SKERI's Clinician Scientist, Dr. Donald C. Fletcher, M.D., was honored for his substantial contributions in the field of Low Vision Rehabilitation at Envision (where he is the Medical Director) on March 27, 2023. As part of the ceremony, Michael Monteferrante, President and CEO of Envision, and Sam Williams, Chairman of Envision’s Board of Directors unveiled the “Donald C. Fletcher, M.D., Low Vision Center”. With his typical optimism, Dr. Fletcher closed the event with “The best is yet to come!”.
Dr Fletcher is a leading authority on low vision rehabilitation. In addition to his contributions to research applying the Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope to the study of Age-related Macular Disease (AMD), he established a new paradigm for low vision service delivery, engaging Occupational Therapists in the rehabilitation process for low vision – a model now widely spread across the country. To spread his passion for and commitment to low vision rehabilitation, Dr. Fletcher has hosted the Low Vision Rehabilitation Study Group at SKERI for the past 18 years. His interest in providing low vision care to underserved areas and has led him to help establish low vision clinics in the US, Canada, China, the Philippines, Chile, Brazil, and Zimbabwe.
Dr. Fletcher is the Past Chairman of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Low Vision Committee, and the recipient of many awards including the Meritorious Achievement Award from the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired for Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Low Vision. In addition to his position at SKERI, Dr. Fletcher is the Medical Director at the Bicknell Envision Rehabilitation Center in Wichita, KS, and is also the Director for the Frank Stein and Paul S. May Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Fletcher started out his Low Vision career as a fellow with Dr. Gus Colenbrander at the California Pacific Medical Center and SKERI.