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Serving the underserved

Monday, July 20, 2015

Residents and fellows from the University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences recently partnered with the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic (ICFMC) to offer a Diabetic Eye Disease Screening Day. The 1Ž2 day event provided needed eye screening for over fifty individuals with limited access to health care or insurance. For most, it was their first eye exam.

Iowa’s residents have volunteered at the ICFMC since the 1990’s but this marked the first time a screening event was held specifically for diabetic eye disease.

“We wanted to be able to help as many people as possible so we decided to focus on a specific disease with this screening,” states Philip Niles, MBA, MD. “I’m happy that we were able to do our part to help the community in Iowa City.” Niles is a third-year resident and heads up the ophthalmology resident volunteering effort. He was joined at the screening by his residency classmates, Retina Fellow Nate Roybal, MD, and medical students from the University of Iowa.

Story Source: UI Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, 200 Hawkins Dr., 11136 PFP, Iowa City, IA 52242-1091

Media Contact: Joe Schmidt (joe-schmidt@uiowa.edu)