Dr. Michael J. Hogan (1907–1976)
Founding Director of the Francis I. Proctor Foundation and Authority on Ocular Pathology

Dr. Michael J. Hogan was a pioneering ophthalmologist, educator, and researcher whose work laid the foundation for modern eye pathology. Born in Kemmerer, Wyoming, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and an MD from Cornell University. Originally trained in general surgery, he shifted to ophthalmology, inspired by his father-in-law, an eye specialist in San Diego.

At UCSF, Dr. Hogan became Director of the residency program and established himself as a leading figure in ocular pathology. He co-authored the landmark textbook Ocular Pathology, a definitive reference for decades, and contributed pivotal research on uveitis, ocular tumors, and toxoplasmosis. His use of electron microscopy helped revolutionize understanding of the eye’s microscopic structure.

As the first Director of the Francis I. Proctor Foundation, Dr. Hogan was instrumental in launching its research mission. He also founded UCSF’s Uveitis Survey Clinic and served in leadership roles in numerous ophthalmological societies. A gifted teacher and mentor, his influence extended through generations of trainees.

Dr. Hogan passed away in 1976. His legacy lives on in his writings, in the institutions he helped shape, and in the many lives improved through his devotion to ophthalmic science and education.

For more please visit link below:
proctor.ucsf.edu/michael-j-hogan-md-%C2%A0-director-1947-1959

Dr. Phillips Thygeson (1903–2002)
Visionary in Global Eye Health and Pioneer of Trachoma Research

Dr. Phillips Thygeson was a pioneering ophthalmologist, infectious disease researcher, and revered professor who helped uncover the microbial cause and cure of trachoma—once a leading cause of global blindness. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, he later moved to California and earned both his bachelor’s and medical degrees from Stanford University. He went on to complete advanced training at the University of Colorado, receiving degrees in ophthalmology and a master's in science.

Collaborating with Dr. Francis Proctor in the 1930s, Dr. Thygeson was among the first to demonstrate that trachoma was caused by a filterable agent—now recognized as Chlamydia trachomatis—and that it could be effectively treated with sulfonamides. His groundbreaking fieldwork in Egypt, Tunisia, and among Apache communities in Arizona shaped the scientific foundation of modern trachoma control.

A veteran of World War II, Dr. Thygeson later joined UCSF, where he served as Director of the Francis I. Proctor Foundation from 1957 to 1970. He was also a consultant to the World Health Organization and founder of the Alta California Eye Research Foundation. His research, mentorship, and global advocacy transformed the field of ophthalmology and prevented blindness for millions around the world.

Dr. Thygeson passed away at age 99 in Los Altos, California. His legacy continues through the institutions he built, the treatments he helped pioneer, and the many lives he restored to sight.

https://www.oldqslcards.com/6BU.pdf

Dr. G. Richard O’Connor (1929–2007)
Pioneer in Uveitis Research and Beloved Educator

Dr. G. Richard O’Connor was a world-renowned authority on uveitis and ocular inflammation whose lifelong dedication to ophthalmology advanced both scientific understanding and clinical care. A Harvard graduate and Janeway Prize recipient from Columbia University, Dr. O’Connor trained at the NIH and internationally in Sweden and Denmark before joining the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology in 1962.

As Director of the Francis I. Proctor Foundation from 1970 to 1984, Dr. O’Connor was instrumental in deepening the field’s knowledge of ocular toxoplasmosis and other inflammatory eye diseases. His research was widely published and recognized with prestigious awards, while his mentorship shaped the careers of countless ophthalmologists practicing around the world.

Fluent in multiple languages and a traveler to over 80 countries, Dr. O’Connor combined intellectual rigor with human warmth. He was remembered for his encyclopedic knowledge, tireless support of his trainees, and a second career as an archaeologist in Greece. His legacy endures through the clinicians he trained and the patients whose sight he helped preserve.

Dr. Chandler R. Dawson (1930–2013)
Global Leader in Infectious Eye Disease Research

Dr. Chandler R. Dawson was a renowned ophthalmologist and professor whose career helped transform the global fight against infectious blindness. A graduate of Princeton University and Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Dawson completed his medical training at the CDC and the Francis I. Proctor Foundation at UCSF, where he later served as Director.

