College of Health Sciences and Technology 2020-2021 Distinguished Alumnus: Andrew Goodfriend

The Distinguished Alumni Awards are presented annually by each of RIT’s nine colleges and the School of Individualized Study to alumni who have performed at the highest levels of their profession or who have contributed to the advancement and leadership of civic, philanthropic, or service organizations. It is the highest award an RIT college can bestow upon its alumni.

The 2020-2021 recipients will be honored during a virtual ceremony on April 29. Learn more and register for the event.

College of Health Sciences and Technology 2020-2021 Distinguished Alumnus

Andrew Goodfriend ’88 (medical informatics)
Ophthalmologist, OcuSight Eye Care Center

What is your career highlight to date? 

“I find the ability to make a difference in my patients’ lives the highlight. As an ophthalmologist, I am, for some, able to restore sight. I had a patient who was terminally ill with metastatic cancer and she was given radiation treatment to her brain to reduce the tumors for comfort. This, unfortunately, caused instant cataracts and blinded her. Her wish was to be able to see her grandchildren one last time and I was able to give her that wish, though she did not live long after her surgery. Though this was more than 20 years ago, this is a reminder to me of why I love this career.”

What does being an RIT alumnus mean to you? 

“RIT is a community and taught me how to be a part of something greater than myself, and I now enjoy giving back to the university that has given so much to me.”

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