Nov 27, 2018 | Recent VOSH News
Dr. Antonio Aguirre, is a SEE ophthalmologist who will be traveling to Zamora, Ecuador next year to perform 100 cataract surgeries. He has already worked at this particular location earlier this year, and one difficulty he mentioned was screening patients. He’s expressed a need for a more formalized screening system and asked for our help to recruit an optometrist or optician for the trip. He’ll be in Zamora the entire month of February 2019, but the screening will be more important for the first 1 or 2 weeks of February. Please contact Lia Giglio at SEE International if you are interested. ...
Nov 27, 2018 | Recent VOSH News, Volunteer
VOSH-PA is seeking 2 more ODs for their VOSH Clinic in Cap Haitien, Haiti, March 9-16, 2019 Contact Mark Rakoczy, OD...
Nov 11, 2018 | President's Insight, Recent VOSH News
VOSH Annual Meeting VOSH/International held its 26th Annual Meeting on October 13, 2018 in Montreal, Canada in collaboration with VOSH- Santa Cruz hosts of this event. Eighty people from six countries, including India, Romania, Mexico, UK, USA and Canada, attended a full day of inspiring speakers, chapter update sessions, exhibitors and networking. Father Pierre Labine and VOSH-Santa Cruz, https://voshohv.org/, have been an incredibly active VOSH chapter for over 20 years, helping people in their own community and around the world. Their special guests to the meeting-Mrs. DÌaz and her son Gustavo- had been doing humanitarian work in their hometown and surrounding area in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and collaborating with VOSH-Santa Cruz for over 20 years ago to provide eyecare and glasses to those in need. Gustavo Diaz, gave a passionate and powerful presentation at the VOSH annual meeting about the impact of the work of this VOSH chapter on his community highlighting the important networks of local support that VOSH chapters are able to build with local community leaders . Many other speakers also provided motivation and important information. These included: Dr. Luigi Bilotto (BHVI) spoke on Sustainable Eye Health and Enhancing Optometry Around the World Dr. Yogita Rajgandhi (VOSH-India) spoke on the State of Optometric Care in India and how VOSH Can Help Dr. Vicki Weiss (VOSH-VA) spoke on VOSH Efforts Domestically and Keys to Success Catherine Lamorena and Yatzie Ponce provided information on Surgical Eye Expedition International and Partnership Opportunities Dr. Asa Morton, MD, spoke on Ophthalmological Collaboration with HELPS International Andrea Haymore and Kirstin Jones presented on the Essilor Vision Foundation’s New Programs to help VOSH for Local Outreach All...
Nov 11, 2018 | Messages, Recent VOSH News, Volunteer
VOSH Corps is working with the Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation in the active recruitment of lecturers for Vietnam and Haiti! The link below provides information on the program. If you are interested, or know of someone who might be, please refer them to the link for further...
Nov 5, 2018 | Recent VOSH News, Uncategorized
AMIGOS, the SVOSH chapter at Pacific University College of Optometry has put together a Fall newsletter highlighting their past and future events. They wanted to share their accomplishments with the VOSH community and any others who might be interested. Click on the link below to read about the AMIGOS chapter: AMIGOS Fall...
Nov 5, 2018 | Chapter of the Month, Recent VOSH News
Cited for their continuity in serving the population of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua throughout the years since its founding in 2001, VOSH-Connecticut is the October Chapter of the Month. Nicole Gaynor submitted the the following description of what VOSH is and what VOSHers do: VOSH-CT was founded in 2001 by Dr. Matthew Blondin & his wife, Attorney Audrey Blondin. Members of VOSH/Connecticut and support staff run a yearly eye clinic in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua providing eye care to those in need. During the past three decades VOSH has evolved into a dynamic nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation of human sight, mainly in developing countries where there is no welfare. VOSH also serves as a resource for other organizations with similar goals. The VOSH concept was founded by a Kansas optometrist, Dr. Franklin Harms,in 1972. Currently VOSH/Connecticut is one of 24 nonprofit chapters that are coordinated by the parent organization, VOSH/INTERNATIONAL, whose duty is to keep abreast of chapter activities throughout the United States, including student volunteer groups. How much VOSH/Connecticut can accomplish is directly related to the funds in hand. While each participant pays his/her own expenses, other costs cannot be ignored: examining equipment, reading glasses, medications, shipping, mailing, to name a few. Generally, VOSHERS pay their own way and often give up vacation time to participate. While some VOSH eye care missions may be carried out by a single dedicated professional working alone, more frequently services are carried out by a team that may include eye professionals, physicians, nurses, physical therapists, dentists, assistants and lay...
