The International Eye Foundation News

IEF People In The News Reports

IEF Elects New Chairman of the Board

21 June 2007 -- Ophthalmologist and public health specialist, Dr. Jim Ganley, takes over as Chair of IEF's Board of Directors for FY 2008. New trustees this year are Allen Beach, an independent consultant; Roger Jantio, a global venture capitalist; and Martha Fallgatter Walda, a public relations and political consultant.

Saving Children's Sight in Eritrea

A child facing a life of blindness just breaks your heart. “Blind children have so many challenges and become a substantial burden on their families and community” notes Dr. Judy Newman, a senior pediatric ophthalmologist from Texas who travels the world sharing her skills and expertise. In April, she visited Asmara, Eritrea, a tiny country in the horn of Africa surrounded by the Red Sea, Sudan, and Ethiopia with a population of only 3 million, but with more than its share of children facing blindness. IEF’s Victoria Sheffield noted that “Dr. Desbele, the Chief Ophthalmologist at the Birhan Eye Hospital in Asmara, has been asking us to help find a pediatric ophthalmologist to work alongside his wife Dr. Ghenet ‘because she is the one who takes care of the children.’” Taking along suitcases full of clinical and surgical supplies generously donated by Valleylab, Alcon, New World Medical, Marchon Eye Wear, Ronald and Marla Rushing and Dietz McLean Optical, Dr. Newman made the lengthy journey to Asmara for a two week visit.

They worked as a team to address each child’s eye problem. She summed up her experience this way, “The two doctors with whom I worked are really dedicated to their people. They are eminently trained and certified ophthalmologists and have a special clinic day just for children, unusual for a poor hospital in a developing African country. I was impressed by how much pediatric eye disease, inherited, acquired and traumatic that we saw such as congenital cataracts, glaucoma and squint. The daily number of serious eye injury cases in children, which Dr. Desbele repairs, astounds me. Impressive was Dr. Ghenet's quick grasp of pediatric ophthalmic concepts and the skill with which both doctors maximized their sparsely equipped but well maintained facility to practice a high level of ophthalmology.”

Dr. Ghenet’s beautiful smile and Dr. Desbele’s innate kindness reassure the patients that everything possible will be done for their loved ones. They were an inspiration to me... ” Dr. Desbele said in a phone call to IEF, “She really taught us a lot and the children of Eritrea will benefit so much.” Dr. Newman exemplifies IEF founder Dr. John Harry King’s vision of “the promotion of peace through the prevention of blindness.”

Eye Care in Developing Nations, 4th Edition

Dr. Larry Schwab's 4th edition of his very popular text for general and eye health workers is now available in African and Asian versions. The new Chapter 2, "Sustainable eye programs" written by IEF describes our approach to sustainability programming. With a grant from Merck & Co., Inc., the 4th edition commemorates 20 years in the fight against onchocerciasis through the Mectizan Donation Program 1987-2007. An "IEFer" for over 35 years, Dr. Schwab has dedicated his life to preventing blindness and improving the quality of eye care worldwide. Available from Manson Publishing Ltd, 73 Corringham Road, London NW11 7DL, UK, Tel: +44 (0) 20 8905 5150, Fax: +44 (0) 20 8201 9233, www.mansonpublishing.com . Also from the ICEH in London www.iceh.org.

IEF recognizes departing Board members

15 June 2006 -- IEF Board President Susan Fritschler (second from left) recognized four Members for their distinguished service to the IEF. Rolling off the IEF Board after serving two consecutive terms were Dr. Frank S. Ashburn, Jr., Elizabeth Aiken Burt, COT, Vladimir Ossenov, and Dr. Larry Schwab (not pictured). The IEF is grateful for their dedication and commitment to helping people see.

Executive Director and Senior Medical Director Honored by Order of St. John

On November 12, 2005 in New York City, IEF Senior Medical Director Frank S. Ashburn, Jr. MD was invested into The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. On the same day, IEF’s Executive Director Victoria M. Sheffield, was promoted to the rank of Commander. The Order, more commonly known as the Order of St. John, is a serving order of chivalry under the British Crown, the honor of which is bestowed by warrant of its Sovereign Head, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Established in 1888 by Queen Victoria, the Order traces its origins back more than 900 years to the Knights Hospitallers of the First Crusade. The Order supports both the St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem and the St. John Ambulance Service worldwide. IEF’s founder, Dr. John Harry King, Jr. and founding Board member, the late Mr. David P. Close, were Knights of the Order of St. John. A number of IEF’s Board members are also members of the Order of St. John or its sister organization, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Both Orders are dedicated to the care of the poor and the sick and IEF is honored to have such dedicated servants within its ranks.

IEF Executive Director Victoria M. Sheffield Honored [June 2005]
While participating in a meeting of the second South-East European Congress of Ophthalmology (SEECO) in Bulgaria, IEF Executive Director Victoria M. Sheffield received an honorary membership in the Union of Bulgarian Ophthalmologists. Read about Ms. Sheffield's honor online. [ Full Story ]

IEF Board Member Receives Honorary Degree from Dickinson College [May 2005]
His Excellency Jerome Mendouga, who serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the International Eye Foundation for the fiscal year 2005 - 2006, received an honorary degree from Dickinson College for his 50-year relationship with the United States. The honorary degree not only recognized Mendouga, who is also Ambassador to the United States from the Republic of Cameroon, but also the people of Cameroon themselves, who have served as hosts, friends, and teachers to more than 250 students who visited Cameroon from Dickinson College. The full story is available as an Acrobat PDF download:
MendougaDegree.pdf [1Mb Acrobat PDF]