Long-time Lions Eye Institute (LEI) ophthalmologist and medical researcher Professor Bill Morgan has been appointed managing director of the organisation.
Morgan, who has been an ophthalmologist at LEI for 25 years and also serves on the board, secured the role after leading the institute for the past six months as acting general manager. He will become the third person appointed to the role in LEI’s 36-year history.
“Professor Morgan is a highly effective and humble leader, with a strong strategic focus and extensive expertise and experience. We are proud to appoint one of our own to this important role,” LEI chair Mr Peter Forbes said.
Morgan is a glaucoma specialist whose research interests include studying the response of the optic nerve to pressure and the epidiology of blinding eye disease.
In Jakarta earlier this month, he and young Indonesian ophthalmologist Dr Virna Oktariana launched their new, co-invented device called the Virna Glaucoma Drainage Device, which is an affordable tube implanted in the eye to drain fluid and relieve intraocular pressure.
He was also part of the LEI team that developed the groundbreaking XEN gel stent for glaucoma surgery. XEN has now been inserted in more than 80,000 patients globally.
Morgan said he was honoured to formally take up the position, and excited by the potential for the LEI to expand as both a leading medical research institute and world-class ophthalmic clinic.
“We are fortunate to have a high-calibre team of medical researchers and clinicians who are as keen as I am to build on our strong legacy of ground-breaking scientific discovery and exceptional eye health care,” he said.
“My immediate priorities include expansion of our research agenda and capacity, improved service and processes in our eye clinic, and the growth of our community footprint.”
Additionally, Morgan is a consultant ophthalmologist at Royal Perth Hospital and Perth Children’s Hospital, a Professor and Director of the Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science at The University of Western Australia, a Visiting Professor at the University of Udayana and co-director of the LEI McCusker Glaucoma Centre.
