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G. Edward and G. Britton Durell Professorship in Ophthalmology

School of Medicine

Established in 2007 by Jeanne D. Seelbach through a gift made by the Altsheler-Durell Foundation Inc. in 1998

The ALTSHELER-DURELL FOUNDATION INC. was created by JEANNE D. SEELBACH, a former member of the Wilmer Advisory Council. The foundation, which has generously supported key research projects on age-related macular degeneration at Wilmer, initiated this professorship in memory of Mrs. Seelbach’s father and brother.

Mrs. Seelbach was raised in Columbus, Ohio, where her father was president of the Union Fork and Hoe Company. She was trained as a nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital and had a long and distinguished nursing career in Louisville, Kentucky. She passed away in 2010.

Her father, G. EDWARD DURELL, suffered from low vision all his life. He had been a patient of physician Arnall Patz at the Wilmer Eye Institute and was generous in supporting research on retinal diseases. The Durell Professorship is in gratitude for the wonderful care he received.

BRITTON DURELL, Mrs. Seelbach’s brother, was a board member of the G. Edward Durell Foundation and helped to support low-vision research at Wilmer.

Held by Elia Duh

ELIA J. DUH, M.D., a professor of ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute, specializes in diseases of the retina, including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Duh actively researches the molecular mechanisms underlying diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, particularly the process of ocular neovascularization.

Dr. Duh graduated summa cum laude from Yale University and obtained his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed his ophthalmology residency and medical retina fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute.

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