# Evangelos S. Gragoudas, MD, Donates $1.9M to Mass Eye and Ear to Endow Chair in Ophthalmology; Ivana K. Kim, MD, Named Inaugural Incumbent July 10, 2024 ![Ivana and Evan](/sites/g/files/omnuum9886/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/eye/files/ivana_and_evan_at_reception.png?itok=fekHX_Ei) At a special reception last month to celebrate [Evangelos S. Gragoudas, MD](/evangelosgragoudas), and his 50-year career at Harvard Ophthalmology and Mass Eye and Ear, it was announced that Dr. Gragoudas had donated $1.9M to Mass Eye and Ear to endow the Evangelos S. Gragoudas Chair in Ophthalmology to celebrate his legacy in ocular melanoma research, teaching, and patient care. [Ivana K. Kim, MD](/ivanakim), an expert in ocular melanoma and a long-time colleague of Dr. Gragoudas, will be the inaugural incumbent. Dr. Gragoudas is a world-renowned retina specialist who’s clinical and research achievements have led to sight-saving treatments for millions of people. Early in his career, he developed the use of proton beam irradiation for the treatment of uveal melanoma, a treatment that is still one of the most effective therapies for intraocular tumors. In collaboration with Joan W. Miller, MD, Dr. Gragoudas also developed photodynamic therapy (Visudyne®), the first pharmacologic treatment approved by the FDA for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD). He was also a key member of the group who identified the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in retinal vascular diseases and AMD, and for his contributions, was a co-recipient of the 2014 Champalimaud Vision Award. Dr. Gragoudas has earned a reputation in our department as one of the most generous, insightful, and patient mentors. As director of the Vitreoretinal Fellowship Program at Mass Eye and Ear for nearly 30 years, he trained more than 100 clinical retina fellows from around the world. He is generous, insightful and patient—always willing to discuss an idea, review a difficult case, or edit a manuscript. Many of Dr. Gragoudas' trainees have gone on to leadership roles in academia, clinical practice, biotech, and pharma. Always committed to “paying it forward”, Dr. Gragoudas has established a series of annual scholarship awards at Mass Eye and Ear and several professional societies, which are now highly coveted. Dr. Kim is an internationally recognized retina specialist and researcher with expertise in macular degeneration and ocular melanoma. She first came to Harvard Ophthalmology in 1998 as an ophthalmology resident. She stayed on to complete a two-year retina fellowship at Mass Eye and Ear, where she also served as Chief Retina Fellow. Dr. Kim joined our faculty in 2003, and was promoted to Assistant Professor in 2007, and Associate Professor in 2012. Dr. Kim has developed national recognition for her expertise in the management of patients with AMD and ocular melanoma. Among her many clinical and research accomplishments, Dr. Kim designed and performed the first prospective study to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of ranibizumab for the prevention of vision loss after radiation for uveal melanoma. She was also one of the first clinicians to use systemic mTOR inhibitor therapy for the treatment of large astrocytic hamartomas in patients with tuberous sclerosis. In collaboration with Joan W. Miller, MD, and former faculty member Margaret DeAngelis, PhD, she described novel genetic associations with AMD in genes such as *RORA, ROBO1*, and *CYP24A1*. Dr. Kim has served as site principal investigator for multi-center studies of several new therapies for AMD, including pegaptanib and anecortave acetate, as well as anti-VEGF therapy for choroidal neovascularization in conditions other than AMD. She also lends her time and expertise to many leadership roles at both Mass Eye and Ear and Harvard Ophthalmology, including Director of Retina Clinical Research at Harvard Ophthalmology and Director of the Ocular Melanoma Center at Mass Eye and Ear. See also:- [ Faculty ](/news-categories/faculty) - [ Evangelos Gragoudas, MD ](/news-categories/evangelosgragoudas) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)