Joe Frank Garner III, M.D. Endowment funds ophthalmology trip to Jeremie, Haiti
Coastal Community Foundation is focused in the Lowcountry, but our reach extends worldwide. Led by Dr. John Boatwright, Carolina Eyecare doctors created the Joe Frank Garner III, M.D. Endowment Fund in 2006 in honor of local Dr. Joe Frank Garner, III and his years of mission work. This fund provides annual support for medical mission work in the field of ophthalmology.
Support includes but is not limited to the underwriting of travel expenses and supplies needed by young physicians, medical students, nurses and technicians traveling to a third world country to perform medical mission work in the field. In the past, Saint Andrews Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant has been a recipient of this funding. This past January, United Methodist Volunteers in Mission – South Carolina (UMVIS-SC) completed their fourth medical mission trip to the Gebeau Ophthalmology Clinic in Jeremie, Haiti.
In seven days, assistance from local doctors and nurses at the Gebeau Ophthalmology Clinic & supplies purchased and shipped with grant funding allowed for –
505 consultations
39 laser surgeries
18 cataract surgeries
2 inpatient surgeries – operating to address Pterygia & Chalazion
2 minor outpatient surgeries
Numerous Post-op appointments with treated patients
According to fund co-founder – Dr. John Boatwright, “the Joe Frank Garner, III, M.D. Endowment for Medical Mission work has provided nurses and medical students the opportunity to accompany ophthalmologists to the most rural and desperately needy parts of Haiti where people have no access to eye care of any kind. It is literally helping restore sight to the blind. And for that we are grateful.”
Thank you to the five Lowcountry Doctors from United Methodist Volunteers in Mission – South Carolina who volunteered their time and expertise to those in need in Jeremie, Haiti.
Kathryn D. Crosswell, R.N.
Mina C. Wilkinson, R.N.
Sheryl A. Burgess, Optician
Charles D. Finley, M.D. – Ophthalmologist
Hal H. Crosswell, Jr., M.D. – Ophthalmologist
Coastal Community Foundation empowers individuals, families and organizations to make a lasting impact through permanent, endowed funds for charitable giving. Although most of our giving is deeply rooted in the Lowcountry, The Joe Frank Garner, III, M.D. Endowment reminds us that the possibilities of our impact lie in the mind of the donor. Please contact Sydney Meeks Fowler at Sydney@coastalcommunityfoundation.org for more information on this endowment and/or starting a fund like this one at Coastal Community Foundation.
