Dr. Alice R. McPherson (1926-2023)
Dr. Alice R. McPherson
The Pan-American Presidents at the McPherson Dinner , Las Vegas 2017
Front row, seated (left to right): Dr. Bronwyn Bateman, Dr. McPherson, Dr. Liana Ventura
Back row, standing (left to right): Dr. Rubens Belfort Jr., Dr. Richard L. Abbott, Dr. Francisco Contreras, Dr. Enrique S. Malbran, Dr. Miguel N. Burnier, Mr. Nelson Marques, Dr. William De La Peña, Dr. Bradley R. Straatsma, Dr. Eduardo Alfonso
In Memory of Dr. McPherson
As President of the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, it is with deep, deep sadness that I would like to announce that Dr. Alice R. McPherson peacefully passed away on Monday evening, January 16, 2023, after an extended period of hospice care.
Although her passing has been expected, we truly will miss her leadership and the vibrant spirit with which she indomitably lived her 97 years.
We find comfort in knowing that during these last few months, she was able to be at home, alert, content and happy, with the opportunity to see those she held so dear.
Dr. McPherson was the first woman elected as president of the PAAO from 1995 to 1997. She has always exercised her leadership with extreme dedication and focus, but always with education and tenderness. She exercised the so called soft power with mastery.
I wouldn’t be president of PAAO if I weren’t a beneficiary (even if indirectly) of the Gillingham Pan-American Fellowship, one of the many ways to encourage education and research fostered by Dr. McPherson.
She will be missed.
Dr. McPherson strongly indicated she didn’t want any public service and the Retina Research Foundation intends to honor her request. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pan-American Ophthalmological Foundation (https://paao.org/paof/donate) or to the Retina Research Foundation (https://retinaresearchfnd.org/giving).
Paulo E.C. Dantas MD PhD (Brazil), PAAO President 2022-2025
Dr. McPherson influenced the lives and careers of so many throughout the years with her many Pan-American Scholarship programs:
- North American Course membership program (1990-1995)
- Gillingham Pan-American Fellowship (1993-present)
- Paul Kayser International Scholar Program (1995-2012)
- Tyson ARVO Travel Awards (2003-2010)
- Paul Kayser / RRF Global Award (2012-present)
McPherson/RRF Scholarship recipients, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2013
Left to right: Dr. Maria Alejandra Henriquez (Peru), unknown, Dr. Arturo Ramirez Miranda (Mexico), Dr. Enrique Graue Hernandez (Mexico), Dr. McPherson (center with roses), unknown, Dr. Martin Serrano (Venezuela), Dr. Maria Cristina Nishiwaki Dantas (Brasil), Dr. R.V. Paul Chan (USA), unknown
Alice was a fearless lady and a role model for all women ophthalmologists in the Americas. I recall a lovely dinner with her and Tony at the AAO Council many decades ago – he was both interesting and charming. Alice was a great retina specialist and she had a wonderful husband. She ‘spent’ her life well. It was an honor to have known her.
Bronwyn Bateman MD (USA), PAAO President 2003-2005
I met Alice in Boston in 1984 when I was doing my Cornea fellowship. She came to visit the Schepens Eye Institute and shared with me her story of how she chose Texas instead of Florida as a place to practice after her Retina fellowship. She knew that Texas was in greater need of retina specialists than Florida. As a leader in the PAAO, she made sure that funds would be available to support education. During the first North American Course of the PAAO, I was the Program Chair. She heard that we were having financial difficulties and she wrote a check to support the speakers. Alice will always be remembered for her warm personality, her intellectual wit, and her generosity. I’ve lost a great mentor and friend.
Eduardo Alfonso MD (USA), PAAO President 2015-2017
Dr. Alice McPhearson was a true giant. She was a giant in Ophthalmology but more important was that she had a giant heart.
Her guidance, vision and generosity will prevail for many generations of Ophthalmologists, and certainly will be an important part of the PAAO and PAOF history.
We will miss her.
May she rest in peace.
William De La Peña MD (USA), PAOF Chair 2012-2015
Alice McPherson was a physician of great elegance and dedication, who translated her devotion to quality eye care by providing resources to enable strong educational programs for young physicians. She will be remembered for her expertise, her exemplary leadership, and her great generosity. She will be greatly missed throughout the Americas.
