The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Department of Ophthalmology will celebrate the launch of its new International Division of Ophthalmology by hosting “A Night for Sight: The Possibility of Eliminating Blindness In our Lifetime,” on Friday, Sept. 9, at the Embassy Suites in the Old Market. The dinner and live auction event aims to raise awareness and funds to support the international division.
The event features keynote presentation from Geoffrey Tabin, M.D., a professor in the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Utah, and director of international ophthalmology at the Moran Eye Center. Dr. Tabin is a co-founder of the Himalayan Cataract Project and only the fourth person in history to climb the “Seven Summits.”
Just last year Dr. Tabin was featured on the January cover of National Geographic Adventure magazine, and given the name “Dr. Extreme.” In the “Adventurers of the Year” publication, Dr. Tabin was inducted into the National Geographic Adventurer Hall of Fame for his compassionate service and his goal to cure unnecessary blindness throughout the world. In addition to this honor and many more, Dr. Tabin received the “Unsung Heroes of Compassion” Award from The Dalai Lama in 2009.
“It is an honor to have Dr. Tabin share his expertise and experiences at our inaugural event,” said Thomas Hejkal, M.D., chairman of the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences at UNMC.
“My ultimate goal is that the development of the International Division will serve as a catalyst for increased international experiences for medical students, ophthalmology residents, fellows, graduate students, researchers and faculty while simultaneously helping to restore sight wherever our work takes us,” said Michael Feilmeier, M.D., medical director of the International Division of Ophthalmology at UNMC.
Dr. Feilmeier, who is also a cornea specialist at Midwest Eye Care Center, was first introduced to the feasibility of providing high quality eye care in the developing world as a medical student by Dr. Tabin. Dr. Feilmeier completed medical school at UNMC and received his internal medicine training at the University of California, San Diego and did his ophthalmology residency at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami.
He then teamed up with Dr. Tabin to develop and train as the first fellow in the prevention of global blindness and cornea and external eye disease at the University of Utah. Dr. Feilmeier has since returned home to Nebraska to continue the pursuit of preventing and curing needless blindness within the developing world.
“A Night for Sight” is slated to begin at 6 p.m. at the Old Market Embassy Suites. Tickets can be purchased for $75 a seat or the student rate of $50 by calling Jessica Feilmeier at (402) 305-2852 or visiting unmc.edu/eye/international.htm.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.
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