Kathryn Colby - Foundations of Corneal Disease: Past, Present and Future

The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.

Mark van Doren

To write the Foreword to a book dedicated to Claes Dohlman is a distinct honor. Every generation of our profession has been blessed with one or two brilliant exponents of our discipline whose persona and scientific contributions have put a stamp on the age and whose teaching, as in the words of poet Mark van Doren, has catalyzed discovery. Our generation has been gifted with the life and career of Professor Dohlman, certainly one of the preeminent exponents of contemporary ophthalmology.

Reading through this book with contributions by his eminent trainees is a testimony not only to the science that he has inspired but also to the great humanity of this modest giant. The 32 chapters in this important volume highlight Dr. Dohlmans contributions to research, illustrate the accomplishments of his students, and demonstrate the reverence felt for Claes Dohlman as a teacher, as a determined scientist, and as a kind and nurturing human being.

It is true that the legacy of Claes Dohlman is one that will reverberate through our specialty for many decades to come, as now the fifth generation of Dohlman trainees (direct or indirect) has emerged. I, for example, never trained at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. But my professional mentor was trained by one of Dr. Dohlmans fellows, and so, in essence, I am the professional counterpart of a great grandson. This legacy is repeated again and again, such that almost every specialist in our field can trace his or her educational origins to the founder of the first Cornea Service in the United States.

Dr. Dohlman has been an enabler, inspiring his students to couple excellence in patient care with determined and rigorous scientific inquiry and innovation. The contributors to this important volume exemplify the results of his efforts. And well into an age when most people are retired and are no longer engaged in the profession, Claes Dohlman continues tirelessly to inquire and inspire. We owe him a collective debt of gratitude for his numerous contributions to our profession and for his exemplary mentorship.