A YEAR OF INNOVATION AND IMPACT A NNUAL R EPORT 2 019
VISION AND MISSION O U R VI SI ON
To transform lives through the prevention and treatment of blindness. O U R M I SSI ON
With our network of partners, we mentor, train and inspire local teams so they can save sight in their communities.
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
1
A YEAR OF INNOVATION AND IMPACT Innovation defines us. The Flying Eye Hospital was our first innovation nearly 40 years ago. Ever since, we’ve continued to push ourselves to find new ways to break down barriers to sight. The impact this achieves is helping us change the way the world sees.
2
DEAR FRIENDS, Beginning with the launch of the Flying Eye Hospital nearly 40 years ago, Orbis has always been characterized by its pioneering spirit. Yet even for an organization with a track record full of creative solutions, 2019 stood out as a year of innovation and impact. This Annual Report presents highlights from a most extraordinary year that your support has made possible.
JOHN “BOB” RANCK President and CEO, Orbis International
You’ll see how we’re making a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) tool available to doctors in communities of great need. It helps them swiftly detect common eye conditions so they can administer treatment and prevent vision loss. You’ll read about the Flying Eye Hospital’s first simulation-only training project and how it helped ophthalmology residents in Chile build their skills and confidence. You’ll learn about a scalable model we are piloting in Bangladesh to integrate eye care referral networks within diabetic care programs. For the 10 million Bangladeshis who are at risk for diabetic retinopathy—the world’s leading cause of blindness among working-age adults—this is truly life-changing. Like the Flying Eye Hospital, all of these innovations are helping us get sight-saving remedies to the people who need them most. They’re big ideas with big impact.
and see the blackboard at school, and it opens up her entire future. A cataract surgery that takes only minutes lets a farmer tend his fields and earn a living again. A dose of Zithromax can spare a mother the excruciating pain of blinding trachoma. I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand how the gift of sight can change a person’s life forever, and I can tell you that the look on a child’s face when she sees her mother for the first time is reason enough to do what we do. But the impact of blindness prevention has ripple effects that extend far beyond the individual. On pages 10 and 11, you’ll see how our work contributes to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, leading to improved health and education, reduced inequality and better economic growth—for the individual, their community and even the world. It’s why Orbis’s tagline is Changing the Way the World Sees. Thank you for being a part of our mission.
Sincerely,
The Flying Eye Hospital itself visited five countries in 2019: Chile, as well as Ghana, Jamaica, Myanmar and Vietnam. Altogether, 69 surgeons and over 1,000 other medical professionals received training through these projects. When I think about the impact of these achievements, it’s overwhelming. A pair of glasses helps a child read her textbooks
Bob Ranck
3
Global blindness will triple by the year 2050 unless we stop it. Fortunately, there is something progressing at an even faster rate: technology. And harnessing the latest advancements in technology to fight blindness and vision impairment is something Orbis knows how to do. It’s what we did with the Flying Eye Hospital, when we looked to the world of aviation to bring ophthalmic training to communities in need around the world. Tens of thousands of doctors and nurses have since received training on board this revolutionary aircraft, including more than 1,000 just last year.
KEVIN MCALLISTER Chairman of the Board, Orbis International
It’s what we did with Cybersight, too. In the earliest days of the internet, we were already hard at work developing what would become the award-winning telemedicine platform. Now Cybersight has become a go-to resource for eye health professionals around the world. Doctors and nurses from 183 different countries turned to Cybersight last year to help them deliver quality eye care in their own communities, and new registrations of eye professionals increased by 93%. Orbis has always pursued big ideas and used new technologies to grow our impact. Now if we are to prevent a tripling of global blindness in the coming years, it’s more important than ever that we continue innovating and expanding our toolbox. In the pages that follow, you’ll see how we did just that in 2019. Despite all of these accomplishments, we know that much, much more must be done. In the coming months and years, we will introduce virtual reality-based training to provide residents with extremely realistic surgical practice experiences; add new features to Cybersight, including a mobile app; and build Digital Training Hubs that make simulation training and remote surgical mentorship accessible to more ophthalmic residents around the world.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Technology’s potential to help us change the way the world sees is limitless, and we’re exploring new ideas every day. Much of this work will be made possible by another exciting development from 2019: the new Silicon Valley Orbis Innovation Fund. I’d like to extend a special thanks to John A. and Susan Sobrato for establishing this fund, which supports projects that leverage technology to improve and scale our work. Altogether, 2019 was a landmark year for innovation at Orbis, one that made an immediate impact on people’s lives while setting us up for even greater success in the future. And it was made possible through the extraordinary efforts of Orbis’s affiliates, staff, volunteers, donors and partners around the world. I thank you—all of you—for sharing our vision of a world free from avoidable blindness. The road ahead is daunting, but with your continued support, I have no doubt that we can make that vision a reality. Very truly yours,
Kevin McAllister
4
THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S VISION Orbis’s mission is more urgent than ever. Experts have predicted that global blindness will triple by 2050.1 We’re working tirelessly to ensure that eye care teams around the globe are ready to meet the rising demand. Together with your support, we can build a world where no one lives without sight because of avoidable causes. At least
2.2 BILLION people have a vision impairment or blindness.2
55% 70% *See page 37 for endnotes.
of all people who live with blindness are women.3
of people with blinding trachoma are women.4
1 IN 7 Globally, at least
PEOPLE
live with blindness or vision impairment that could be prevented or addressed.2
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
5
19 MILLION children under the age of 15 have a visual impairment.5
The prevalence of vision impairment in low- and middle-income countries is estimated to be
4 x HIGHER than in high-income regions.2
More than
1/3
of these children experience severe vision loss that affects their ability to learn.5
Visual impairment disproportionately affects women, the elderly, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and indigenous people.2
2 OUT OF 3
$1=$4 ROI
blind children are girls.6
Every $1 invested in eye health in low- and middle-income countries is estimated to yield $4 in economic gain.7
6
OUR IMPACT IN 2019 Thanks to the help of our partners, volunteers and generous supporters, we made exceptional progress in 2019 in our global fight against avoidable blindness.
