IU Pediatric Ophthalmologist Receives National Humanitarian Award
INDIANAPOLIS - Eugene M. Helveston, M.D., founding director of the pediatric ophthalmology program at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, will be presented with an Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology at its annual meeting Nov. 15-18.
Dr. Helveston, professor emeritus of ophthalmology, is recognized for his many contributions to ophthalmology, and especially his dedication to pediatric eye care in medically underdeveloped countries. Since he retired from regular clinical duties at IU in 1998, he has devoted much of his time to humanitarian work. Dr. Helveston joined the medical school faculty in 1967.
For more than 20 years, Dr. Helveston has volunteered for ORBIS International, participating in more than 20 overseas missions. He has lectured in more than 50 countries and served as a visiting surgeon in 16 nations.
His commitment to transferring skills and knowledge to help patients around the world led to the development of Cyber-Sight in 1999. Using the technology of the Internet and digital photography, he provides a continuing consultation program to underdeveloped parts of the world. The online link is available to physicians, and with digital cameras, overseas physicians can send, via e-mail, pictures of their patients’ clinical problems for consultation.
Dr. Helveston started programs in Cuba, Romania, India, Albania and the Dominican Republic. To date, more than 800 consults have been completed. In 2002, Dr. Helveston integrated Cyber-Sight with ORBIS to allow further expansion. The goal is to have a Web site in the next three years called “Ophthalmology 101,” which will have a comprehensive array of featured cases and fully functioning telemedicine consultation in all subspecialties.
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Media Contact: Mary Hardin
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