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ONE IN SEVEN PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE LIVE WITH AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS OR VISUAL IMPAIRMENT 

Learn how an innovative nonprofit is continuing to treat patients and train doctors during the global pandemic

DR. HUNTER CHERWEK

Global Ophthalmologist; Vice President, Clinical Services, Orbis International

At least one in seven people live with visual impairment or blindness that is completely avoidable. Often something as simple as getting a routine cataract surgery or a pair of glasses is all that is needed to change a person’s life. Restoring sight transforms the lives of individual patients and has ripple effects that are felt across entire communities. However, experts say that without action, global blindness will triple by the year 2050, and the number of people in need of care is outpacing the number of trained ophthalmologists.

Orbis is a global nonprofit that mentors, trains, and inspires eye care professionals in areas with the greatest need using cutting-edge technology and innovation. Its Flying Eye Hospital is a mobile teaching hospital with an operating room, recovery room and classroom on board, taking ophthalmic training to eye care teams. Its telemedicine platform, Cybersight, is a 24/7 virtual training hub for over 30,000 eye care professionals. It now uses artificial intelligence technology that can detect common eye diseases in mere seconds, and it uses simulation technology to teach surgeons how to operate in the same way that pilots learn to fly planes. Nearly 95 cents of every dollar donated to Orbis goes directly toward its work in preventing avoidable blindness.

On November 19, Dr. Hunter Cherwek will be available for interviews to discuss avoidable blindness, the work Orbis is doing to combat this issue and ways that your listeners can help.

For more information please visit www.orbis.org     

More About Dr. Cherwek:

Dr. Hunter Cherwek is a global ophthalmologist with a specific career interest on how training and technologies can be used to eliminate avoidable blindness in low-resource communities around the world. Dr. Cherwek received his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill and his medical degree from Duke University. After his transitional year at Scripps Hospital, he completed his residency in ophthalmology at Emory University, where he was elected Chief Resident. Immediately upon graduating from Emory, Hunter joined Orbis International, where he was able to lecture and work in over 20 countries aboard the Flying Eye Hospital and help build the organization’s award-winning telemedicine platform, Cybersight. After working with Orbis International, he was based in Beijing, China, for six years, working with Alcon as the Medical Director of Strategic Markets to help improve surgical training efforts and access to quality cataract care in Asia and Russia. Most recently, Dr. Cherwek has returned to Orbis International to continue to support its clinical training efforts and patient care programs as Vice President, Clinical Services.

Produced for: Orbis