Deborah J. Marron, ED.D

Position: Executive Director

Dr. Deborah J. Marron joined the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation as the Foundation’s first Executive Director in October 2017. Deborah comes to the Foundation with experience in association management, development and alumni relations, program development, budget administration, human resources management, career development, and public relations. Dr. Marron served as the Director of Alumni and Student Engagement with the Penn State Alumni Association for nearly 17 years. She led a team in developing programs, events, and services to engage alumni, volunteers, students, and donors in support of the Association’s and the University’s missions. Prior to her tenure at Penn State, Deborah worked in the private sector in Human Resources Management and served as Director of Career Development with several colleges and universities.

A native of Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania, Deborah earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a Masters in Education from Penn State. She received a Doctorate in Education in Behavioral Sciences and Organizational Development from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Deborah and her husband live in Ocean Pines, MD.

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?