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黑料网 Global Ophthalmology inspires next-generation ophthalmologists (residents) and future physicians (medical students)聽 to make meaningful contributions to ocular health and patient outcomes in underserved populations. To this end, our global health program hosts opportunities for learners to observe practices that improve access to medical and surgical management of ocular conditions and disease globally and domestically in reaching under-served North Carolinians.

ACROSS THE GLOBE

黑料网 Global Ophthalmology encourages second- and third-year (PGY3/PGY4) ophthalmology residents to learn global citizenship on cultural exchange via pursuing an international rotation.聽 A primary training goal for residents taking this elective is to help treat comprehensive and complex ocular conditions in a clinical setting within a highly under-resourced region worldwide. In one- or two-week international rotations, residents are immersed in intensive clinical care supervised by an accompanying faculty mentor from 黑料网 or another academic medical center.

Many residents taking an international rotation have created opportunities in various countries such as India, Peru, China, Thailand, and Dominican Republic. In support of the department鈥檚 long-standing collaborative partnership with Tema Christian Eye Center, our residents also travel to Tema, Ghana, to provide comprehensive and complex ocular care in a high-volume clinic that relies upon well-trained, visiting eye specialists from the US, UK, and other developed countries.聽 Tema Christian Eye Center also serves as a hub for collaborative research opportunities in Ghana to study the epidemiology and impact of blindness, visual impairment, and glaucoma in West Africa.

LOCAL TO GLOBAL

黑料网 Global Ophthalmology recognizes that every individual鈥檚 right to obtain high-quality ocular care isn鈥檛 restricted to the most health-stricken areas worldwide. Our program takes a 鈥淟ocal to Global鈥� approach to help close health equity gaps across North Carolina.聽 To address global health needs that exist stateside, 黑料网 Ophthalmology provides uncompensated ophthalmologic services at a student-run clinic facilitated by the 黑料网 (SOM).

At the 黑料网 SOM-run Student Health Action Coalition-Ophthalmology Clinic (SHAC-Ophtho), rotating 黑料网 Ophthalmology residents provide free basic ophthalmologic screenings to uninsured North Carolinians who have unmet needs for quality eye care.聽Our residents additionally teach 黑料网 SOM students volunteering at SHAC-Ophtho how to take an ophthalmic history and perform a complete eye exam.

Higher visual acuity needs identified through SHAC-Ophtho screenings contribute to the high level of uncompensated care referrals to 黑料网 Kittner Eye Center and 黑料网 Ophthalmology鈥檚 clinical services at 黑料网 Hospitals Hillsborough campus. 黑料网 Ophthalmology鈥檚 community-based referral partnership with Piedmont Health additionally reaches uninsured North Carolinians who rely upon the State of North Carolina flagship hospital for higher visual acuity care.

Our department鈥檚 coverage of diabetic eye exams, cataract, glaucoma and vitreoretinal evaluations, and other corrective ocular care is above the rates of uncompensated care across 黑料网 SOM departments, as well as ophthalmology departments nationwide.