Margate ophthalmologist Randy Burks, M.D., participated in a medical relief expedition in Jamaica. In the islands small fishing village of Port Antonio, Jamaica, Dr. Burks led a volunteer expedition to restore the sight of individuals suffering from blindness due to cataracts. Over the course of five days, the medical team saw a total of 100 patients, performing sight restoring eye surgery on 65 of these patients. Other members of the team included Dr. Mark Pophal of Ohio and Dr. David Medford of New Jersey.
Dr. Randy Burks examines a patient
The expedition to Jamaica was a joint effort between the local Rotary Club of Port Antonio and Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International, a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides free medical, surgical and educational services by volunteer ophthalmic surgeons with the primary objective of restoring sight to disadvantaged blind individuals worldwide. Dr. Burks and his team were invited by Dr. Satya N. Parvataneni, a local physician and Rotary member of Port Antonio, involved with the Rotary Clubs Avoidable Blindness Initiative. Patients came from Port Antonio and the surrounding areas in hopes of being able to see once again.
Dr. Burks performs surgery
In contrast to its image of an island resort, many of Jamaicas inhabitants live in abject poverty with little or no access to specialty medical services like eye care. Dr. Parvataneni screened individuals who could benefit from SEE Internationals eye care services. He also reached out to state-run institutions for the sick and elderly as well. Despite conditions that had left them blind, for many patients it was the first time ever being seen by an eye doctor. Following modern cataract surgery, the lives of these needy Jamaicans were transformed dramatically; their sight as well as their independence restored.
As an affiliate member of the organization, Dr. Burks is part of an international network of 900 ophthalmologists in 99 countries that seek to make a difference with curable blindness in underserved populations of the world. He has led expeditions with SEE International to locations in Mexico, Peru, El Salvador and Ecuador. Dr. Burks has also been on staff at Northwest Medical Center for almost 17 years, serves as Vice Chief of Surgery on Northwest Medical Centers Medical Executive Committee and is past Chairman of the Board.
