Kirk Packo Obituary, Senior Partner With Illinois Retina Associates Has Passed Away

Kirk Packo Obituary, Death Cause – Academy President George A. Williams, MD, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are pleased to honor Kirk H. Packo, MD, as a Guest of Honor at AAO 2019 in San Francisco. Dr. Kirk Packo is a pioneering vitreoretinal surgeon, dedicated educator, and energetic conference organizer. Due to his acting skills, Dr. Packo’s presentations are clear, witty, funny, and sophisticated. Many call him the “Yoda of PowerPoint and Photoshop. Nobody stays for a Packo concert. When a new scientific program is announced, I check Dr. Packo’s presentation schedule to avoid following him. His lectures show Dr. Packo’s theatrical flair. His “Tear down this wall!” comment and 2005 Academy Subspecialty Day discussion on bevacizumab availability will be remembered by few ophthalmologists who attended his 2017 vitrectomy physics talk dressed as Sir Isaac Newton.

This author agrees with Dr. Packo that the Academy’s Subspecialty Day originated with him. His 1993 retina meeting in Chicago showed the need and enthusiasm for a comprehensive retinal disease specialty meeting. The Academy initiated annual Subspecialty Day conferences for each ocular specialty after that conference. These events remain the highlight of the annual conference. Past medical leaders include Dr. Packo. His foresight as Vitreous Society president in 2001–2002 helped the society become the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS), the world’s largest retinal organization.

Dr. Packo values junior doctor training. As Rush Medical College’s Department of Ophthalmology chair, he has taught scores of residents and fellows, and his national and international speeches have taught thousands. He is one of the most prolific ophthalmology lecturers, having given over 1,000 lectures in over twenty countries. He emphasizes science and humanity in healthcare in his talks. His advice, “Treat one patient a day for free, and you will have the richest practice in the world,” has been passed down to retina fellows. Besides the Academy’s Senior Achievement Award, he has earned many national and international teaching awards. His Lepper Society membership makes him a respected educator.