Through My Eyes: The Charlie Kelman Story
Download hi-res imagesPremieres nationwide on public television January 2010 (check local listings)
A profile of the most famous man you’ve never heard of — Queens, New York native Dr. Charles D. Kelman. Celebrating the jazzy double life of the ophthalmologist who changed the world, this new documentary traces Dr. Kelman’s tumultuous ride to success: from the driven young man with dreams of pop music stardom to his groundbreaking cataract surgery procedure, polarizing business practices, and receipt of some of the highest honors in science and technological innovation. Interviews with family, friends, colleagues, and Charlie himself, interspersed with his performance footage, tell the story of Dr. Kelman’s revolutionary work, which paved the way for today’s medical business model and led to other small incision surgeries — impacting the lives of millions. Preview video and more at wliw.org/kelman. A production of Anker Productions, Inc. for WLIW21 in association with WNET.ORG. One hour.
Download the list of film interviewees.
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Media Contacts
 | CUTLINE: A phacoemulsifier developed by Dr. Charles D. Kelman to perform cataract surgery. PHOTO: 857K (9.5 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 7.5" X 5" CREDIT: Cheryl Jalbert |
 | CUTLINE: Charlie Kelman playing his saxophone in concert. PHOTO: 585K (2.72 M uncompressed) at 200 dpi JPEG at 4.1" X 5.8" CREDIT: Dr. Charles and Ann Kelman Family Foundation |
 | CUTLINE: The son of a Jewish immigrant from Greece, Dr. Charles D. Kelman was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens during the Big Band era with dreams of a life on stage. Pictured (l to r): Charlie, his father David, mother Eva, and sister Ruth. PHOTO: 457K (3.18 M uncompressed) at 200 dpi JPEG at 5.3" X 7" CREDIT: Dr. Charles and Ann Kelman Family Foundation |
 | CUTLINE: Charlie Kelman wrote the song “Telephone Numbers” for Frankie Avalon, then recorded it himself under the pseudonym “Kerry Adams” when the teen idol passed on it, eager for the opportunity but hesitant to invite scrutiny by his medical colleagues. An ode to summer romance at the shore, the song earned four stars in Billboard and a “pick of the week” on radio stations across the country. Pictured: Publicity photos for “Telephone Numbers” by Kerry Adams (a.k.a. Charlie Kelman). PHOTO: 472K (1 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 6.9" X 5.6" CREDIT: Dr. Charles and Ann Kelman Family Foundation |
 | CUTLINE: In Through My Eyes: The Charlie Kelman Story public television viewers meet a man who reached the pinnacle of success in the wrong profession: Dr. Charles D. Kelman (right), the musician who invented the groundbreaking surgical procedure known as phacoemulsification. PHOTO: 236K (1 M uncompressed) at 72 dpi JPEG at 10" X 6.8" CREDIT: Dr. Charles and Ann Kelman Family Foundation |
 | CUTLINE: Premiering nationwide on public television January 2010 (check local listings), Through My Eyes: The Charlie Kelman Story celebrates the jazzy double life of the ophthalmologist who changed the world. PHOTO: 2.41M (64 M uncompressed) at 600 dpi JPEG at 7.4" X 8.4" CREDIT: Dr. Charles and Ann Kelman Family Foundation |
 | CUTLINE: A phacoemulsifier developed by Dr. Charles D. Kelman to perform cataract surgery. PHOTO: 238K (5.1 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 6" X 3.8" CREDIT: Dr. Charles and Ann Kelman Family Foundation |
 | CUTLINE: Dr. Charles D. Kelman’s phacoemulsification procedure revolutionized cataract surgery and led to future small incision surgeries. Instead of making a large incision (bottom) in the eye, doctors could make a tiny one (top) to remove the cataract using Charlie’s phacoemulsifier, and then insert a new lens. PHOTO: 1.08M (2.84 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 5.0" X 6.6" |
 | CUTLINE: For his innovations in cataract surgical technology resulting in reduced rehabilitation time for millions of Americans, significant savings, and the creation of a new industry, Dr. Charles D. Kelman received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honor for technological achievement bestowed by the President of the United States on America’s leading innovators. Pictured: President George H.W. Bush (left) presenting Charlie (right) with the National Medal of Technology at the White House in 1992. PHOTO: 3.2M (6.32 M uncompressed) at 200 dpi JPEG at 9.5" X 5.8" CREDIT: Dr. Charles and Ann Kelman Family Foundation |
 | CUTLINE: A new documentary explores ophthalmologist Charlie Kelman’s revolutionary work, which paved the way for today’s medical business model and led to other small incision surgeries — impacting the lives of millions. Through My Eyes: The Charlie Kelman Story premieres nationwide on public television January 2010 (check local listings). PHOTO: 1.78M (9.55 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 7.4" X 5" CREDIT: Dr. Charles and Ann Kelman Family Foundation |
 | CUTLINE: Premiering nationwide on public television January 2010 (check local listings), Through My Eyes: The Charlie Kelman Story celebrates the jazzy double life of the ophthalmologist who changed the world. PHOTO: 1.65M (9.55 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 3.5" X 4.44" CREDIT: Dr. Charles and Ann Kelman Family Foundation |
 | CUTLINE: Premiering nationwide on public television January 2010 (check local listings), Through My Eyes: The Charlie Kelman Story celebrates the jazzy double life of the ophthalmologist who changed the world. PHOTO: 2.41M (17 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 3.5" X 4.44" CREDIT: Dr. Charles and Ann Kelman Family Foundation |
 | CUTLINE: Charlie piloting his own helicopter on the way to surgery in 1985. PHOTO: 2.89M (6.32 M uncompressed) at 200 dpi JPEG at 9.5" X 5.8" CREDIT: Dr. Charles and Ann Kelman Family Foundation |
 | CUTLINE: Dr. Charles D. Kelman’s phacoemulsification procedure revolutionized cataract surgery and led to future small incision surgeries. Pictured (l to r): Otto Richter, Dr. Charles D. Kelman and Cheryl Jalbert in a research laboratory. PHOTO: 3.47M (6.32 M uncompressed) at 200 dpi JPEG at 3.5" X 5.8" CREDIT: Dr. Charles and Ann Kelman Family Foundation |
