What Global Impact Fellows Say

Videos and Films Produced By Global Impact Fellows

• Produced by Global Impact Fellow Rob Cleaton: Unite For Sight in Accra Region, Ghana
• Produced by Global Impact Fellow Eric Einstein: Unite For Sight in Accra, Ghana, Unite For Sight in Patna, Bihar, and Unite For Sight in Chennai, India
• Produced by Global Impact Fellow Dr. Doug Phillips and his son: Unite For Sight in Tamale, Ghana
• Produced by Global Impact Fellow Matthew Solmon: Unite For Sight in Ghana
• Produced by Global Impact Fellow Joseph Zalan: Volunteer Experience Unite For Sight - Ghana.
• Produced by Global Impact Fellows Tony Su and Bing Qing Wang: Documentary of Unite For Sight in India
• Produced by Global Impact Fellow Amy Wee and Global Health Leadership Interns Catherine Thomas and Wesley Butt: Kalinga Eye Hospital in Orissa
• Produced by Global Impact Fellow Larry Cai: Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellows in Orissa
• Produced by Global Impact Fellow Bill Ensor: Unite For Sight in Ghana Slideshow

Sueyan Yuen, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"Unite For Sight’s international voluntary program is one that allows passionate young adults to see the reality of international development, and to open their minds to the possibility of serving the underprivileged while providing them the opportunity to support quality eye care in areas that need their contributions." Read Sueyan's complete narrative at "Volunteering in Ghana: Hands-On Realities to International Development"

Erik Auker, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"It was a regular day during a semester filled with biochemistry and other assorted sciences when I sat down at my computer to check my email. My flooded inbox contained many items that I expected to find from professors and friends of mine. There was one message, however, that really grabbed my attention. The Schreyer Honors College was informing their students of an organization called Unite For Sight that battles blindness around the world by partnering with local eye clinics to provide socially responsible global health to some of the world’s poorest countries. At the time, I had no idea that this simple email would change my plans for the summer and, ultimately, the way I view medicine...If you’re planning on working with Unite For Sight, be ready for a little bit of magic to happen. An open mind, some hard work, and the ability to be flexible really can enable you to help make a difference in the world, one set of eyes at a time." Read Erik's complete narrative at "My Experiences as a Global Impact Fellow in Tamale, Ghana"

Taygan Yilmaz, MPH, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"The unparalleled experience with Unite for Sight in Ghana provided me with a deeper understanding of how medicine and public health are inextricably linked. I hope to incorporate the tools and knowledge I garnered through this volunteer opportunity as a future healthcare provider."

Julia Goldberg, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"With my strong interest in the operation and functioning of clinics abroad, my experience with Unite For Sight has been remarkable.  Unite For Sight works very efficiently and effectively at extending eye care to multitudes of patients each week, and serves as a model for other nonprofit organizations by incorporating both idealistic and practical methods to ensure the greatest success." Read Julia's complete narrative at "My Experiences as a Global Impact Fellow in Accra, Ghana"

Nicole Penwill, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"From discussions with Ghanaian ophthalmologist Dr. Wanye, I learned about Ghana’s nationalized health care, how the government health care system pays medical personnel, and the role of public and private care. Through my Unite For Sight internship in Ghana, these additional opportunities to learn about health care fostered a greater foundation for me as I pursue a career in global health...I have gained more confidence in the pursuit of my career goals, and I look forward to future medical work experiences abroad." Read Nicole's complete narrative at "My Experiences as a Global Impact Fellow in Tamale, Ghana"

Sophie Brigstocke, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"The three weeks I spent volunteering with Unite For Sight as a Global Impact Fellow in Tamale, Ghana were some of the most interesting and rewarding of my life, combining the opportunity to learn about life in Ghana, a country new to me, experience the challenges of improving global health and do concrete, useful work to help others." Read Sophie's complete narrative at "My Experiences as a Global Impact Fellow in Ghana"

