WashU Medicine’s student-run mobile eye clinic joined community partners to offer free vision screenings at an event attended by more than 800 people
Volunteers from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences’ Free Eye Service participated in the Fifth Annual First Ladies of St. Louis Health Empowerment Event last Saturday, providing free vision screenings to community members. The event, held to promote women’s health and wellness, drew more than 800 attendees from across the region for a day of preventive care and education.
The Free Eye Service is a student-run mobile eye clinic dedicated to expanding access to quality eye care for underserved communities in St. Louis. Founded by medical students and with the support of faculty advisor Erin Sieck, MD, the clinic provides free vision screenings, eye exams, and referrals for additional care when needed..
Multiple ophthalmology volunteers represented the department, providing on-site screenings and sharing information about eye health and the importance of regular eye exams. Their participation reflects the department’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and improving access to vision care for underserved populations.
“The best part of volunteering was getting to interact with patients who may not have seen an eye doctor in a very long time (if ever). It was exciting to be part of an event bringing vision care to people in need right here in our community.” said Connor Alder, volunteer.
“t was amazing to see the community come together at the Greater Grace Church! At the eye screening station, we helped people learn more about their vision and encouraged them to get follow-up care when needed. It felt great to educate others about their eye health and to play even a small part in their care.
” added Sofia John, volunteer.
The event, hosted by the First Ladies of St. Louis, brings together healthcare organizations across the region to empower women and families through education, screenings, and local resource connections.
To learn more about the WashU Medicine Free Eye Service, click here.
About WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.