Addressing the Social Determinants of Vision Health
The Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is striving to increase access to ophthalmic care in Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities.
To improve access, we need to assess barriers to care, which are closely tied to social health determinants. - Andrew Williams, MD
Our Team
José-Alain Sahel, MD
Distinguished Professor & Chairman,
Department of Ophthalmology
Eye & Ear Foundation Endowed Chair
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Evan “Jake” Waxman, MD, PhD
Vice Chair, Medical and Resident Education
Professor, Department of Ophthalmology
Director, Ophthalmology Residency Training Program
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Zeila Hobson
Clinical Research Project Manager
Community Outreach & Remote Access Program Manager
Brenda Kirk, COA
Community Outreach & Remote Access Ophthalmic Technician
Valeria Villabona-Martinez, MD
Clinical Research Fellow, Department of Ophthalmology
Community Outreach & Remote Access Program Coordinator
Paula Sepulveda-Beltran, MD
Clinical Research Fellow, Department of Ophthalmology
Community Outreach & Remote Access Program Coordinator
To contact and schedule an appointment, call 412-642-5415 or email our team at csremoteaccess@upmc.edu
Evan Waxman, MD, PhD, Andrew Williams, MD, Sabrina Mukhtar, MD, and Dana McGinnis-Thomas, MHA discussed their efforts in the Eye & Ear Foundation’s November 29, 2022, webinar entitled, “Taking the First Step: Improving Access to Care in Ophthalmology.”
Led by Andrew Williams, MD, the Healthy Vision Lab is an interdisciplinary research group that seeks to improve vision health by understanding and addressing barriers to care. The Healthy Vision Lab brings together epidemiology, big data analysis, and health services research to address important public health issues in ophthalmology, such as follow-up for chronic eye disease and social determinants of vision health.
Team members:
Postdoctoral associate: Lauren Wasser, MD
Research assistant: Julie Cassidy, BS
The Guerrilla Eye Service, or GES, is a student-run free, mobile health clinic dedicated to eliminating barriers to eye care for patients in the Western Pennsylvania area. GES was established in 2005 by Evan “Jake” Waxman, MD, PhD and medical students at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School.
Mission of Mercy
The Mission of Mercy (MOM) is an annual two-day event providing dental, vision, and hearing services.
Brother’s Brother Foundation
This organization helps bridge the gap between aid and sustainability by supporting localized programs and providing essential resources in the areas of healthcare, infrastructure, disaster response, and education.
Vision to Learn
This nonprofit utilizes mobile clinics to bring eye exams and glasses free of charge to children who otherwise might not receive vision care.