Mary Blankenship
Pointer
Cynthia Owsley
CHICAGO— Prevent Blindness America (PBA) announced that Mary Blankenship Pointer, SVP of UMB Bank, and Cynthia Owsley, PhD., Nathan E. Miles chair of ophthalmology, professor, and vice chair for clinical research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, have been elected to the Prevent Blindness America board of directors. The vote was held on July 30 at the 2011 PBA Summer Board Meeting in Chicago.

Blankenship Pointer has more than 30 years of experience working in the banking and finance industry. In addition, she has devoted countless hours to various philanthropic efforts serving on the board of directors of Prevent Blindness Oklahoma for eight years, including serving two terms as Board Chair. She was also recently chairperson of the “Taste of Sight” event for Prevent Blindness Oklahoma.

In addition to her work as the vice chair of ophthalmology at UAB, Cynthia Owsley is an award winning researcher, published author and consultant on vision health issues. With more than 25 years experience in clinical eye and vision research, her focus as a PBA Board member will be to facilitate a scientific evidence-based approach in the development of eyecare policies. Owsley recently served on Prevent Blindness America’s Research Review Committee at the past ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) meeting and is the incoming chair of the Prevent Blindness America Scientific Advisory Committee. ■