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The Hill Top Lions Club teamed up with the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Foundation and UPMC, with the help of Congressman Doyle's Office (PA 14th) to bring free vision screenings to two Hill Top Community Health Fairs. On Friday May 6th at the Elder-Ado Senior Citizens Center and Sat May 7th at St John Vianney's "Spring into Health Fairs." |
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The mobile vision screening van arrived
early the morning of Friday May 6th, seen
here parked in front of the Elder-Ado
Senior Citizens Center in Carrick.
At the request of the Hill Top Lions, and
with the help of Congressman
Mike Doyle, it traveled all the way from
Capitol Hill for the two day screening
events. |
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The mission of the Lions, also a not-for-profit and non partisan civic and humanitarian organization, is to help those with blindness and low vision, and to help raise awareness about preventable blindness issues through their educational sight conservation and public outreach programs. Lions clubs are recognized world wide for their service to the blind and visually impaired, and for their volunteer work in the local communities where they serve. |
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Susan Graham, from Congressman Mike Doyle's Office, discusses pre-registration form with Lion Danny Price, Jr. The Hill Top Lions Club helped to co-host the vision screening - providing outreach, logistics and assistance with registration. The extremely valuable medical volunteer services were provided by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Dept. of Ophthalmology, led by Dr. Robert Noecker and Dr. Evan Waxman, with a top notch group of six doctors and five technicians for both days. |
These photos represent what can happen when good government, a conscientious civic group like the Lions, a wonderful foundation like the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Foundation and the medical community all team up in a cooperative fashion to help the community. The doctors were very busy both days, and there is no doubt that countless individuals were able to take advantage of these free screening opportunities.
Mrs Rose Marie Trauvetter, Coordinator of Programs at the Elder-Ado also did an outstanding job at the Elder-Ado, as did Debbie Koch, Health Fair Coordinator for St John Vianney.
In addition to the glaucoma vision screenings, the health fairs also included, free eye glasses adjustment, Eye to eye optical, diabetic testing, smoking cessasation, solutions for in home care by Comfort Keepers, UPMC hospitalization insurance programs, Western PA Humane Society, therapy dogs pet connection, blood pressure screening by Accute Rehabilitation, Working Hearts, The Medicine Shop and at St John Vianney in addition to the glaucoma van was Mercy's " Spirit of Health Van" offering free stroke screenings.
This was a real team effort by everyone. We thank the Glaucoma Foundation for their vital and important work, the UPMC medical team, the Hill Top Lions who came out and volunteered both days and our Congressman, Mike Doyle.
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Jessie Philips is the driver of this very special van. But
he's just not any driver . . . Jessie served in the Army for
23 years as a driver and served under 4 presidents at
the White House.
Rest assured, this van is in good hands! It's his baby
and he treats it with kid gloves!
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Hill Top Lions Julia Panos, Thomas Coppola, Wayne Fontana
and Nancy Gaughan help to register people and hand out fruit.
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Lunch break at the Elder-ado
front row: Mrs Rose Marie Trauvetter, Coordinator of Programs for Elder-ado, Sharmon Paschal Thornton, consultant to Glaucoma Foundation, Susan Graham from Congressman Doyles Office, Lion Kevin Gaughan Pres.
back row, Mr. Steve Hutter, Director of Elder-Ado Senior Center, State Rep and Hill Top Lion's member Harry Readshaw, Lion Thomas Coppola, Dr. John Abbott, board member of Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Foundation and Lion Joseph Setticase
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Sharmon Paschal Thornton, Consultant with the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation talks to seniors about the Foundation's work across the country. What a remarkable job she does!
The foundation is dedicated to supporting the activities of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus, a group of United States Congress members from both parties who are dedicated to helping all Americans fight the scourge of glaucoma and other eye diseases. The foundation provides diagnostic screening opportunities for high risk glaucoma population groups.
Screenings are performed in individual events in their home districts, at health fairs, forums, church gatherings, party get-togethers, even something as simple as a coffee and cake chat with senior citizens. Screenings will be conducted by eye care professionals and their trained staff who have indicated a willingness to support this important health care screening initiative.
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A message from Hill Top Lions President Kevin Gaughan.
The Lions clubs can help support this worthy cause by co-hosting events and volunteering their time and energy. The Lions can help with the logistics, refreshments, assistance with pre-registration, and public out-reach. This saves the doctors time which in turn means that the doctors can spend a little more time with the screening participants at the various screening stations. Any Lions club who is interested in bringing this screening event to their community should first check with your Congressman to see if the program is available in that district. As you can imagine, the Mobile Screening Van is in great demand and you should request it months in advance. Lions should also be conscientious with regard to peoples privacy and request a trained medical volunteer staff to be on hand.
As Lions, and in the spirit of sight conservation, we applaud the vital and important work being provided by the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation, and our Congressman Mike Doyle for making these eye screenings possible. Don't Go Untested!
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Lion Harry Readshaw, Lions District Gov James Brubaker,
Congressman Doyle and Lion Kevin Gaughan |
It is a policy of the Hill Top Lions Club to not show actual photos of people being screened for glaucoma as to protect the privacy of individuals.
Because we wanted people to understand how easy it is to be screened, we agreed to have Lion Kevin have his eyes screened inside the mobile screening unit.
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Screening for glaucoma doesn't hurt. The test are painless and leave no after effects.
In the top photo, Jackie Fisher of UPMC demonstrates how the non-invasive, state -of -the -art Frequency Doubling Technology ( FDT ) machine is used as a field diagnostic tool.
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Doctor Jake Waxman uses a special lens to take a closer look.
If the screening indicates any kind of problem, You should contact an eye care professional immediately.
This is Vital. The sooner you begin treatment, the better.
" Although the screenings are free, they are not meant to take the place of a comprehensive office eye examination done by a local eye care professional "
As Lions, we want to encourage all people to have their eye checked once a year.
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Without these guys, these vision screenings would not have been possible! Thanks to all the doctors and medical technicians.
Saturday St John Vianney, Health Fair
left to right: Lion Thomas Coppola, Sharmon Paschal Thornton, Jackie Fisher UPMC, Dr. Mike Vittone, Professor Evan Waxman, Lion Kevin Gaughan, Dr. Brandon Lee, and Mary Ellen Sipe.
Also the Doctors who volunteered on Friday but not pictured were Dr. Mina Pantcheva, Dr.Chuck Kim, Dr. Jenny Yu and Dr.Leah Reznick
A very special thanks to ALL the extremely valuable volunteer professional services provided by The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Dept of Ophthalmology Team, led by Dr. Robert Noecker and Dr. Evan Waxman.
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Susan Graham helped Rose Marie Trautvetter and Lions
Tommy and Kevin set up the day before the screening event at Elder-ado Senior Citizens Center.
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