66,006 TRAININGS
completed by doctors, nurses, other eye care professionals and community health workers
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
1,169 completed by doctors
64,837 completed by nurses, other eye care professionals and community health workers
7
2,674,995 eye screenings and examinations*
13,460,012 doses of Zithromax/tetracycline distributed to treat blinding trachoma
5,864,960 child recipients of Zithromax/tetracycline
1,541,485 eye screenings and examinations conducted for children
183,085 eyeglasses prescribed
58,050 surgeries and laser treatments performed
*Includes screenings and examinations in fixed facilities and outreach
8
OUR GLOBAL REACH IN 2019 IMPACT
74
projects conducted in 19 countries*
183
countries reached through Cybersight
5
Flying Eye Hospital programs
15
fundraising and program offices around the world
Headquarters in New York
*This includes one long-term project in five countries across East and South Africa.
9
STORIES TO CELEBRATE When eye care professionals get the quality training they need, patients get the quality eye care they deserve. But for too many people around the world, where they were born determines whether an avoidable condition will take away their sight. Together with your support, we’re transforming lives for the people we treat and train.
Photo: Louis Leeson
Photo: Elisabeth Horrell
VIETNAM
ETHIOPIA
Phuong, 8, was three months old when her family first spotted her crossed eyes. After years of being teased at school, and wrongly being told that glasses would correct her vision, an Orbis-supported school screening program led to the referral that finally got her the surgery she needed.
Tsehay treats people in her local community for trachoma and carries out surgery to treat the late stage of the blinding disease. “I was very sick when I was little, and nurses took care of me—that’s why I wanted to become a nurse,” she says. In 2019, Orbis trained more than 100 nurses on how to perform the surgery.
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
PERU
JAMAICA
Shortly after giving birth to newborn triplets, Elisa (left) learned they could be at risk for retinopathy of prematurity, a leading cause of childhood blindness. Orbis partner Dr. Luz Gordillo screened the infants, revealing that baby Ruth (left) was suffering from the condition, and ensured her prompt treatment.
Dr. Melissa Chin (left) has struggled to get hands-on surgical experience during her ophthalmology residency. Through simulation training from Orbis, she grew her skills and confidence. “You get comfortable on the plastic eye before going to the real patient’s eye. So, when I had a real patient in front of me, I felt more at ease,” she says.
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
10
ORBIS AND THE SDGs The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) drive a shared vision for a better and more sustainable future for all. Across the world, governments, nonprofits, foundations, corporations and others are all working together to realize that vision. Ensuring access to quality eye care is critical to achieving many of the SDGs, and Orbis is proud of the progress that our work advances.
3. GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING Eye health is a critical part of overall health and well-being, but globally, conditions that could be prevented or have yet to be addressed lead some 1 billion people to live with blindness or vision impairment. Having access to quality eye care transforms lives.
5. GENDER EQUALITY Women and girls disproportionately bear the burden of avoidable blindness. Increasing access to quality eye care helps more women gain financial independence and more girls pursue an education.
10. REDUCED INEQUALITIES
8. DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
Vision impairment poses an enormous global financial burden. Investments in eye care in low- and middle-income countries yield a four-fold economic gain, strengthening vulnerable communities.7
Blindness can make it harder to pursue an education, find and hold a job and maintain financial stability. Eliminating avoidable blindness is one of the most cost-effective ways of fighting poverty.
11
MARY, who was found to have both a dense cataract and glaucoma, received surgery on board the Flying Eye Hospital in Ghana. Local eye care teams observed the procedure, which was also broadcast via Cybersight to teams around the world, building their skills to help more patients like Mary regain their sight.
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
Photo: Martin Kharumwa
70% of people with blinding trachoma are women. 4 MALATE lived in excruciating pain from advanced trachoma until she received surgery. In 2019, Orbis distributed a recordbreaking 12.4 million doses of the trachoma-fighting antibiotic Zithromax in Ethiopia, ensuring that more people can access early treatment before the disease damages their sight.
GEORGE, a carpenter in Jamaica, was his family’s provider until cataracts began to take away his sight, leaving him feeling helpless and depressed. Thanks to surgery he received on board the Flying Eye Hospital, he can resume his old way of life. “This makes my heart swell,” he said of his new beginning.
BITISHA, 15, dreams of becoming a journalist and wants to support her parents when she grows up. Orbis helped her access the surgery she needed in Nepal to correct her strabismus, which previously made it difficult for her to study.
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
Photo: Louis Leeson
12
SUSTAINABLE VISION Many communities in India cannot easily access the care they need at hospitals and major medical facilities, which are often concentrated in urban centers. Approximately 4,000 Vision Centers across the country help to fill this gap by providing access to eye care in rural areas.
GREEN VISION CENTERS In 2019, Orbis launched four new Green Vision Centers in the Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts as part of a larger initiative to transform vision centers. The Green Vision Centers run on solar energy and are energy-efficient. The new initiative to transform these centers with sustainable methods is a breakthrough in the way that primary eye care is provided. Power outages are common in rural areas, so using solar energy ensures that we can provide uninterrupted quality eye care to those who need it most, while also reducing our carbon footprint. Additionally, the use of digital tools for recordkeeping in the new Vision Centers minimizes the consumption of paper to almost zero.
