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NASSAU UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER’S EYE CENTER AWARDED $20,000 GRANT BY FRIENDS OF CONGRESSIONAL GLAUCOMA CAUCUS, FOR SCREENINGS AND EQUIPMENT TO BE USED DURING SCREENING OF GLAUCOMA, THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE BLINDNESS IN THE UNITED STATES

October 24, 2008

Contact:  Shelley Lotenberg
(516) 572-6055
shelley@numc.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NASSAU UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER’S EYE CENTER AWARDED $20,000 GRANT BY FRIENDS OF CONGRESSIONAL GLAUCOMA CAUCUS, FOR SCREENINGS AND EQUIPMENT TO BE USED DURING SCREENING OF GLAUCOMA, THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE BLINDNESS IN THE UNITED STATES

GRANT RECOGNIZES EXCELLENT MEDICAL CARE PROVIDED IN NUMC’S EYE CENTER

FREE GLAUCOMA SCREENING PROVIDED BY NUMC ON NOVEMBER 22 FROM 10:30 UNTIL 3PM AT ST. BRIGID SCHOOL IN WESTBURY

East Meadow, NY….Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the Nassau Health Care Corporation announced that the Eye Center at Nassau University Medical Center has been awarded a grant of $20,000 under the Student Sight Savers Program by the non-profit Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus for use in the screening of glaucoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness in the United States.  The grant was obtained from the Department of Human Services and administered by the Center for Disease Control.

“With the award of this grant, Nassau University Medical Center joins with an elite group of medical schools and hospitals across the country. The grant will help to provide free glaucoma screenings to residents of Nassau County and the surrounding area.  Glaucoma screening is recommended by medical experts, because since glaucoma usually has no symptoms, routine eye exams are important in the early detection and treatment of glaucoma, the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness,” stated Mr. Gianelli.

The Student Sight Savers Program is particularly successful because it simultaneously accomplishes two critical objectives.  First, it utilizes the enthusiasm and energy of medical students to help conduct hundreds of glaucoma screenings.  Second, it exposes these future physicians to the science of ophthalmology at a critical time in which many of them are just starting to think about their eventual specialties.  NUMC ophthalmology residents will also participate in the program, under the direction of Dr. Marcelle Morcos, chair of the department of opthalmology.  “I am extremely pleased that we have been awarded this grant” says Dr. Morcos, “it will not only help the people of our community, but also serves as recognition for the excellent medical care we provide at NUMC everyday.”               
“I am delighted to be able to assist NUMC’s Eye Center staff with our $20,000 grant for screenings to prevent glaucoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness in the US and look forward to partnering with NUMC to create a great program for the residents of Nassau County,” said Martha Cahill, VP and General Manager, Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation.
 Nassau University Medical Center will offer free glaucoma screenings on Saturday, November 22, from 10:30 AM until 3PM at St. Brigid School, Maple Avenue, Westbury.  Appointments are not necessary for the free glaucoma screening being provided by NUMC at St. Brigid.  To make an appointment to the Eye Center at NUMC, please call 516-572-6646.