The first Annual Foreign Ophthalmology Mission day was held on May 12, 2004. At that time, James E. McDonald, MD, and Richard Gieser, MD, were honored as recipients of the Outstanding Humanitarian Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

In 2008 the Foreign Ophthalmology Missions Day conference was combined with the Loyola Ophthalmology Resident Alumni Day and inaugurated the Richard G. Gieser, MD World Service Lecture.

Beginning in 2015 the conference has been hosted independently as the Annual Loyola World Mission Symposium.

First Annual Foreign Ophthalmology Mission Day

Keynote Speakers:

February 15, 2023	Hunter Cherwek, MD Vice President, Clinical Services, Orbis International
November 12, 2021	John H. Kempen, MD, MPH, PhD, MHS Director of Epidemiology for Ophthalmology Massachusetts Eye and Ear Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
November 20, 2020	David F. Chang, MD American Academy of Ophthalmology 2019 Humanitarian of the Year    Jorge P. Parada, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA Infectious Disease Professor, Medical Director/Committee Chair, Infection Control
November 1, 2019 Loyola Ophthalmology's Global Health Symposium	Stephen Beaty, MD West Georgia Eye Care Columbus, GA   Jorge P. Parada, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA Loyola Medical Center Division of Infectious Diseases   Kregg Hood, PhD Convoy of Hope Springfield, MO
August 10, 2018	Stephen T. Petty, MD Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center   Brent Hayek, MD Emory Medical CEnter Loyola Alumnus
August 12, 2017	Paul S. Bernstein, MD, PhD John A. Moran Eye Center Salt Lake City, UT   Graham Woodward, MD Healing Hands Medical Mission St. Charles, IL   Jorge P. Parada, MD, MPH Loyola Medical Center Division of Infectious Diseases Maywood, IL
August 21, 2016  Loyola Ophthalmology's Global Health Symposium	Jeffrey Rutgard, MD, MS iSight Missions San Diego, CA   John Clements, MD Oregon Health & Science Univ., Portland, OR Loyola Alumnus

For more information on this year's event please contact Constance Banks.

Richard G. Gieser, MD, World Service Lecture

Dr. Gieser received his medical degree from Baylor University in Houston, Texas. He completed his residency at the Illinois University Eye and Ear Infirmary and a fellowship in retinal and vitreous surgery at Cornell- New York Hospital.

Dr. Gieser was born in China where his father was a missionary doctor. Following his father’s example, Dr Gieser has made annual trips to underserved communities around the world to help those with visual loss. Moreover he has volunteered over many years as a “missionary teacher” in numerous medical schools abroad. He has brought his expertise as a retina physician and his Christian spiritual message to medical schools in China, India, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Romania, Nigeria, Uganda, Siberia, and Afghanistan.

As a member of the Department of Ophthalmology for 30 years (1978-2008) Richard Gieser, MD, provided significant leadership and support for the department’s tradition for active engagement in ophthalmic care to the world community.

(Pictured:May Khadem, MD, Richard Gieser, MD, Eileen Gable, OD and David Yoo, MD)

Dr Gieser’s commitment, enthusiasm, and dedication for world service serve as an example to all physicians and non-physicians alike. His energy and passion for lifelong learning have served to inspire faculty and residents.

The Richard Gieser World Service Lecture will serve as a tribute to his dedication to those in need of eye care and throughout the world as well as to his commitment to resident education in the Department of Ophthalmology.

Date	Name, Title & Affiliation	Presentation(s)
6/13/14	Timothy J. Kietzman, MD Neuro-Ophthalmology Wheaton Eye Clinic Wheaton, IL	“Gilgit Eye Hospital: Bringing Honor to Shamed“
6/14/13	Steven O. Anderson, MD Clinical Instructor, Department of Ophthalmology University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN	“… The World’s Eye Care …“
6/15/12	Robert Alan Rice, MD, FACS Medical Director San Antonio, TX [ PHOTOS ]	“Life Journeys, My Evolving Mission Experience”
6/17/11	Linda Lawrence, MD Private Practice Salina, KS	“The Changing Pattern of Childhood Blindness at Home and Abroad.”
6/18/2010	Geoffrey Tabin, MD Director of the International Ophthalmology Division Moran Eye Center The University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT [ PHOTOS ]	"Impossible Dreams: Eradicating World Blindness"
6/19/2009	Devin Harrison, MD “2008 American Academy of Ophthalmology Outstanding Humanitarian Award Recipient” Ophthalmology Columbia River Eye Center Richland, WA [ PHOTOS ]	“Medical Missions in Nigeria and Small Incision Cataract Surgery”
6/13/2008	May Khadem, MD Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University [ PHOTOS ]	“The Global Challenge of Blindness”