Vaishnavi Kumari, 5, had a cataract removed during an Orbis hospital-based training at Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital. Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
IMPACT
In India, in over
50% of cases, children’s sight could be restored with early intervention and comprehensive treatment. Orbis President and CEO Bob Ranck cuts the opening ribbon at one of the new Green Vision Centers.
“
The Green Vision Center concept comes out of our deep concern for the future of our children, not just their eyes, but also the world around them, their environment.” —Bob Ranck, President and CEO, Orbis International
CHILDREN’S EYE CENTERS In 2019, Orbis also launched a new Children’s Eye Center at Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital in Bihar state. The Orbis partner aims to empower women in the community by employing female staff. These Children’s Eye Centers across India advance the goal of eradicating avoidable blindness among children. Orbis also hopes to extend our model of sustainable eye care to Children’s Eye Centers.
“We firmly believe that, irrespective of a person’s capacity to pay, they should have access to world-class treatment. This initiative will contribute towards ensuring this. In the coming years, we hope to see every child in Bihar being able to access quality eye care services in their own community, regardless of their social or economic background.” —Mritunjay Tiwary, Founder of Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital
33 Children’s Eye Centers established across
17
states
14
EYE HEALTH AND DIABETES A boy receives an eye exam at an outreach center for children with diabetes. Photo: Orbis Bangladesh
Diabetes is one of the main contributors to the tripling of blindness that’s projected over the next three decades. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among workingage adults, affecting 33% of people living with diabetes. Orbis recognizes both the urgency in building eye health systems for diabetic retinopathy and the need for collaboration within existing diabetes services.
A trained technician captures retinal images of a woman to detect diabetic retinopathy. Photo: Orbis Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, an estimated 10 million people are living with diabetes, putting them at risk for diabetic retinopathy. In 2019, Orbis launched a scalable model to integrate referral networks for diabetic eye care within existing hospital networks across the country. This model includes building awareness and outreach camps at the community level, primary eye care screening at community clinics, referral and follow-up at diabetic hospitals, and diagnosis and treatment at eye hospitals. This innovative approach to addressing diabetic retinopathy has shown that, when patient education and screening of diabetic
retinopathy are integrated into the general health care system, treatment of the disease can be delivered in a more effective and timely manner. We equipped teams with software to capture retinal images for diabetic retinopathy grading and reporting as well as patient followup. Additionally, the project has created opportunities for conducting research on access to diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment services in rural Bangladesh. Bangladesh has also seen an increase in the number of children with diabetes, so Orbis initiated a new intervention to use a similar model of referral networks for eye health for children with diabetes. Orbis is also scaling diabetic referral networks in other countries around the globe. Our innovative model was presented at the 2019 International Diabetes Federation Congress, the world’s largest gathering of diabetic experts.
In Bangladesh
10+ MILLION people are living with diabetes
1 IN 4 people living with diabetes are affected by diabetic retinopathy and, thus, at risk for blindness.
Globally, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults.
Women receive screening for diabetic retinopathy through community outreach. Photo: Shafiqul Islam
16
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT When the Flying Eye Hospital landed in Santiago, Chile, in May, from the runway it looked like any other Orbis training program on board the MD-10 plane, but it was actually the first of its kind. Over the next two weeks, more than 100 eye care professionals came together to build their skills entirely through simulation training. Their “patients”? Artificial eyes, life-like mannequins, and other cutting-edge technology.
SIMULATION TRAINING Simulation training allows eye care teams to build their skills and their confidence safely before progressing to real-life surgeries. The simulation devices break down complex surgical procedures into smaller parts, allowing eye care professionals to practice each step as many times as they need to get it right—something that’s not possible with an actual patient.
All photos: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
IMPACT Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
100+ ophthalmology residents, nurses and anesthesiology residents came from Chile as well as Bolivia and Peru.
“ Volunteer Faculty Peter Moore uses simulation technology to demonstrate how to administer anesthesia to children.
Simulation training has been proven to decrease complications and improve outcomes during a medical professional’s early surgical cases, when they’re more likely to make mistakes. This results in a better patient experience and higher quality of care.8 In 2019, our Flying Eye Hospital program in Kingston, Jamaica—which brought together eye care professionals from across the Caribbean region—also included a week of simulation training. Additionally, we led simulation-only hospital-based trainings at partner institutions in Bolivia and Peru.
“
I can say that I started this training with 10% confidence, and I am leaving with 90%.” —Vanessa Rocha, Resident Ophthalmologist, Chile
Simulation training allows you to perform the same step over and over again, meaning students can practice any skill they’re lacking. Plus, a mistake can be fixed with the flick of a button, so it’s much safer.” —Maria Montero, Orbis Flying Eye Hospital Head Ophthalmologist
18
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
CYBERSIGHT OPENS NEW POSSIBILITIES In 2019, Orbis had another record-breaking year on Cybersight, including a 93% increase in the number of registered eye care professionals from the preceding year. Seventy Volunteer Faculty members from 23 countries and regions shared their time and expertise with eye care teams around the world by leading webinars and consulting on complex patient cases.
Photo: Orbis Cybersight
We secured, at no cost, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool for Cybersight that can detect common eye diseases—such as glaucoma, macular disease and diabetic retinopathy—in mere seconds by analyzing images of the back of the eye. The price point of cutting-edge technologies like this one have too often kept them out of reach for the eye care professionals who need them most. That’s why Orbis is leading the way in democratizing AI, ensuring that eye
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
care professionals in low- and middle-income countries can access this technology for free through Cybersight. We expanded our remote surgical mentorship service to five new countries across Africa and Asia, allowing our Volunteer Faculty to observe and guide sight-saving surgery half-way around the world, in real-time, without leaving their home or office. Using this technology allows us to support more doctors and their patients in more places at lower cost.