Dr. Dawson was internationally recognized for his pioneering work on trachoma—a leading cause of preventable blindness—conducting landmark field studies in Native American communities and in North Africa. He collaborated with the World Health Organization on global strategies to eliminate trachoma, and his clinical trials of oral azithromycin helped shape modern treatment protocols. His research extended to herpes simplex virus, AIDS-related ocular infections, and the development of the Herpetic Eye Disease Study.

Through mentorship, publication, and global collaboration, Dr. Dawson inspired a generation of scientists and physicians. His legacy continues through the countless lives improved by his research and the global partnerships he helped forge.

Dr. John P. Whitcher, MD, MPH
Director of the Francis I. Proctor Foundation (1995–1999)
Global Advocate for Eye Health and Vision Equity

Dr. John P. Whitcher was a leading expert in corneal disease and global ophthalmology whose career bridged rigorous clinical science with impactful international outreach. After earning his MD from the University of Texas Southwestern and completing residency and fellowship at UCSF’s Proctor Foundation, he further obtained an MPH in epidemiology from UC Berkeley, equipping him to lead population-based eye health efforts across the globe.

As Director of the Francis I. Proctor Foundation from 1995 to 1999, Dr. Whitcher advanced critical research in infectious and inflammatory eye disease. He served as the primary ophthalmologist for the international SICCA study on Sjögren’s syndrome and co-led landmark research on trachoma and corneal ulcer prevention in Africa and South Asia. His work with the World Health Organization helped design and implement blindness prevention protocols in Bhutan, Myanmar, India, and Ethiopia.

A gifted clinician-scientist, Dr. Whitcher’s research and leadership transformed the field of global vision care, and his mentorship left an enduring legacy in the next generation of ophthalmologists.

Dr. Todd P. Margolis, MD, PhD
Leader in Neurovirology and Global Eye Health Innovation

Dr. Todd P. Margolis is an internationally recognized clinician-scientist whose pioneering research has advanced our understanding of infectious and inflammatory eye diseases. A graduate of UCSF’s MD–PhD program, he completed his ophthalmology residency and dual fellowships in cornea, uveitis, and external disease at both UCSF and UCLA. He currently serves as Director of the Francis I. Proctor Foundation and the Ralph and Sophie Heintz Research Laboratory.

Dr. Margolis is best known for his groundbreaking studies on herpes simplex virus (HSV) latency and reactivation in neurons. His laboratory research integrates molecular virology and immunology, with the goal of developing interventions that prevent viral reactivation and blindness. His work also investigates AIRE gene mutations in autoimmune eye diseases and employs artificial intelligence–assisted telemedicine to diagnose CMV retinitis in resource-limited settings.

Through mentorship, international collaborations, and scientific discovery, Dr. Margolis has shaped the next generation of vision researchers while expanding access to eye care worldwide.

Dr. Thomas M. Lietman, MD
Innovator in Trachoma Elimination and Infectious Eye Disease Modeling

Dr. Thomas M. Lietman is an internationally recognized ophthalmologist, epidemiologist, and global health leader known for his innovative work in infectious eye disease control. Trained at Columbia University and Johns Hopkins’ Wilmer Eye Institute, he completed his fellowship at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation, UCSF, where he now serves as Professor in Residence and Director of the WHO Collaborating Center.

Dr. Lietman’s research integrates clinical trials, epidemiologic modeling, and public health strategy to eliminate blinding trachoma. His studies across Ethiopia, Nepal, and South India evaluate the long-term efficacy of mass antibiotic distribution and model strategies to optimize treatment frequency and target populations. He also leads clinical trials for the management of bacterial and fungal corneal ulcers and contributes to the global understanding of antibiotic resistance in community-wide treatment programs.

Through data-driven vision science and global collaboration, Dr. Lietman has helped shape the World Health Organization’s trachoma strategy and has expanded the role of modeling in real-world infectious disease elimination.