ASCRS News: ASCRS Foundation update
July 2023
by Megan Odell
ASCRS Foundation Associate Director
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.
2023 ASCRS Foundation Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award
Endowed by David and Victoria Chang, this award is made annually to highlight unseen superstars of humanitarian eyecare. The 2023 Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award Recipient was Helena Ndume, MD.
2023 Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant
The Young Eye Surgeons 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 2023 grantees:
- Kanika Agarwal, MD
- Sila Bal, MD
- Julius Oatts, MD
- Nakul Shekhawat, MD
- Michelle Sun, MD
Source: ASCRS
2023 Resident Excellence Award
ASCRS was founded by young, enterprising ophthalmologists, and the ASCRS Foundation’s Resident Excellence Award honors and carries on 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 2023 awardees:
- Aaron Kaufman, MD
- Dominique Geoffrion, MD, PhD
- James Tian, MD
- Jennifer Tran, MD
- Lisa Koenig, MD
- Raul Ruiz Lozano, MD
- Sri Meghana Konda, MD
- Tania Padilla Conde, MD
- Tu Tran, MD, MSc
- Weijie Violet Lin, MD
For more information, visit www.ascrs.org/foundation/grants-and-awards.
Treating preventable cataract blindness across international borders
During the 2023 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 ASCRS Foundation’s work in developing countries and strategic partnerships, visit ascrs.org/foundation/international or contact Barbara Erny, MD, medical liaison, at berny@ascrs.org.
Operation Sight
Operation Sight, the ASCRS Foundation’s charitable cataract surgery program, is fueled by the nationwide network of more than 750 volunteers who are dedicated to helping those in need in their own communities. The Foundation is proud to congratulate Regina Sun, MD, as the 2023 ASCRS Foundation Operation Sight Volunteer of the Year. This award recognizes one volunteer surgeon who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to Operation Sight patients, promotes cataract care accessibility, and actively engages in local philanthropic initiatives.
Save the date for National Sight Week, October 8–14. 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.
Party for a Purpose
The second annual Party for a Purpose kicked off the 2023 ASCRS ASOA Annual Meeting. With the generous support and match from Alcon, more than $100,000 was raised for Operation Sight. The party also included “celebrity spin master” teams competing in a head-to-head competition. The winning team, Sight Sistas, included Susan MacDonald, MD, Cathleen McCabe, MD, Elizabeth Yeu, MD, and Nicole Fram, MD.
For more information or assistance making a charitable contribution, visit www.ascrs.org/foundation/ways-to-give.
Contact
Odell: modell@ascrs.org