7,621 eye care professionals trained
IMPACT Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
183 countries and regions
1,844 patient consultations
Local doctors and nurses in Jamaica watch a live surgery in 3D on board the Flying Eye Hospital.
“
The digital age has caused the world to shrink while allowing individual productivity to grow exponentially. Cybersight caught that ‘wave’ early, grew rapidly and continues to explore new horizons after two decades.”
New investments from philanthropists John A. and Susan Sobrato through the Silicon Valley Orbis Innovation Fund, launched in late 2019, will help us continue to harness the next generation of technology that will revolutionize the future of equitable access to quality eye care and ophthalmological training.
—Dr. Gene Helveston, Founder of Cybersight
—Dr. Tran Thi Bich Hai, Vietnam
“Cybersight enables me to discuss complicated medical cases with leading experts in this field. Cybersight also allows me to take a look at my colleagues’ topics and cases, through which I have gained great experience in examining patients and performing surgeries.”
7,933 eye care professionals
115 live online events
20
THE GLOBAL FORCE CHANGING LIVES The success of Orbis training programs would not be possible without our cadre of Volunteer Faculty. These medical professionals who graciously donate their time and expertise across the globe are improving eye care for generations to come. In 2019, 144 Volunteer Faculty from 23 countries and regions participated in our work on board the Flying Eye Hospital and conducted 59 hospital-based programs at partner institutions.
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
21
FIELD DEPLOYMENT
144 VOLUNTEER FACULTY deployed to 5 Flying Eye Hospital programs 59 hospital-based trainings EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
70 VOLUNTEER FACULTY delivered 115 live webinars on Cybersight Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
VOLUNTEER FACULTY FROM Australia Brazil Canada Chile Mainland China Colombia
Hong Kong India Ireland Israel Kenya Malaysia
Mexico Myanmar Nigeria Paraguay Peru Philippines
Singapore Sri Lanka United Kingdom United States Vietnam
Thank you to the Alcon Foundation, which deployed three of its staff members as Volunteer Faculty: Bo Minh to Myanmar, and Elizabeth Castro and Oluwadare Faderin to Ghana. Thank you to the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons, which sponsored three Associate Ophthalmologists for programs in Vietnam and Myanmar. Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
22
ORBIS IN THE NEWS 2019 was a year of unprecedented growth for the Orbis brand, marked by notable media coverage. Here are some of the highlights. April 1, 2019 February 19, 2019
June 6, 2019
Orbis: A Force Multiplier in Global Ophthalmology Orbis educational footprint soars to new heights Using Cybersight telemedicine technology, Orbis International can teach procedures in real-time and mentor doctors-in-training abroad.
One glorious vision: How an airplane brings life-changing procedures to the world
There aren’t many disciplines where a 15-minute procedure that can be done anywhere, with no need for intensive care units or blood transfusions, can radically change someone’s life for the better.
Fall 2019 June 14, 2019
Orbis Educates Local Clinicians in Underserved Communities to Prevent Blindness
May 14, 2019
Ophthalmological hospital plane landed in Chile to combat blindness
A remarkable vision
The international nonprofit Orbis’ investments in cutting-edge technologies have revolutionized its telemedicine capabilities by expediting two-way communication between ophthalmologists in the United States and Europe and their counterparts in Asia, Africa, and South America.
The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is a sight to behold. September 26, 2019
Having the vision to help others
Orbis Flying Eye Hospital conducted ophthalmic training in Hue
Un Avión Hospital en Chile para Tratar Enfermedades de los Ojos
October 1, 2019
Orbis Flying Eye Hospital to Make Fourth Stop in Mandalay
November 30, 2019 November 11, 2019
The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital visited Mandalay for the fourth time last week to help people with eyesight problems and to train ophthalmologists in the latest developments in sight-saving technology.
August 4, 2019
‘Orbis Flying Eye Hospital’ Set To Operate In Ghana For Three Weeks The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has revealed the “Orbis Flying Eye Hospital” will be launched by President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, November 13, at the Kotoka International Airport.
Visionary medicine: Charitable ‘Flying Eye Hospital’ touches down in Oakland
Mission Orbis – Flying Inside the World’s Only Flying Hospital
December 2019
November 20, 2019
Ophthalmologist Omar Salamanca bent over his work, demonstrating a detail of eye surgery for colleagues as they stood inside a Boeing MD-10
November 19, 2019
Opinion: A vision crisis is looming — unless we act now Imagine being unable to see when a 20-minute operation could restore your sight, or unable to work or succeed in school because you need a pair of glasses. It may seem unthinkable.
Orbis: Saving Vision and Changing Children’s Lives Across the World Orbis has been working to change lives through the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness since 1982. A large focus of this work has been treating cases of childhood blindness.
Imagine a life without sight – without seeing the smiles of your loved ones or taking in a sunset while you travel.
September 4, 2019 May 25, 2019
August 22, 2019
Crisis in sight
Reportaje Especial: Hospital en el aire
23
24
FINANCIALS The help of our partners, volunteers and generous supporters like you has powered our innovation and deepened our impact in 2019 in the fight against avoidable blindness. IMPACT
94.9% 2.7% 2.4%
went directly toward our work to prevent avoidable blindness went toward raising funds to support our mission went toward ensuring our systems and service delivery are worthy of your donations
In 2019, supporters generously gave over
$378.5M to Orbis International
25
MAXIMIZING YOUR GENEROSITY At Orbis, we work hard to ensure your gifts are used as effectively as possible. That’s why almost 95 cents of every dollar you donate goes directly to increasing quality eye care and saving vision in the countries where we work. REVENUE AND SUPPORT $378.5M EXPENSES $381.0M OPERATING DEFICIT ($2.5M) NET ASSETS $57.3M
In 2019, supporters generously gave over $378.5M to Orbis International. Your support allowed Orbis International (excluding affiliates) to put $361.6M to program, $10.2M to fundraising and $9.2M to Management/General in functional expenses. Overall, the organization finished 2019 with a net decrease in net assets of ($2.5M) and total net assets of $57.3M. Orbis continues to be financially well-positioned to support the growth of its global operations and to best serve its goal of transforming lives through the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness in 2020 and beyond. The financial information as of and for year ended December 31, 2019, has been derived from Orbis International’s financial statements audited by BDO USA, LLP independent auditors. The condensed financial information should be read in conjunction with the 2019 audited financial statements and related notes. Contact Orbis International’s office for copies of the complete audited financial statements, or download them here.
