JOIN US FOR THE VOSH ANNUAL MEETING
Celebrating 50 years of providing free, quality eye care
OCTOBER 29 & 30, 2022
San Diego, CA
(This will be a hybrid event: in person or streamed on line)
Towards Vision For All
This year our event focuses on our commitment to bringing vision for all. Last year, governments represented at the United Nations unanimously recognized the importance of eye health for social and economic development and the need to support the significant number of people living with preventable and treatable vision impairment to achieve a more equitable, inclusive, sustainable and resilient world.
Since its origins, VOSH chapters have been addressing the burden of eye health conditions affecting the most vulnerable groups in society. Fifty-years ago the movement that became VOSH/International started and has continued to grow.
The meeting will showcase the diverse contribution of VOSH/International, its chapters and partners to achieving vision for all ranging from low vision rehabilitation services, to supporting learning through children’s vision, to approaches to strengthen optometric education, the importance of research and now that clinics are resuming, sharing clinical pearls to make your humanitarian clinic a great success.
You are warmly invited to join us in person or online
We are grateful for the support of National Vision, Inc. as the Visionary Sponsor of our Annual Meeting
We are grateful for the support of VSP Vision as the
US SVOSH Chapters Travel Grants Sponsor
JOIN US FOR THE VOSH ANNUAL MEETING
OCTOBER 16, 2021
(In person or on line – your choice)
The theme for this year’s meeting is “Building resilience and embracing change”. It intends to recognize how as individuals, as a society, as a profession and as an organization, we have navigated a period of great uncertainty and change and become stronger in our commitment and motivation to offer better and more sustainable patient’s care in all countries we visit and where VOSH has presence. The international eye health care context is evolving rapidly with recently agreed international targets on vision by 2030, addressing children’s vision can generate change and there have been several innovations to offer outreach services from which we can learn.
At this meeting, we will welcome new Board members and our new VOSH/International President, Dr. Michael Ciszek
Join us in person or online (details In Venue section)
We are grateful for the support of National Vision, Inc. as the Visionary Sponsor of our meeting
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE 2020 STUDENT VOSH PHOTO CONTEST!
Next year submit your photos for the VOSH Annual Meeting Photo Contest
Thank you all so much for entering the SVOSH Photo Contest, and thank you even more for the great work you do to serve others!
Congratulations to Aemie Dizon from Manila Central University, the winner of the SVOSH Photo Contest with 868 likes and reactions! Janine Dagta, also from MCU, came in second with 595 likes and reactions, and Chelsey Curry from the Kentucky College of Optometry came in 3rd with 524 likes and reactions.
Cover-Uncover Test during the MCU Optometry Open Clinic during its founding anniversary celebration. Clinic was held at the Manila Central University Optometry Clinic in December 5, 2019
The Optometrist is examining and evaluating any changes in the fundus/retina of the geriatric patient which can be caused by common systemic conditions like hypertension or diabetes prevalent among geriatric population using a PanOptic Ophthalmoscope. Clinic was from the Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity(SVOSH) – MCU CHAPTER in collaboration with the MCU College of Optometry as they celebrated the World Sight Day at the Barangay Maysilo, Malabon, Metro Manila, Philippines last October 11, 2018
Chelsey Curry (OD-III) of the Kentucky College of Optometry performing a trial frame refraction while serving in March 2019 in El Salvador with FUDEM.
SVOSH chapters: Submit your photos for the
Student VOSH Photo Competition!
Get the details here
Send your entries by October 16, 2020 to photocontest@vosh.org
2020 is a key year for vision and an unprecedented year for the world as a whole.
For this year’s video contest, VOSH/International would like you to share your chapters’ insights on what type of new world you like to see post-COVID-19 and how optometrists can make those insights a reality.
Send your 1 to 3 minutes entries by October 31, 2020 to videocontest@vosh.org
Three worthy finalists of the SVOSH Student Video Contest were screened and voted on by the attendees at the VOSH Annual Meeting in Orlando. And the clear winner was SVOSH-Manila Central University College of Optometry (Philippines.) Take a look at their wonderful 2 minute video at: https://vimeo.com/369637825
Other finalists were SVOSH-University of Missouri College of Optometry and SVOSH-University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry.
Hello all you wonderful SVOSH Chapters,
Fame, if not fortune, awaits the winner of the VOSH Student Video Contest. And a prize. AND a certificate.
AND visibility at the VOSH Annual Meeting in Orlando October 27. AND posting on all the VOSH/International social media platforms.
The deadline for submission to videocontest@vosh.org is less than 2 weeks away – October 1!
It’s simple – submit as follows – not your clinic video – but a 1-3 minute video related to the Annual Conference Theme: “BIG VISION small world.”
Cheers to all,
Mel Muchnik, Ph.D., FVI
Communications/PR Chair
VOSH/International Board of Directors
Join us at the VOSH Annual Meeting October 27
Orlando, Florida
For more info Click here for… BIG VISION small world
VOSH/International presents a Humanitarian of the Year Award to honor a VOSH member who has distinguished her or himself through leadership, invention, and public health practice or by transitioning clinics to sustainable eye care or furthering the understanding and correction of refractive error. The nominee must be a current member of a VOSH chapter or of VOSH/International.
To nominate an individual please complete the nomination form by May 15.
(If the link does not work you may also copy and paste the following into your web browser:
The V/I Past Presidents and the current Board of Directors will vote upon the VOSH/International Humanitarian of the Year. The award will be presented at the VOSH/International Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL on October 26-27, 2019. The recipient of the award will receive a stipend to offset his or her travel expenses to the meeting.
VOSH/International hosted its 25th annual meeting on October 14, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Ninety- two people attended a full day of speakers, breakout sessions, exhibitors and networking. There were speakers from around the world including the USA, Canada, Thailand, Vietnam, El Salvador and Nicaragua. These speakers highlighted how VOSH/International and VOSH chapters have truly become an international force for optometry by providing care with local optometry and helping to educate optometry students in new optometry schools. As VOSH moves to collaborates with local optometry and health care, our impact has become greater.
Also at the Annual Meeting, there were two awards given for exemplary service. The Humanitarian of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Sandra Bury of Oak Lawn, Illinois. Dr. Bury has been active in VOSH-Illinois since 1995. She participates in both local and international clinic trips and, in addition, Dr. Bury is the mayor of her town.
The Harry I. Zeltzer Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Ellis Potter. Dr. Potter has had a lifetime of service as a Boy Scout, Rotarian and Optometrist. Notably, Dr. Potter also became the first ever recipient of the American Academy of Optometry’s Brien Holden Humanitarian Award. He received this award at the 2017 AAO meeting immediately preceding the VOSH/International meeting. To read Dr. Potter’s powerful remarks when accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award, please click here.
Both Drs. Bury and Potter are classic examples of the people involved in VOSH. People with big hearts that have volunteerism as an essential part of who they are. These two and the other nominees for the Lifetime Achievement and Humanitarian of the Year Awards, David McPhillips, OD, Walter Branson, Bud Falkenhain, OD, Lawrence Hauler, and David Stacy, OD, remind us of what we can be doing to help others. Dr. Bury reminded us to have “service about self” and Dr. Potter challenged us to “think big…We have done much, but we could do more.” Words to inspire us as we all continue in our own efforts.
Mark your calendars for the next VOSH Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada on October 12-14, 2018. Our theme at this meeting will be “United VOSH”, demonstrating the good we can do when working together.