RetinUp Podcast

In this breaking news episode, John Kitchens, MD, and Scott Krzywonos react to the announcement that Biogen will acquire Apellis Pharmaceuticals for $5.6 billion, an approximately 8x revenue multiple driven largely by Syfovre (pegcetacoplan), which accounts for the majority of Apellis’ srevenue.The discussion focuses on what this acquisition could mean for the future of geographic atrophy (GA) treatment, including concerns around strategic priorities, industry support programs, and whether Biogen will maintain Apellis’ current momentum in retina.Bottom LineThis acquisition has the potential to reshape the geographic atrophy landscape — but its success will depend on whether Biogen maintains Apellis’ clinical focus, physician relationships, and commitment to innovation in retina.Hosts:John Kitchens, MDScott Krzywonos Listen now at RetinUp.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode of RetinUp combines clinical innovation and device engineering, starting with a discussion on photobiomodulation (PBM) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), followed by a deep dive into the future of ophthalmic laser technology.First, Marion Munk, MD, shares her extensive real-world experience using the Valeda Light Delivery System (Alcon) for PBM, including patient selection, treatment protocols, and functional outcomes. With over 300 patients treated, she provides one of the most comprehensive perspectives currently available on how PBM is being implemented in clinical practice.The episode then shifts to Oliver Hvidt, co-founder and CEO of Norlase, who explains how his training in economics led him to develop a next-generation, portable laser systems. The conversation explores how engineering, economics, and workflow design intersect to improve efficiency in retina practices.The episode opens with a brief discussion on optometric scope expansion in Kansas, where John explains that fears surrounding scope changes may be overblown. Hosts:John Kitchens, MDScott KrzywonosGuests:Marion Munk, MD – Medical Retina & Uveitis Specialist, Gutblick Group (Switzerland)Oliver Hvidt – Co-Founder & CEO, NorlaseTopics CoveredScope Expansion in OptometryKansas legislation expanding optometric procedural scopeReal-world experience from Kentucky following similar changesWhy expanded scope has had limited impact on retina practiceThe evolving role of optometry as general ophthalmology declinesPhotobiomodulation in AMD (Marion Munk, MD)Differences between general “red light therapy” and medical PBMThe Valeda Light Delivery System and evidence from LIGHTSITE trialsReal-world outcomes from 300+ treated patientsIdeal patient profiles (drusen-predominant AMD, non–center-involving GA)Reported benefits: improved dark adaptation, contrast, and daily function~50–60% of patients reporting subjective improvementChallenges in correlating functional gains with OCT or structural changesImplementation strategies: standardized imaging, AI-assisted analysis, and patient trackingWhen to continue vs. discontinue treatment in non-respondersNorlase and the Future of Laser Technology (Oliver Hvidt)Founding story: from engineering collaboration to ophthalmic applicationRedesigning laser architecture using semiconductor technologyMiniaturization and portability (headset-based indirect laser systems)MEMS-based pattern scanning vs. traditional galvanometer systemsDesigning equipment around workflow efficiency, not just performanceAddressing increasing patient volume with limited clinical resourcesFunding challenges in a post-COVID, AI-dominated investment landscapeFuture roadmap: software-driven upgrades and multi-specialty applicationsKey TakeawaysPhotobiomodulation is gaining traction, but patient selection and expectation-setting are critical.Functional improvements in AMD may not always correlate with structural imaging.Device innovation in retina is increasingly focused on efficiency, portability, and workflow integration.The future of ophthalmic technology will depend as much on practice economics as clinical performance.Sponsor AcknowledgmentThis episode includes a segment made possible with support from Alcon, featuring technologies like UNITY VCS designed to enhance surgical performance and efficiency.Credits:Production & Marketing: Laura BrownBusiness Operations: Liz Hogan Listen at RetinUp.com | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Hosts:John Kitchens, MDScott KrzywonosShow SummaryIn this special RetinUp Mailbag episode, John Kitchens and Scott Krzywonos answer listener questions from retina specialists around the country about three issues: cash-pay diversification, the future of emerging therapies in light of payer realities, and how practices can realistically adopt expensive new technology as reimbursements decline.The conversation explores whether concierge retina models could emerge in certain markets, how insurers may respond to high-cost innovations like gene therapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and what practical frameworks practices use when deciding whether to invest in new surgical or imaging equipment.Throughout the episode, a central theme emerges: innovation in retina continues to accelerate, but reimbursement pressure is forcing practices to rethink business models, technology adoption, and long-term sustainability. Topics CoveredCash-Pay Diversification in RetinaListener question from Jed Assam, MD (VRA Vision, Sioux Falls, South Dakota)Whether concierge retina could work, and whether VIP-style care models might translate to retina practicesPotential cash-pay services such as photobiomodulation (PBM) therapyOperational considerations for scheduling concierge visits separately from standard clinic flowGeographic limitations for cash-pay models in smaller marketsFuture Therapies and Insurance CoverageListener question from Deepak Sambhara, MD (Eye Clinic of Wisconsin, Wausau, Wisconsin)How payers may respond to upcoming therapies such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and gene therapyThe likelihood of step therapy policies changingPricing challenges for long-duration treatmentsEconomic implications of one-time gene therapy approachesTechnology Adoption in an Era of Declining ReimbursementListener question from Priya Vakharia, MD (Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida, Tampa, Florida)How practices decide when to adopt new surgical technologyCost pressures from declining surgical reimbursementEvaluating investments in surgical and imaging equipment The potential role of AI-driven analysis in improving efficiency and clinical decision-makingKey TakeawaysConcierge-style retina care may be viable in affluent metropolitan markets but remains niche.Insurance economics will strongly influence how quickly new therapies reach patients.Practices increasingly rely on ROI analysis and efficiency gains when deciding whether to adopt new technologies.Artificial intelligence may help practices manage growing data complexity, though its financial model remains uncertain.Have a Question for the Next Mailbag?RetinUp listeners can submit questions by sending a voice memo to info@retinup.com, leaving a comment on YouTube, or connecting with John and Scott on LinkedIn.Sign up for our newsletter at RetinUp.com.

Hosts:John Kitchens, MDScott KrzywonosGuests:Thomas Stone, MD – Program Committee Chair, ASRS Business of Retina MeetingMaria Berrocal, MD – CEO, Drs. Berrocal & Associates; Associate Professor, University of Puerto RicoDavid Mandell, JD, MBA – Co-Founder & Partner, OJM GroupShow SummaryRetinUp brings together three distinct but interconnected conversations focused on the business, surgical innovation, and financial realities of retina practice.First, Tom Stone joins the show to preview the upcoming ASRS Business of Retina Meeting in Houston (March 20–22). He outlines this year’s agenda, which covers staffing strategies, AI in practice operations, drug inventory management, coding updates, and a new full-day clinical trials workshop designed to help practices launch research programs from the ground up.Next, in the Vitreoretinal View segment, Maria Berrocal discusses her experience using the Alcon UNITY VCS system, focusing on flow-based vitrectomy, 30,000 cpm performance, and the evolution of 27-gauge surgery. She also shares early observations comparing case times and complication rates versus legacy systems.For the long-form interview, David Mandell of the OJM Group offers a structured framework for physician wealth management across career stages—covering early-career planning, mid-career tax strategy and asset protection, and retirement-phase portfolio positioning.Topics CoveredASRS Business of Retina MeetingThe 2026 meeting agenda: staffing, AI implementation, and drug inventory strategyCoding updates and compliance (including Modifier -25)Launch of the Clinical Trials Workshop (capped at 80 participants, so register soon!)Dedicated business curriculum for fellowsVitreoretinal View – Surgical InnovationTransition from vacuum-based to flow-based vitrectomy on Alcon UNITY VCS27-gauge adoption and surface vitrectomy precisionReduced instrument frustrationsPhysician Wealth StrategyWhy retina specialists are unique when it comes to wealth strategyEarly-career debt balancing, disability protection, and lifestyle creepMid-career tax optimization and liability protectionRetirement red-zone portfolio repositioningAssessing private equity offersKey TakeawaysThe Business of Retina Meeting is will be in Houston March 20-22. Registration link below.Flow-based vitrectomy may meaningfully refine 27-gauge surgery.Financial discipline—not peak income—is what ultimately determines long-term security.Resources MentionedASRS Business of Retina Meeting – Register HereOJM Group – ojmgroup.comUse the code RetinUp26 to get a free copy of the book Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician: Residency to Retirement at the OJM Bookstore.

