VISION 2025

From our Chair, Edward G. Buckley, MD

In the midst of our demanding days, it’s easy to lose sight of the profound impact our work has on the lives of our patients. This year, I want to share a story that embodies the work our people do to save vision and improve lives.

Last November, I received an email from a former patient, Dr. Mary Diggs-Garris. The subject line read, “YOU SAVED MY LIFE IN 1995.” Intrigued, I opened the email to find a powerful and moving message about her treatment at Duke for retinoblastoma when she was just three years old, and her remarkable journey since then.

Mary’s mother, Nancy Chambers, was understandably terrified when she learned of her daughter’s diagnosis — eye cancer at such a young age. She was informed that the radiation treatment might affect Mary’s development in ways that were uncertain at the time.

As I continued reading, Mary shared that she is now a successful educator in North Carolina, recently earned her doctorate in education, and is a wife and mother of two. She expressed her gratitude, crediting me and the team at Duke for saving her life and contributing to her achievements as an adult.

This heartfelt message was a poignant reminder of the lasting impact that physicians, researchers and staff can have on their patients’ lives, often in ways we might never anticipate. I was deeply honored that Mary remembered me 30 years after her treatment and that our work had such a profound influence on her life. These moments of recognition are vital, reminding us of the difference we make.

As you read this issue of VISION, you will encounter similar stories of how the incredible work being done at Duke Eye Center continues to transform lives today and will have lasting effects on patients and their families for many years to come.