Mass Eye and Ear Faculty and Trainees Global Surgery Trip

In January, Suzanne Freitag, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, and Roberto Pineda, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, traveled to Mbarara, Uganda, for their 10th annual global surgery trip. Over the last decade, they have worked closely with the ophthalmology departments at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) Hospital and Ruharo Mission Hospital to care for patients in rural Uganda and train local ophthalmology faculty and residents. This year, they were accompanied by Dean Eliott, MD, the Stelios Evangelos Gragoudas Professor of Ophthalmology, Lisa Lin, MD, MBE, an ophthalmic plastic surgery fellow at Mass Eye and Ear, and Amee Azad, MD, a PGY-4 ophthalmology resident.

Dr. Pineda brought a record number of 12 corneas for transplantation; evaluated over 50 patients; and performed 16 surgeries, including 10 full-thickness corneal transplants, 2 partial-thickness corneal transplants, and 1 dermoid removal. Dr. Freitag and the oculoplastics team evaluated over 150 patients and performed over 50 surgeries, including orbitotomies/exenterations, lacrimal surgery, anophthalmic socket reconstructions, and eyelid surgeries. Dr. Eliott evaluated over 40 patients and performed several laser procedures. Building on two years of earlier work by Amy Yuan, MD, a former ophthalmology resident, Dr. Eliott and the MUST operating room staff were able to repair the vitrectomy machine and perform the first ever vitrectomy in rural Uganda. 

This global ophthalmology relationship continues to be a thriving educational exchange, both for the local ophthalmology residents and faculty who join in lectures, clinic, and the operating room, but also for the Harvard Ophthalmology and Mass Eye and Ear trainees who are exposed to a unique global surgery experience. The team would like to acknowledge and thank the many Mass Eye and Ear staff who contributed to the trip by procuring and sterilizing the donated equipment and supplies.