Barbara Ann DeBuono, M.D., M.P.H. Appointed President and CEO of ORBIS International

NEW YORK, May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ORBIS International is pleased to announce the appointment of Barbara DeBuono, M.D., M.P.H., as its new President and CEO. ORBIS International is a global health organization that prevents and treats blindness by providing quality eye care that transforms the lives of millions of families throughout the developing world.

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ORBIS works with local partners in developing countries to build their capacity through an integrated program approach. Since its first program in 1982, ORBIS has carried out more than 1,000 programs in 88 countries, enhanced the skills of more than 288,000 eye health care personnel and helped establish services that have provided quality eye care treatment to more than 15 million people. ORBIS operates the world's only Flying Eye Hospital, a state-of-the-art surgical and training facility housed inside of a DC-10 aircraft. The ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital has become an international icon and focal point for ORBIS's education and advocacy programs.

"On behalf of the Board and staff of ORBIS International, we are delighted with Dr. Barbara DeBuono's appointment. With Barbara's global leadership, ORBIS is well positioned to significantly expand our programs and outreach in preventing and treating avoidable blindness in the developing world," said Dr. Robert F. Walters, chairman of the ORBIS International Board of Directors.  

Dr. DeBuono is a renowned expert in public health innovation, health policy, education and research. In her new role as President and CEO of ORBIS International, Dr. DeBuono will develop the organization's future vision and strategy and provide leadership of ORBIS's programs, aircraft operations, fundraising, communications and marketing.

"Barbara's leadership and unique skill set make her an ideal leader for the organization as ORBIS enters its fourth decade of treating avoidable blindness. The entire organization joins me in welcoming Barbara and is excited to work with her to further our programmatic initiatives and operational goals," said Jack McHale, interim President and CEO of ORBIS for the past twenty-two months.

Dr. DeBuono comes to ORBIS from Porter Novelli, where she served as Chief Medical Officer and Global Director of Public Health and Social Marketing. She spent over eight years as the Executive Director, Public Health and Government at Pfizer Inc. Previously, she served as Chief Executive, New York Presbyterian Healthcare Network and Executive Vice President of the New York Presbyterian Healthcare System.

Barbara was the Commissioner of Health for the State of New York in the first term of Governor Pataki, having previously served as Director of Health in Rhode Island in the cabinet of Governor Bruce Sundlun. She was a senior consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In May 2005, the CDC Foundation honored Dr. DeBuono as one of five Public Health Heroes nationwide as they celebrated their 10th anniversary. Dr. DeBuono is a board- certified internist and Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

Dr. DeBuono received her B.A. from the University of Rochester and her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine. She received her Masters in Public Health from the Harvard University School of Public Health.

About ORBIS International

ORBIS International, a $100 million global non-profit organization, provides the tools, training and technology necessary for local partners to assess their needs and develop workable and lasting solutions to the tragedy of avoidable blindness. By building their long-term capabilities, ORBIS helps its partner institutions take action to reach a state where they can provide on their own, quality eye care services that are affordable. With our programmatic partners in the developing world, ORBIS has provided ophthalmic training to over 4,100 physicians and 24,400 other healthcare workers, performed more than 124,000 surgeries, screened more than 3.3 million patients including 2.1 million children and medically or optically treated over 3.2 million people.

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To learn more visit www.orbis.org

SOURCE ORBIS International