Executive Board of Directors

Jill A. Nerby, B.S.
Founder and Director of
Aniridia Foundation International

Congenital Eye Disorder Project Manager
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Department of Ophthalmology
Charlottesville, Virginia

Jill Nerby is CEO of the Aniridia Foundation International (AFI) Board of Directors. She founded this 501(c)3 non profit organization which was started as USA Aniridia Network in 2001. In 2006, due to many requests from physicians and families outside the USA, the non profit organization name was changed to Aniridia Foundation International.

Jill was born with sporadic Aniridia and glaucoma. Her experiences with this condition, as well as her passion to help others, educate the public, and her desire to make a difference in the Aniridia population, especially for the children of today and tomorrow caused her to create this research and education focused organization.

Since 2000, Jill has been undergoing surgeries for glaucoma valve implants, retinal surgery and stem cell and corneal transplants all while running this large organization and being a single mom to her son Michael, who also has aniridia and glaucoma due to familial inheritance.

Jill graduated college with a Bachelor of Science degree (Psychology and Biology) and finished her pre-med studies while working in the field of occupational therapy. She also worked in, the media and as a graphic designer before her eyesight declined. Jill has been an invited guest speaker at several research, medical and organization meetings both nationally and internationally. She and AFI personnel also exhibit at many medical meetings and conventions. Among her other activities, she has co-authored a book "Aniridia and WAGR Syndrome" published by Oxford University Press.

Jill's interest in helping people with low vision and blindness also focuses on research to work towards a cure for them and led her to create the International Aniridia Medical Registry and Gene Bank. This collection of data, photos and DNA will provide actual patient data for researchers to use towards eliminating this genetic condition. Since medical issues commonly found in the general population such as difficult to treat glaucoma, corneal scarring, low vision / blindness, cataracts, diabetes, and autism seem to be characteristics of the syndrome of aniridia, all research into these medical issues will help those affected in the general population, as well as, those with aniridia.

Jill, who is originally from Wisconsin, comes from a family of leaders in the Lions clubs and encourages everyone to support their local Lions organization in helping the blind and visually impaired.

Read Jill Nerby's full bio ( Microsoft Word ).

Peter A. Netland, MD, PhD

DuPont Guerry III Professor and Chairman
Department of Ophthalmology
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Charlottesville, VA

Dr. Netland has much experience dealing with Aniridia and is a world renown glaucoma specialist. He serves on the Aniridia Foundation International Board of Directors and also as Co-Chair on the Aniridia Foundation International Medical Advisory Board. He has been invited as guest lecturer for many national and international meetings, has many peer reviewed publications and has authored several medical books.

Currently, Dr. Netland is the Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine. Netland assumed his Chair in November 2009, after being recruited from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where he served as Vice Chair of Academic Affairs, Director of the Glaucoma Services, and as Professor of Ophthalmology in the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. He is a devoted, well respected doctor and an excellent surgeon.

Dr. Netland is an innovative clinician and distinguished educator, who has developed new protocols and treatments for glaucoma and has written five textbooks. He has trained a diverse group of international physicians and scientists. Dr. Netland has a long history of community outreach for underserved areas and populations and his plans to build up the UVA program to support the healthcare needs of the University of Virginia communities.

Dr. Netland completed his undergraduate education at Princeton University, his medical degree at the University of California, San Francisco, and his PhD degree at Harvard University. Following a surgical internship at UCSF, he did his residency in ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and a clinical fellowship in glaucoma at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School. After completion of his training, he was appointed Instructor, promoted to Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, and served as Associate Director of the Glaucoma Service at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Following a year as Consultant at the King Khaled

Read Dr. Netland's full bio ( Microsoft Word ).

Edward J. Holland, MD

Professor of Ophthalmology
University of Cincinnati
Director of Cornea Services
Cincinnati Eye Institute
Cincinnati, Ohio

Aniridia Foundation International Executive Board member Dr. Edward Holland also co-chairs the Aniridia Foundation International Medical Advisory Board. His expertise in corneal disease, especially with Aniridia patients, has made many people affected with aniridia travel across the country and the world to be treated by him. His performance in cutting edge stem cell transplantation (keratolimbal allograft) procedures has restored sight to many people. This procedure helps people blinded by aniridia, Stevens Johnson Syndrome, thermal or chemical injuries to the eyes.

Dr. Holland is Director of Cornea Services at the Cincinnati Eye Institute and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Cincinnati. He is former chair of the Medical Advisory Board for the Eye Bank Association of America and is currently chair-elect of the Eye Bank Association of America. Dr. Holland was a recipient of the 2002 Paton Society Award given by the Eye Bank Association of America which is the highest honor for corneal physicians. Dr. Holland is the immediate past president of the Cornea Society (formerly the Castroviejo Cornea Society). He has received both the Senior Achievement Award and the Honor Award from the Academy. Among other honors, Dr. Holland has been listed in the Best Doctors in America.

Dr. Holland has served on the Academy's Board of Trustees since 2005 as Secretary for the Annual Meeting. He has been active in the Academy as the associate secretary of the Skills Transfer Committee, which is responsible for courses to train ophthalmologists in refractive and other new surgical techniques across the United States.

Dr. Holland has a national and international reputation for his knowledge and expertise in the field of Cornea and External Disease. He is frequently invited to lecture at national and international meetings, and over the past ten years has directed one of the most prestigious training programs for specialists in corneal and refractive surgery. Dr. Holland is the author of more than 100 articles in peer review journals and has edited Cornea, the most widely read textbook on corneal disease and surgery. He has co-edited the recently published textbook, Ocular Surface Disease: Medical and Surgical Management.

As the Director of Cornea Services at the Cincinnati Eye Institute, Dr. Holland has attracted worldwide referrals for medical and surgical corneal problems and for stem cell transplantation. He was recently featured on the premiere showing of MIRACLE WORKERS in which he restored sight to a Stevens Johnson syndrome patient with a similar transplant he uses for people with aniridia.

Academic Degrees
M.D. - Loyola-Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Residency in Ophthalmology - University of Minnesota
Fellowship - Cornea and External Disease, University of Iowa
Additional Fellowship - Ocular Immunology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

This understanding of immunology is an important asset today since his eye transplant patients are on immunosuppressant medications after the KLAL transplant surgery.

Past positions - He served as Director of Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Holland was promoted to the position of Professor and was granted the Elias Potter Lyon Chair in Ophthalmology. He also had served as President of the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology.

Read Dr. Holland's full bio ( Microsoft Word ).

Christopher J. Albrecht, CPA

Director, Finance and Business Development
Principal Owner, Ammon & Albrecht

Chris Albrecht is the founding and principal partner of Ammon & Albrecht, CPA's and Consultants, specializing in the entrepreneurial services sector. Working with business owners, Chris develops strategies for both the business and entrepreneur to grow a successful enterprise. His areas of expertise include strategic planning, business planning, corporate structure, tax and accounting compliance, as well as financial and operational reporting. His knowledge and expertise in these areas is the direct result of his experience with a "Big 5" accounting firm, coupled with financial and operational roles with entrepreneurial businesses in the marketing industry today.

Chris was one of the Dayton Business Journals 2009 finalists for Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Year and honored at the DBJ banquet.

His community involvement other than being an important part of Aniridia Foundation International (AFI), include leading the Good $ense Ministry Team (Financial Planning Course sponsored by SouthBrook Christian Church), coaching children's sports teams, as well as, starting the entrepreneurial network group, Tier 7. Chris and his wife Beth have two sons, Justin and Daniel who have all volunteered at several Aniridia Foundation International conferences.