May 1, 2018 | Messages, Recent VOSH News, Volunteer
TSUM VALLEY MEDICAL MISSION is recruiting optometrists for its October 2018 health camps in this remote Himalayan valley described by veteran hikers as the “Shangri-La of Nepal.” Family practice clinicians round out the medical team, including mission leader, Rachel Frazin, nurse practitioner. The Tsumbas, as they call themselves, are gracious and grateful, a reflection of their Tibetan Buddhist culture and remote locale. The trek is 25 days with ten days of care provision along the way. Our trek company manages all the details from airport pickup to departure for the flight home. Porters carry our belongings. For mission details including contact information, visit the web site: tsumvalleymedicalmission.com – select the “Volunteer” tab at the top of the home page for...
Apr 19, 2018 | Messages, Recent VOSH News
It did not take long for things to move into high gear for the 19 pioneering students in the new Optometry Program and clinic that opened last weekend in Haiti. Once qualified, these first generation optometrists will use their skills to address the unmet eye care need across the nation. There are currently only three optometrists and 56 ophthalmologists to serve Haiti’s population of 10 million people. Haiti has the highest levels of blindness and moderate or severe vision impairment among people aged 50 and over, in the entire Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, with the age-standardised prevalence estimated at 4.8% and 21.9% respectively. This is three times greater than some other countries in the region. VOSH/International is a major collaborating partner in the Haiti Optometry Program along with with I’Université d’État d’Haïti, Brien Holden Vision Institute, Optometry Giving Sight, Charity Vision, and l’Université de Montréal. Drs. Paul Halpern, Dave McPhillips, both VOSH-PA represented VOSH. Two small VOSH led outreach trips involving the new students were done the day before and after the school opening ceremony and launch event organized by Dr. David McPhillips, VOSH-PA and past VOSH/International President, on request from Brien Holden Vision Institute, a key collaborating partner. The VOSH team included winners of a Vision Source contest including doctors Thomas and Susan Quinn and Shane Foster from Ohio and Dr. Christine Bowman. Vision Source is a large organization of private practice optometrists nationwide that has contributed significant funds to the new...
Apr 12, 2018 | Messages, Recent VOSH News
The amazing activity of VOSH chapters throughout the world is chronicled further by VOSH-Northwest. Superlative in its commitment and dedication, the chapter continues in the image of its long-time leader Ed Worthen who passed away much too young. VOSH-NW President Debbie McDonald submitted this short summary of the chapters startling activity ranging from Seattle to Nepal. ———- VOSH NW proudly opened the Edward Worthen Memorial Clinic on April 8, 2017. This is a clinic that will be open one Saturday a month to service the Key Peninsula area. Ed Worthen was a past president of our chapter and long time Vosher. He was in the works of planning this clinic when he suddenly passed away in December, 2016. We followed through with his dream and made it a reality. In January, 2017, we participated in the Kitsap Homeless Clinic where 75 people were seen for eye exams and glasses. This is a half-day clinic that VOSH NW has participated in for many years. We participated in the Seattle/King County Clinic, a 4 day clinic held in the heart of Seattle, in October, performing 1219 exams and dispensing 1259 pairs of glasses. November 2017 found our chapter traveling to Nepal where a total of 1350 people were seen over 5 days. For 2018, a mission trip to Uganda in September is in the works, and a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in the spring of 2019 is being put...
Apr 12, 2018 | Messages, Recent VOSH News
Today in Port Au Prince, Haiti HAITI OPTOMETRY SCHOOL OPENING Years in the planning with VOSH/International as a major collaborating partner, 19 Optometry students begin the long sought journey to build critically needed eye care capacity in Haiti. Read this exciting news in the Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI OGS) release below. Past V/I President Dr. Dave McPhillips and Dr. Halpren are there representing VOSH/International....
