The ASCRS Foundation Welcomes Laura Rousseau as Development Director
Fairfax, VA, May 15, 2024 - The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Foundation, a leading 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to providing humanitarian eye care and physician education globally, is pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Rousseau as its new Development Director, effective immediately.
With a distinguished career spanning over 15 years in the ophthalmic industry, Laura brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her new role. Her extensive background includes strategic planning, practice growth, and fostering key opinion leader relationships, making her an invaluable addition to the ASCRS Foundation team.
"We are thrilled to welcome Laura Rousseau to the ASCRS Foundation family," said Abigail Markward, Executive Director of the ASCRS Foundation. "Her proven track record in healthcare practice development and impeccable relationships, coupled with her deep understanding of the ophthalmology landscape, makes her the ideal candidate to lead our fundraising efforts."
As Development Director, Laura will lead efforts to expand the Foundation's donor base, raise funds, and increase awareness of the Foundation mission to educate, resource, and empower the global eye health community to deliver humanitarian ophthalmic surgery and care. Her responsibilities will include cultivating and maintaining relationships with individual and institutional donors, overseeing fundraising strategies, and ensuring compliance with all 501(c)(3) requirements.
"I am honored to join the ASCRS Foundation and contribute to its vital mission of providing humanitarian eye care and physician education," said Laura Rousseau, newly appointed Development Director. "I am eager to leverage my passion for enhancing access to eye care and my background in fundraising to drive meaningful impact through the ASCRS Foundation. I am excited to work alongside the dedicated team at the Foundation to expand our reach and make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients worldwide."
Prior to joining the ASCRS Foundation, Laura served as Senior Director at Clearwave Corporation, where she played a pivotal role in supporting market share growth and awareness for leading cloud-based digital patient check-in and scheduling software providers. Her achievements include securing Founder's Club status multiple years in a row and tripling ophthalmology clients, resulting in significant revenue growth. She also previously held positions with Bausch & Lomb (surgical), Clemson Eye, IntraLase, and Clear Choice Custom Lasik Center/Cleveland Eye Clinic in various sales, marketing, and business development roles over the course of her career.
"Laura's passion for advancing eye care and her commitment to philanthropy align perfectly with the ASCRS Foundation's values," said Foundation Chair, Dr. Susan MacDonald. "We look forward to her leadership in driving our fundraising efforts and furthering our impact in communities around the world."
Laura holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Clemson University and is a respected industry speaker, having presented at renowned conferences such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), ASCRS, and ESCRS. She is also actively involved in professional organizations such as the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives (AAOE) and Ophthalmic World Leaders (OWL), where she has held several leadership positions since joining.
About ASCRS Foundation
At the ASCRS Foundation, we are driven by a shared vision of a world free from preventable blindness, where individuals can experience life to the fullest. As the nonprofit arm of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), our mission is: to educate, provide resources, and empower the ophthalmic community to deliver vital humanitarian eye surgery and care, bridging gaps in access, and transforming lives. Anchored by our philanthropic priorities of humanitarian ophthalmic care and surgery, as well as physician education and training efforts, we are committed to making a tangible impact on eye health worldwide.
For Media Inquiries:
Abby Markward
Executive Director, ASCRS Foundation
[email protected]