Amy S. Chomsky, MD Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Inception November 2009 Chair of The Vanderbilt Eye Institute (VEI),Paul Sternberg, wanted to have VEI involved in an international humanitarian outreach project The VEI Humanitarian Global Outreach Committee was formed- January 2010

VEI Humanitarian Global Outreach Committee Amy Chomsky, Appointed Chair Committee Members: Denis O’Day, Laura Wayman, Brian Carlson, Sarah Reynolds, Edward Cherney, Jeffrey Kammer, Stephen Kim, David Calkins, Janet Nicotera

Goals Provide eye service to an underserved underprivileged population in an international setting. Instill a sense of global healthcare service to VEI staff, faculty and residents. Potential for training of local physicians and staff Potential for research Potential for resident/medical student rotation

Why Haiti? Need Vanderbilt Institute of Global Health’s involvement in Haiti- Les Centres GHESKIO Denis O’Day, MD, former VEI chair is actively involved in health care initiative in Haiti: Visitation Hospital in Petite Riviere de Nippes

GHESKIO In Port-au-Prince History of Vanderbilt and Cornell collaboration with GHESKIO Already working with Visitation Hospital in HIV outreach testing Committed to: SERVICE, RESEARCH, TRAINING

Visitation Hospital In Petite Riviere de Nippes Visitation Hospital Foundation (VHF)- Founded in Its first component The Visitation Outpatient Clinic, opened its doors in January , ,000 otherwise without access to healthcare Dr Denis O’Day vice chair of the board of VHF

Denis O’Day, MDPaul Sternberg, MD William Pape, MD

Eye Care needs No sound epidemiological statistics available High prevalence of Glaucoma, Diabetes, HIV UV exposure issues- Pingecula, Pterygia, Cataracts Hyperopia> myopia Presbyopia- OTC readers

Over-all Plan Set up a clinic in Port-au-Prince at GHESKIO Outreach clinic to Visitation Hospital- every few months Periodic trips by VEI Ophthalmologists to see patients and perform surgery. Have a local Haitian Ophthalmologist funded at GHESKIO in collaboration with VEI Set up screening devices that can be used for telemedicine

Outpatient Services to be provided: Comprehensive eye examinations/screenings Provide spectacles, medical glaucoma treatment, infectious disease treatment Surgical services- Cataracts, Pterygia, Oculoplastics, Strabismus, Lasers, Injections, prosthesis Low vision

Teaching and Mentoring Work with local Ophthalmology community (SHO and the medical school training program)- help support speakers, symposia, etc ? Help with the training of a Haitian Ophthalmology residents ? Train ancillary support staff that can: assist the physician and train others to be assistants. Also support local Ophthalmologists with equipment up-keep/service

The Timeline To date we have made four trips and have seen approximately 300 patients- both at GHESKIO and Visitation Hospital Provided medications, glasses, performed several lasers Brought an Ophthalmic equipment Technician on most recent visit who performed ophthalmic equipment maintenance locally Equipment for the clinic has arrived through customs Space under construction for clinic and OR now at GHESKIO Interviewing of potential Haitian Ophthalmologist

Budget VEI is committed to at least two years of funding- the hope is with success of the program, this will be expanded. Have had some donations already to date: Plan is for potential future fundraising as the program grows. **Although the plan is initially part-time, the hope is to expand to fulltime.

Challenges Funds Shipping/Customs Ongoing stocking of supplies/medications Donations- Fundraising and industry support Training

Visit to SHO Clinic- November 2011

Special Thanks! William Pape, MD Brigitte Hudicourt, MD Franz Large, MD Nancy Martelly Garnier, MD Pascale Pelissier Auguste, MD Paul Sternberg, MD Armie Harper, MD Denis O’Day, MD Abel Villarreal Janet Nicotera Brian Carlson