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
26
CORPORATE PARTNERS We couldn’t do our life-changing work without the incredible support and dedication of our global corporate partners. Their contributions range from major multi-year cash grants to critically needed gifts-in-kind.
All photos: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
27
Since 1979, Alcon has been a critical partner
Jebsen generously partners with Orbis to
supporting our mission though ongoing training
establish a training, screening and eye care
program sponsorship and content collaboration,
referral network covering hospitals and clinics
biomedical engineer volunteers, and state-of-the-
in rural areas of China.
art ophthalmic equipment and pharmaceutical donations. Additionally, as a title sponsor of our Flying Eye Hospital, Alcon provides supplies for our partner hospitals around the world. Boeing became a Global Title Sponsor of Orbis’s third-generation MD-10 Flying Eye Hospital in 2019 through our “See the Future” initiative, with a three-year commitment to help provide critically important training to eyecare professionals around the world.
Since 2011, OMEGA has provided ongoing support
Collins Aerospace partnered with Orbis in 2017 to establish the world’s only Mobile Simulation Center outfitted for an aircraft. The simulation technology and training curricula scale up training efforts to first- and second-year medical residents and is used in 80% of our Flying Eye Hospital projects.
The Pfizer-Orbis relationship dates back to 1979,
For almost four decades, FedEx has played an indispensable role in helping Orbis achieve its vision, including the donation of the MD-10 aircraft that became the third-generation Flying Eye Hospital, and becoming a Global Title Sponsor of the Flying Eye Hospital in 2000.
Standard Chartered supports Orbis’s “Seeing Is
to Orbis, donating proceeds from the sales of special dedicated watches and chronicling Flying Eye Hospital projects with OMEGA brand ambassadors.
three years before Orbis’s first sight-saving flight, when Pfizer began supporting Orbis through cash grants and donations of medical supplies.
Believing” global community fundraising project, which aims to serve China’s blind population.
28
VOLUNTEERS Thank you to our outstanding Volunteer Faculty and volunteer pilots who donated their time this year to support Orbis in our mission to prevent and treat avoidable blindness. Dr. Bazil Ateleanu United Kingdom
Mr. Bo Min Myanmar
Mrs. Leah Baumhover USA
Dr. Charith Fonseka Sri Lanka
Dr. Lawrence Azavedo United Kingdom
Dr. Gregory Spooner USA
Ms. Danielle Schindler USA
Dr. Douglas Fredrick USA
Dr. Ian Fleming United Kingdom
Dr. Vivien Yap USA
Mr. Craig Simms Canada
Dr. Annette Giangiacomo USA
Dra. Olga Giraldo Colombia
Mr. George Appasamy United Kingdom
Dr. Lee Alward USA
Dr. Karl Golnik USA
Dr. Mark Gunn USA
Ms. Glenda Bajar United Kingdom
Dr. Santosh Bhide India
Dr. Pamela Gonzalez Mexico
Dr. Michelle Le Cheminant United Kingdom
Ms. Sandra Burnett USA
Dr. James Brandt USA*
Dr. Omar Honerlage Mexico
Dr. Jonathan Lord United Kingdom
Ms. BelĂŠn Calahorro Cardoso United Kingdom
Mr. John Brookes United Kingdom
Dr. Srinivas Iyengar USA
Dr. Peter Moore USA
Ms. Irma Casale United Kingdom
Mr. Donal Brosnahan Ireland
Dr. Angela Jiang USA
Dr. Ghalib Mukadam United Kingdom
Mrs. Peng Peng Chuah Malaysia
Dr. Javier Buendia Colombia
Dr. Sandra Johnson USA
Dr. Thomas Neal United Kingdom
Mrs. Sue Davies Australia
Dr. John B. Carter USA
Dr. Thomas Johnson USA
Dr. Manish Raval United Kingdom
Dr. Elethia Dean USA
Dr. Jeffrey Caspar USA
Dr. Shoba Katumalla India
Dr. Niroop Ravula USA
Ms. Mairead English Ireland
Dra. Linda Cernichiaro-Espinosa Mexico
Dr. Ramesh Kekunnaya India
Dr. Sanjay Saikia United Kingdom
Mrs. Violeta Filipova United Kingdom
Dr. Poemen Chan Hong Kong
Dr. Nathan Schwartz USA
Ms. Nadine Grant-Mckenzie United Kingdom
Dr. R. V. Paul Chan USA
Ms. Thuong Huynh Canada
Ms. Fiona Dean United Kingdom
Dr. Luu Tong Vietnam Ms. Elizabeth Castro USA Mr. Leo de Kryger Canada Mr. Oluwadare Faderin Nigeria Mr. Jose Flores USA Mr. Robyn Frick USA Mr. Chun Kiat Goh Singapore
