Prevent Blindness CEO: Prevention, public health are long-term investments

Jeff Todd

Prevent Blindness has named Jeff Todd as its new president and CEO.

Todd has had a long and distinguished career in advocacy, research promotion and public health, according to an announcement from Prevent Blindness. He formerly held the position of chief operating officer and assumed his new role after the retirement of Hugh R. Parry April 1.

Primary Care Optometry News asked Todd about his role, the organizational goals and how Prevent Blindness is working to effect change in public health.

PCON: Please comment on your new role and your strategy for the organization.

Todd: While the role of president and CEO is a new one for me, I’ve been with Prevent Blindness for 15 years and feel confident in the current direction we are taking. My interest lies in continuing to support a strategy that focuses on both increasing access to eye care for those who are at highest risk and with greatest need, while also ensuring that we continue to be a go-to source for basic eye health information for the general consumer. In order to accomplish this work, however, it is imperative that we rely on partners across the country, including our own affiliates, community-based organizations, the vision and eye care industry, and anyone interested in improving our nation’s health care.

PCON: What goals do you have the first year or so?

Todd: Prevent Blindness was one of a number of partners who were instrumental in supporting a recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine – “Making eye health a population health imperative.” This report did a terrific job of defining vision problems as a growing concern for our nation’s health and economy and proposing a population health action framework to improve vision and health equity in the United States. It provides a series of recommendations for improving vision and eye health. While the report serves as a bellwether of change for vision and public health, true change will only be possible with a coordinated effort from multiple private and public partners and the continued engagement of key thought leaders. One of my goals is for Prevent Blindness to be a leader in moving this report to action. We are beginning to take steps to do so, and I look forward to continuing that process.

PCON: What do you see as the organization’s biggest hurdles or challenges?

Todd: Prevention and “public health” are long-term investments. Organizations such as ours that are committed not only to helping individuals address their eye health needs but improving the public health system’s capacity to address the needs of a nation are often challenged by not being able to see an immediate return on our activities. Ensuring that our stakeholders can embrace this long-term aspect of our work is a challenge, but one that I know will pay off over time. – Interviewed by Abigail Sutton