Biomedical photojournalism uses photography to document medical, humanitarian, or biological field projects. The resulting images are used in subsequent scientific publications, for promoting non-profit organizations, and to help publicize specific goodwill missions. A BCA EFFE Grant recently enabled me to practice biomedical photojournalism in Trinidad/Tobago: documenting Douglas Fredrick, MD, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, as he treated patients and taught surgery during the week of June 2-9, 2001. Dr. Fredrick's trip was sponsored by Orbis: an international flying eye hospital which promotes ophthalmic care in developing countries.

A nonprofit, humanitarian organization, Orbis works in developing countries to save sight through training, public health education, and improved access to eye care. ORBIS operates the world's only flying eye hospital -- a fully equipped teaching facility installed inside a DC-10 aircraft. The aircraft flies to developing countries bringing practical, hands-on training to local eye doctors, nurses, technicians and health care workers and restoring sight to thousands.

The plan called for documenting Dr. Fredrick's activities with an affordable, yet high quality digital camera. Instant access to the digital images meant that they could be used immediately for teaching purposes. In addition to Dr. Fredrick discussing clinical images during lectures, documentary photographs were shared during my on-site presentation "Ophthalmology Resources on the World Wide Web".

Another digital imaging advantage was a reduction in the cost of image distribution. High quality electronic image files were supplied for reproduction in Dartmouth Medicine and the BCA Journal. Orbis received a CD containing images that would be useful for soliciting support for future projects. Lectures describing this project have been presented at the Rochester Rendezvous at RIT, at the New England Ophthalmic Photographers' Society Annual CE & Ski Meeting and at ICOP 2002 in Adelaide, Australia.

This grant helped me explore imaging opportunities that are very different than the daily challenges I experience in my career as an ophthalmic photographer. Fundus photography and fluorescein angiography are probably the initial words associated with the phrase 'ophthalmic photography'. While an important part of the field, restricting ophthalmic photography to the mastery and implementation of these two photographic procedures is far too limiting. Ophthalmic photographers practice a spectrum of skills. For example, successful external, corneal, and operating room photography require excellent general biomedical photography skills. Many ophthalmic photographers are the 'visual consultants' for their practices, photographing a plurality of subjects in a variety of circumstances. And as each day moves us closer to total dependence on silicon rather than silver based media, all photographers - ophthalmic and biomedical - find they need to be card carrying members of the 'digital elite': experts facile in all manner of computer possibilities.

I am grateful for this opportunity made possible by the BCA through an EFFE grant. My hope is that these photographs help to increase the awareness of global humanitarian efforts in ophthalmology.

Visit me on the web at http://www.pjsaine.com.