Marcus Ang, MBBS, PhD, has been awarded the Academy's 2019 Artemis Award for his work creating free vision care for people across Asia, particularly the elderly in his home country of Singapore.
Since 2014, the Academy has honored a young ophthalmologist with the Artemis Award in recognition the tremendous work he or she has done to help disadvantaged communities obtain vision care. The award is named after the Greek goddess Artemis, who was the protector and nurturer of the vulnerable and suffering.
Past recipients have helped deliver health care to poor or elderly communities, designed or launched community-based health care programs or educational programs for patients.
Marcus Ang, MBBS, PhD
Since 2006, Dr. Ang has served as Founding Director of Global Clinic Ltd. a nonprofit organization registered in Singapore that provides free eye care and surgeries in developing countries in Asia. Marcus has organised and led programs in many countries including India, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.
In 2013, Dr. Ang initiated the Mobile Eye Clinic Project, under the auspices of the Singapore Society of Ophthalmology. This program provides free eye care to the elderly in underprivileged communities in Singapore.
When he first began in the program, Dr. Ang went door to door surveying and examining the elderly with portable eye equipment. After six years, the program has grown significantly. The underpriviledged elderly now regularly receive free eye care and, if necessary, appropriate cataract surgery or other basic procedures such as laser treatment or injections. Since its inception, more than 5,000 people have benefited from the Mobile Eye Clinic Project in Singapore.
Not only has the program helped those in the community, but the program is sustainable and continues to grow under Dr. Ang’s leadership and selflessness. In 2017, the Singapore President Halimah Yacob honored Dr. Ang with the country’s Volunteer and Philanthropy Award, which is the highest recognition for volunteer work in the nation.
Dr. Ang is active in his local Singapore Society of Ophthalmology, as well as his regional society, the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO). A graduate of both the Academy’s and APAO’s leadership development programs, he serves on the Academy’s International Meetings committee and the Global ONE Advisory board.
Dr. Ang is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Singapore National Eye Centre, specializing in Cornea and Refractive surgery. He is also currently Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Duke-National University of Singapore.
Dr. Ang continues to provide care to the underserved throughout Singapore and Asia. His passion for humanitarian work has led him to teach young doctors, nurses, optometrists, ophthalmic technicians and medical students who are engaged in building sustainable programs, including education and patient care in developing countries throughout Asia.
He was nominated for the award by the Duke-National University of Singapore, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Program for his dedication serving the needs of the underprivileged, both in his local community and in Asia.