One of the biggest problems in eye health is the lack of an adequately trained workforce. Our global network of volunteer medical professionals give up their free time each year to share their amazing skills with with eye teams around the world.
Volunteer Faculty
Our world-renowned Volunteer Faculty are the heartbeat of our training programs, both on the Flying Eye Hospital and in partner hospitals around the world. For more than 40 years the keystone of our work has been to teach and train local eye teams to provide quality eye care—we couldn't do it without their hard work and dedication.
In 2023, 151 Volunteer Faculty gave up their free time and energy to give in-person training in local hospitals or on board the Flying Eye Hospital, virtual training courses, online lectures, or Cybersight consultations on complex patient cases.
This is the very reason Orbis was formed—to provide ongoing training and support. Comprised of world leading experts in eye health, our global force of 400 volunteer ophthalmologists, nurses, anesthesiologists and biomedical engineers from over 30 countries, share their skills with local teams to help improve the level of eye care for generations to come.
By talking to our partner hospitals and their staff, we create teaching programs tailored specifically for their needs. Our volunteers conduct this training and pass on the tools to undertake more complicated procedures, improve surgical outcomes and most importantly of all, restore sight to those in need of assistance.
2023 Impact
Our Volunteer Faculty also mentor people from around the world through our telemedicine platform, Cybersight. With 89% of the globe’s blind population living in low income settings, this training is making eye care more accessible where it’s needed most.
The work of our Volunteer Faculty has had a lasting impact on global eye care. In 2023 alone:
Meet Some of Our Volunteer Faculty
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. James Lehmann
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Hee Joon Kim
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Mary O'Hara M.D.
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Doreen Frimpong, Pediatric Ophthalmologist
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Andrea Molinari M.D.
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Balamurali Ambati, M.D., PH.D., M.B.A.
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Andrew Choyce
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Donny Suh
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Douglas Fredrick M.D.
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Laura Wayman M.D.
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Roberto Pineda
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Rosalind Stevens M.D. MPH
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Rudolph (Rudy) Wagner M.D.
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Tom Johnson M.D.
Heroes of Orbis: Dr. Wallace L.M Alward M.D.
Looking to join our Volunteer Faculty? Find out more here.
Find out moreThanks to your support and the help of our Volunteer Faculty, children can see their parents for the first time; an elderly man regains his vision meaning their grandchild can go to school and no longer needs to be a carer; or a mother can receive surgery and return to work to support her family.
Donate today
Help our Volunteer Faculty share their world-leading skills with teams around the world