Images Magazine Spring 2013 - Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

of discovery and innovationBascom Palmer Eye Institute Celebratesits Golden AnniversaryBascom Palmer Eye Institute’s story dates back to 1943, inthe midst of World War II, when Bascom Headon Palmer,M.D., first discussed the feasibility of establishing an eye clinicin Miami dedicated to saving sight and preventing blindness.Palmer was the first surgeon in Florida to perform cornealtransplants. Looking to the future with hope, he predictedMiami would eventually be home to an ophthalmology institutein a medical center second to none in the nation.Palmer, who passed away in 1954, lived long enough to see theestablishment of the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1952.Certainly, no one at that time would have guessed that his predication wouldcome true within just a few years – thanks to a remarkable physician namedEdward W. D. Norton, M.D.In 1958, Norton, a young assistant professor of ophthalmology at CornellUniversity Medical College, accepted an offer from the new University of MiamiSchool of Medicine to become the chief of the division of ophthalmology. Hisleadership laid the foundation for the department’s rapid growth.1959Victor T.Curtin, M.D.,a vitreoretinalspecialistand ocularpathologist,is recruited asBascom Palmer’ssecond facultymember.1960Harry Belafonteis an early and longtimesupporter ofBascom Palmer EyeInstitute. Dr. Nortonoperated on a retinaldetachment inBelafonte’s eyein 1957.1961 FactsNumber of patients13,600Surgical procedures1,3005