Jack McGovern

Position: Vice Chair

In 2006, Jack McGovern was diagnosed with a rare retinal disease in his left eye called Coats’ Disease. His parents and family quickly learned that this is a disease that’s found most often in young boys and that there is no known cure. Luckily, Jack’s Coats’ Disease was discovered fairly early. Medical treatments and procedures for Coats’ Disease have limited his vision loss with the hop that some, and possibly all, of his vision will return when more treatments are discovered.

In spite of his illness, Jack has never let Coats’ Disease hold him back. He is an All-American athlete, played D1 Lacrosse at Holy Cross University and now, as an adult, continues to provide inspiration to others in the Coats’ Disease community, proving that you can achieve your goals as a person living with Coats’ Disease. He takes pride in the Foundation’s work to help others around the world and in being able to reach out to young patients with Coats Disease to provide hope and a positive outlook.

Jack is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts with a BS in Political Science. He works at Karp Capital Management in Sausalito, California.

FAQ

At the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation, we are often contacted by anxious parents or patients who are seeking information after receiving a diagnosis of Coats’ Disease. The questions below are provided as a resource to assist you as you and your doctor decide the best approach for treatment. These questions do not constitute any form of medical advice or diagnosis. Each patient is unique. An experienced retinal specialist who has examined the patient is the best source of information for diagnosis and treatment. We always recommend getting a second opinion.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor (Download PDF)

Ahead of any treatments or procedures, it is important to ask yourself and the doctor the following questions:
- How do you know that this is Coats’ Disease?
- Has your doctor treated other patients with Coats’ Disease?
- Have you sought a second opinion? If not, please consult our Doctor Directory for knowledgeable doctors in your area.
- What Stage of Coats’ Disease is he/she in?
- Will his/her vision get worse over time?
- Will the eye have pain?
- Will his/her eye start to turn out? Is muscle corrective surgery an option?
- Are cataracts likely?
- How likely is glaucoma? (due to retinal detachment)
- Is there calcification?
- What is the anticipated disease progression?
- Is there a thorough vision exam available?
- Where is the vision affected? (central/peripheral/distance)
- Does he/she have depth perception? (3D visibility)
- What about the non-Coats’ eye?
- To what extent is his/her vision affected?
- Will we be able to use this as a baseline to measure progress/decline?