WVU Eye Institute Ophthalmologist Dr. John Nguyen reaches underserved patients through local and global outreach initiatives
Since joining the West Virginia University Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Eye Institute faculty in 2009, Professor and Oculoplastic Surgeon John Nguyen, M.D., has dedicated his career to serving patients both near and far through local and global outreach efforts.
Morgantown-area screenings
In Morgantown, Dr. Nguyen played an integral role in the addition of vision screenings to WVU-led healthcare initiatives from the School of Nursing and the School of Pharmacy, which provide free healthcare services for underserved patients who are homeless or otherwise do not have access to regular care. The services are provided on the first Sunday of each month at First Presbyterian Church during a free pancake breakfast for community members.
Nguyen explained that the vision screenings can consist of a full dilated eye exam, a glaucoma screening where intraocular pressure is measured and referrals to the Eye Institute for follow-up care when necessary. If it is determined that a patient requires new glasses or an updated prescription, those are coordinated and distributed through the Eye Institute’s Appalachian Vision Outreach Program and Milan Puskar Health Right.
“As physicians, it is our duty to serve all patients in our community, not just those with health insurance. This initiative allows us to meet underserved patients where they are and provide them with quality eye care so they can work on other aspects of their lives,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen continues to provide support to this program, which is now led by Assistant Professor and Cornea Specialist Annahita Amireskandari, M.D. Various volunteers from the Eye Institute provide additional support for this monthly outreach event, including Assistant Professors Joel Palko, M.D., and Praveen Jeyaseelan, M.D., and WVU medical students with an interest in ophthalmology.
Outside of West Virginia, Nguyen has been involved in a wide array of global outreach efforts over the years, where he’s provided care to underserved patients across the Caribbean and Central America.
St. Lucia outreach
For more than a decade, Nguyen has served as a volunteer for the program known as Kids Insight, where he has helped deliver critical oculoplastic services to local children with facial deformity and potentially devastating blinding diseases.
Through this program, which is a joint initiative of the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association, the Lions Club of St. Lucia and the Eye Institute, a team of WVU ophthalmologists, including Assistant Professor Charles Moore, M.D., and staff led by Director of Outreach Rebecca Coakley, MA, CLVT, travels to St. Lucia once per year for 1-2 weeks. The team provides services such as ocular surgeries, eye exams and low vision management to local patients in need, as well as educational training to local trainees. While the program primarily focuses on providing care for pediatric patients, Kids Insight also provides ophthalmic care to adults.
Nguyen has also helped deliver critical ophthalmic services to patients in Honduras through partnerships with the Carolina Honduras Health Foundation (CHHF) and the Advanced Center for Eyecare (ACE) Global.
Reaching patients and physicians in Honduras
In March 2025, Nguyen and former WVU ophthalmology resident and current WVU Medicine United Hospital Center ophthalmologist Clinton Jordan, M.D., traveled to Limón, Honduras, through CHHF, where they provided ophthalmic care to more than 200 patients and performed 25 ocular surgeries over five days.
Nguyen said he plans to continue his partnership with CHHF in the coming years and that he is excited to further expand their services when he returns to Honduras through CHHF in 2026.
While the CHHF initiative primarily focuses on delivering much-needed ophthalmic care directly to patients in need, Nguyen’s work with ACE Global in Honduras is instead aimed toward providing education and training to the next generation of ophthalmologists.
Through ACE Global, Nguyen travels to Honduras with a team of volunteers to provide surgical training to Honduran ophthalmology fellows with the aim of equipping them with the surgical skills to establish oculoplastic practices that will address visual disparity and blindness in their communities.
“When we do these trips where we provide direct care to patients, I am always proud of the impact we make, but at the end of the day, we can only be there so long, putting a limit on the number of patients we can reach,” he explained. “Through training local physicians, I’m able to leave behind a skillset that can be utilized to continue helping others long after I’ve returned home.”
Nguyen said he is honored to have played a role in outreach efforts both at home and abroad over the years and that he looks forward to continuing these endeavors in the years to come.
“Being able to travel the world and deliver ophthalmic services to people in need is my privilege. It allows me to experience different cultures, collaborate with medical professionals from around the world, and most importantly, meet and impact the lives of more patients than I otherwise would be able to,” he said. “I look forward to exploring more ways to reach patients in need through these initiatives in the years to come.”
To learn more about outreach at the WVU Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Eye Institute, visit medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/eye/outreach.