WilliamsMemo19

Williams Memo 19 Three Field Sites Medical interest: Cataract surgery Data Set: Himalayan Cataract Project, Fred Hollows Intraocular Laboratory Method: participant observation and interviews Contacts: I have contacted the Neil Simon Institute which works with primarily Nepali medical personnel with the purpose of sustainable development through the improvement of community health. Another loosely structured option includes the Passage Project International, a study abroad program primarily for undergraduate students interested in alternative and holistic medicines and therapy. Unstructured options include arranging interviews with patients and personnel at HCP and other eye clinics and the Fred Hollows lab individually. Comments: I also intend to apply for the Summer Nepali Program at Cornell University in order to prepare for future work at this site which I believe is especially 'rich'. Medical interest: Eye disease (cataract surgery, glaucoma medication and surgery, onchoceriasis vector and control) Data Set: unknown Method: participant observation and interviews Contacts: The United for Sight program has a rolling application for volunteering at sites in Ghana, Honduras and India. They have developed well structured programs for volunteers which provide access to food/lodging and in-country travel. They are used to undergraduate and graduate students performing research studies. Comments: I am interested in Bihar because I believe ( but am not sure) that one of the languages spoken in that region is Nepali, so this is the best 'backup' choice if I invest time and money in learning Nepali. Medical interest: congenital cataract in infants Data Set: Dr. David Yorston's group Method: participant observation and interviews Contacts: I have contacted David Yorston, M.D. who is a British ophthalmologist, and he has sent me papers to review to see if I am interested in his work on congenital cataract in infants in Kenya. Comments: I have not investigated the structural component of a trek to Kenya, e.g. food and lodging. Plus, I have not been able to find any funding applications (yet) for doing research in the continent of Africa. Medical interest: Eye disease (cataract surgery, glaucoma medication and surgery, onchoceriasis vector and control) Data Set: Crystal Eye Clinic (private clinic in Accra, Ghana) Method: participant observation and interviews Contacts: See contacts section for site choice 2 in India. Comments: I am interested in Ghana as a site because English is the official language, and I believe that a lot of the communications infrastructure is in English, making empirical work easier for me. I have not found funding applications for Ghana either.
 * Site choice 1: Kathmandu, Nepal (independent/unstructured)**
 * Site choice 2: Bihar (region), India** **(Unite for Sight program)**
 * Site choice 3: Kenya (independent/unstructured)**
 * Site choice** **4: Accra, Ghana (Unite for Sight program)**