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Student ophthalmology team wins Volk award
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Pictured: Janani Prasad, Alexander Himstead, and Sean Melucci.
The second Volk Visionary winner has been awarded to the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Ophthalmology Medical Student Research Team. Led by Dr. Andrew Browne PhD, this team came together as part of the UCI Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) Medical Student Research Program (MSRP), where first-year medical students are paired with a faculty mentor to do a research project throughout their four years at UCI Medical School.
"The students who travel every year on mission trips are this story’s protagonists," said Dr. Andrew Browne, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Ophthalmology in the UCI School of Medicine. "Our most recent groups are exploring creative ways to bring specialty care, like ophthalmology, to some of the most remote parts of the world. The plan their clinical operation before their trips, and troubleshoot practical solutions when on the ground."
Volk’s 20/20 Visionary campaign is excited to continually honor those who mobilize their mission of “eradicating preventable blindness.
Last year, three medical students, Alexander Himstead, Sean Melucci, and Janani Prasad, chose to conduct ophthalmologic research with Dr. Browne while partnering with the Floating Doctor’s Mobile Clinic “to provide the only reliable source of medical care to the indigenous populations living on remote islands in the province of Bocas del Toro, Panama.” | Pictured: Alex Himstead, Sean Melucci and Janani Prasad in Panama. |
There is no reliable source of ophthalmic care in Bocas del Toro where many people in the region suffer from poor vision and blindness. Floating Doctors’ small team of trained volunteer ophthalmologists provide on-site medical care and vision testing in remote locations with limited resources, nevertheless resulting in sight saving interventions.
The team of medical students used handheld imaging devices including the Volk Pictor Plus to capture diagnostic retinal images of patients with eye complaints or diabetes on site in Bocas del Toro that otherwise would not be imaged. After imaging was completed, the images were sent to Dr. Browne and his team of ophthalmologists at UCI for remote diagnosis. Once the images were reviewed, the results were returned to Floating Doctors so they could make any necessary interventions or referrals to improve patients’ ocular health and develop treatment plans as needed.
The team also is developing research questions about how to best use tele-ophthalmology in the diagnosis and treatment of ocular diseases using handheld imaging devices.
The benefits of the Ophthalmology Medical Student Research Team’s partnership with Floating Doctors will continue to substantially improve ocular health among the residents of Bocas del Toro, and possibly other future global sites with limited access to ocular care. By providing diagnostic retinal imaging to communities who otherwise would not have access to this technology, hundreds of residents receive diagnoses and treatment to slow vision deterioration and even prevent blindness.
The Ophthalmology Medical Student Research Team’s work and dedication to providing access to vision care is an inspiration to the community here at UCI and to future medical students and ophthalmologists in training.
Volk is supporting ICTS MSRP’s student led impact by providing their team with a lens of their choice. There will be a total of 20 winners throughout the year 2020.
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