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MORAN

EYE CENTER INTERNATIONAL DIVISION


Issue 1

Moran Eye Center


International Division

INTERNATIONAL VISION

IN THIS ISSUE

Eye Team Brings Hope to Ghana


Of the 20 million people living in Ghana, 800,000 are either visually impaired or completely blind. 10 percent of this rapidly growing population consists of young children, whose blindness often stems from malnutrition and neglect. These children become withdrawn and quiet; shut out from the rest of the world and from the possibilities of life. Elaine Brown, a humanitarian missionary from the United States, has been serving as one of the primary caregivers at Beacon House, an orphanage in the capital city of Accra, Ghana. She is especially close to Stevie, a young blind child named after Stevie Wonder because of the way he claps in time to music played on the piano. His mother was traveling on a bus and asked a young man to watch Stevie as she got off to use the restroom with Stevies twin brother. Stevies mother never returned. Stevie, now two years old, was diagnosed with congenital cataracts in both eyes. Elaine considers herself Stevies mom and has gone out of her way to care for him. Elaine heard that the John A. Moran Eye Center International Team was coming to Kumasi and knew after much prayer that this was her answer. Elaine and Stevie flew to Kumasi the first day the Moran team arrived and was screened by Dr. Robert Hoffman, Chair of Pediatric Ophthalmology. Stevie subsequently underwent successful bilateral cataract surgery by Dr. Alan Crandall, Vice-Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology. Elaine had this to say in a recent email: Stevie is doing great! It took him a few days to adjust, but he is again behaving like a two-year- old, exploring the world each day. His walk is really improving, not touching the walls and is now moving quite fast. I am not quite sure if the two are related but he has also begun to talk and sing. -Elaine Brown

International observer gains valuable insight.

Dr. Rozalina Loebis works with Dr. Robert Hoffman during one of her pediatric ophthalmology training sessions.

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Utah Ophthalmologist helps Nepal clinic fight blindness.


Dr. Geoffrey Tabin helps thousands in Nepal receive sight at the Tilganga Eye Center.

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International News:
Dr. Randall J Olson travels to Trinidad to establish institutional partnership with the San Fernando General Hospital. Page 3

MORAN EYE CENTER INTERNATIONAL DIVISION | Issue 1


FELLOW TESTIMONIALS
GHANA 2012

Dr. Snow Slade, a Glaucoma Fellow on the Moran Eye team, participated in this outreach expedition. He shares the following story. Traveling a great distance, a father brought his two year old son, who was blind with congenital cataracts, to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. The father patiently waited with his child for three days in grueling 100 percent humidity and sweltering temperatures. The little boy was able to receive sight-restoring surgery, and it was so rewarding to see the smile on their faces the next day in post-operation visits. This is why the Moran Eye team completes

over a dozen medical missions a year, and will continue to expand its reach throughout the developing world. This is what makes these humanitarian missions worthwhile, the opportunity to help a young father give his child a second chance at life. Dr. Kandon Kamae, another Glaucoma Fellow who participated in the Ghana outreach this year with the Moran Eye team, recounted the following. A 92-year-old man with cataracts in both eyes waited patiently to be treated early on the first day of surgery. The older gentlemen stopped me and asked if they were going to be able to help him today. I assured the gentleman we would do our best to get his cataract surgery done. Relying on generators and make shift surgical units never makes things easy. Operating on patients in these conditions can be pretty difficult at times. We had some unexpected technical problems with the equipment the first day causing the clinic to send some patients home. I checked the waiting room and there, still sitting patiently, was this older man. He was the last

patient the eye team operated on, with the surgery going late into the night. The next day, overcome with emotion and grinning from ear to ear, the gentleman thanked the team for blessing him with the gift of sight.

Dr. Rozalina Loebis gains valuable insight into pediatric ophthalmology while participating in the International Observer Program
Education is a powerful tool. When it is valued and prioritized it can not only change a life, but can forever change a community. Dr. Rozalina Loebis, from Surabaya, Indonesia is one of many very promising ophthalmologists who recently participated in the International Observers Program at the University of Utah John A. Moran Eye Center. For the last few months Dr. Loebis has trained under the direction of Dr. Robert Hoffman, Department Chair of Pediatric Ophthalmology. Dr. Loebis has gained valuable clinical experience on how to fully examine patients, establish diagnoses and give treatments in a number of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus cases. About one in every 25 children is born with strabismus, commonly known as crossed eyes. Pediatric Ophthalmology is a new division for us in Indonesia, especially Surabaya, said Loebis. Until 2010 we only examined strabismus patients at the Surabaya Eye Clinic, but since I have been able to receive the proper training here at the Moran Eye Center, I am better able to help the influx of patients in need of a Pediatric Ophthalmologist. While studying at the Moran Eye Center Dr. Loebis was able to receive training from some of the most skilled physicians in the country. She has worked with Dr. Bradley Katz in the neuro-ophthalmology clinic, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Hartnett in the retinal clinic and Dr. Roger Harrie in the ultrasound clinic. I am grateful for the valuable skills I have acquired while studying at the Moran Eye Center these last few months, Loebis said. With the new training I have received I am confident I will be able to make a difference in the lives of those I help in my clinic. Dr. Loebis is excited to continue her hands-on training with Dr. Hoffman when he travels to Indonesia later this year.

MORAN EYE CENTER INTERNATIONAL DIVISION | Issue 1


Utah Ophthalmologist helps Nepal clinic fight blindness


Dr. Geoffrey Tabin was recently featured in the Salt Lake Tribune about his life- changing work with the Tilganga Eye Center in Kathmandu, Nepal. Here is an excerpt from the article: Kathmandu, Nepal Overjoyed, they often weep, their tears falling from eyes that are no longer blind. Patient after patient, sometimes hundreds in one day, they flow into Tilganga Eye Center in Kathmandu, their sight clouded by cataract and other types of treatable blindness. They leave seeing the world again, relieved of a tremendous burden Nepals deeply impoverished and caste-based society places on the vision- impaired. Click here to get the full story.

International News: Dr. Olson travels to Trinidad to establish institutional partnership with the San Fernando General Hospital
Dr. Randal J Olson, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, has recently returned from Trinidad where he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).This MOU will facilitate training and transfer of knowledge in corneal transplantation, small incision cataract surgery (SICS) and macular/retina and pediatric surgery. Here is an excerpt from a local Trinidad paper highlighting the signing: Khan [Dr Fuad Khan, Minister of Health] made these revelations at a signing ceremony of a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) and the University of Utah to establish institutional partnership with the San Fernando General Hospital for ongoing training and transfer of knowledge in the field of ophthalmology. The signing took place at the Ministry of Health head office in Port-of-Spain.
Photo by Shirley Bahadur

Click here to read more.

For more information John A. Moran Eye Center Division of International Ophthalmology 65 Mario Capecchi Drive Salt Lake City, Utah 84132 801-581-2352 www.moraneyecenter.com/outreach

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