James & Heather Gills Donate $10M to Launch AI Innovation Center at Wilmer Eye Institute
Peter McDonnell, M.D., (left) and James Gills, M.D. (right)
Image Source: Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Wilmer Eye Institute has received a remarkable $10 million donation from philanthropists James and Heather Gills. This gift will establish the James P. Gills Jr., M.D., & Heather Gills Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center at Wilmer, setting the stage for a new era of vision care centered around AI.
The Vision Behind the AI Innovation Center
The AI Innovation Center is designed as a collaborative hub that integrates clinical, scientific, and infrastructure resources. The goal? To harness the power of artificial intelligence to develop groundbreaking treatments that preserve vision and eliminate blindness. The center will lead advancements in AI applications across research, medical education, and patient care, with a focus on core values such as openness, sustainability, and collaboration.
James Gills: A Legacy of Innovation in Eye Care
James Gills is a pioneering surgeon credited with making small incision cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation the gold standard in cataract treatment. A former resident at Wilmer in the 1960s, Gills has made a lasting impact on the field of ophthalmology, both as a clinician and philanthropist. His and Heather’s previous gifts have endowed multiple professorships at Wilmer, including the James P. Gills Professorship in Ophthalmology and the James and Heather Gills Rising Professor of Ophthalmology, held by Dr. Neil Bressler and Dr. Michael Sulewski Jr., respectively.
Leadership and Future of AI at Wilmer
The AI Innovation Center will be led by Dr. T.Y. Alvin Liu, a retina faculty member at Wilmer. Dr. Liu has also been nominated as the inaugural James P. Gills Jr., M.D., and Heather Gills Rising Professor of Artificial Intelligence in Ophthalmology. Under his guidance, the center aims to significantly enhance Wilmer’s efforts in AI model development, clinical tool implementation, and national-level advocacy for AI policy.
Fostering the Next Generation of Innovators
Peter McDonnell, M.D., director of the Wilmer Eye Institute, emphasized the impact of this transformative gift, stating that it will support “future generations of innovators”. He noted that having the Gills’ names linked to the institute underscores their dedication to advancing vision care through cutting-edge technology.
Commitment to Advancing Global Eye Care
Reflecting on the donation, James Gills highlighted the importance of Wilmer’s legacy in training leaders and advancing ophthalmology over the past century. He expressed his and Heather's joy in supporting Wilmer’s mission to improve eye care for future generations globally. The AI Innovation Center marks a significant milestone in Wilmer’s journey toward leveraging AI to enhance eye care, making cutting-edge treatments accessible to people worldwide.
Source: Hopkins Medicine
