USC Alums Gift Renowned Eye Care Practice to Alma Mater

In a significant move for Southern California’s medical community, Dr. Richard Weise and his wife Cathy have gifted their renowned Glendale Eye Medical Group (GEMG) to the USC Roski Eye Institute, strengthening ties between the private practice and their alma mater.

Dr. Weise graduated from USC in 1976, where he and Cathy met during their undergraduate years. After earning an MD from the Keck School of Medicine of USC in 1980 and pursuing further residency and fellowship training at UC Davis and the University of Toronto, respectively, Dr. Weise joined GEMG as an oculoplastics ophthalmologist in 1987.

“At the time, [GEMG] already had a strong reputation for its fellowship-trained doctors and multispecialty approach to patient care,” said Dr. Weise. “This meant if a patient needed to see a doctor with a different subspeciality, you only needed to send them down the hall. If something was critical, a doctor could look at the patient right away.”

A decade later, Dr. Weise took over the practice when the previous owner retired. Under Dr. Weise’s leadership, GEMG grew into a bustling private practice with eight to ten doctors on rotation per day, including six or more ophthalmologists and three optometrists.

GEMG continued to grow alongside the city of Glendale, fostering a loyal patient base with some individuals returning consistently for as long as 25 years.

Cathy Weise also played a crucial role in the practice’s success. “I take on things that don’t fall under normal employee work. Booking events, hotels, food, etc.,” she said.

Dr. Weise added, “She does everything other than patient care.”

Gifting the Practice

In 2022, the Weises began contemplating the future of GEMG. “I couldn’t see anyone as the heir,” Dr. Weise said.

“That’s not from hubris,” added Cathy. “It’s hard to own a private practice. Nobody could take it over.”

The Weises began to look beyond the practice. Given their strong ties to USC, they approached the USC Roski Eye Institute about gifting the GEMG practice. “I always thought Roski would be a good match,” Dr. Weise said. “We’re both already multispecialty. At the same time, I think it will be an appealing option for their patients to come to our medical office.”

The gift brings six new faculty members to Roski, including ophthalmologists specializing in glaucoma, retina, and comprehensive eye care, as well as three optometrists. In addition, several Roski physicians have begun rotating at the Glendale location, now known as USC Roski Eye Institute-Glendale. This expansion has allowed Glendale to add a neuro-ophthalmology specialist and bolster its glaucoma care.

While Dr. Weise chose not to become a USC faculty member, he continues to practice at the Glendale location. “I’m not retired. I’m still practicing.” he said. “I think it is be a good idea for patients to see me around still. I really want USC to provide good continuity of care for our patients, so patients stay loyal to the practice.”

Looking ahead, Dr. Weise hopes Roski fellows will have the opportunity to rotate at the Glendale location, enriching USC’s educational experience.

An Extension of the Trojan Family

The gift to USC is a natural extension of the Weises’ deep connection to the university. Dr. Weise’s father received a PhD in Psychology from USC in the 1960s and recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Both of Cathy’s parents graduated from USC, as did Dr. Weise’s two brothers and the couple’s two children.

This donation marks a key step in the evolution of eye care in Southern California, combining the strengths of a well-established private practice with the resources of a leading academic institution. As the USC Roski Eye Institute-Glendale begins this new chapter, it stands poised to offer enhanced care to patients while providing valuable learning opportunities for the next generation of eye care professionals.