Russel Van Gelder

About Russel Van Gelder

Your three wishes?

1. Unemployment, because all eye disease has been cured
2. More hours in the week
3. Another Seahawks Superbowl victory!

Piece of advice for your younger self?

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

The most serendipitous moment of your career?

Too long a story to tell entirely, but my career in medicine started at a Friendly’s restaurant in New Jersey in 1981, when I was applying for a job as a busboy.

The most unexpected turn your career took?

Discovering ophthalmology in the 7th of my 8 years of MD/PhD training.