Practical Spanish in Eyecare Book
AOA Spanish Exam Guide
Common Eye Condition Explanations
VOSH/INTERNATIONAL Clinic Guidelines
Suggested Equipment to Bring for a VOSH Clinic
Release and Waiver For Volunteers (USA & Intl)
Release and Waiver For Patient (USA Clinic)
Release and Waiver Re Photo and Video (Spanish & English)
Travel Assistance: Book thorough Key Travel for Special Fares and Benefits
Final Team Information Letter Template
Sources for New and Used Glasses
National Vision provides financial support to SVOSH chapters for clinic trips
Mission Insurance: VOSH Chapters have obtained insurance for their mission trips from Gallagher Charitable: https://www.travelwithgallagher.com Gallagher provides short and long term liability and other insurance coverage, including professional liability insurance for foreign clinics. https://www.travelwithgallagher.com/full-line-of-products.aspx
Collaborate with a VOSH Student Chapter on your Clinic Trips
Partner with an ophthalmologist to provide cataract surgeries through Surgical Eye Expeditions, HELPS International or Vision Outreach
Sustainable Clinics Need VOSH Teams: Work at a VOSH “Ready Made” Clinic: These locations have sustainable clinics servicing the local populations and need your VOSH team to come work at the clinic. This is a simple way to serve others with less planning.
Haiti Clinic contact vosh@VOSH.org
Nicaragua contact vosh@VOSH.org
El Salvador, ASAPROSAR
El Salvador, FUDEM
VOSH Midyear Meeting 2020 Resources
Lecture: Hybrid Lenses (in Spanish) to students at Universidad de El Salvador School of Optometry, Michael Ciszek, OD, FVI, Dipl ABO in coordination with Liliana Alfaro, SVOSH Chapter Faculty Adviser, January 25, 2021
SVOSH Leadership Conference, “Eye Exams Outside the Traditional Lane,” providing clinical tips for US and international students, Michael Ciszek, OD, FVI, Dipl ABO and Craig Bowen, OD, February 18, 2021
Practical Workshop on Corneal GP Lens Design, Fitting and Evaluation, A collaborative project with the School of Optometry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, Dr. Edward S. Bennett, March 8, 2021
VOSH Website Webinar Assistance, March 2021 (a6dbQ#W0)
USA AND PUERTO RICO
VOSH-ARIZONA
VOSH-CONNECTICUT
VOSH-PUERTO RICO
VOSH-Illinois
VOSH-ONE (OF NEW ENGLAND) (CT.MA,ME,NH,RI,VT)
VOSH-SOUTHEAST (AL,FL,GA,SC,MS)
OUTSIDE THE USA
VOSH-ONTARIO
VOSH-BRITISH COLUMBIA (TWECS), CANADA
VOSH-HONDURAS (FUNDACION PARA SERVICIOS MEDICOS VOLUNTARIOS)
VOSH- QUEBEC (SANTA CRUZ) CANADA
VOSH-INDIA-MAHARASHTRA
Updated COVID-19 and VOSH Humanitarian Clinics Advice
VOSH/International recently consulted its US and International Chapters about the feasibility and timing to restart our humanitarian clinics. While the vaccination process continues with different levels of success depending on availability and acceptance, it is evident that vaccine inequity and the availability and reliability of data in several countries are issues we need to consider.
Even if already vaccinated and boosted, our chapters are still concerned about the wellbeing of our volunteers and patients. Some chapters, are organizing clinics locally where they are better able to comply with the existing safety requirements and respective state/country regulations.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its variants are being experienced quite differently depending on state, region, country, vaccine availability, vaccine acceptance, and the spread of SARS-COV-2 variants. Most VOSH chapters are not holding clinics or traveling internationally in 2021 or 2022.
If a VOSH Chapter choses to hold a clinic or travel internationally, we highly recommend that the chapter performs due diligence to comply fully with the requirements established by the visited country, ensures all VOSH volunteers are aware of and follow strict safety guidelines and all existing protocols and regulations of the country, and keeps the principle of “do no harm” embedded in all its decision making. As always, the wellbeing and safety for VOSH volunteers and our patients is of utmost importance and central to any decision-making process. We have published our updated clinic guidelines with best practices to be observed in this new context. VOSH chapters in specific countries are using protocols that need to be considered as well. You can download VOSH/International clinic guidelines here.
*VOSH/International is formed by autonomous US and international chapters that are fully and only responsible for their activities, fundraising and decision-making. VOSH/International can only provide recommendations based on our best knowledge and information at the time.
Also please keep checking the following sites with official and most recent updates:
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
US CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/when-to-delay-travel.html
US Government Travel Advise: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/COVID-19-Country-Specific-Information.html
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to improving vision and eye health throughout the world.
Michael Ciszek, OD, dipl ABO, FVI
President, VOSH/International
December 2021