Humanitarian Opportunities
The following humanitarian opportunities are available to international members.
If you wish to post an humanitarian opportunity simply complete the online form or contact International Affairs Committee Staff Liaison Joshua Friedman at joshua.friedman@asrs.org for more information. Questions should be directed to the contacts for each posting and not to the ASRS office.
Available Opportunities
AN APPEAL FROM THE UKRAINIAN ALLIANCE OF OPHTHALMOLOGISTS
Ukraine’s Defenders Need Ballistic Goggles
We, Ukrainian ophthalmologists, from the beginning of the attempted Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, have faced an increasing number of patients with eye injuries.
Combat eye injuries are much more severe than the ocular injuries we see in everyday peacetime practice. Eye perforations with multiple intraocular foreign bodies are the combat eye injuries we see most often today. Chemical and thermal eye traumas are also common.
Unfortunately, restoring adequate vision has been impossible in a number of cases despite specialized treatment, including vitreoretinal surgery. But we have seen that the number of combat eye injuries is much lower among Ukrainian defenders using protective ballistic goggles.
Knowing that prevention is the best treatment, we earlier began buying protective eyewear and supplying it to our country’s defenders. But very soon, Ukrainian suppliers ran out of ballistic goggles: they are simply no longer available in our country.
The need is great; not all Ukrainian defenders have been supplied with tactical ballistic eyewear.
We appeal to you, our international partners and friends, to help us supply as many Ukrainian defenders as possible with protective ballistic goggles.
We will be grateful for any eyewear you donate. Any extra pair of ballistic goggles is an “extra” pair of saved eyes and, probably, the life, of a Ukrainian defender.
Many thanks for your understanding, cooperation, and kind support of the Ukrainian resistance!
Oksana Vitovska, MD, PhD
President
Ukrainian Alliance of Ophthalmologists
Please note: The ASRS is working with our contacts at the Ukrainian Alliance of Ophthalmologists on the logistics for shipping goggles to Ukraine; details will be posted here shortly. In the meantime, please contact susan.raef@asrs.org if you are interested in donating ballistic goggles for the Ukrainian defenders. Thank you.
SEE International /Focus Inc. /Midwest Retina Consultants
Posted September 20, 2019
Travel to either Port au Prince or Cap Haitien, Haiti to continue the training of two Haitian ophthalmologists in complex vitrectomy surgery and/or train ophthalmology residents in medical retina/laser/injection skills at HUEH, the state hospital in Port au Prince. Each location is well equipped, travel is easy, and accommodations are very good. Both doctors being trained in vitrectomy are well on their way to being fully trained. The ophthalmology residents are very enthusiastic and eager to learn. Cases are mostly prescreened to maximize opportunity. Pathology is very interesting and challenging at all locations. Contact Dr. Alter or Caitlin Jonov/SEE International for more information.
Contact: Daniel C. Alter, MD, PhD
Address: 1100 W. Central LL-2
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Email: vitdoctor@comcast.net
Phone: 630-650-4334
Or
Caitlin Jonov, SEE International
805-963-3303
The American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) makes no representation, warranty or guarantee about the opportunities listed on the Humanitarian Opportunities section. The ASRS staff does not prescreen opportunities that are submitted. By using the resources available on the ASRS website, you are agreeing that you will not hold the ASRS responsible for your safety, security, wages, working conditions, fraudulent, or other aspects of any opportunities that you discover while using ASRS resources or to which you might be directed by ASRS staff.