Eyeworld

UPDATE by Roger Furlong, MD, and Natalie Zundel ASCRS Foundation Development Director As of this writing, Dr. Crandall was on an international humanitar- ian eyecare trip but communicated the following about being named the inaugural winner: "First I was shocked, then I felt honored and joy that our [Moran Global Outreach Division, ASCRS Foundation, Hima- layan Cataract Project, the Aravind Hospitals] passion to reduce curable blindness in the world is making a difference. [I feel] deep humility that I was chosen, and I will continue to work for that goal. We should re- member that we are all brothers and treat all with compassion and love." After Dr. Crandall was selected by the ASCRS Foundation Board of Directors to receive the Chang Hu- manitarian Award, Dr. Chang issued this statement: "It is very fitting that the Foundation Board selected Alan to be the inaugural recipient of this award. He embodies the compassion that we should all emulate, and his career has been defined by teaching, mentoring, and inspiring so many others while quietly tackling the most difficult cases in the most chal- lenging of settings." To celebrate Dr. Crandall's commitment to making the world a better place through humanitarian eyecare and to learn more about his inspiring efforts, register for the 2018 ASCRS•ASOA Annual Meeting, and don't miss the Opening General Session. About the Chang Humanitarian Award For more than 15 years, the ASCRS Foundation has fostered programs to alleviate the worldwide backlog of cataract blindness and has even worked in partnership with Dr. Crandall's efforts through the Moran Eye Center. These efforts extend not only internationally but in the U.S. as well. The Foundation's work is only possible because of the many individuals and partner organiza- tions who volunteer their time, expertise, and financial support to treat cataract blindness around the world. "David and Victoria's generosity and leadership is deeply appreciat- ed because it allows us to highlight and perpetuate the noble volunteer efforts of our colleagues within ophthalmology who are trying to alleviate treatable global blindness," Center's Global Outreach Program. At first, Dr. Crandall's endeavors involved performing surgery him- self and providing procedures not otherwise available in West Afri- ca. Next came his dedication and persistence, training local surgeons to begin providing quality care and increasing the number of patients receiving treatment. In 2012, Dr. Crandall helped arrange funding for the construction of the Eye Center at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Staffed with experienced surgeons, it is the only dedicated eye hospital in the region and impacts eyecare in all of West Africa. The list of places where Dr. Crandall has donated his time and skills is long: Ghana, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, Nepal, India, China, Guatemala, Egypt, Micronesia, Tonga, Rwanda, Haiti, and Cuba, as well as domestic efforts in Utah. The nature of these out- reach efforts are as varied as the list itself. In Guatemala, Dr. Crandall performed hundreds of surgeries and trained the country's only ophthal- mologist. In remote locations like Micronesia and South Sudan, the main objective was to perform as many vision-restoring procedures as possible. In 2013, he turned his atten- tion to those in need in the U.S. Dr. Crandall helped develop the Navajo initiative, which regularly provides cataract and retinal surgery, postop- erative care, comprehensive vision screenings, and custom eyeglasses to the Navajo Nation. "If you aspire to be the best phy- sician possible, and the best human being possible, you need look no further for a role model than Alan Crandall," said nominating commit- tee member I. Howard Fine, MD. As if his extensive humanitari- an work was not proof enough, Dr. Crandall insists that every outreach trip include a physician training component. He enthusiastically shares his knowledge and experience with all, but specifically with local physicians in the resource strapped areas he visits. He thinks mentoring inexperienced surgeons is the key to ending global blindness and shares his skills in adult and pediatric cataract surgery, adult and pediatric glaucoma surgery, and all manner of intraocular lens related issues. supporting documents. The field of nominees was richly diverse and deserving of recognition. The Nom- inating Committee, which includes members of the Foundation's Board and International Committee, sent a handful of finalists to the ASCRS Foundation Board of Directors, who further reviewed the nominations and selected the ultimate winner. A description of the award and the nominating committee can be found at www.ascrsfoundation.org/ changaward. "Alan has dedicated his career to humanitarian service, often in remote and sometimes dangerous parts of the world," said board mem- ber Douglas Koch, MD, "and his loving, generous spirit permeates all that he does, whether it be with pa- tients, colleagues, students, friends, or family." Dr. Crandall started his outreach work in Kumasi, Ghana in response to a request for help from a patient. With that first trip, he unofficially launched the John A. Moran Eye David and Victoria Chang endow $50,000 award to honor outstanding volunteers E ndowed by a generous gift from David and Victoria Chang, the ASCRS Founda- tion Chang Humanitarian Award has been established to honor and recognize outstanding humanitarian work with a focus on cataract blindness and disability. Alan Crandall, MD, embodies this purpose with his extensive human- itarian work both in the U.S. and abroad. The award will be pre- sented to Dr. Crandall at the 2018 ASCRS•ASOA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Dr. Crandall was one of 66 nominees submitted for the inaugu- ral award. After nominators com- pleted a detailed submission form, the ASCRS Foundation Nominat- ing Committee spent many hours reviewing the nominations and Alan Crandall, MD, is the inaugural ASCRS Foundation Chang Humanitarian Award winner Dr. Crandall with a young Ethiopian patient named Temesgen Insightful news from the ASCRS Foundation

• Blank Page
• Blank Page (1)