Mrs. Philippa Jones United Kingdom Ms. Lori Pacheco USA Ms. Toni Pilcher Australia Ms. Donna Punch Canada Mrs. Andrea Shows USA
Dr. Robert Chang USA Dr. Monte Del Monte USA Dr. Andreas Di Luciano Chile Dr. Rainaldo Duerksen Bolivia Dr. Sherif El-Defrawy Canada Dr. John Ferris United Kingdom
*Denotes Volunteer Faculty who also participated in Cybersight webinars and/or telementorship
Dr. Robert Kersten USA Dr. Peter Kertes Canada Dr. Eduardo Kestelman Brazil Dr. Milind Killedar India Dr. Hee Joon Kim USA Dr. Alvin Kwok Hong Kong Dr. Wai-ChingLam Hong Kong Dr. Bradford Lee USA Dr. James Lehmann USA* Dr. Alexa Lu USA
29
Dr. Rommel Bautista Philippines
Dr. Diane Russo USA
Dr. Larry Benjamin USA
Dr. Joel Schuman USA
Dr. Louis Cantor USA
Dr. Leo Seibold USA
Dr. Brian Marr USA
ASSOCIATE OPHTHALMOLOGISTS AND ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Dr. Steve Charles USA
Dr. Sirisha Senthil India
Dr. Timothy McCulley USA
Dr. Sara Ko United Kingdom
Dr. Zhan Chun China
Dr. Arsham Sheybani USA
Dr. David Miller USA*
Dr. Christopher Areephanthu USA
Dr. Soledad Cortina USA
Dr. Karen Squier USA
Dr. Eydie Miller-Ellis USA*
Dra. Valentina Berrios Chile
Dr. Miguel Cuevas Colombia
Dr. Sowmya Srinivas USA
Dr. Daniel Neely USA*
Dr. Cristina Bostan Canada
Dr. Siddharth Dikshit India
Dr. Stuart Stoll USA
Dr. Thomas Oetting USA
Dr. Başak Bostanci Turkey
Dr. Kendall Donaldson USA
Dr. Abhay R. Vasavada India
Dr. Henry O’Halloran USA
Dr. Wesley Chan Canada
Dr. John Downing USA
Dr. Ernesto Otero Colombia*
Dr. Wai Lok Chan Hong Kong
Dr. Thomas Freddo USA
VOLUNTEER PILOTS
Dr. Ronald Pelton USA
Dr. Emily Cole USA
Dr. Raphael Guballa Philippines
Captain Cynthia Berwyn Memphis, TN
Dr. Roberto Pineda USA
Dr. Jenny Fong Hong Kong
Dr. Andrew Harrison USA
Captain Mark Cardwell Germantown, TN
Dr. Jeffrey Pong Hong Kong
Ms. Vivian Ho United Kingdom
Dr. Yongxiang Jiang China
Captain Patrick Corrigan Collierville, TN
Dr. Grace Prakalapakorn USA
Dr. Helena Hurairah Brunei Darussalam
Dr. Malik Kahook USA
Captain Stephen Dee Cordova, TN
Dr. Juan Sanchez Colombia
Dr. Irfran Kherani Canada
Dr. Alex Levin USA
Captain Gary Dyson Eads, TN
Dr. Kai Ching Peter Leung Hong Kong
Dr. Michele Lim USA
Captain Brian Flax Memphis, TN Captain Michael Flood St. Helena, CA
Dr. José Lucio-Alvarez Mexico Dr. Christopher Lyons Canada Dr. Sheila Marco Kenya
Dr. Benjamin Shalev Israel Dr. Lesya Shuba Canada
Dra. Natalia Restrepo Colombia
Dr. Jenelle Mallios USA
Dr. Carlos Solarte Canada
Dr. Solin Saleh Canada
Dr. Umang Mathur India
Captain David Hayes Germantown, TN
Dr. Rosalind Stevens-Cavender USA*
Dr. Mehdi Shajari Germany
Dr. Jose Mendoza Peru
Dr. Donny Suh USA*
Dr. Nita Valikodath USA
Dr. Ramana Moorthy USA
Captain John Gordon Platt The Villages, FL
Dr. Rudy Wagner USA
Ms. Angela Vargas Colombia
Dr. Manish Nagpal USA
Captain Cheryl Pitzer Murphy, TX
Dr. Serena Wang USA
Dr. Eva Wong Hong Kong
Dr. Neelam Pawar India
Captain Peter Pitzer Murphy, TX
Dr. Laura Wayman USA*
Mr. Imran Yusuf United Kingdom
Dr. Jody Piltz-Seymour USA
Captain Brian Sajdak Hernando, MS
Dr. Lori Provencher USA
Captain Eric Van Court Memphis, TN
CYBERSIGHT MENTORS AND TEACHERS
Dr. Doug Rett USA
Pilot Mark Vaughan La Mirada, CA
Dr. Manolito Reyes Philippines
Captain Gilbert Vondriska Ojai, CA
Dr. Adedayo Adio Nigeria Dr. Caroline Baumal USA
Dr. Guillermo Rocha Canada
Captain Curtis Wilson Austin, TX
Dr. Aravind Roy India
Captain Fred Yates Sarasota, FL
Dr. James Whelan Canada Dr. Vivian Yin Canada* Dr. Timothy Hug USA Mr. Tony McAleer Ireland Mr. Zainulabuddin Mohammed India
3O
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ORBIS INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr. Kevin G. McAllister Chairman Cincinnati, OH Mr. David L. Gitlin Vice Chair President & CEO Carrier Mr. John Howitt Vice Chair Partner Clifford Chance US LLP Ms. Diana Wheeler Secretary Senior Vice President, Teammate Resources FlightSafety International, Inc. Mr. John Robert Ranck President and CEO Project Orbis International, Inc.
