American Academy of Ophthalmology Welcomes Haitian Colleagues
SAN FRANCISCO—In light of the recent tragedy in Haiti, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Academy has granted complimentary membership for 2010 and 2011 for all Haitian ophthalmologists.
Their membership in the Academy offers a wealth of educational benefits, including waived registration for the annual meeting, online subscriptions to Ophthalmology as well as EyeNet Magazine, access to the Ophthalmic News and Education O.N.E.™ network, and a worldwide community of over 29,000 ophthalmologists.
“We are proud to welcome our Haitian colleagues into the Academy and to offer all of the corresponding benefits,” said David W. Parke II, MD, executive vice president and CEO of the Academy. “We believe that the Academy’s educational resources will be of great value for our colleagues as they work to rebuild the ophthalmic infrastructure in Haiti.”
In addition to granting membership, the Academy has established the Task Force on Haiti Recovery, led by former Academy president Michael W. Brennan, MD, to guide Haiti relief efforts. The task force works closely with Haitian leadership–the Haitian Society of Ophthalmology and the University of Haiti Eye Hospital–as well as the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology PAAO and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute to facilitate the recovery of ophthalmic practice and delivery of eye care.
In conjunction with PAAO, the Academy is undertaking a campaign to provide five portable eye units to ophthalmologists in Haiti. To support the campaign, the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology has established a Disaster Relief Fund to provide ophthalmic resources and facilitate much-needed patient care. All of the funds collected will be used for Haitian recovery efforts.
About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
AAO is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons—Eye M.D.s—with more than 29,000 members worldwide. Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s” – opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. For more information, visit the Academy's Web site at www.aao.org.