Left: Ophthalmology residents at St. Paul's. Right: Dane H. Slentz, M.D., oculoplastics fellow at Kellogg, examines a patient's neuroimaging during his trip to Ethiopia in February.
Saving Children’s Sight in Ethiopia Retinoblastoma, a rare but devastating childhood cancer of the
eye photos to detect ocular cancer and other eye diseases, such
eye, is treatable with timely diagnosis and care. The condition
as cataracts. The goal is to get this tool, first introduced to
most often impacts those under 5 years of age. Worldwide, it
nearly 20 Ethiopian ophthalmologists during the February visit,
is estimated that thousands of children develop retinoblastoma
into the hands of primary care physicians as well as providers
each year.
who give immunizations to infants. Twelve hundred patients
have already been screened. In addition to the screening
In the United States, retinoblastoma is typically caught
during routine exams, enabling ophthalmologists By contrast, in Ethiopia, by the time many children see an ophthalmologist, the cancer is so far along that they have an abnormal protrusion or displacement of the eye. At this point, it is often too late to save their vision and sometimes their lives.
In an effort to intervene and
help halt the devastating effects of Retinoblastoma, the W.K. Kellogg
“
and families about the early symptoms of retinoblastoma. “We are proud to be working with ophthalmologists in Ethiopia who are dedicated to making a
WE ARE PROUD TO BE
WORKING WITH OPHTHALMOLOGISTS IN ETHIOPIA WHO ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR
Eye Center is partnering with five academic medical centers in Ethiopia
THESE CHILDREN. — Christine C. Nelson, M.D.
to create a national focus on identifying and treating retinoblastoma. In support of the partnership, “We were fortunate to spend two weeks in Ethiopia in February, before the coronavirus pandemic hit, to launch our pilot project for
difference for these children,” says Dr. Nelson. The effort is funded by an anonymous gift from a foundation that supports global health programs. “None of this would be possible without philanthropic support,” Dr. Nelson says. In an additional effort to improve ophthalmic screening and care for retinoblastoma in Ethiopia, Dr. Nelson is leading the coordination
of fellowship training for Ethiopian ophthalmologists in eye plastics and orbital surgery. This
screening for retinoblastoma,” says Christine C. Nelson, M.D.,
advanced training is a natural complement to Kellogg's exist-
the Bartley R. Frueh, M.D. and Frueh Family Collegiate Profes-
ing collaboration with the ophthalmology residency training
sor in Eye Plastics and Orbital Surgery as well as a co-director
program at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College
of Kellogg’s Center for International Ophthalmology.
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The additional training adds to our
joint development of current and future fellowship training in
The pilot screening program uses a cell phone app jointly
developed by faculty and trainees at Kellogg and the U-M College of Engineering. The app uses artificial intelligence and
30
“
to intervene early and prevent blindness.
program, the partnership is teaching pediatricians
glaucoma, retina and pediatrics at St. Paul’s.
