ASCRS News
June 2022
by Molly Gascoigne
ASCRS Foundation Director of Development
The ASCRS Foundation’s mission is to provide humanitarian cataract surgery and support physician education in the U.S. and in developing countries. It is made possible through the support of the Foundation community. The donors, partners, and volunteers help create immeasurable change in the lives of underserved patient populations needing access to cataract care.
2022 ASCRS Foundation Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award
The Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award was established to honor and recognize outstanding humanitarian work addressing cataract blindness. The 2022 Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award Recipient was Roger Ohanesian, MD.
2022 Young Eye Surgeon International Service Grant
The Young Eye Surgeon International Service Grant was created to inspire young eye surgeons to become involved with global eyecare on a long-term basis. Working with the ASCRS Foundation and its international partners, recipients participate in developing world healthcare systems, teaching institutions, and community programs while learning the intricacies behind global eyecare efforts. The Foundation congratulates the 2022 grantees:
- Aakriti Garg Shukla, MD
- Wanja Mathenge, MD
2022 Resident Excellence Award
ASCRS was founded by young, enterprising ophthalmologists, and the ASCRS Foundation’s Resident Excellence Award carries on and honors that tradition. The ASCRS Foundation gives 10 awards each year to enable ophthalmology residents exhibiting exemplary performance to attend the ASCRS Annual Meeting. The Foundation congratulates the 2022 awardees:
- Sahil Aggarwal, MD
- Stephen Armenti, MD, PhD
- Yandong (Yanna) Bian, MD
- Vinicius De Stefano, MD, PhD
- Erica Darian-Smith, Mmed
- Cherie Fathy, MD
- Nhon Le, MD
- Zachary Mortensen, MD
- Manuel Paez-Escamilla, MD
- Xueyang (Sarah) Wang, MD
For more information, visit www.ascrs.org/foundation/grants-and-awards.
Treating preventable cataract blindness across international borders
During the 2022 ASCRS Annual Meeting, the Foundation brought its international partners together to discuss next steps in the collaborative international effort to treat preventable cataract blindness and enhance in-country physician training. To learn more about the Foundation’s work in developing countries and strategic partnerships, visit www.ascrsfoundation.org or email Barbara Erny, MD, medical liaison, at berny@ascrs.org.
Operation Sight: Make lasting change in your local community
The ASCRS Foundation’s charitable cataract surgery program, Operation Sight, is fueled by the nationwide network of more than 700 volunteers who are dedicated to helping those in need in their own communities. The Foundation is proud to announce the 2022 ASCRS Foundation Operation Sight Volunteers of the Year who are recognized for their dedication to helping those in need in their own communities and championing the Operation Sight program.
The Foundation congratulates the 2022 Operation Sight Volunteers of the Year:
- Michael Graham, MD
- Carol Johnston, MD
- Andrew Kao, MD
- Judith Kirby, MD
- Carolyn Kloek, MD
- Jeffrey Levenson, MD
- Reena Patel, MD
- Robert Rice, MD
- Cary Silverman, MD
- John Swan, MD
Save the date for the 2022 National Sight Week, October 9–15. Join the Foundation in celebrating the collective power of the ophthalmology community to make cataract care accessible to those most in need. There are patients in every community vetted and approved by the ASCRS Foundation awaiting care. To learn more visit www.ascrsfoundation.org or contact Rachel Goode, program manager, at rgoode@ascrs.org.
Support the ASCRS Foundation with a gift today
The pandemic continues to have a far-reaching effect on patients in need. A gift of any size will provide critical funding to provide the gift of sight and change lives. Below are several options for donating.
Give online at www.ascrsfoundation.org/donate.
Donate through a donor advised fund or consider an IRA rollover. Consider making a grant recommendation through a donor advised fund to the ASCRS Foundation to help support its mission. If you are 70 1/2 or older, you may be able to take advantage of the IRA Charitable Rollover. Talk to your financial advisor for more information. The ASCRS Foundation’s tax ID number is 23-7388748.
A financial advisor can assist you in making a stock or securities gift. Inform your broker that you would like to make a gift of stock to the ASCRS Foundation and connect with them at info@ascrsfoundation.org for additional information on completing the gift.
For more information or assistance making a charitable contribution, visit www.ascrs.org/foundation/ways-to-give or contact Molly Gascoigne at mgascoigne@ascrs.org.
Contact
Gascoigne: mgascoigne@ascrs.org
