The Eye and Ear Institute’s competitive position today has been won through the devoted expertise and commitment to excellence of its faculty, administrators, alumni and supporters. Its Department of Ophthalmology has earned Top 10 status in National Institutes of Health rankings and National Eye Institute funding. The Department of Otolaryngology is arguably the best in the world.

For leadership to continue and patient outcomes to continually improve, private investments will need to play a greater role in seeding new research, funding star researchers and staff and leading edge equipment, and augmenting public funding for major studies and clinical care. This is an opportunity for individuals, foundations and other private investors to shape the future not just of this region, but of medicine.