Our Solutions

VOSH Chapters Host Free Vision Clinics Providing Quality Eyecare

VOSH Donates Optometric Equipment to Optometry Schools and Local Vision Clinics In Need

VOSH/International is partnering with Charity Vision International to strengthen the Technology Transfer Program (TTP), which facilitates the reception and donation of used ophthalmic equipment.  This partnership will increase our impact on international optometric education and humanitarian action.

We are excited to join forces and maximise strengths with Charity Vision.  You can find more information about their important work here: www.charityvision.org.

For many years, Dr David Stacy and his family generously supported our Technology Transfer Program (TTP) from their home in Arizona.  Through their dedication, essential ophthalmic equipment and devices reached optometry schools in Nicaragua, Haiti, Ghana, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, among others.  VOSH/International deeply appreciates their unwavering commitment to advancing global eye care and humanitarian service.

If you would like to donate equipment and/or supplies, please complete the form in the link below.

If you prefer discussing your offer before completing the form, please contact Melissa Peterson, Charity Vision Gifts in-kind Director at melissa@charityvision.org or call 801-618-6074

If you would like to request equipment and/or supplies, please complete the form in the link below.

The VOSH TTP Committee will review your request.  Please note that priority is given to affiliated VOSH chapters, local NGOs, and public clinics or hospitals.  Unfortunately, we are unable to provide donations to individuals.

If a request appears feasible, a meeting will be scheduled to discuss the process and requirements in detail.

If you have questions about requesting donated equipment, please contact Dr Kirsten Johnson, Chair of the VOSH/International TTP at kjohnson@vosh.org

Supporting Optometric Education

Low and middle-income countries face a shortage of optometry schools and qualified educators to teach in these institutions.  VOSH/International is expanding its educational initiatives to support its growing membership among international optometry schools.

From the original VOSH Corps program, which helped place US ODs as lecturers in emerging schools of optometry for at least a year, the current education initiatives are tailored to the diverse needs of the schools and maximize the expertise of our volunteers.

The following initiatives are currently available:

Ambassador’s Program enables North American-educated ODs to visit international optometry schools for a minimum of 1 week to lecture, organize workshops, and/or participate in humanitarian clinics.

Mentorship Program for US and international SVOSH chapters to work together during a humanitarian clinic, mixing learning and collaboration, or international SVOSH chapters to attend local optometry events to acquire knowledge and build leadership skills.

Teaching clinics bring together US/Canada VOSH chapters with international SVOSH chapters during humanitarian clinics to promote supervised clinical practice and skills transfer. Students’ exposure to experienced clinicians supports their confidence building seeing a diversity of patients and exposes them to different ways of organising successful humanitarian clinics

A pilot Fellowship Initiative aims to support postgraduate studies for local graduates to become the future educators of optometry schools in low and middle-income countries.  The South-to- South academic exchanges foster collaboration between faculty optometrists from low and middle-income countries, enabling professionals outside the US and Canada to support their counterparts in similar contexts.

Our Small Research Grants are awarded annually through a competitive process to international schools of optometry to build research  capacity and encourage optometry students involvement in  research and data collection.