Dearest Reader,

“I would like to get you under Dr Woods who, I understand, is the head of the Wilmer Institute”

Dr Alan Woods was one of the most respected ophthalmologists of the mid-20th century and a leading figure in American eye medicine. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, Woods trained under the pioneering ophthalmologist William Wilmer and went on to become his successor. In 1934, Woods was appointed Director of the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, the nation’s first university-based eye hospital devoted entirely to research and training in ophthalmology. By 1937, he was placed at the forefront of clinical and academic innovation in eye disease. Under his leadership, Wilmer became the premier center for diagnosing and treating complex ocular disorders.  

Dr Woods specialized in the most challenging eye conditions. His research contributed to advancements in corneal disease, optic nerve disorders and visual impairment. He was the physician to see when an eye condition needed authoritative assessment. In 1944, my grandmother wanted my father to be assessed by Dr Wood, so that his condition could be seen, heard and diagnosed by one of the foremost ophthalmologists of the era.