Eyeworld

EW INTERNATIONAL 68 April 2015 Volunteerism in ophthalmology A s the new co-chairs of the ASCRS Foun- dation, Stephen Lane, MD, and I have the challenging task of succeeding Dick Lindstrom, MD, who has done an exceptional job leading the Foundation for the past 6 years. A privilege of serving on our board has been learning about the many ophthalmologists who generously volunteer their time and talents to- ward helping the indigent both domestically and internationally. This month, we introduce a new EyeWorld column devoted to highlighting some of these inspirational stories and individuals. Their charitable work is largely unsung and un- seen here in the U.S., but these colleagues have much to teach us in terms of the problems, the potential solutions, and how we might contribute. I've invited 2 passionate members of our ASCRS Foundation International Committee to head this regular column. Mike Feilmeier, MD, is an assis- tant professor of ophthalmology and an anterior segment surgeon at the Truhlsen Eye Institute of the University of Nebraska Medical Center where he directs the fellowship in global blindness prevention. After his residency at Bascom Palmer, Mike did his cornea fellowship at the Moran Eye Center in Utah, where he was a fellow of Geoff Tabin, MD. He has done extensive humanitar- ian work internationally as well as with Native Americans domestically, and was just named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA) for 2015 by the United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees). Currently president of the Nebraska Academy of Eye Physicians, Mike is the only physician on this year's TOYA list. Mike's wife Jessica is a former marketing director who now works in development for Nebraska's ophthal- mology department. She is also a member of our Foundation's International Committee. Michigan ophthalmologist Stan Pletcher, MD, completed his residency at Indiana University, before entering private practice. He is president of the Christian Ophthalmology Society, serves on the board of Vision Outreach International, and is active in international outreach throughout Latin America. He and his family recently spent 2 years in Ecuador to start an ophthalmology hospital in a jungle province. Stan founded the Mission Eyes Network in 2006, which became the forerunner to Global Sight Alliance, www.globalsight.org, a collaborative effort with the ASCRS Foundation launched in 2009. Under Stan's direction, this has become a valuable central web portal and resource for ophthalmologists interested in volunteering, networking, and learning about solving global cataract blindness. For this inaugural column, I've asked both Mike and Stan to describe how their own personal interest in humanitarian work began. They are both experts in international outreach and anxious to help anyone who wants to learn more. I hope that this column will allow all of us to momentarily forget about the daily challenges of practicing medicine and to celebrate the noble accomplishments of some very special colleagues. David F. Chang, MD, chief medical editor Stan Pletcher, MD Global Sight Alliance, St. Joseph, Mich. My first foray into volunteerism goes back to the 1970s, when I was the lucky one to hold the spit pan for a dentist on a Medical Group Missions (MGM) trip to the Domin- ican Republic at age 13. Little did I know that giving of your time and skills to help someone less fortunate brings feelings of joy and would be something I'd be more involved with later in life. I have to admit that it didn't seem like a joyful sort of thing to look at all those bloody rotten teeth in that little metal spit pan. I had not considered ophthal- mology as a career option until my second year of medical school when I met an older ophthalmologist who is now deceased—Donald Yates, MD, of Terre Haute, Ind. Dr. Yates impressed me greatly as he had volunteered yearly throughout his entire career to help internationally through MGM missions. As many of you can relate, it was appealing to me that cataract surgery alone with- in ophthalmology was an exciting procedure providing definitive tangi- ble help to those in need around the world and locally. Thus started my pursuit of becoming an eye surgeon. Although I was involved in missions in medical school, it wasn't until 10 years into my career that I began involvement in interna- tional eye surgery missions. I had a new take on volunteerism when I recognized that there was a certain investment necessary to gain the appropriate skills to be useful in settings outside of my normal com- fort zone. Once I became proficient in MSICS, I began to recognize the 2 important but distinct areas of vol- unteerism that have impact: 1. Relief work (helping with the burden of blindness backlog) 2. Development work (helping with education, program development, skills transfer, capacity building) In this column, we plan to highlight ophthalmologists who have been involved in 1 or both of these 2 areas of volunteerism, internationally and locally. I am inspired by those individuals who think outside the traditional box of Dr. Pletcher examining a postop cataract patient in Ecuador, March 2015. Source: Stan Pletcher, MD missions and challenge each of us to think differently about becoming involved and how we can contribute by giving of ourselves. If you know of doctors whose efforts can teach our community, we'd be eager to have you email the details for our consideration. What I've learned in my short time of being involved include some of the following: • Volunteerism stretches us and grows us. • Volunteerism is addicting and may be habit forming. • Volunteerism often gives back to us more than we actually give. • Volunteerism isn't just about going internationally to help; we need to look around our own cities. Winston Churchill summed it up nicely when he said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." It is my prayer that you will be enriched and inspired by this column and that we can take volunteerism to a new level within the readership of EyeWorld. Michael R. Feilmeier, MD Division of Global Blindness Prevention, Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Neb. Everyone has their story, what drew them inescapably into the world of global ophthalmology and volun- teerism. For some, it is a "coup de foudre," or lightning strike moment; for others, it is a culmination of events. For me, it was the incredible enthusiasm and mentorship from Geoff Tabin, MD, the adventure of the Himalaya, and the realization that the gift of sight and restored Global service spotlight: Highlighting domestic and international volunteer work

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