Dr. Dougherty’s Vision For The Future, Part 1
Sub Title
Dr. Paul Dougherty reflects on his vision for the future, part 1
My Vision is Global Vision. My profession of vision correction surgery has afforded me many extraordinary experiences and introduced me to many wonderful patients. Because of this, I want to give something of lasting value back to the world.
The Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation is here for the most deserving patients!
In 2010, I formed an international charitable organization called the Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation. It is currently being incorporated as a U.S. 501c3 non-profit. According to the World Health Organization, the leading cause of avoidable global blindness is cataracts. The centerpiece of the Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation is surgical vision correction (primarily cataract surgery) and other medical services for often indigent and incredibly deserving patients, notably in association with local physicians and hospital staff who can help to improve and sustain higher quality care in their communities.
The Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation is here for the local communities!
In the past, I have worked with many other charitable organizations to achieve my philanthropic goals. Over the past five years, I have worked with the Ventura County Community College District to give free LASIK to one deserving, underprivileged student at each of the three Ventura County community colleges: Ventura, Moorpark, and Oxnard. Every year, students from each college submit applications outlining why they are deserving of this award.
We want to make a difference in the lives of the needy!
Perhaps my most touching moment in this program came in 2003 when a young student from Oxnard was awarded LASIK. He was one of eleven children in a family whose father earned $12,000 a year as a gardener. This student was the first in his family to ever attend college, and while he was a serious scholar, his passion in life was unquestionably baseball. He had given up playing the game when he developed nearsightedness, requiring glasses. Because of his family’s financial situation, he could not risk playing the game and breaking his glasses. I wish you could have seen the tears in the eyes of the student and his father after the procedure, which went flawlessly. It still gives me goose bumps.
