Orbis Announces New Chief of Program

NEW YORK, May 16, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Orbis announces the appointment of a new Chief of Program, Danny Haddad, MD, who will lead the organization's global blindness prevention portfolio and Program teams across the world. His appointment is effective June 14, 2016.

Most recently, Danny served as the Director of Global Ophthalmology, Emory Eye Center at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, where he developed a global ophthalmology fellowship program.  Previously, Danny was the director of the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), and coordinated their annual billion-dollar Zithromax donation program in support of the global effort to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2020. During this time, he also spearheaded the Global Trachoma Mapping Project—the first of its kind— in collaboration with Sightsavers.

"I'm looking forward to working closely with Danny in our efforts to bring the world together to fight blindness," said Bob Ranck, President  & CEO of Orbis International. "His background in international public health and over twenty years' experience working in global ophthalmology and neglected diseases makes him ideal for leading the development and implementation of our vision for the future of eye care for all."

Danny started his career in global ophthalmology as a Helen Keller International (HKI) volunteer with the Irian Jaya Eye Care Project in Indonesia, and continued to work with HKI for over a decade in several different capacities, including: Africa regional coordinator for Onchocerciasis (river blindness) and Trachoma, director for Onchocerciasis in New York, country director for Tanzania and technical advisor for eye care based in Senegal.   

Danny was born in the Netherlands and received his medical degree from the State University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

"I am thrilled to be joining Orbis at such an exciting time in the organization's history," Danny said.  

About Orbis
Orbis is a leading global non-governmental organization that has been a pioneer in the prevention and treatment of blindness for over 30 years. Orbis transforms lives through access to quality eye care. Working in collaboration with local partners including hospitals, universities, government agencies and ministries of health, Orbis provides hands-on ophthalmology training, strengthens healthcare infrastructure and advocates for the prioritization of eye health on public health agendas. Orbis operates the world's only Flying Eye Hospital, a fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft.  To learn more about Orbis, please visit www.orbis.org

Media Contact:
Silvana Vivas                                                             
Communications Associate, Orbis 
646-674-5507
[email protected]

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SOURCE Orbis