A Talk with Barbara Evers, Executive Director

Barbara EversI became a big fan of UAB Callahan Eye about 15 years ago when my son had a scary eye injury. He received excellent care in the Callahan emergency department and then we were frequent visitors at Callahan for many weeks thereafter, receiving exemplary care each time from his ophthalmologist. I even sent a letter to UAB leadership to highlight our excellent experience at Callahan.

Through the years, my husband and I have also received excellent care at Callahan. I have had several surgeries, and my husband visited the emergency department on a holiday for an eye infection. I was so impressed with the specialty care given at every encounter and the efficiency with which the care was delivered.

While I had personal experiences with Callahan, I hadn’t been professionally associated with the organization or with the EyeSight Foundation of Alabama (ESFA). I worked in accounting, including several years at a nonprofit. In 2021, through a very unlikely series of events, I was connected to ESFA as they were looking to hire a contract bookkeeper. I was instantly drawn to ESFA and its work after talking with Torrey DeKeyser, the executive director. I soon learned that she was retiring from her role.

I have always been interested in eye research, as I have family members who suffer from macular degeneration and have seen how it can radically disrupt lives. I know we need cures for blinding eye diseases, and I was excited to have the opportunity to fill the role of executive director when the time came.

Our mission at ESFA is to support the activities of our supported organizations in the areas of eye and vision research, education, and access to care. We are so proud to partner with UAB Callahan Eye to support its academic and clinical missions as its researchers and clinicians conduct eye and vision research, train future ophthalmologists, and provide excellent clinical care.

UAB Callahan Eye consistently receives great reviews from patients for the care they deliver. The residency program has an exceptional reputation and receives applications from all over the world from people who want to train with the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. And, researchers continue ground-breaking work, which will lead to cures, treatments, and preventatives that will impact people globally.

My hope is that we continue the trajectory of treating and curing blinding diseases and visual impairment through our world-class researchers here at UAB; to train top ophthalmologists through the residency program; and to offer exceptional clinical care to all patients. The partnership between the ESFA and UAB Callahan Eye is extremely important in the future of eye care, and I am excited to see what the future holds in the world of ophthalmology!