Our History

OUR HISTORY

GLOBAL EYE MISSION

OUR HISTORY

In 2008, after serving for many years on short-term eye mission projects around the world, Dr. Steve Anderson accepted an invitation from Bethesda Hospital on the island of Borneo (Indonesia) to help establish a long-term eye program to serve the poor of the region. The great need for the development of a clinical and surgical eye unit in this region and his personal faith laid the foundation for his move to Borneo with his family.  In addition to the need in Borneo, the need for similar long-term eye programs to provide care in other under-served regions around the world, laid the foundation for the creation of Global Eye Mission (GEM).  From 2008-2013, Dr. Anderson and his family served in Indonesia and Kenya.  During this time, and in the years following, GEM has continued grow in its partnerships with other eye programs around the world to facilitate the development of long-term clinical and surgical eye services in under-served regions.

GLOBAL EYE MISSION

OUR FOUNDER

The founder of GEM, Steven Anderson, M.D., has been involved in short- and long-term international eye projects for over 20 years.  Having served in many developing countries, he has seen the great need for eye care in many underserved regions.  As an eye surgeon, Dr. Anderson has pursued interests in ophthalmology practice in the United States and in international eye care in various parts of the world, including Africa, Asia and South and Central America.


He is recognized for his experience in international eye care and has been involved with teaching in the US and abroad about international ophthalmology and high-quality surgical techniques utilized in less developed regions of the world.


In recognition of his many years of commitment to eye care in under-served regions of the world, Dr. Anderson was recognized by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) as the recipient of the 2011 AAO Outstanding Humanitarian Award and by the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology as the recipient of the 2014 George T. Tani, M.D. Humanitarian Award.

COMMITMENT TO EYE CARE

OUR FUTURE

Global Eye Mission has ongoing involvement with the support of a variety of international eye mission projects and continues to expand its partnerships as opportunities for program development emerge. 

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