Mark J. Mannis MD (USA), PAAO President 2011-2013
We lost a pillar of the PAAO; a great lady, an outstanding ophthalmologist and a wonderful human being.
Enrique Graue Wiechers MD (Mexico), PAAO President 2005-2007
With deep sadness we received the notice that our dear Alice R. McPherson passed away on last Monday, January 16th. Alice’s outstanding leadership will remain forever as a firm, warm, and brilliant personality that greatly contributed the advancement in Ophthalmology. Her strong Pan-American feelings became a real cornerstone in the history of the Pan American Association of Ophthalmology and the organization that she championed so brilliantly as President.
Enrique Malbran Sr. MD (Argentina), PAAO President 1989-1991
Alice was one of the most generous, compassionate, and kind individuals I have ever met. Her elegant, but modest style was the hallmark of her leadership and inspirational to all who knew her.
She led by example through her numerous financial gifts, scholarships, and grants, recognizing the critical importance and need to fund clinical education, as well as basic ophthalmic research. I was indeed fortunate to have known her and work with her, and her legacy will remain with me forever.
Richard L. Abbott MD (USA), PAAO President 2007-2009
Cristian Luco MD (Chile), PAAO President 2009-2011
Dr. McPherson was a great person, an outstanding leader, and a firm, loyal and beloved friend…she will be greatly missed.
Francisco Contreras MD (Peru), PAAO President 1993-1995
Dr. McPherson and Dr. Contreras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2013
Dr. McPherson and Dr. Fernando Arevalo, Chicago 2012
Dr. Liana Ventura, Dr. McPherson and Teresa Bradshaw, Chicago 2016
Alice McPherson was the biggest giant in Ophthalmology and her light will shine upon us always. Alice knew how to make everyone feel important! She was extremely generous and humble in so many ways but she will always be remembered in the thousands of lives she touched. Life will never be the same without you Alice!
We will miss you!
Fernando Arevalo MD (USA), PAAO President 2019-2021; PAOF Chair 2021-2024
We are deeply sorry about the loss of Alice McPherson, a great professor and mentor at Baylor College of Medicine, from whom we’ve learned so many things since the first time we met in 1982, in Houston. We will always remember her as a great Past President, leader and embassador of the Pan American Association of Ophthalmology and the Pan-American Ophthalmological Foundation.
Liana Ventura MD PhD (Brazil), PAOF Chair 2015-2018 & Marcelo Ventura MD PhD (Brazil), President, Altino Ventura Foundation
Dr. Fernando Arevalo, Dr. McPherson and Dr. Liana Ventura, Las Vegas 2017
Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, Dr. McPherson, Dr. Bradley R. Straatsma, Dr. Liana Ventura, Chicago 2016
Dr. McPherson was one of the first people I met at the 1985 AAO Annual Meeting in San Francisco when I began working for the Pan-American. She was a wonderful mentor. It was a privilege to have served under her as PAAO President, and as PAOF Chair. I am forever grateful for her friendship.
Teresa J. Bradshaw (USA), PAAO/PAOF Executive Director 1985-present
Dr. McPherson was an amazing person. Generous, funny, helpful, exacting. I will be forever grateful for having known her.
Terri Grassi (USA), PAAO/PAOF Administrator 1987-present
Teresa Bradshaw, Dr. McPherson and Terri Grassi, Las Vegas 2017
I had the privilege of succeeding Alice as President of the PAOF in 2003. Over the last almost two decades I got to know her quite well especially as we developed our relationship based on our common Scottish roots. It is admirable how she continued to give back to the retina community through her Retina Research Foundation. She has been an inspiration to all in the profession but especially women leaders. There are so many of us around the world mourning her passing. David Pyott
I had the honor of meeting Dr. Alice McPherson immediately after I started my involvement with the Pan American Association of Ophthalmology. Besides her brilliant career as an Ophthalmologist, she was a visionary when it came to the great responsibilities of the PAAO to always promote the exchange of innovation, as well as important breakthroughs and new relevant knowledge in the field of Ophthalmology with all the doctors throughout the Americas.
Ana Luisa Hofling Lima
Past President