Hosts:John Kitchens, MDScott KrzywonosShow Summary:In this emergency episode of RetinUp, John and Scott break down the newly announced SOL-1 study data evaluating Axpaxli (Ocular Therapeutix) for the treatment of wet AMD.The superiority trial compared a single Axpaxli injection to a single Eylea injection (after all eyes received a pair of monthly Eylea doses) in patients with wet AMD. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients maintaining vision at 36 weeks (defined as losing fewer than 15 ETDRS letters).Key findings include:74% of Axpaxli patients maintained vision at 36 weeks vs. 59% in the Eylea armApproximately 75% of Axpaxli patients required no rescue treatment through 36 weeksDurable disease control extending 24–36 weeks, with some patients reaching 52 weeksJohn and Scott discuss:How the SOL-1 study design (FDA-aligned superiority endpoint) shaped the resultsWhat this means for durability beyond traditional anti-VEGF therapiesWhy the market reaction diverged from clinical enthusiasmHow to talk to your patients who hear about study dataWhat to expect next from the SOL-R study and a potential FDA submissionWhy It Matters:For the first time in years, retina specialists may be looking at a new mechanism of action — a tyrosine kinase inhibitor — with the potential to significantly extend treatment intervals after a single injection.More detailed analysis and expert commentary coming soon on RetinUp.Listen & Subscribe:RetinUp.com | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeCredits:Production & Marketing: Laura BrownBusiness Operations: Liz Hogan

Hosts:John Kitchens, MDScott KrzywonosGuest:Thomas Albini, MDProfessor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye InstituteCourse Co-Organizer, Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration MeetingShow Summary:In this episode, RetinUp offers pre-meeting coverage of the 2026 Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration meeting with one of its long-time course co-leaders, Thomas Albini, MD. John and Scott sit down with Tom to help listeners navigate what can be an overwhelming, marathon agenda—and to highlight the sessions most likely to shape retina care and research in the year ahead.The conversation spans the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence in retina, early-phase geographic atrophy studies, durability strategies in wet AMD, and a packed slate of gene therapy and inherited retinal disease (IRD) updates. Tom also explains why the meeting remains fully virtual, how talks are selected, and why Angiogenesis continues to serve as a global preview of where retina research is heading.Topics Covered:Why the Angiogenesis meeting remains virtual—and how attendance has doubledHow to prepare for a one-day, 80+-talk retina marathonThe growing role of AI and machine learning in imaging and clinical trialsWhen AI may realistically impact everyday clinical practiceEarly-phase geographic atrophy data and emerging systemic therapiesOral and non-intravitreal treatment strategies—and their safety tradeoffsComplement vs. non-complement targets in GAAdvances in wet AMD durability What to watch in gene therapy, including delivery routes and inflammation riskInherited retinal disease sessions, including optogenetics and gene-agnostic approachesHome OCT, imaging innovation, and AI-inferred fluorescein angiographyLandmark trials reaching their final chapters—and why they matterHow Angiogenesis fits alongside meetings like ASRS, AAO, and the Vit-Buckle SocietyKey Quotes:“You could say this is a lot of [AI] talks, but I think it's the tip of the iceberg. I would imagine it's going to be grow exponentially over the years.” — Thomas Albini, MD“If there's any hour to not miss in this meeting, I've bookmarked that 2:45 to 3:45 hour because you literally get every single gene therapy talk in a single hour.” — John Kitchens, MD

Hosts:John Kitchens, MDScott KrzywonosGuest:Elizabeth CifersFounder & Principal Consultant, Elizabeth Cifers ConsultingShow Summary:In this episode, RetinUp introduces a new recurring segment, Vitreoretinal View, focused on surgical innovation and next-generation vitrectomy platforms. John breaks down where vitreoretinal surgery is headed, and comments on Alcon’s UNITY VCS system, flow-based vitrectomy, and his expectations for the next wave of surgical innovation.But first, the conversation kicks off with a discussion of drug access and policy, as John and Scott revisit Outlook Therapeutics’ unsuccessful attempt to secure FDA approval for ONS-5010, an ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab. They explain why continued access to compounded bevacizumab remains critical for affordability and patient choice.In the second half, the hosts sit down with Elizabeth Cifers, one of the country’s leading ophthalmic coding and compliance experts. Elizabeth offers a clear-eyed assessment of Modifier -25 and Modifier -59, why enforcement has intensified, and how CMS’s shift from post-pay recovery to pre-pay, AI-driven audits is fundamentally changing compliance risk for retina practices heading into 2026. (Do you think your practice’s billing and coding staff would find this episode helpful? If so, share it with them—and tell them to send us feedback by emailing us at info@retinup.com.)Topics Covered:Why Outlook Therapeutics’ FDA rejection preserves access to compounded bevacizumabEconomic and regulatory risks of an FDA-approved bevacizumab alternativeLaunch of the Vitreoretinal View surgical segmentNext-generation vitrectomy platforms and workflow efficiencyAlcon UNITY VCS vs. the legacy Constellation systemsFlow-based vs. Venturi-based vitrectomySurgical innovation amid declining reimbursementWhat Modifier -25 actually requires — and common misconceptionsProper and improper use of Modifier -59Documentation gaps that trigger auditsCMS’s shift to AI-based anomaly detectionPre-pay vs. post-pay audits and what practices should expectHow retina practices can prepare for changes in coding enforcement without overcorrectingKey Quotes:“The medicine is usually good. It’s the documentation that doesn’t support what’s being billed.” — Elizabeth Cifers“With the algorithms CMS has now, [the question of whether you’ll be hit with an audit] is not an if — it’s a when.” — Elizabeth Cifers“Compounded bevacizumab remains one of the most important access tools we have in retina.” — John Kitchens, MDGuest Info:Visit elizabethcconsulting.com to learn about how Elizabeth Cifers.Sign up for her newsletter here, where Elizabeth shares actionable tips and strategies to help you run a more efficient, compliant, and profitable retina practice.

