Eye Health Institute
P.O. Box 11052, Boulder, CO 80301
May 29, 2014
Doctors of the National Optometric Association
Dear Doctors,
We thank you for the opportunity to address the NOA through this newsletter. We need your help in furthering our objectives in Jamaica. We have been involved in Jamaica providing eye care for 20 years. Since 2001 the Eye Health Institute has been established and transitioned into a full service clinic. This clinic being founded by 2 minority doctors would be very happy to provide an educational opportunity for 4th year interns of color. In this we would like to establish the clinic as a viable 4th year rotation. The subsequent body of this text will give an understanding of this opportunity. If you know of a student or have influence with a school of optometry we would request your communication and assistance.
The Eye Health Institute is seeking 2 optometric interns to volunteer with our November 2014 vision clinic to be conducted at our Grange-Kendal facility in Hanover, Jamaica.
The clinic will be held the 2 weeks preceding and inclusive of Thanksgiving. During each week interns will have the opportunity to complete 10-12 comprehensive eye examinations on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. They will be given 30 minutes to conduct eye examinations per patient. The will be observed and expected to review case studies with clinic instructors. Joseph Myers, OD, John Akers, OD, and Richard Cross, OD will serve as clinic instructors for the week.
On Thursday the interns will have the opportunity to either assist/observe in cataract surgery and/or provide post-operative examinations to surgical patients at the clinic under the supervision of Peter Andrews, MD or Elisha Tilton, MD.
On Friday the interns will have the opportunity to dispense the eyewear they prescribed, and provide follow up care to any patients identified with Glaucoma. They will be expected to participate in all aspects of case management including referral letters for patients identified with ocular or systemic conditions who were seen during clinic. Interns will be required to perform visual fields, GDx, and binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy as needed. We are currently gathering data on the population for a glaucoma study to be conducted over the course of the next 10 years. Interns will be given the opportunity to evaluate and compile data related to this study. In addition, we are looking at evaluating (In association with the University of Michigan) screening equipment for use with remote populations. If beta testing is in place by the time of the clinic, students will be afforded the change to implement the new equipment in our clinic. Their feedback will help in the development of tools that may be used in the future by volunteer organizations.
The Eye Health Institute shall provide transportation in Jamaica for the 2 interns selected to participate in the 2014 Clinic. The interns will be housed at the Rhodes Resort along with the volunteers who will be conducting screenings in the parish of Hanover and referring patients for examination at Grange-Kendal. Scholarships are available to help with housing and airfare for those interested in participating. The previous week optometrists from EHI will be seeing patients throughout the parish and identifying those who require further care. Ophthalmologists will be performing surgery at the local hospital in Lucea, and teaching at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay. We expect to deliver services to over 500 patients during our November clinic. It should be noted that our clinic is based in a rural USAID clinic serving a population that has very limited access to eye health services. Our relationship with the Ministry of Health and the Regional Health Authority has been invaluable with the establishment of our program and we are seeking knowledgeable interns who are able to adapt to austere conditions often seen on volunteer trips to third world countries.
We are interested in creating 2 externships lasting 8 to 12 weeks in 2015. If your school has interns interested in participating this November, please contact us at Richard Cross , Joseph Myers or at our office phone numbers 303-530-2020, 734 763 0291 respectively.
Best Regards,
Dr. Richard A. Cross
Dr. Joseph M. Myers