Himalayan Cataract Project E-News: October 2011Here you will find news on the latest international eye care activities from the Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP). This month’s newsletter includes summaries on the following:
- HCP at the AAO Annual Meeting
- Eye banking for Ethiopia
- World Sight Day celebrated in Nepal
- HCP event in Maine
AAO and HCP annual meetings held in October | | 
HCP partner Dr. Yewubnesh Hailu sits at the HCP table on the AAO exhibit floor.
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Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP) Board of Directors, Medical Advisory Board, International Fellows, staff and other partners dedicated to alleviating blindness convened at the 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, earlier this month.
Events included the HCP Annual Meeting and Medical Advisory Board meeting, signing an eye banking agreement, co-hosting an annual reception recognizing collaborative efforts in international ophthalmology, and several talks given by HCP ophthalmologists. HCP Medical Advisory Board meeting | | 
The Medical Advisory Board meets.
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The HCP hosted its inaugural Medical Advisory Board meeting. Attendees included HCP board members Geoff Tabin, Hugh Taylor, Matt Oliva and George Sarlo; HCP staff members Pam Clapp, Marie Gakuba, Job Heintz and Emily Newick; and advisors, friends and fellows that included Mike Feilmeier, Sam Cady, Paul Jorizzo, Bill Shields, Mike Wiedman, Lance Bergstrom, Paul Imperia, Matt Bujak, and Alan & Julie Crandall. Joint international receptionHCP joined five other organizations with a shared commitment to ending avoidable blindness throughout the world to host a reception during the AAO highlighting international work. Organizations included ORBIS, International Eye Foundation, Seva Foundation, SEE International, Helen Keller International and HCP.
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HCP’s Marie Gakuba, Emily Newick and Pam Clapp before the joint international reception.
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Invitation for the reception.
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HCP partner ophthalmologistsPanelists for the AAO 2011 International ForumHCP Co-Director Dr. Geoffrey Tabin participated in a panel entitled the “Latest Trends in International Eye Care Development” and emphasized the importance of quality and sustainability in HCP programs throughout the Himalayas and Sub-Saharan Africa.
HCP Board Member Dr. Matt Oliva participated in a panel “Next Generation of Ophthalmologists in International Eye Care Development” and spoke about balancing international ophthalmology, private practice and family life. He quoted his wife who often says, “You can’t get what you want unless you ask for it.” Oliva says he relies on clearly defined goals and taking advantage of the latest technologies to help with time management.
Dr. David Chang, an HCP Advisory Board Member and Clinical Professor at the University of California, delivered the 7th Charles D. Kelman Lecture in a packed auditorium showcasing video highlights from his most emotionally challenging cases. The Charles D. Kelman Award is presented annually by the AAO to an individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement of cataract surgery through innovation, education and scientific study.
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Dr. Oliva, at far left, speaks on a panel at the AAO International Forum.
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Dr. Chang delivers the 7th Charles D. Kelman Lecture at the AAO.
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HCP partners with SightLife and ORBIS to support eye banking in Ethiopia | HCP, SightLife and ORBIS signed a memorandum of understanding outlining a five-year project to strengthen eye banking in Ethiopia. The three organizations have partnered with the shared vision of eliminating treatable corneal blindness in Ethiopia. Through the partnership, the organizations will work to strengthen the local eye bank, train and equip local corneal surgeons and provide Ethiopians with access to successful transplants. |
| SightLife is one of the leading eye banks in the world dedicated to ending corneal blindness through eye banking, which is the recovery and placement of eye tissue used in cornea transplants.
“ORBIS deserves credit for establishing the first eye bank in Ethiopia. This three-way partnership will provide access to cornea tissue so we can collaboratively concentrate on building the human resources needed to meet Ethiopia’s cornea blindness needs.” —Dr. Geoff Tabin, HCP |
World Sight Day celebrated in NepalThe Hetauda Community Eye Hospital and the Nepal Red Cross Society Chattiwan Sub Committee formally established a new community eye center in Makawanpur, Nepal. Mr. Bhuwan Prakas Bista, chief of the local development office, and Hetauda’s Dr. Ben Limbu inaugurated the center on World Sight Day.
The Chattiwan Community Eye Center was established in Makawanpur to serve the most underprivileged community members who would not otherwise have access to care. On the opening day, Dr. Ben Limbu examined 150 patients and identified 12 cases for surgery. The following day, he performed the surgeries at the Hetauda Community Eye Hospital.
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Eye patients in Makawanpur, Nepal.
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New sign for the Chattiwan Community Eye Center.
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HCP event held in MaineAffiliated Ophthalmologist Dr. Sam Cady and his wife, Ellen, recently hosted a reception to highlight the Himalayan Cataract Project and introduce visiting HCP partner Dr. Tilahun Kiros from the Quiha Zonal Hospital in Mekelle, Ethiopia.
HCP donors from the area and HCP’s Emily Newick joined the Cadys, their guests and Dr. Tilahun for a great evening at Frontier in Brunswick, Maine. Dr. Cady spoke about his recent trip to Ethiopia with the Himalayan Cataract Project and his plans for ongoing international work.
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Sam and Ellen Cady and guests at Frontier in Brunswick, Maine.
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An elderly eye patient is carried to an eye screening in Nepal.
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The Himalayan Cataract Project works to eradicate preventable and curable blindness through high quality ophthalmic care, education and the establishment of a world-class eye care infrastructure.
Please visit our Web site at www.cureblindness.org to keep up with the latest HCP news. There you will also find information on HCP’s finances, its founders, staff and board members, and ways that you can give the gift of sight.
Remember, through the Himalayan Cataract Project it takes a gift of only $20 to provide life-changing cataract surgery to someone struggling with blindness in the developing world. |