Hosts:John Kitchens, MDScott KrzywonosGuest:Rishi P. Singh, MDChair, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical SchoolChair, Department of Ophthalmology, Mass General BrighamShow Summary:In this episode, John and Scott break down two major developments affecting retina practices nationwide before welcoming one of the field’s most influential leaders. The discussion opens with the newly announced CMS GLOBE Model, a Medicare Part B demonstration project designed to lower drug prices through most-favored-nation pricing, and what it could mean for buy-and-bill retina practices. They then turn to the FDA’s expanded label for EYLEA HD, which now includes retinal vein occlusion and allows monthly dosing for certain patients.In the second half, the hosts are joined by Rishi P. Singh, MD, newly appointed Chair of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. Rishi reflects on stepping into leadership at one of the most storied institutions in medicine, his path from retina specialist to hospital CEO and back to academia, and how academic centers must adapt amid policy shifts, private equity pressure, and rapid technological change.Topics Covered:The CMS GLOBE Model and most-favored-nation drug pricingPotential administrative and financial impact on practices in affected regionsThe FDA’s expanded EYLEA HD label for RVO and monthly dosingHow label flexibility may change first-line treatment decisionsInsurance lag and real-world adoption challenges after label changesLeadership transition at Mass Eye and Ear and Mass General BrighamBalancing clinical care, research, and training in academic medicineThe role of academic centers in advocacy, innovation, and policy influencePhysician recruitment, culture, and servant leadershipPrivate equity’s role in modern ophthalmologyIndustry collaboration, integrity, and long-term impact on patient careThe future of ophthalmology drug access under Part B and Part D reformKey Quotes:“The biggest issue for any of us is if buy-and-bill medicine disappears from our practices.” — Rishi P. Singh, MD“We’ve been too focused on reactionary medicine and not enough on prevention.” — Rishi P. Singh, MD“Anything that substantially disrupts drug pricing is going to have downstream consequences for practices.” — John Kitchens, MDCredits:Production & Marketing: Laura BrownBusiness Operations: Liz HoganListen and Subscribe:🎧 RetinUp.com | Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Hosts:John Kitchens, MDScott KrzywonosGuest:Shane Dixon, Vice President of Vision, Strategic Advancement & Business Development, Cencora Specialty GPOShow Summary:In this episode, John and Scott continue their coverage of the Cencora Vision Exchange meeting with an in-depth conversation about the economic, policy, and operational forces reshaping retina practices. The discussion opens with key takeaways from the meeting’s opening sessions, including a deep dive into drug pricing policy, the downstream impact of federal legislation on how retina practices are reimbursed for care, and the coding and billing changes showcased at the Cencora Vision Exchange meeting.John then sits down with Shane Dixon, VP at Cencora Specialty GPO, to unpack what a Group Purchasing Organization actually does—and why its role has become increasingly critical. Drawing on his experience as a physician assistant, former Regeneron launch leader for Eylea, practice executive, private equity operator, and now GPO executive, Shane offers a rare, 360-degree view of how drugs move from manufacturer to patient, how contracts are structured, and how practices can survive tightening margins.Topics Covered:Key takeaways from the Cencora Vision Exchange meetingFederal drug pricing policy and “Most Favored Nation” pricingHow government policy is reshaping retina drug economicsCoding and billing risk, including increased scrutiny of Modifier 25CMS’s use of AI for claim detection, audits, and recoveryDeclining surgical reimbursement and its impact on access to careThe collapse of the Good Days patient assistance fund and what replaces itWhat a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) is and how it worksHow Cencora’s GPO leverages scale, segmentation, and contractsDifferences between private practice and large aggregatorsKey Quotes:“The way we get paid for drugs is going to fundamentally change—and it’s going to change fast.” — John Kitchens, MD“We’re not just doing contracts. We’re helping practices think strategically about how they operate.” — Shane Dixon“Documentation isn’t optional anymore. ‘I didn’t know’ is not going