was a rescue cat that we adopted just a week before the pandemic shutdown in March 2020. She was two months old, and kept us happy during our time at home. The brown tabby is Sophie. She is 11 years old and was also a rescue cat from a local animal shelter. They give us lots of joy and are both terrific companions!
Ninel (Nell) Gregori,Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Chief of Eye Care Section, Miami, Florida, USA
StarGOATs
Our glorious StarGOATs are courtesy of John Bladen, and Carol L. Shields.
Click on each image to find out more.
Star is my Pygmy goat; she’s a twin and has a male brother called Buddy. I bought them for my own twins as a birthday present (instead of a dog) around five years ago. A year later the farm asked us if we would take Star and Buddy’s younger, new-born, twin siblings, Apple and Pear. Now we have three sets of twins in the family (not counting our own family history)! The male goats are castrated so there is no chance of any consanguinity!
John Bladen, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon at King's College Hospital, London
Jack (the black goat) and Jill (the white goat) are about 10 years old now and live in our barnyard and wooden barn. They are hilarious – whenever they see food, they start “head-butting.”
Carol Shields
Jack (the black goat) and Jill (the white goat) are about 10 years old now and live in our barnyard and wooden barn. They are hilarious – whenever they see food, they start “head-butting.”
Carol Shields
The Francis CHICK Institute
Both the Francis CHICK Institute and FishEye Lens section are credited to Mariya Moosajee!
Click on each image to find out more.
We have had chickens for 12 years, and they are the most amazing pets. Not only do they give you fresh eggs every morning – a true blessing during the pandemic lockdown – but they are the friendliest birds. They are curious creatures who follow you around the garden inquisitively, and love being picked up for a cuddle. Strangely, they relish pecking at my wellies (wellington boots) even when they are clean!
Mariya Moosajee, Professor of Molecular Ophthalmology at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Group Leader of Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics at the Francis Crick Institute, Consultant Ophthalmologist specialising in Genetic Eye Disease at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
FishEye Lens
After completing my PhD at Imperial College London, I vowed that I would never work with zebrafish again. Over those three years, I looked after them better than I did myself! But over the years, I broke my vow and not only continue to work with them (because they are fantastic model organisms), but I rescue the wild-types so they can grow old in peace at home, with the family.
Mariya Moosajee
The lion’s share of my PhD was spent in the lab, and though I mostly enjoyed it (mostly), what I particularly liked was the opportunity to learn about the latest breakthroughs in research. Communicating science to a wider audience allows me to scratch that itch without working all week only to find my stem cell culture has given up the ghost on the Friday (I’m not bitter). Fortunately for me, it turns out writing is actually fun – so by working for Texere I get to do it every day, whilst still being an active member of the clinical and research community.
