Prevent Blindness Appoints Jeff Todd as New President and Chief Executive Officer

Press Release CHICAGO (March 7, 2018) : Jeff Todd has been appointed as the new President and CEO, effective April 1 for Prevent Blindness, the nation’s (USA) oldest volunteer eye health and safety organisation.  Todd will succeed current President and CEO Hugh R. Parry after his retirement from the organisation.  Parry has served in the role since 2002.

Todd began his career in the Governor’s Office of the State of Indiana, where he coordinated a statewide community-development initiative supporting county-level health and safety interventions.  He later moved to positions with the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Youth as Resources, engaging young people in matters that impact their communities, and the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, overseeing information dissemination aimed at reducing rates of youth violence.

Jeff Todd joined Prevent Blindness in 2003 as Director of Public Health and later served as Chief Operating Officer where he oversaw the mission-based work of Prevent Blindness, focusing on programme outreach, education, public health, and policy.  Just a few of his many accomplishments at the organization include:

• Establishing the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness, a resource that promotes a continuum of eye health care for children across the country.
• Launching the Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health National Summit, a forum for a national dialogued on vision and public health, now headed into its seventh year.
• Coordinating and publishing data-based vision research, including reports on the prevalence of adult eye disease and the financial impact of vision problems on the U.S. economy.
• Overseeing the group’s national advocacy efforts, including the annual Eyes on Capitol Hill patient fly-in that engages advocates across the country in making the case that eye health should be included in our nation’s health policy and funding.

As President and CEO of Prevent Blindness, Todd will continue to build on these efforts, working closely with a dedicated staff, a strong network of state-based affiliates, and an expanding number of partner organisations.

“Advancing equitable access to healthcare is essential to a healthy and productive society,” Todd said.  “I’m proud of the work Prevent Blindness does in this space.  And what’s unique about our work in eye health is how it also touches heavily on education, employment, and independence.  Prevent Blindness has been a powerful patient advocate for sight since 1908.  I’m honored to be able to lead this organisation into its next chapter.”

In addition to his work at Prevent Blindness, Todd serves as Chair of Vision 2020 USA, is a member of the Advisory Board to Jonas Children’s Vision Care at Columbia University Medical Center, and is a past chair of the Vision Care Section of the American Public Health Association.  He also currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Chicago-based Howard Brown Health, a volunteer position he has held for eight years, and is a member of the District of Columbia (D.C.) Bar Association.

Originally from Indiana, Todd currently resides in Chicago.  He holds a J.D. from Indiana University School of Law–Indianapolis, a Master’s degree in communications from Butler University, and a Bachelor’s degree from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University–Bloomington.

“Through his tireless efforts to develop and strengthen vision programmes, create new strategies, and focus on helping both adults and children obtain the access to quality vision care services we all deserve, Jeff has demonstrated his ability to lead Prevent Blindness and maintain the organisation as a trusted advocate for all Americans,” said Torrey DeKeyser, Chair of the Prevent Blindness Board of Directors. “And, on behalf of all of us at Prevent Blindness, we thank Hugh Parry for his dedication and leadership that helped continue this organisation’s sight-saving mission.”

For more information, please call Prevent Blindness at (800) 331-2020 or visit preventblindness.org.