Joe Vollert

Position: Immediate Past Chair

Joe is the Vice President of Advancement for St. Ignatius College Preparatory (SI), in San Francisco. He has worked for over 30 years in secondary education as an English and Math teacher, as a head football coach, and, for the past 15 years, as a development professional where he oversees the school’s outreach and fundraising initiatives.

A graduate of St. Ignatius, Joe earned a BA in English from Santa Clara University, attended San Francisco State University in the Masters of Education program, and completed Stanford’s Graduate School of Business Executive Program. Joe lives in San Mateo, California with his wife Stacy. They are the parents of three children who currently live in China, Seattle and Denver.

Like many Board members and supporters of the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation, Joe knows the McGovern family from their San Francisco and St. Ignatius ties. Joe’s son, Andrew, and Jack McGovern played high school football together on a section championship team. Also like many supporters, Joe volunteers on the Foundation’s Board to help find a cure for Coats’ disease and because of the public good that it serves.

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?