Patricia Mae Santos, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"During my time working with Unite For Sight in Ghana, I was inspired by the remarkable efforts of local ophthalmologists and staff to provide both local and remote villagers with access to proper eye care in the form of exams, prescriptions, and free corrective eye surgeries. As a Global Impact Fellow, I had the pleasure and the privilege to work alongside these dedicated professionals on a day-to-day basis." Read Patricia's complete narrative at "Reflections on Volunteering Abroad in Ghana"

Vera Wunsche, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"During my time in Ghana, I worked with three eye clinics in Accra and one eye clinic in Kumasi. The relentless energy, optimism and enthusiasm exhibited by the doctors and their teams were unbelievable and truly awe-inspiring. I have never witnessed such selflessness and commitment to and love for work. I was also very impressed by the integrity of the people that I worked with – some of their personal stories were incredibly moving and explained their professional ardor. Ernest – an optometrist working for the Crystal Eye Clinic in Accra – for instance, won a scholarship to attend one of the best Ghanaian high schools, where he would sometimes go hungry because he spent his money on textbooks instead of food." Read Vera's complete narrative at "Reflections on Volunteering Abroad in Ghana"

Andrew Francis, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"I am currently a 4th-year medical student at Boston University School of Medicine applying to ophthalmology residency programs.  It has already been two full years since I volunteered abroad in Ghana as a Global Impact Lab Fellow in Accra, Ghana for two months in the summer of 2009.  So much has happened since that time, and I have benefited tremendously from the knowledge and experience I received from being a Global Impact Fellow in Ghana." Read Andrew's complete narrative at "Reflections on Global Impact Volunteering in Ghana"

Robert Rudy, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"Volunteering with Unite for Sight in Ghana was a life-changing experience.  Through this capacity, I learned a great deal about Ghana and about effective global health delivery models relating to eye care, but with the ability to extrapolate to medicine in general.  Eye health is a very large concern in many parts of the world, and to be a part of a team aiding those in need was an honor.  After being in Ghana, I cannot stress enough the importance of each volunteer's fundraising efforts to treat cataracts.  Unite for Sight in an incredible organization, and the opportunity they offer college and medical students is, well, life-changing.  I had the time of my life, learned more than I could have imagined, and made very good friends with people whom I would have never otherwise met.  To all those thinking about participating in the Global Impact Corps, I strongly encourage you to go for it.  You will have an dramatic, positive effect on many people and will have an amazing experience in the process." Read Robert's complete narrative at "Volunteering Abroad in Ghana"

Maggie Lovett, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"It has been two months since I returned from Ghana, though many of my memories are vivid enough to feel as if I only came home yesterday. After this whole experience, I feel as if my desire to become a physician and serve others has increased a thousand fold...I am definitely looking forward to the future and feel more motivated than ever to continue my involvement in global health." Read Maggie's complete narrative at "My Experiences as a Global Impact Fellow in Ghana"

Celia Gellman, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"I could not have begun trying to construct social entrepreneurial ventures without the foundation provided by UFS's global health conference, the extensive pre-departure volunteer training, and the actual on-the-ground experience I gained while abroad on the UFS program. This is why I whole-heartedly recommend the UFS program to anyone interested in global health and international development, public health policy, medicine, social entrepreneurship, nonprofits, human rights, development economics, anthropology, advocacy, or public service." Read Celia's "Reflections on Entrepreneurial Volunteering in West African Villages"

Joyce Ho, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"At Stanford University, I had studied a great deal about inadequate access to healthcare and the health disparities still existing in the world today; however, such issues did not become real for me until I witnessed the debilitating effects of such problems first-hand in Ghana. My Unite For Sight internship opened my eyes to the work that remains to be done in developing countries, and showed me the importance of establishing sustainable projects that empower individuals to help their local communities long after the volunteers are gone." Read Joyce's "My Experience Volunteering in Tamale, Ghana"

