A Tribute to Jane Portnoy, MD

In Memoriam Section Editors: Kathleen B. Digre, MD Meagan Seay, DO A Tribute to Jane Portnoy, MD mers in the American Dance Festival at Connecticut College, where she studied with Alvin Ailey and Merce Cunningham, and tap-danced well into her 70s. She was an expert gardener and knitter, was passionate about music, and sang in synagogue and community choirs her entire life. She was a brilliant diagnostician and a true healer, who was passionate about serving others in all aspects of her life. She treated all her patients and colleagues with selflessness and compassion. She leaves behind a beautiful legacy of altruism and courage, which will be an inspiration for generations to come. Personal Tributes J ane Portnoy, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania died on March 28, 2021, after a long battle with cancer at the age of 75. Jane was the first board-certified woman ophthalmologist in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She was educated at Woodmere Academy and Mount Holyoke College. She completed her medical training, internship, and residency at the University of Louisville, followed by a fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology at the University of Iowa. Dr. Portnoy spent more than 10 years in practice in Louisville followed by 27 years in Philadelphia, first at Temple University, and for the past 2 decades at the Scheie Eye Institute. She had a clinical practice in general and neuroophthalmology. She was active in training residents for cataract surgery at the VA hospital for over 2 decades. She always loved her family first, but a very close second were all the faculty, trainees, and staff at the Scheie Eye Institute. She was in charge of giving the “pupil lecture” to the ophthalmology residents. Among her earliest publications in the early 1980s were her descriptions of the ophthalmologic side effects of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine therapy and the afferent pupillary defect in amblyopia. Jane was a giving physician who was known for her kindness. Her patients were devoted to her because she listened and truly cared for them. The same was true for her colleagues and friends. She lit up the room with her smile, and she focused always on others and never on herself. Dr. Portnoy was also the author of “A Jewish Calendar of Festive Foods,” a cookbook based on the Jewish months and holidays. Although destined for distinction as a doctor, she began her career as a teacher of French at Scarsdale High School, and her love of French culture and cuisine was lifelong. She danced as well, participating for several sumLiu et al: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2021; 41: 409-410 Jane was before my time as a resident at Iowa, but I know she published a significant article with Stan Thompson and Jim Corbett during her fellowship on the effect of amblyopia on the relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD). I met her at a few North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society meetings, and she was very kind. In fact, when we could not reproduce her amblyopia study with computerized RAPD, and I asked her about it, she provided me with her hand written notes on each of her study patients so that if I wanted to try and contact them to bring them back for retesting, I would be able to do that. She told me she was a “pack-rat” and saved everything. I always found her very friendly and collegial. Randy Kardon, MD, PhD I have known Dr. Portnoy for 20 years, first with the privilege of learning from her as a resident trainee and then as a faculty colleague for the past 16 years. Our schedules overlapped many Thursday afternoons working at the VA eye clinic. Dr. Portnoy was a dedicated and compassionate physician and outstanding colleague, always willing to offer advice and assistance. In addition to her busy comprehensive ophthalmology practice, she had completed subspecialty training in neuro-ophthalmology and was an active member of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society for as long as I have known her. I will always remember and be grateful to Dr. Portnoy for stepping in and helping me on occasion when I was out of town and there were acute neuroophthalmology patients who needed attention at the VA. Beyond our work together, Dr. Portnoy was a very caring friend who took sincere interest in people’s lives. We discovered years ago that her mother and my parents lived in the same community in Florida, and from that moment on, she never missed an opportunity to inquire about my parents and share stories of her own mother. Dr. Portnoy also generously helped me and my family make 409 Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. In Memoriam arrangements to attend holiday services on several occasions when we had nowhere else to go. I will miss her caring and thoughtful discussions about our families and her unwavering dedication to her patients. Kenneth S. Shindler, MD, PhD Jane Portnoy was very personable, always willing to go out of her comfort zone, and the go-to neuroophthalmologist at Radnor. I loved her enthusiasm and her pupil lecture she would give the residents every year! Madhura A. Tamhankar, MD In the field of ophthalmology, while we strive for gender diversity in the field, finding a woman mentor is rare. When I arrived at Penn as a neuro-ophthalmology fellow I was told to look up Dr. Portnoy. I stumbled on her at the VA and was struck by her humility and powerful presence at the institution. From then on, although our interactions were quick, but many, she never passed without a reassuring word of encouragement, alternative diagnosis for a clinical finding, or congratulatory cheer for a presentation or 410 publication. Dr. Portnoy took pleasure in the achievements of the team. She was a truly supportive faculty member, and she will be missed. Ahmara G. Ross, MD, PhD Jane Portnoy was a well-respected clinician and certainly my go-to general ophthalmologist at Radnor—for my patients as well as my family members! She always had a pleasant demeanor. She will be missed. Grant T. Liu, MD Grant T. Liu, MD Kenneth S. Shindler, MD, PhD Madhura A. Tamhankar, MD Ahmara G. Ross, MD, PhD Division of Neuro-ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania E-mail: [e-mail] Liu et al: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2021; 41: 409-410 Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.