VOSH/International

VOSH/International, in collaboration with the Brien Holden Foundation seeks North American trained ODs to serve in emerging optometric institutions as faculty and program development assistants. This is a fantastic opportunity for those just entering the profession; those who are transitioning to retirement; or those looking for a new teaching adventure.

We regularly seek optometrists with an interest in the academia. They will help fulfil human resources needs of recently established optometry programs of young schools of optometry in specific low and middle income countries. Successful candidates are expected to commit for a minimum of one year (reviewable) and relocate within a reasonable time once a position becomes available. VOSH/International pre-screens candidates with final selection and placement made by the Brien Holden Foundation.

TTP collects, repairs and refurbishes donated ophthalmic instruments and equipment, and then sends these to emerging schools so students can be properly trained, and public clinics can properly examine and care for patients. We sent equipment to the schools of optometry in Haiti, Nicaragua, Ghana and recently Dominican Republic.

These programs promote greater interaction between VOSH national and international chapters. The Ambassadors’ Program supports sharing expertise for short periods of time with international chapters by sending experienced optometrists to lecture and share clinical skills in emerging schools of optometry in low and middle income countries. The Mentorship Program focuses on sharing of experiences between our US and international student chapters using the humanitarian clinics as platforms of learning with the support of experienced optometrists.

Our midyear and annual meetings are key platforms for learning and networking for our chapters and partners. Since 2019 the meetings offer US COPE accredited education bringing the expertise of VOSH members to support high quality continuing education and knowledge exchange for optometrists worldwide as they are offered as hybrid events . They take place in June and in the fall.

We fundraise with and support specific projects of our SVOSH and VOSH chapters to enable them to increase their impact. With our SVOSH chapters we are implementing a Contact Lens project in Ghana at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, a children’s vision project with the Universidad Autonoma de Sinaloa, Mexico and with the Universidad Autonoma de Nicaragua, support to the school of optometry in Haiti with clinical skills, knowledge and networking. We offer small grants to support clinics in the US and abroad organised by our chapters.