DIRECTORS Mr. Peter Allen, FCPA, FCA, FRAeS Chief Executive Officer Stellar Capital Corp. Mr. Justin Brownlee Vice President, Air Operations FedEx Express
Ms. Sharon Dogonniuck Principal Ernst & Young, LLP
Mr. Charles Vyvyan Geo-political Analyst Vertical Research Partners
Dr. Pravin Dugel Retinal Consultants of Arizona
SINGAPORE
Mr. James Forbes Vice Chairman Morgan Stanley
Stuart L. Dean Chairman Senior Advisor, ASEAN Advisory
Dr. David S. Friedman Director, Glaucoma Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Norman C. T Liu Treasurer Former CEO, GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS)
Ms. Jennie Friedman Audit Partner KPMG LLP Dr. Gil Kliman Managing Director InterWest Partners Amb. Patricia N. Moller (Ret.) President and CEO Moller Global Advisory, LLC Dr. Ram Palanki, Pharm.D. Sr. Vice President Commercial Strategy & Operations REGENXBIO Inc. Mr. Adrian J. Paull Scottsdale, Arizona Dato’ Kulasegaran Sabaratnam Vice Chairman and EXCO Chairman, Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital, Malaysia
DIRECTORS A/Prof Marcus Ang Senior Consultant, Singapore National Eye Center Associate Professor, Duke-NUS Medical School Seat Moey Eng-Kwok Managing Director and Group Head, Capital Markets DBS Bank Rai Katimansah Partner & Portfolio Manager, Sun Hung Kai Capital Partners Peter Mok Counsellor, High Commission of the Republic of Singapore in London Jason Moo Head, Private Banking, Southeast Asia, Julius Baer
Dato’ Kulasegaran Sabaratnam President, World Blind Union Asia Board Member, Orbis International, New York Alvina Tan Managing Director, Ark Advisors
MACAU Mr. John Robert Ranck President President & CEO Project Orbis International, Inc. Ms. Kristie DeKoker Secretary Chief Development Officer Project Orbis International, Inc. Ms. Danusia Dzierzbinski Treasurer Chief Finance & Administrative Officer Project Orbis International, Inc. Ms. Pauline Lam Mo Sze Member Director, Faculty Relations, Asia Project Orbis International, Inc. Ms. Elaine Lau Chui Ling Member Senior Director, Individual Engagement, Hong Kong Project Orbis International, Inc.
31
Ms. Mary Lau Wai Sze Member Executive Director, Hong Kong Project Orbis International, Inc.
Mrs. Catherine Gaynor Director
Mr. Manu Nathan Member General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer Project Orbis International, Inc.
Mr. Andrew Lowe Director
Ms. Diana Wheeler Member Senior Vice President, Teammate Resources Flight Safety International, Inc. Ms. Venus Yeung Kin Wa Member Director, Communications, Hong Kong Project Orbis International, Inc.
IRELAND Dr. Maurice Cox Chairman Ms. Clare O’Dea Vice Chair Mr. Trevor Lydon Treasurer Mr. Peter Lorcan Tiernan Secretary
DIRECTORS Mr. Michael Boyd Director Mr. Paul Boyle Director Mr. Donal Brosnahan Director Mr. John Crowe Director
Mr. Michael Holland Director
Ms. Jennifer Moulton Director Ms. Anne Nolan Director Dr. Ray Power Director Ms. Carina Ryan Director Mr. Raymond Sission Director
CANADA Simon P. Holland, M.D. Chair Clinical Associate Professor University of British Columbia Eye Care Centre Vancouver, British Columbia
Catherine Hansen MD, PA Director Friendswood, Texas Senator Rosemary Moodie Director The Senate of Canada Parliament Hill Ottawa, Ontario Bulgan Orgilsaikhan Director Upchain Inc. Toronto, Ontario Natasha Sharpe, PhD, MBA Director Chief Investment Officer Bridging Finance Toronto, Ontario John Robert Ranck Ex-Officio Director President and CEO Orbis International New York, New York The Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy Emeritus Board Member Lee Tak Wai Holdings Ltd. Toronto, Ontario
UNITED KINGDOM Chairman Peter Hickson MA FCA Chairman, UK Larry Benjamin FRCS (Ed), FRCOphth, DO Programme Committee Chair, UK Michael Boyd Tony Cowles Yvette Dunne MA FCA Designated Trustee for Safeguarding, UK Nicola Floyd Patricia Moller Rob Pinchbeck Deputy Chairman, UK Christine Tomkins, BSc(Hons), MBChB(Hons), DO, FRCS, FRCOphth, MBA, FFFLM, FRCP Charles Vyvyan Catharina Waller Robert F Walters FRCS, FRCS(Ed), FRCOphth. Nigel Young Audit Committee Chair, UK
Winston K. Fogarty, B.A., LL.B., LL.M. Secretary DS Avocats Canada, Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario Max Beck Treasurer Toronto, Ontario
MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Pravin U. Dugel, MD (Chair)
Robison D. Harley, MD
Richard Doherty Director National Aviation Practice Leader Marsh Canada (Aviation) Toronto, Ontario
Joan Creed, MN, RN, CCM
Chris McMenemy
Monte J. Goldstein, MD
Daniel E. Neely, MD
Leo de Kryger, CET
Greg J. Spooner, PhD
Alex V. Levin, MD, MHSc, FRCSC
Rosalind A. Stevens, MD, MPH
O R B IS ANNU AL R EP O R T 2 01 9
