In the last month of the year, we want to share exciting news about our children’s vision project in Nicaragua, President Ciszek shares his last message of the year, we profile our new four Board members, remember a remarkable volunteer, and share some interesting resources. On behalf of VOSH/International, we would like to wish you a very peaceful and joyous end of the year.

At our recent Annual Meeting, VOSH/International welcomed four new talented members to our Board. This is the first time that our Board includes international members. We look forward to working with them. Welcome Beatriz, Neelam, Jairo and Tareq.

B.Optm Beatriz Gomez Serna coordinates the optometry program at the Universidad Autónoma de la Laguna (UAL) in Mexico and is the faculty adviser of the SVOSH chapter there. Beatriz represents the schools of optometry on the Board of the Mexican Association of Schools, Faculties, Colleges, and Councils of Optometry (AMFECCO), a member of the education committee of the Latin American Association of Optometry and Optics (ALDOO), and of our Latin American Advisory Committee. This year, she was recognized as one of the most influential women by Vision Monday.

Dr. Neelam Patadia is an assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Loyola University Medical Center. Her residency focused on ocular disease and low vision. She also spends time working at the Hines Veterans Affairs Hospital. 

She is very passionate about providing high-quality comprehensive eye care. Dr. Patadia is the chair of the VOSH/International Ambassadors’ Committee and the Secretary to the Board of Directors. Dr. Patadia was one of our first Ambassadors to Vietnam in 2019.

Dr. Jairo Antonio Mercado, is a lecturer in the optometry program at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN) at Managua, and the faculty adviser of the SVOSH chapter at UNAN. He coordinates the VOSH/International collaborative project on children’s vision and learning. Dr. Mercado is a member of the VOSH/International Latin American Advisory Committee. He was an International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) Eye Health Hero in 2020.

Dr. Tareq Nabhan is a full-time faculty member of the school of optometry at the University of Missouri- St Louis where he is active in the research and development of telehealth solutions. Dr. Nabhan has participated in more than 20 international humanitarian clinics and is the faculty adviser of SVOSH at UMSL. He is a member of the advisory panels of OneSight Essilor Luxottica Foundation and Restoring Vision.