Dr. Mary Elizabeth Hartnett Named 2026 Albany Medical College Distinguished Alumna
The Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation proudly congratulates Dr. Mary Elizabeth “ME” Hartnett, MD, FACS, FARVO, on being named the 2026 Distinguished Alumna by Albany Medical College.
This prestigious honor recognizes an alumna who has earned national recognition for outstanding leadership in health care - and few could embody that distinction more fully than Dr. Hartnett.
Dr. Hartnett is the Michael F. Marmor, MD Professor of Retinal Science and Diseases, Professor of Ophthalmology, and Director of Pediatric Retina at Stanford University. As a physician-scientist and leader in retinal research, her work has contributed significantly to our understanding and treatment of serious retinal diseases, including retinopathy of prematurity and age-related macular degeneration. Her research has helped advance new approaches to treatment and has had a meaningful impact on patients facing vision-threatening disease.
Her contributions to the field extend far beyond the lab. Dr. Hartnett authored the first academic textbook dedicated to pediatric retina, Pediatric Retina, now in its third edition and used by ophthalmologists and residents around the world. Her career includes hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, numerous national and international lectures, and leadership roles within some of the most respected organizations in ophthalmology.
For the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation, however, Dr. Hartnett's impact is especially personal.
As Chair of our Scientific Advisory Board and a Legacy Board Member, Dr. Hartnett has been an integral part of the Foundation's efforts to advance research, foster collaboration, and carry our mission forward. Her expertise, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the Coats’ Disease community have helped strengthen the scientific foundation upon which we continue to build.
Dr. Hartnett understands that progress in rare disease does not happen in isolation. It takes dedicated researchers, collaboration across institutions, thoughtful investment in science, and a commitment to the children and families whose lives are affected by Coats’ Disease.
That commitment is at the heart of everything she brings to the Foundation.
We are incredibly proud to see Dr. Hartnett's lifetime of achievement recognized by Albany Medical College. Her Distinguished Alumna Award is a celebration not only of an exceptional career, but of a physician, researcher, mentor, and leader who continues to use her expertise to make a difference in the lives of others.
Congratulations, Dr. Hartnett, on this well-deserved honor!
The Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation is deeply grateful for your leadership, your vision, and your continued dedication to our shared goal: finding a cure for Coats’ Disease.