Farhana Begum, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"On an average day of surgery, Dr. Wanye worked nonstop for six hours, seeing 10 patients and operating on 13 eyes with mature cataracts. The procedure itself was twenty minutes and involved using basic tools, many of which I was confident I could find in my medical pharmaceutical lab kit from high school. On one of the outreaches we encountered an eight-year-old girl who was blind. She had been born with bilateral cataracts. In the states, the cataracts would have been removed right after birth, never given the opportunity to mature. Dr. Wanye had to perform surgery for merely forty minutes to give the girl the gift of sight. Without the service and support of Unite For Sight volunteers thousands of Tamale Ghanaians would be suffering from preventable or curable eye conditions." Read Farhana's "The View From Ghana"

Carolyn Smith-Lin, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"Most of all, I met some of the most incredible people in Ghana. The ophthalmic nurses I worked with and spent much of my free time with regularly had the greatest dedication to the organization: two of the nurses left their family in Liberia to work long hours in Ghana. The other nurse, Dennis, left his job in Great Britain, where he had studied and practiced and his wife is studying, to return to his homeland with his children. It is their dedication to the mission of Unite For Sight that makes the organization so successful in Ghana, and I was honored to work with them." Read Carolyn's complete letter to her funders at Princeton.

Atrish Bagchi, Global Impact Fellow in Ghana

"In contrast to studying public health in an academic setting, Unite for Sight allowed me to gain perspective on the way that public health is actually done in the field.  As a result, I became so interested in community health that I went on to work for the Pan American Health Organization on a children's environmental health project at the U.S./Mexico border.  I am interested in combining my interests in global health with my background as a scientist in my future work to better understand health disparities and strategies to help communities that most need it.  I'm an undergraduate in the chemistry department at Princeton. I plan on applying to either MD or MD/PhD programs after Princeton."

Lauren Lisann, Global Impact Fellow in Patna, Bihar, India

"I cannot express the value of all that I learned and experienced both in and out of the clinic. As I performed visual acuity tests on countless individuals and gave glasses to even more, these patients received improved sight while my own eyes were opened to the disparities in health care across the world, and also to the rich variation between worldwide cultures. Living with the Sinha family led to my complete immersion in daily life in Bihar, and I certainly miss the architecture I witnessed, the foods I tried, and the traditions I observed. My experience as a Global Impact Fellow in Bihar has encouraged me to continue to expand my understanding of worldwide cultures and global health care issues, and augmented my desire to remain engaged in clinical settings both at home and abroad." Read Lauren's complete narrative at "Reflections on Volunteering Abroad in Bihar"

Kristin Ow Chapman, Global Impact Fellows in Patna, Bihar, India

"On my first trip with Unite for Sight as a Global Impact Fellow in Bihar, I observed by first cataract surgery.  In the month following, as a volunteer in the private and charity clinics and OR, I fell in love with ophthalmology.  As a volunteer, I had the privileged to observe the inspiring Sinha family of ophthalmologists and saw the direct impact of their work on the community.  Fathers were able to return to the work force to provide for their families after surgery, complications of conjunctivas were quelled with simple education and antibiotics, and children who may have had limited vision for life were now able to see and play.  On more than one occasion, they were called to attend to patients with complications from botched surgeries or improper treatment from outside sources.  The physicians established trust and alliance with their patients and practiced good medicine.  They demonstrated the importance of a good clinical exam, and I saw first hand, the challenges and rewards of the field.  Working with Unite for Sight twice in Bihar continues to change the way that I think about the world and my role as a future ophthalmologist.  Unite for Sight allows a student to take practices from the classroom and textbooks into real life experiences in a thoughtful and effective way.  I highly recommend this program for students interested in medicine, ophthalmology or optometry as a brilliant introduction into the field or to change the way one thinks about health policy." Read Kristin's complete narrative at "Reflections on Volunteering Twice in Bihar"

