Michael T. Trese, MD, FASRS, at the 2016 ASRS Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California.
Early in his career, Dr. Trese recognized the critical importance of timely screening of babies for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and the need to educate ophthalmologists about the disease. He revolutionized pediatric vitreoretinal surgery in the 1980s with his concept of lens-sparing vitrectomy for treating complex pediatric retinal detachment due to advanced ROP.
Dr. Trese is also credited with techniques used to treat familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, juvenile X-linked retinoschisis, and Coats’ disease. His research interests extended to exploration of concepts related to regenerative medicine involving cellular signaling pathways in the retina that hold promise for preserving and restoring sight.
During his remarkable career, Dr. Trese served on the executive committee of the Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity (CRYO-ROP) Study, and the committee for the International Classification of the Late Stages of Retinopathy of Prematurity. He also founded the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation and was a founding editor of Pediatric Retina.
Dr. Trese was a past president of both The Retina Society and the Club Jules Gonin. His seminal contributions earned him some of the field’s most prestigious awards, including the Laureate Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the J. Donald Gass Award from The Retina Society, and the Retina Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.
highlights
1980s
Developed lens-sparing vitrectomy for the treatment of complex pediatric retinal detachment due to advanced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Developed new surgical approaches for congenital X-linked Retinoschisis including scleral buckling and/or vitrectomy with hyaloid removal with schisis cavity drainage.
Developed autologous plasmin enzyme to facilitate the surgical dissection of the vitreoretinal interface, which was developed into ocriplasmin (Jetrea®), used for vitreomacular traction.
Published “Telemedical evaluation and management of retinopathy of prematurity using a fiberoptic digital fundus camera” in Ophthalmology, which discussed the importance of longitudinal evaluation of digital images for ROP patients and led to the development of photographic screening protocols with telemedicine and an educational program called FocusROP used throughout the world.
Demonstrated that the application of the Norrin protein can activate the Wnt signaling pathway, promoting the survival of retinal neurons and facilitating the repair and regrowth of retinal vasculature in animal models of retinal disease.
Chief of Pediatric and Adult Vitreoretinal Surgery, William Beaumont Hospital
Clinical Professor, Oakland University
Clinical Associate Professor, Wayne State University
Director of Vitreoretinal Surgery, University of Kansas
Education and Training
Fellowship: Duke University
Residency: Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: Georgetown University
Reflections
Dr. Michael Trese
Philip J. Ferrone, MD, FASRS
Mike Trese was that special combination of a very kind, spirited soul with a deep, hearty laugh who always knew a good joke or story to tell to bring happiness to others. He was humble, patient, non-judgmental, and completely dedicated to helping his fellow man. Mike did this directly through his very talented hands and through his extensively trained fellows, magnifying his effect on saving patients from blindness.
He tirelessly traveled throughout the world to teach and lecture other retina specialists at assorted meetings about his approaches to treating childhood eye diseases. Mike described lens-sparing vitrectomy and encouraged others to use this technique to decrease morbidity associated with childhood aphakia when it could be avoided.
He proposed a staging classification for familial exudative vitreoretinopathy and approaches for dealing with stage 5 ROP most effectively. Aside from all this though, Mike worked hard at something that he totally enjoyed, and from which he was tremendously fulfilled. He enjoyed life with his love of Northern Michigan, Michigan football, sailing, his extensive friend network, fine food, and his love of his wife, Caron, their sons, and their dogs. Mike totally lived fully and was tremendously loved.
Michael Trese, MD, FASRS, Alice McPhearson, MD, and Kirk Packo, MD, FACS, FASRS at the 2002 ASRS Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California.
Tarek S. Hassan, MD, FASRS
Mike Trese was larger than life to everyone, but in some ways, uniquely to me. He was my friend, mentor, colleague, and then better friend—in that order. Many years ago, I was privileged to be his fellow for 2 years. I did not know him before starting my fellowship but was assigned to work with him 4 out of 5 days of the week during my first 3 months.
His brilliant, kind, funny, boisterous, yet ever-calm persona awed me and indescribably drew me to him. In the first 2 months, we became fast friends as we laughed about all things old-school comedy—Mel Brooks, Monty Python—and ultimately, the comedy movie that we were going to write together. I honestly learned nothing about pediatric retina during those first few months because he and I had such fun simply spending time together in the operating room and clinic.
By the time I actually learned anything he was trying to teach me about retina, he had already offered me a job to stay with him at Associated Retinal Consultants after fellowship (which I nearly instantly accepted). Our personal and professional relationship was wonderful and special.
Working with Mike Trese was an indescribable privilege. Though he taught me much about retina and helped shape my career in many ways, he taught me more about attitude and approach to the things he felt were most important in life.
His indefatigable enthusiasm for everything, unending kindness and generosity toward everyone, intellectual curiosity, and uproarious sense of humor defined him—not only to me, but to everyone whose lives he touched. He built many careers, and as the father of modern pediatric retina, established the fundamentals of caring for the most difficult eyes in our specialty.
Mike brought a remarkable passion for his work to every operating room, every meeting, and every patient encounter. His expertise was unrivaled and his skills were masterful, but his compassion and empathy made him beloved by his patients, their families, staff, fellows, colleagues, and friends.
That passion, and his unmatched humility and humor, made every day sprinkled with a little bit of Mike Trese so much better. Mike was indeed larger than life and his legacy will forever live in the hearts of all who dearly loved him.
Fresh-water-fly-fishing on an annual trip to the Teton River Watershed with 20-30 ophthalmology friends. Photo Courtesy: Antonio Capone Jr., MD, FASRS.
Antonio Capone Jr, MD, FACS
My relationship with Mike Trese started long before my move to Michigan to join Associated Retinal Consultants (ARC) in 2000. Like many across the world, I knew him first through his publications. When I finished training in the early 1990s, the surgical management of ROP, from stages 4A to 5, fascinated me because of the complexity and the lifelong impact of positive outcomes. The most persistent and innovative contributor in that space was Mike.
One night in Athens after a meeting, he and I sat talking late into the night; several months later, we were partners at ARC. Many will speak of his accomplishments. I’d like to offer 2 unique insights that derive from spending time at each other’s side for over 20 years.
Shortly after we started working together, we traveled to a meeting in Luxor, Egypt. It took a long time to get to our destination, and we arrived well into the night. Late the next morning after breakfast, we walked out to the resort area.
What caught his eye—what Mike was genuinely excited to see—was that there were waterslides. What struck me then (waterslides?!), and has been consistent over the years, is that this exceptionally bright man held on to the ability to see life with a freshness we imagine to be the purview of a child. That perspective—a knack for seeing things in a novel way—informed his creative intellectual endeavors throughout the years we worked together.
I eventually came to realize that Mike had a consistent path for bringing a fresh idea to fruition. First, he’d bounce it off his partners at ARC. His ideas usually sounded … out there. Way out there. Next, he’d return from a meeting, letting us know that he’d told (fill in the blank with a leading retina thought leader) about the idea, which the thought leader emphatically supported.
Then, he would start to share this creative vision with his patients in casual conversation as they inquired about what might be the next thing he was working on. As unconventional as the idea sounded at first, persistence repeatedly led to accomplishment.
The most consistent comments by patients since Mike has left us have revolved around the theme of hope. For them, he was the champion of hope.
Mike was loved by many. He will be missed as much for his irrepressible sense of humor and masterful storytelling as for having the vision and commitment to conquer challenges that others considered insurmountable.
.JPG)
