Audrey Talley Rostov
The Power List 2019 – Champions of Change
Audrey Talley Rostov
Director of Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Northwest Eye Surgeons, Global Medical Director, SightLife, Seattle, USA.
What has been the pivotal moment of your career?
It was traveling to India 10 years back and witnessing the burden of blindness on global health. The need is so great and resources are so limited. This launched my passion for global health and I began working with SightLife developing curricula to increase surgeon training in developing countries in cornea transplant techniques and eye bank development.
Who are your ophthalmic heroes?
My ophthalmic heroes include Dick Lindstrom, my fellowship preceptor and mentor, Jay Pepose, who introduced me to cornea as a subspecialty, Marguerite MacDonald, an amazing woman pioneer in ophthalmology, my friend Geoff Tabin who is a kindred spirit in global health, and all of my Cedars Aspens “family” and the SightLife team who support, teach and inspire me on a daily basis.
Any advice for those following in your footsteps?
Invest in fabulous shoes! Embrace change, be open to learning new techniques and to new ideas, and don’t forget the privilege and gratitude that comes with caring for patients. Remember that our goal is to prevent, treat and cure blindness.