Benjamin Long, Global Impact Fellow in Accra and Kumasi Region, Ghana and Dhenkanal, Orissa, India

"Working at the Kalinga Eye Hospital in Orissa was a unique opportunity for me to interact directly with patients and local healthcare providers, and learn more about public health delivery in the developing world...While working as a Global Impact Fellow, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Kalinga Eye Hospital entrusted the volunteers to the extent that we were able to take ownership of these projects and function as representatives of the hospital in these critical initiatives.  I think that it speaks volumes of the trust they have in the volunteers and the appreciation they have for our unique skills and experiences. I hope to build upon these experiences and to remain involved in public health.  Rather than just treating individual cases, public health providers have a unique opportunity to work at a larger scale to improve healthcare access to the world’s most underserved populations, and working for Unite For Sight has only furthered my desire to become involved in global health." Read Benjamin's complete narrative at "My Experiences as a Global Impact Fellow in Ghana and India"

Stephanie Reinhold, Global Impact Fellow in Dhenkanal, Orissa, India

"Volunteering at the Kalinga Eye Hospital and Research Centre (KEHRC) in Orissa, India was a powerful experience for me.  It was fascinating to be immersed into the rich Indian culture and to experience healthcare in India, both of which differ from that in the United States.  I learned a great deal from my time in India.  Whether I went to an outreach camp or remained in the hospital, every day was a learning experience.  I enjoyed building relationships with the hospital staff and learning about their families, their interests, and the work they perform for the hospital.  I have been interested in pursuing a career in medicine since I was in high school, yet the new experiences I encountered through my participation in the Unite For Sight program have significantly influenced the career path I would like to take." Read Stephanie's complete narrative at "My Experiences as a Global Impact Fellow in Dhenkanal, Orissa, India"

Samyuktha Balabhadra, Global Impact Fellow in Dhenkanal, Orissa, India

"My experience with Unite For Sight has showed me that there are many challenges in the path to making healthcare accessible to global communities. But, my experience has also taught me that it is possible to overcome these challenges. And this has ultimately helped me reaffirm my decision to become a physician. My trip has inspired me to use my newfound knowledge to serve underprivileged communities." Read Samyuktha's complete narrative at "My Experiences as a Global Impact Fellow in Orissa, India"

Kirti Kewalramani, Global Impact Fellow in Patna, Bihar, India

There are so many wonderful things that I can say about my experiences with Unite For Sight and the time I spent in Patna, India. The impact that these people have made on my life will never leave, and there will always be a soft spot in my heart for this city." Read Kirti's complete narrative at "Reflections on Volunteering Abroad in Patna, India"

Pallavi Basu, Global Impact Fellow in Dhenkanal, Orissa, India

"I gained a vast basin of knowledge not only about eye health, but also on the healthcare infrastructure, patient interactions, and management systems of the developing world. Reading about health issues in the news or in class became stark reality during my summer in Dhenkanal, and I now aim to reinvigorate my efforts to study and contribute to the field of international health. Over the course of my career, I hope that I can one day return to India as a doctor and remedy the health inequalities that remain ever-present on a global scale." Read Palavi's complete narrative at "High Impact Volunteering Abroad in Orissa, India"

Brayden and Laura Lundquist, Global Impact Fellows in Patna, Bihar, India

"We were very sad to say goodbye to the Sinha family. They have given us the opportunity of a lifetime. We learned so much from each and every one of them. No doubt they will be lifetime friends." Read their detailed daily blog about "Volunteering in Patna"

Emily Abrash, Global Impact Fellow in Patna, Bihar, India

"There was nothing abstract about it.  It was the real deal, the third world pressing into my first-world mind, touching some internal spot which was the locus of dreams and career plans.  Because of the context in which I encountered the profound need of Danapur, I did not come away with a sense of hopelessness or fatalism.  Rather, I came away with the strong sense that it was necessary for me, like the Sinhas, to take active part in fixing the problems that I had seen.   Indeed, I think it is impossible to spend two weeks with the Sinha family without coming to understand that a single, motivated person is absolutely capable of changing the world." Read Emily's narrative about "My Experiences Volunteering Abroad in Bihar, India"

