Lighthouse Guild Announces 2023 Awards for Outstanding Accomplishments in Vision Science and Advocacy

Posted by Vision Monday

NEW YORK—Lighthouse Guild, a leading not-for-profit vision and health care organization, announced recipients of its 2023 awards for outstanding accomplishments in vision science, technological innovation and advocacy. Wiley A. Chambers, MD, will receive the Bressler Prize in Vision Science; Saqib Shaikh will receive the Pisart Award in Technological Innovation; and former New York Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney has been selected to receive the Morse Lecture in Advocacy. Dr. Chambers, a supervisory physician at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been responsible for the clinical review of new ophthalmologic drug products and ophthalmic therapeutic biologic products submitted to the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research for the past 35 years.

Shaikh, a software engineer at Microsoft, led the development of Seeing AI, a free mobile app that enables someone who is blind to hold up their phone and hear more about text, people and objects.

Maloney, who served two New York congressional districts for over 30 years, introduced the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act in 2022. She authored and passed over 80 pieces of legislation in her legislative career, including those designed to help improve the health of millions.

“At Lighthouse Guild, we are committed to creating a world in which people are not limited by their vision capacity,” said Calvin W. Roberts, MD, president and CEO of Lighthouse Guild. “This commitment includes publicly acknowledging dedicated vision scientists, technology experts, and public advocates who are striving to understand the mechanisms that restore vision while creating opportunities to improve the lives of people with vision loss.

“By recognizing outstanding innovators and trailblazers like Dr. Chambers, Mr. Shaikh, and Congresswoman Maloney, we are shedding light on new pathways that make navigating through everyday life easier and more fulfilling for people who are blind and visually impaired,” Dr. Roberts said.

All three 2023 awards will be presented in a ceremony at Lighthouse Guild in New York on Oct. 19, 2023, at which the honorees will discuss their work. Shaikh and Congresswoman Maloney will also receive an honorarium of $25,000. Dr. Chambers is prohibited from receiving honorarium due to his position with the FDA.