For more than half a century, the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has championed a powerful mission: improving vision and quality of life for people in our community and around the world. That commitment is evidenced through our extensive Global Ophthalmology curriculum. This formalized program includes hands‑on fieldwork in India and the Philippines.
One of the program’s cornerstone experiences is a two‑week clinical and surgical rotation at Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (SCEH) in Delhi, India. There, senior residents encounter conditions and surgical techniques rarely seen in the United States, and they have the chance to engage in community outreach and discussions about global health care issues and solutions.
In February 2026, senior residents Jackson Korger, MD, Rushi Mankad, MD, and Kevin Schneider, MD, along with Associate Professor and oculoplastics surgeon Suzanne van Landingham, MD, traveled to SCEH for this immersive rotation.
“This rotation has been incredibly valuable,” said Dr. Korger. “It has enabled me to redefine how I think about ophthalmic care—from the screening conducted in small villages to the surgery that happens at large tertiary centers. I am grateful to the SCEF team for their patience and mentorship. Gaining hands-on experience with procedures not typically seen in the United States has been an invaluable part of my journey.”
Dr. Schneider echoed this sentiment, noting that the experience provided him with new insights he plans to integrate into his own clinical practice. “It’s been an amazing two weeks,” Dr. Schneider said. “I’ve seen how this health care system impacts the whole Delhi area—and even the rural areas of northern India—doing tens of thousands of surgeries, at no or little cost to people who really need it.”
“Surgically, how they deliver their care is a little different than how we do it in the United States,” Dr. Schneider continued. “Small incision cataract survey is a common procedure here—something not performed as frequently in the United States. I’ve learned that it could be very beneficial for some of our patients with Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy and dense cataracts.”
Preparation for this work begins long before residents board a plane. Throughout training, ophthalmology residents engage in an integrated global ophthalmology curriculum supported by the Ophthalmology Residency Program, Global Ophthalmology Initiatives, and UW Health Graduate Medical Education. This includes self-guided assignments, structured didactics, and hands-on training and simulation designed to support both local and global fieldwork experiences. A cornerstone of this preparation is the Global Simulation Wet Lab course, now in its sixth year, which provides hands-on training in manual small incision cataract surgery. This experience equips residents with the technical foundation needed for rotations such as the one at SCEH.
Through this integrated approach, the department continues to shape future global leaders in sight-saving care — clinicians equipped not only with advanced surgical skills, but also with a deeper understanding of and commitment to the global ophthalmology landscape.
