June health talk on new treatments for macular degeneration

Orcas Island Medical Center Association, now operating as Orcas Medical Center Foundation, has announced a series of free-to-the-public presentations on health-related issues relevant to Orcas Islanders.

The first OMC Health Talk, on Tuesday, June 23 at 5:30 p.m. in the Madrona Room at Orcas Center, will be a presentation on emerging treatments for macular degeneration, by Dr. Atma Vemulakonda, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Washington.

Dr. Vemulakonda, who also practices at Harborview and UW Medical Centers, is a clinical researcher of new developments in treatment for retinal disease, particularly age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in the elderly.

According to Dr. Tony Giefer, medical director of Orcas Medical Center, “There is positive news in the research being conducted at the UW School of Ophthalmology, a leader in research on vision health. Dr. Vemulakonda’s visit is an ideal follow-up to a presentation delivered last year by Dr. Van Gelder, who chairs the UW School of Ophthalmology.”

Other presentations in the OMC Health Talks series include “Cardiology 101” with Dr. Alan Shurman of North Cascades Cardiology in September, and a presentation on orthopedic surgery, at a date to be announced.