Volunteer Spotlight: Dr. Jing Dong of Georgia Center for Sight
Dr. Jing Dong’s Focus on Philanthropy
It's rare to find a community partner who can give the gift of sight to a patient in need: meet Dr. Jing Dong of the Georgia Center for Sight. His philanthropic collaboration with AWC's Vision Care program demonstrates how compassion and professional expertise can come together to build a stronger and healthier community in Northeast Georgia.
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Read our interview with Dr. Dong below!
Interview with Dr. Jing Dong of Georgia Center for Sight
What motivated you to offer your services for free cataract surgery, and what does volunteering in this capacity mean to you personally and professionally?
Ophthalmology is my life's passion. Plenty of physicians offer their services to those oversees, but I feel it's very important to take care of those in our community who can benefit but can't afford the care.
Can you walk us through the process of how the patient was referred to you by Athens Wellness Clinic and how you approached the surgery, considering the patient’s specific needs and circumstances?
Athens Wellness Clinic contacted my practice administrator and she took it from there. My staff treats all patients the same whether they can pay or not.
What were some of the challenges you faced during this procedure, and how did you address them to ensure the best outcome for the patient?
The main challenge was finding a retina specialist to clear her for cataract surgery due to her diabetic retinopathy. That took some begging and pleading on my staff's part, but ultimately we were able to get it done.
How do you feel the free cataract surgery has impacted the patient’s life, and can you share any feedback or observations you’ve received from them since the procedure?
Ultimately I think this is a question for her. However, we did improve her vision from 20/60 to 20/25. Having improved vision helps in all facets of life.
In what ways do you believe this type of volunteer work contributes to the broader healthcare system, and how would you encourage other professionals to get involved in similar initiatives?
We are all part of a community, and we all have to do our part to better that community any way we can. This is my contribution.
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Want to learn more about Dr. Dong and the Georgia Center for Sight? CLICK HERE!
