RESULTS

• 1600 patients evaluated

• 1000 prescription glasses & sunglasses dispensed

• 85 cataract surgeries provided - able to perform 68% more cataract surgeries than in 2013 (thanks to additional donations)

• 50 Ultrasound examinations

• Medical education with hands-on training provided for:

– 4 resident physicians– 18 graduate students– 4 undergraduate

students• Student-organized

patient education workshops:

– Dental hygiene– Back exercises to

prevent low back pain– Hand washing

• International health symposium for local physicians and patients

• Research projects on portable ultrasound & malnutrition

PURPOSEThis organization provides an annual cataract surgical and medical mission to the Sacred Valley of Peru and nearby regions.

OUR TEAM•Volunteer physicians•Nurse practitioners & nurses•Allied health professionals•Students from Stony Brook School of Medicine & Robert Wood Johnson Medical School•Masters in Public Health students•SUNY optometry students•Undergraduate students

BACKGROUND• Cataracts: leading cause of blindness

in middle / low income countries• 80% of all visual impairment can be

avoided or cured• Unequal ophthalmology access in

Peru (75% of Peruvian ophthalmologists work in Lima, where only 25% of the population resides)

SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS

• Trip provided excellent hands-on learning experience in how to conduct comprehensive eye examination in Spanish (aided by Quechuan translators)

• Gained familiarity in travel clinic setup

• Became quite comfortable with medical history taking in Spanish

• Experienced truly grateful and satisfied patients (see below)

• Changed targeted specialty for residency and fostered strong interest for future experience in global health

Supported by:Rutgers RWJMS Office of Global HealthStony Brook University School of MedicineDr Victor Rozas of Peruvian American Medical SocietyDr Francisco Morales of Wiñaypaq Association Pro

Human DevelopmentHelena Van Engelen & Foundacion Ninos del Arco IrisDr Frilo Silva & Caprese Eye ClinicCuzco and Surgical Eye Expeditions of Santa Barbara,

CaliforniaJetBlue Airways

A Promise to Peru: Cataract Surgical & Medical MissionRebekah H. Gensure, PhD

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854

Patiently waiting

Patients traveled for hours, often by foot, to reach our clinic. The line for patients waiting to be seen often stretched out the door to the hospital and around the corner even before our team arrived for the day.

CONTACT INFO

For more information: www.APromiseToPeru.com

https://www.facebook.com/APromiseToPeru

Our mission has been featured on Medscape:

http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/peru-medical-mission

Cataract surgery in tandem

With a split OR setup, our team was able to perform two cataract surgeries simultaneously.

Dedication to patient care

Dr. Joseph Ng, MD, a critical care intensivist who monitored patients before and after each case with ophthalmologist Dr. Michael Sable, MD, shown here with a patient getting ready for surgery.

Above: Stony Brook M4 Mari Yasunaga demonstrates dental hygiene for children in Sacred Valley regionBelow: RWJMS M2 Sanjay Jumani tackles patient education with students from Niños del Arco Iris.

PERSONAL MOTIVATION & GOALS• Interested in global health & travel• Background in Spanish language (>12

years) but no prior formal travel abroad experience

• Want to learn more about ophthalmology

• Wanted to get familiar with conducting history & physical exam in Spanish

• Eager to learn more about Quechuan culture