Dr. Peter J. McDonnell, Director of the Wilmer Eye Institute at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has been selected for membership in ARCS Alumni Hall of Fame.  Dr. McDonnell is an international leader in corneal transplantation, laser refractive surgery and the treatment of dry eye.  Dr. McDonnell holds seven patents and has published an excess of 250 scientific works. He has been with the Wilmer Institute, the largest ophthalmology department in the country, for more than 30 years. With a keen interest in laser-based surgery and corneal disorders, four of Dr. McDonnell’s patents focus on laser-based methods and how they can reshape the cornea of the eye. His techniques focus on non-contact methods that are more efficient than prior technologies, thus enhancing the patient’s experience during procedures.

Dr. McDonnell has been elected to many professional societies which aim to improve both ocular research and treatment worldwide. One notable organization, the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis (AOI), selected Dr. McDonnell to fill one of only one-hundred seats open for membership. He was also recently honored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology with its Honor Award and Senior Achievement Award. 

Dr. McDonnell was sponsored as an ARCS Scholar by the Metro Washington Chapter in 1981 and ‘82 at Johns Hopkins University where he received his MD.  Upon receiving this ARCS Foundation Alumni Hall of Fame award, he thanked ARCS Foundation for setting the stage for his career growth all those years ago.

“The encouragement that I received 30 years ago from ARCS, a group of women I didn’t know who simply wanted a young scientist to thrive while doing science, inspired me to continue in the joy of scientific discovery,” said Dr. McDonnell. “It helped steer me to my ultimate academic career path as a physician scientist and educator. I have always been grateful for that early encouragement, and it is my privilege and my honor to have earned a position in ARCS Alumni Hall of Fame.” Read more here: https://www.arcsfoundation.org/news/dr-peter-j-mcdonnell-named-arcs-foundation-alumni-hall-fame