Aye Chihuahua!
The clinic to the state of Chihuahua was unique in the fact that it was a collaboration between LIS (Lions in Sight), CEREDIL (Center for recycling and distribution of lenses, in Mexico), members of the Texas Lions Eyeglass Center (TLEC) and instructors and students from Marshall B. Ketchum University Optometry and Pharmacy Schools.
Dr. Corina van de Pol led a team of 3 optometrists, including Dr. John Demshar and Dr. Tania Mantua to the cities of Creel and Guachochi, Chihuahua, Mexico. Creel and Guachochi are high in the Sierra Madre mountains and are near Copper Canyon.
The land is the home of the Tarahumara Native Mexican tribe, who were made famous by the book, “Born To Run,” and the subsequent movie.
The Tarahumara are celebrated long distance runners and as a people have been able to maintain their culture and language. PDG Carolyn Keskitalo, the CEO of TLEC and her son, Darryl Jones worked doing SPOT autorefractions and in dispensing.
The glasses were provided by CEREDIL which receives recycled glasses from TLEC.
Sonia Razo was the lead optician and was supported by Maricela Robles and John Rohan.
There was a team of opticians and support people from CEREDIL that was led by Hector Coy Gonzalez.
This team included: Abril Armendariz, Abril Gonzalez, Beatriz Ramirez, Raul Ramirez, Enrique Nuñez, Elsita Nuñez, Javier Pizarro, Aranza Malagon, Jesus Diaz, Liliana Vargas, Maria Elena Guijarro, Socorrito, Luis Raul Ayala, Angeles Ayala and Miguel “Andretti” Cazares was one of our drivers.
The first year students from Marshall B. Ketchum School of Optometry were: Young Min Chung, Jivan Hovespyan, Purvi Patel, Jenny Thai, Alicia Zhang and Sandy Hanna.
The team saw 710 patients in Creel in 2 days and 1180 in Guachochi in 2 days.
This mission included a Health Team led by Dr. Genene Salman, a pharmacist, that did blood pressure testing, blood glucouse and blood oxygen level testing.
She was supported by pharmacy students: Gerges Marcos and Karen Ping.
If a patient had any tests that were out of the normal range they were informed that they needed to follow up with a medical doctor.
Thousands of glasses were given out and several unique eye conditions were identified including Marfan's syndrome, keratoconous and iris colomboma.
The team was large but everyone worked together well and even had time to see a bit of Copper Canyon and make new friends.
 100 year old patient is examined by Dr. Corina van de Pol |
Group shot in front of mobile clinic in Creel Mexico. |
leukemia patient getting prescription sunglasses |
blood glucose and cholesterol station |