Kristin Ow, Global Impact Fellow in Patna, Bihar, India

"I came home from India with a new and developed perspective on health care.  My experience in India exposed me to the devastating realities of public health, but also to the overwhelming progress that can be made through the generous use of skills and services by those who are willing and able.  Although at times, the need seemed insatiable, it is clear that people like the Sinhas and organizations like Unite For Sight are effectively meeting that need with great hope, determination, and compassion." Read Kristin's narrative about "Observing Realities and Seeing Hope: My Experiences Volunteering Abroad in Bihar"

Leigha Winters, Global Impact Fellow in Patna, Bihar, India

"My trip to India with Unite For Sight was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Witnessing the desperate need of some of the world's poorest citizens ignited my passion for international humanitarian work that I have continued since that trip.  Without Unite For Sight, I would not have discovered my love of medicine and infectious disease prevention, the fields I will be working in after graduation in June." Read Leigha's narrative about "My Experiences Volunteering Abroad in Bihar, India"

Komal Patel, Global Impact Fellow in Dhenkanal, Orissa, India

"There were so many things that we did and saw here that opened my eyes to the plight of healthcare access. The Kalinga Eye Hospital and Research Center (KEHRC) is a novel and admirable hospital that truly gives the word altruism meaning. The hospital runs rural eye camps where the paramedic staff and physicians go to the most remote and underdeveloped areas of Orissa and give free eye care...There are no words to describe how it feels to see the first patient go through the process and have his or her sight restored. Yet, that indescribable feeling still remains with me even as I write this. It goes without saying that we are eternally grateful to the KEHRC and Unite for Sight for giving us such a wonderful opportunity." Read Komal's narrative "Power of Visionary Work"

Jasdeep Manik, Global Impact Fellow in Patna, Bihar, India

"Unite For Sight gave me the wonderful opportunity to volunteer in Bihar, India with the Sinha family of ophthalmologists whose energy and enthusiasm was highly contagious. Along with Unite For Sight, the Sinhas have ignited my interest in public health and enthusiasm to take an active role in my community. I hope that sharing my positive experiences with my community will raise awareness about the need for vision services in developing countries and inspire others to become leaders in global change as well."

Patrick Leneghan, Global Impact Fellow in Patna, Bihar, India

"My experience in Patna was an incredible experience. I enjoyed being part of the UFS program in the effort to help eradicate preventable blindness in the world. I also enjoyed working with and learning from the Sinha family, as they were incredible doctors and great teachers. I also enjoyed being immersed in Indian culture and look forward to returning to India to assist with visual care in the future." Read Patrick's "Daily Diary"

Aron Gedansky, Global Impact Fellow in Honduras

"My trip to Honduras was a great learning experience and it will be one I will never forget. Before I went, I had a solid interest in Spanish, but never was able to really put my Spanish speaking to the test outside of classrooms and textbooks. In Honduras, I spoke as much Spanish as possible while interacting with the local community and was able to enjoy and appreciate the culture so much more because of it. When I returned to the United States, I kept on speaking Spanish, even at times when I didn’t mean to, because it was subconsciously burned into the back of my mind. Someday in the future, I want to return to Honduras as a doctor and work with local clinics. This experience is one I will always hold on to and I know that it will help me greatly in my future as a doctor." Read Aron's complete narrative at "My Experiences as a Global Impact Fellow in Honduras"

Justin Rome, Global Impact Fellow in Honduras

"I would recommend working with Unite for Sight for anyone, even if you are not in ophthalmology/optometry, or medicine for that matter. It is really rewarding to have such an impact on people." Read Justin's Blog