Moran Physicians and Volunteers Provide Vision Screenings and Glasses at Project Homeless Connect

Moran physician Bradley J. Katz examines a patient at the 2019 annual Project Homeless Connect event in Salt Lake City.
Moran physician Bradley J. Katz examines a patient at the 2019 annual Project Homeless Connect event in Salt Lake City.

The John A. Moran Eye Center’s Global Outreach Division works to meet the growing need for eye care around the world and among underserved Utahns—from the homeless to resettled refugees.

A woman tries on new eyeglasses at the 2019 annual Project Homeless Connect event in Salt Lake City.
A woman tries on new eyeglasses at the 2019 annual Project Homeless Connect event in Salt Lake City.

As part of the division’s ongoing, donor-supported effort, four Moran physicians, along with 50 volunteers, joined Salt Lake City’s third annual Project Homeless Connect on October 25 at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

The event, managed by the Community Development Corporation of Utah, serves as a one-stop-shop for resources for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. It offers vision screenings and glasses, haircuts, dental services, flu shots, housing assistance, and more to hundreds of people.

Rebekah Gensure, MD, PhD, examines a patient at the 2019 annual Project Homeless Connect event in Salt Lake City.
Rebekah Gensure, MD, PhD, examines a patient at the 2019 annual Project Homeless Connect event in Salt Lake City.

By the end of the latest event, the Moran team, working in collaboration with Friends for Sight, provided eye exams and eyeglasses to more than 200 clients. The glasses included 90 readers and 129 made-to-order prescription glasses.

Moran physicians volunteering their time for the event were Alan S. Crandall, MD, and Bradley J. Katz, MD, PhD; and residents Rebekah Gensure, MD, PhD, and Rachel Patel, MD. Moran’s volunteer team included technicians, members of the center’s Global Vision Board, and employees.