to cut it.” — John Kitchens, MDCredits:Production & Marketing: Laura BrownBusiness Operations: Liz HoganListen and Subscribe:RetinUp.com | Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Hosts:John Kitchens, MD; Scott KrzywonosGuest:Eric Besse, Vice President & General Manager, Besse Medical (a Cencora company)Show Summary:In this episode, Scott and John return from the Cencora Vision Exchange meeting in Dallas and sit down with Eric Besse, VP and General Manager of Besse Medical, to unpack the unseen infrastructure that keeps retina practices running. Eric shares how his family’s corner pharmacy grew into one of the most influential specialty distributors in the country and explains why drug distribution is far more than logistics — it’s practice support, financial stewardship, technology integration, and practice-level partnership.The conversation spans everything from cold-chain handling and inventory management to sustainability and the future of practice support. For retina specialists, this is a rare, behind-the-curtain look at the systems that make allow retina practices to operate smoothly. Topics Covered:What the Cencora Vision Exchange meeting is and who attendsThe family origins of Besse Medical and its growth into a national distributorHow Cencora and Besse Medical fit togetherWhy distributors manage more than just shipping Technology platforms such as CubixxMD and PODISHow drug distributors support retina workflows, billing, and complianceThe importance of stable, long-tenured support teams for practicesCencora’s new recyclable, corrugated cold-chain packaging initiativeKey Quotes:“We don’t want to be viewed as a distributor that picks, packs, and ships product. We want to be more than that, and we push ourselves to be more than that.” — Eric Besse“If the soda fountain down the street puts two cherries on top, you put three. If they put three, you put four.” — Eric Besse, on his family’s philosophy of service“If I were starting a practice today, [Cencora] would be the first place I would turn to partner.” — John Kitchens, MD

RetinUp – Episode 3: Shutdown’s Effects on FDA ft. Alec Gaffney from POLITICO | Plus, PRIMA Implant + GLP-1 Data DumpHosts:John Kitchens, MDScott KrzywonosGuest:Alexander Gaffney, VP of Regulatory Policy & Intelligence, Agency IQ / POLITICOShow Summary:In this episode, Scott calls in from the Outer Banks to discuss two major clinical headlines before turning to federal policy. First up is the PRIMA retinal prosthesis, a wireless subretinal chip that helped patients with geographic atrophy regain partial reading vision. Then, Scott and John analyze the rapidly expanding — and often contradictory — body of research on GLP-1 receptor agonists and their links to retinal disease.In the second half, they welcome Alexander Gaffney from POLITICO’s Agency IQ for a deep dive into how the ongoing government shutdown and widespread staff reductions are affecting the FDA’s ability to review and approve ophthalmic therapies. From PDUFA carry-over funds to workforce attrition, Alec explains why the true impact may not be the shutdown itself, but the backlog that follows.Topics Covered:PRIMA retinal implant: wireless innovation and its surgical challengesThe trade-off between functional vision gains and expanded atrophy areaGLP-1 receptor agonists: mixed data on AMD, DR, and DME riskFDA shutdown implications for ophthalmic trials and approvalsThe reduction in force across FDA divisions and its effect on review capacityHow new leadership and the National Priority Voucher Program aim to modernize the agencyWhy backlogs could extend into 2026 for gene therapy and TKI programsKey Quotes:“I’m less worried about the shutdown itself — I’m worried about what happens afterward.” — Alexander Gaffney“You might not be able to read or drive, but that peripheral vision is what lets you move through the world. Losing more of that matters.” — John Kitchens, MD“We don’t always know what we’ve lost — how much faster certain drugs might have reached patients.” — Scott KrzywonosCredits:Production & Marketing: Laura BrownBusiness Operations: Liz HoganListen and Subscribe: RetinUp.com | Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Hosts:Scott KrzywonosJohn Kitchens, MDShow Summary:In this episode, Scott and John pick up where they left off — talking about the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) meeting and how innovation is reshaping the field. They explore their favorite AAO host cities, the atmosphere of this year’s meeting, and the under-the-radar conversations shaping the future of