Meet Our Board: Officers
Paul J. Dubord, MD, FSCRC
Board Chair
Paul J. Dubord, MD, FRCSC, has been serving as Associate Medical Director at SightLife since 2002. Dr. Dubord is a Clinical Professor at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia.
Globally, he is a member of the World Health Organization's specially appointed Expert Advisory Panel on Human Cell, Tissue & Organ Transplantation to promote access, quality and safety in all areas of transplantation. He is the founder of Eyesight International (ESI), which develops local, self-sustainable eye care in the developing world with programs in Asia, Africa, and Central America. In 2012, India's L.V. Prasad Eye Institute named him Cornea Department Chair.
Dr. Dubord is a member of the Eye Bank Association of America's Medical Advisory Board, Paton Society Committee, and is a past board member. He currently serves on the Eye Bank at Tokyo Dental College Medical Advisory Board in Chiba, Japan.
He is a Board Certified Diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology and is an Ophthalmology Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC).
His medical training includes:
- Fellowship in Cornea and External Disease at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, England, 1981
- Fellowship in Cornea and External Disease at University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, 1980-1981
- Ophthalmology residency at University of British Columbia, 1977-1980
- Internship in medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. 1975-1977
- Doctor with distinction from the University of Alberta, 1971-1975
- B. Med. Sc in medicine from the University of Alberta, 1969-1973
In 2001, Dubord was awarded the R. Townley Paton Society Award for Eye Banking by the EBAA, the only non-American recipient of this award and the EBAA's highest honor for cornea physicians in recognition of outstanding contribution to the EBAA's development and for exemplifying the precepts of R. Townley Paton, M.D., father of modern eye banking and founder of the first eye bank established in the U.S.
In 2003, he was awarded the Canadian Standards Association’s (CSA) Award of Merit, and in 2001, he received the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Achievement Award. He also received the Faculty of Medicine Honors for Long-Term Contribution (25 completed years) from the University of British Columbia in 2008.
He has co-authored over 32 publications, including a publication for the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Eye Banking and Corneal Transplantation in the developing world with the CSA. He was a lead author in the publication of the most comprehensive set of medical standards for all cell tissue and organ transplantation in the world.
Dr. Dubord has been involved in eye banking in the developing world since 1989. He has worked with the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (the Ramayamma International Eye Bank in Hyderabad, India) since 1990. In 1990, 25 cornea transplants were performed in Hyderabad. In 2008, almost 1,500 cornea transplants were performed. The Ramayamma International Eye Bank is one of the largest eye banks in the developing world.
Dr. Dubord, through ESI, has developed a center of excellence in eye banking and cornea transplantation through the Ramayamma International Eye Bank. Since 2001, this eye bank has served as a resource center not only for India but the whole developing world. Over 115 ophthalmologists received subspecialty fellowships in Corneal Transplantation and Eye Banking (15 months duration) and over 70 ophthalmologists in the short term (at least 3 months fellowships in Transplantation and Eye Banking). In addition, hundreds of eye bank managers and technicians from all over the developing world have been trained in professional eye banking.
Currently, with the L.V. Prasad Institute, Ramayamma International Eye Bank, and three other eye banking partners supported by ESI and SightLife, a population of over 150 million individuals in India are having their cornea transplantation needs met. This is the largest program of its type in the world.
For over ten years, Dr. Dubord has worked with Health Canada and the Canadian Standards Association, chairing both committees to develop the most comprehensive medical standards for all tissue and organ transplantation that exists. Currently, portions of the standards are referred to in Canadian Federal Regulations, a unique model in the world.
James L. Smalley
Vice Chair
James Smalley has served on the SightLife Board of Directors since 2006. Son of Jack Smalley, co-founder of our organization and board member from 1997 to 2005, Jim has actually been involved with the organization since childhood. Helping restore vision is a family passion.
Smalley is Senior Vice President of Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney located in Gig Harbor, Washington. He studied at Brooks Institute where he earned his B.A. and B.F.A. degrees.
In addition to his Board service for SightLife, Smalley is past Chair of the Board of Harrison Medical Centers and was the 2007, 2008, and 2009 recipient of the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award with over 500 hours of service. He also has the status of Life Director of Kitsap Homebuilders.
Jim resides with his family in Wauna, Washington. His passions include the restoration of classic cars. He has shown at the Pebble Beach Concours and is recognized as a national expert on restoration of Austin Healey's. Jim also collects antique billiard memorabilia and enjoys landscape design.
Ann Blume
Secretary
Ann Blume joined the Board in 2007 and has served as Development Committee Chair since 2009. She also serves on boards that include Seattle University's College of Arts and Sciences Leadership Council and the University of Washington's Center for Infant Mental Health and Development.
