Dr. Suh named John & Irene Graether Endowed Chair

Donny Suh, MD, has been named the John & Irene Graether Endowed Chair in Pediatric Ophthalmology.

Dr. Suh is a professor in the UNMC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and also serves as chief of pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus and director of fellowship at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.

John and Irene Graether in the late 1970s

John Graether, MD, is known as a surgical innovator in the field of ophthalmic surgery and photography. He has invented several instruments and holds about a dozen patents on some of the instruments still used in ophthalmic surgery today, including the collar-button iris retractor, side port manipulator and pupil expander.

“I am truly honored to be the John and Irene Graether Endowed Chair,” Dr. Suh said. “John is one of the most innovative persons I have ever met.”

Dr. Suh is a proven innovator himself, holding several patents and having been named the 2017 Emerging Inventor at UNeMed’s annual Research Innovation Awards Banquet.

“Dr. Graether has always had so much passion for the field of ophthalmology and his patients. He has developed surgical techniques and designed instruments to make eye surgeries safer, not only for adults but for pediatric patients as well,” Dr. Suh said, adding that Dr. Graether has been a great role model, respected mentor, and a dear friend to him.

“I owe the deepest gratitude to him for helping me to grow and mature as a pediatric ophthalmologist.”

Dr. Graether received his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1957 and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Iowa. In April 1962, Dr. Graether and his wife Irene, both born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan, began a new adventure in Marshalltown, Iowa, at the Wolfe Eye Clinic.

His training at the University of Iowa brought complimentary skills in retina, pediatric and corneal surgery to the Wolfe Eye Clinic practice. With his younger colleagues in the growing practice, they expanded their expertise to introduce truly revolutionary small incision cataract surgery (in 1972) and lens implant surgery (in 1975) to the state of Iowa. Both techniques are now the standard of care for treatment of cataracts.

“As the chairman of the department of ophthalmology at UNMC, I am delighted to be able to academically convey this endowment upon Dr. Donny Suh, as there is no one more deserving of it in our department or elsewhere,” said Ronald Krueger, MD, McGaw Professor and chairman and director of the Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute

“While I do not personally know Dr. Graether or his late wife, Irene, Dr. Suh’s relationship with them has been longstanding and mutually inspirational. The same spirit of innovation that motivated Dr. Graether to significantly contribute to the field of ophthalmology resides in Dr. Suh, so there is no one more fitting as a mentor for him to inspire his creativity in pediatric ophthalmology,” Dr. Krueger said.

He added that the Dr. John and Irene Graether Endowed Chair in Pediatric Ophthalmology is an academic title and future funding source that fully supports the innovative accomplishments of Dr. Suh as professor of ophthalmology at UNMC and chief of pediatric ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.

Said Dr. Suh: “Dr. Graether’s love and passion for life is unmatched and I am deeply grateful to know John. Also, his late wife, Irene Graether, was an amazing lady who loved John, people and life, with no reservation. My wife and I truly miss her enthusiasm and energy for life. With this endowment, I hope to follow John and Irene’s path to further improve the health of our children’s’ vision and provide hope for many.”