Our Story

Founded in 1977 to foster the highest level of eye care for the public, Pacific Vision Foundation is dedicated to excellence in patient care, improving eye care education for the public and professionals, along with innovative clinical research.

The first formal teaching of Ophthalmology west of the Mississippi began in the 1870’s in San Francisco by Dr. Adolph Barkan. Today, PVF supports this historical tradition which continues in the yearly Barkan Research Symposium, a lively event of research findings and guest faculty presentations. Pacific Vision Foundation is proud to be associated with these and many other distinguished leaders and visionaries.

• Kevin Denny, MD
  Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, California Pacific Medical Center
• Susan Day, MD
  First woman President of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. First Ophthalmologist Chair of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Board of Directors. Currently Senior Vice President, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, International.
• Ivan Schwab, MD
  Expert on comparative anatomy of the eye, author of Evolution’s Witness, contributor to ophthalmic literature in areas of cornea and uveitis.
• William Stewart, MD
  Founder of the Institute for Health and Healing; Secretary of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Bruce Spivey, MD
  Founder and current Chair of Pacific Vision Foundation, Past President of the International Council of Ophthalmology, Former CEO of CPMC, Founding CEO of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
• Alan Scott, MD
  Developed the the drug botulinum toxin, as a treatment for strabismus and blepharospasm. Current researcher on bupivacaine as an alternative pharmacologic means of altering eye muscle strength.
• William Spencer, MD
  Authored an epic text on ophthalmic pathology. Served as Executive Director for American Board of Ophthalmology. Current researcher investigating the relation of changes in corneal nerves with degenerative neurologic disease.
• Arthur Jampolsky, MD
  Founding Director of the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, created to provide a unique environment for research on human vision. Developed the adjustable suture technique for increasing the accuracy of surgical strabismus correction.
• Robert Shaffer, MD
  Renowned for his innovations in the management of patients with glaucoma. Co-authored popular glaucoma textbook. Emeritus Executive Director for the American Board of Ophthalmology.
• Jerome Bettman, MD
  Devised and promoted the Development of a code of ethics for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Chairman of the Eye Department during transition of independence from Stanford University to California Pacific Medical Center.
• Max Fine, MD
  Pioneer in corneal transplantation.
• Dohrmann Pischel, MD
  Described the first successful surgery for congenital glaucoma.
• Otto Barkan, MD
  Described the first successful surgery for congenital glaucoma.
• Adolph Barkan, MD
  First Professor of Ophthalmology in the West.

Jerome W. Bettman, MD, was a long term member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Along with Dr. Bruce Spivey, he was instrumental in the conception, development, and implementation of the Academy’s Code of Ethics, serving as Chairman of the Ethics Committee from 1984 – 1988. Dr. Bettman was a key figure in maintaining the Ophthalmology Program at Pacific Medical Center, known today as CPMC. Read Dr. Bettman’s Vis à Tergo.