retina.Scott shares insights from iCelerator, his favorite ophthalmology meeting, which highlights how technology, AI, and macroeconomic forces are influencing eye care. The two discuss “oculomics” — using retinal data to understand systemic diseases — and the potential of multimodal AI systems that combine imaging, genetics, and longitudinal data.John then breaks down the next wave of therapies: gene therapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and how FDA study design changes could reshape how new drugs are approved. The discussion dives into superiority studies, the logic of targeting diabetic retinopathy (DR) instead of diabetic macular edema (DME), and what these shifts mean for patients and clinicians.They wrap with a preview of the Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen) meeting — a behind-the-scenes look at the often-overlooked but crucial role drug distributors play in retina care.Credits:Production & Marketing: Laura BrownBusiness Operations: Liz HoganListen and Subscribe:🎧 RetinUp.com | Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

In the debut episode of RetinUp, Drs. Scott Krzywonos and John Kitchens introduce their vision for the show—unfiltered conversations between retina specialists that capture the hallway and after-hours discussions rarely heard on stage.They kick off by recapping highlights from the AAO Annual Meeting, including the first-ever full eye transplant, updates on Alcon’s Unity vitrectomy system, the LumiThera photobiomodulation platform, and the coming wave of AREDS 3 vitamins.The episode then turns to a one-on-one interview with Cedric Francois, founder and CEO of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, whose journey from surgeon to biotech innovator led to the creation of Syfovre, the first approved treatment for geographic atrophy. Francois shares how a chance encounter at the Macula Society set his career in motion, the origins of complement inhibition research, and what it means to lead a mission-driven biotech as both a scientist and physician.Key TopicsAAO 2024 highlights:The world’s first whole-eye transplant — and what it could mean for future nerve regeneration research.Alcon’s new Unity vitreoretinal platform — first major system since Constellation.The promise and controversy of photobiomodulation in dry AMD care.Previewing AREDS 3 — a reformulated vitamin blend with added B vitamins and lower zinc.Inside the Apellis Story:How a Belgian surgeon became a biotech CEO in Kentucky.The early experiments that led to complement inhibition research.The role of serendipity at the Macula Society—and how a single conversation led to Apellis’s first investment.Lessons learned from Potentia’s first molecule (POT-4/APL-1) to Syfovre (pegcetacoplan)The transition from Louisville to Boston’s biotech hub.Why physician-founders bring unique empathy—and accountability—to innovation.TakeawayFrom the first eye transplant to the first therapy for geographic atrophy, Episode 1 sets the tone for RetinUp— candid, curious, and clinically relevant. Drs. Krzywonos and Kitchens explore how preparation meets luck, and how visionaries like Cedric Francois turn bold ideas into breakthroughs for patients.CreditsHosts: Scott Krzywonos and John Kitchens, MDGuest: Cedric Francois, MD, PhD (Apellis Pharmaceuticals)Business Operations: Liz HoganProduction & Marketing: Laura Brown🎧 Listen to RetinUp wherever you get your podcasts, or visit RetinUp.com to subscribe to our newsletter.

Hosts: John Kitchens, MD & Scott KrzywonosDuration: 2:15Episode SummaryWelcome to RetinUp—the podcast where retina science meets real-world insight. Hosted by Dr. John Kitchens and Scott Krzywonos, RetinUp brings together leading voices in ophthalmology to explore new data, breakthrough research, and the stories behind the science shaping the future of retina care.In this short trailer, John and Scott introduce the RetinUp mission, what listeners can expect from upcoming episodes, and how the show will connect researchers, clinicians, and innovators across the retina community.Subscribe & FollowStay connected with RetinUp for upcoming interviews, conference recaps, and clinical discussions.📱 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.\🌐 Learn more at retinup.com💬 Follow the conversation on LinkedIn with #RetinUpPodcastAbout the HostsJohn Kitchens, MD is a vitreoretinal surgeon with decades of clinical and research experience.Scott Krzywonos is an editor, educator, and longtime retina media producer. Together, they bring clarity, humor, and insight to every conversation.