A graduate of Cornell University, she met her husband Bruce while working in the U.S. Senate in Washington D.C. The parents of five children, they share a passion for family, public policy, and philanthropy.
The Blume family traveled with SightLife to Africa to see firsthand the profound impact that cornea transplants have on the lives of those who are cornea blind. Their gift to SightLife to further this mission of restoring sight and eliminating cornea blindness is the largest-ever donation to global eye bank development. It is the catalyst in furthering SightLife's mission to help the world to see.
Melody Summers
Treasurer | Finance/Audit Committee Chair
Melody J. Summers joined the SightLife Board of Directors August 2010. Ms. Summers is the National Recruiting Managing Director of Alvarez & Marsal Taxand, LLC. She assists clients in identifying and implementing federal tax planning associated with business and individual challenges.
Ms. Summers advises a broad client base, including clients in the real estate, financial services, agricultural, mining and manufacturing industries. She has also served as Interim Tax Director for a client of Alvarez & Marsal's Turnaround Advisory Group.
Prior to joining A&M, Ms. Summers had a 12 year career with two Big Five Accounting firms in San Francisco. Most recently, she served as Director of Finance with a private equity firm.
Ms. Summers earned a bachelor's degree in managerial and agricultural economics from the University of California at Davis and a juris doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law. She is a member of the State Bar of California and the American Bar Association.
Diane Sabin
Past Board Chair
Diane Sabin joined the Board in 2000 and has served as Board Chair from 2007 through 2011. Sabin has volunteered in the nonprofit sector in support of community, regional, and now international needs in an ongoing personal effort to make a positive difference. This includes becoming a member of the University Lions Club of Seattle in 1996 and her Board service for SightLife, the Northwest Lions Foundation, University Lions Club, and University Lions Endowment.
Attaining the position of Chief Financial Officer before her retirement, Sabin was a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant for Seattle firms in the retail and fishing industries.
Sabin was a recipient of one of the highest honors among Lions, the Lions International Melvin Jones Fellow Award, named for the founder of Lions Club International. She earned her accounting degree at Central Washington University. A native of the State of Washington, Diane chose the Seattle area as her permanent home. Diane and her husband, Darryl, have two children and four grandchildren. She loves being closely involved with family — particularly their grandchildren, enjoys volunteering, and delights in traveling with family and friends.
Roger Richert
Northwest Lions Foundation Director
Roger has been on the SightLife Board since 2008 and first became involved with the eye bank when he was the District Governor for the area's Lions in 1974-1975. As the current Board Chair of the Northwest Lions Foundation, Roger represents the Foundation on the SightLife Board.
Roger is an architect and is Principal and owner of Richert & Associates, located on Mercer Island since 1975. Prior to opening his own firm, he was Principal at the firm of ORB Organization Architects in Renton. Roger earned his Bachelor of Architectural Engineering from Washington State University in 1958.
Roger has served as International Director with Lions Clubs International from 1991 to 1993. He has received much recognition within the Lions organization from the local club level to the international level. He has received eight international president's medals as well as the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest recognition given by Lions Clubs International. He is a progressive Melvin Jones Fellow, a Judge Brian Stevenson Fellow, and a member of the Renton Lions Club.
Roger and his wife, Rosemary, have been married 38 years and have 5 sons and 13 grandchildren. Rosemary also is very involved with Lions activities and has served as District Governor.
Roger's interests are family, Lions activities, and travel.
Monty Montoya
President & CEO
Monty Montoya pursues the world-wide elimination of corneal blindness with a passion. For those in the global arena of corneal transplantation and eye banking, he is considered a true social humanitarian for working tirelessly to achieve that major goal for the past 20 years.
As the president and CEO of SightLife, Monty leads the only non-profit global health organization solely focused on eliminating corneal blindness in the U.S. and around the world. With his guidance, SightLife's growth has burgeoned from a modest $1.9 million to more than $15 million in eight years, with more than $1 million reinvested back into sight-related programs for low-income populations domestically and abroad in 2011.
Monty is a member of several national and international boards, including the Eye Bank Association of America and the Eye Bank Association of India, and has been honored with prestigious awards for his vision and service. In 2005, he received the Puget Sound Business Journal's 40 Under 40 award. In 2009, Monty was the recipient of the Eye Bank Association of America's coveted Heise Award. This award is given to a non-medical individual who has made the greatest contribution to advancing the cause of eye banking.
Monty started his career in eye banking in 1991 as a part-time technician working his way through college. He joined SightLife in 1997, when he was hired to turn around the organization from a period of financial struggle.
Monty holds a bachelor's degree from Arizona State University and an MBA from Duke University.