SPECIAL THANKS INDIVIDUAL Mr. Erly R. Alonso Mr. Saud Altamimi Mr. Jason Alves Mr. Bart Amond Mr. Wally Andrushenko Mr. Safwat Armanious Mr. Ken Ashmore Mr. Vivek Ashoka Ms. Clare Baggaley Mr. Daniel Baron Mr. Roland R. Batangan Jr. Ms. Paige Botos Ms. Terry Brown Mr. Justin Brownlee Ms. Avis Buford-Darling Mr. Jose Cabrera Mr. Reginald Campbell Mr. Greg Carter Ms. Alma Decena Mr. Tom Deosaran Mr. Ben Devarie Mr. Donald Dillman Mr. Coz DiMarco Ms. Nancy Drewery Mr. Jun Egashira Mr. Brian Eppic Mr. Mark Eshleman Mr. Andrew Fifield Mr. Les Frank Ms. Gail Gaul Mr. Fred Goetschel Mr. George Griffin Mr. Paul Griffiths
Ms. Meghan Grimes Mr. Mike Gutierrez Mr. Tom Haines Mr. Ahmed Abu Hamra’a Mr. George Hanniff Mr. Walter “Mac” Harper Mr. Christopher Hart Mr. Jarin Horton Mr. Rob Hudson Mr. Ed Hurt Ms. Kathy Ilyin Mr. Tim James Mr. Tom Jenkins Mr. Mac Johnson Mr. Bill Jones Jr. Mr. Greg Jones Mr. Syed I. Kamal Mr. Kevin Kanizar Mr. Reynaldo Kappel Mr. Richard Kusmierz Mr. Tom Lee Mr. Richard Lira Ms. Amelia Lovin Mr. Shawn Lyons Mr. Mike Majerus Mr. Edward Maldonado Mr. Brady McClure Captain John McCormick Mr. Frank McCrorie Mr. Jack McHale Mr. Robert Medina Mr. Carlos Monsalvo Mr. Nate Morrissey Mr. Colin Mulligan
Mr. Quynh Nguyen Mr. Jamal Noureldine Mr. Darren O’Dom Mr. Scott Ogden Ms. Maureen Patton Ms. Darla Paulson Mr. Derek Pristavok Mr. Vince Punzalan Mr. Ali Abi Raad Mr. Rocky Ruggieri Mr. David Singh Mr. Steve Sobczak Mr. Jack Springer Mr. Richard Stillhard Mr. Rafal Szewczyk Poorna Thimmaiah Mr. Bill Thornton Ms. Sarah Toney Mr. Luis Trejo Mr. Jake Trees Ms. Kathy Trulove Mr. Michael Tymczyszyn Mr. Thomas Wallace HRH The Countess of Wessex Ms. Ina Wiehl Mr. Stephen Wilson Mr. Nick Wood Ms. Nozomi Yamauchi Mr. Mark Yerger
GROUP AerCap Airbus Financial Services AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings Angel Flight West AOPA ARINCDirect Assessment Compliance Group, Inc. (Aviation Manuals) Avolon BCG Digital Ventures Big Sky Aviation Boeing British Embassy Doha Canada Reception Centre Ottawa Clifford Chance LLP ComAv D.O.T. Tiedowns DAE Capital Deacons Dubai Airports Embassy of the State of Qatar, UK FedEx Flight Support Solutions Holdings LLC Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) Honeywell iLS Inventory Locator Service Jackson Lewis P.C. Jeppesen Kaiser Air FBO Lakeland Lions Club LIFT Strategic Design
Lonseal Lux Air FBO Maples Group MC-Jalux Airport Services (MJAS) MedAire, Inc. Moffett Field (KNUQ) National Energy Puma Aviation Services (NEPAS) Norman Manley Airports Limited (NMIA) OpsGroup Port of Oakland Praytell Safran Group (Zodiac) Schneller Signature Flight PBI Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Skyway Café & Catering STG Aerospace Swissport Ottawa The Aircraft Group (TAG) Thornton Technologies TP Aerospace Unical Aviation Universal Weather & Aviation
32
Linn, 8, has always been called “nanda” by her parents, which means “lucky one” in Burmese. She developed vision impairment issues as a result of being born with rubella but has always had an excellent memory. Thanks to operations she received in an Orbis partner hospital and on board the Flying Eye Hospital, her vision has greatly improved. She’s now excited to get back to school and her favorite subject, mathematics.
Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee
Endnotes 1. Bourne, Rupert R A, Seth R Flaxman, et al. on behalf of the Vision Loss Expert Group, “Magnitude Temporal Trends, and Projections of the Global Prevalence of Blindness and Distance and near Vision Impairment: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” The Lancet Global Health 5, no.9 (September 2019).
4. Cromwell, Elizabeth A., Paul Courtright, Jonathan D. King, Lisa A. Rotondo, Jeremiah Ngondi, and Paul M. Emerson. “The Excess Burden of Trachomatous Trichiasis in Women: a Systematic Review and MetaAnalysis.” Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 103, no. 10 (2009): 985–92.
2. World Report on Vision. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
5. World Health Organization (WHO). Fact Sheet, Blindness and Visual Impairment. (October 2017)
3. Bourne, Rupert R A, Gretchen A Stevens, et al. on behalf of the Vision Loss Expert Group. “Causes of Vision Loss Worldwide, 1990–2010: a Systematic Analysis.” The Lancet Global Health 1, no. 6 (November 11, 2013).
6. “A Vision for Gender Equality in Eye Care.” The Seva Foundation Gifts of Service, 1 (2014).
7. Armstrong, K. L., Jovic, M., Vo-Phuoc, J. L., Thorpe, J. G., & Doolan, B. L. (2012). “The global cost of eliminating avoidable blindness.” Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 60(5), (2012): 475–480. 8. Ferris, John D, Paul H Donachie, et al. “Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ National Ophthalmology Database Study of Cataract Surgery: Report 6. The Impact of EyeSi Virtual Reality Training on Complications Rates of Cataract Surgery Performed by First and Second Year Trainees.” British Journal of Ophthalmology 104, no. 3: 324–29. (May 2019).
orbis.org Orbis International 520 8th Ave, Floor 12, New York, NY 10018, USA