Awards & Grants

Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant

About the Grant

The Young Eye Surgeons International Service (YIS) Grant was created to inspire young eye surgeons to become involved with global eye care on a long-term basis. The grant affords the opportunity to participate in health care systems, including teaching institutions and community programs, in developing countries. Working with the ASCRS Foundation and its international partners, recipients get to develop a customized international volunteer plan that provides the opportunity for a young eye surgeon to learn first-hand the intricacies behind global eyecare efforts.

Grant Requirements

Maintain active ASCRS membership
Present project plans and experience at two ASCRS Annual Meetings
Quarterly project status updates
Complete international travel within 18 months

Application Deadline

The 2025 YIS grant application submissions will be open from July 18 - September 8. Award recipients will be announced in early 2025. If you're interested in applying for this grant, click the link below. For more information regarding this grant, please contact Abigail Markward at amarkward@ascrs.org.

The grant application deadline has been extended. The new deadline is September 22, 2024.

Grant Application

The Young Eye Surgeons International Service (YIS) Grant winners

2024 Grantees

Joshua Barbosa, MD

Delaram Mirzania, MD

Emily M. Schehlein, MD

Tu Tran, MD, MSc

Past Grantees

2023 Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grantees

Kanika Agarwal, MD
Sila Bal, MD, MPH||
Julius Oatts, MD
Nakul Shekhawat, MD, MPH
Michelle Sun, MD, MPH

View 2023 Grantees

2022 Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grantees

Aakriti Garg Shukla, MD
Wanja Mathenge, MD

View 2022 Grantees

2021 Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grantees

Ashlie Bernhisel, MD, MSc
Ana Vega Carreiro de Freitas, MD
Simon Fung, MD, MA FRCOphth
Karen Hong, MD, MPhil
Ashiyana Nariani, MD, MPH
Alexander Young, MD

View 2021 Grantees

2020 Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grantees

Keri F. Allen, MD
Priya Mathews, MD
Milad Modabber, MD, M.Sc., FRCSC
Yusra Siddiqui, MD
Erin Sieck, MD

View 2020 Grantees

Ophthalmologist Humanitarians
An ASCRS Foundation Spotlight Video Series

The ASCRS Foundation is pleased to highlight some of the accomplished humanitarians nominated for the Foundation's Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award. These outstanding leaders have been interviewed by the Foundation's 2020 Young Eye Surgeon International Service Grantees. Watch the first video in the series below or click the playlist icon to view additional content!

2020 Grantee Video Series

Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant Committee

Barbara C. Erny, MD

Medical Liaison for International Programs

Cristos Ifantides, MD, MBA

Neda Nikpoor, MD

Grace Sun, MD

Russell Swan, MD

Simon Fung, MD

About the Foundation Financials & Disclosures

The ASCRS Foundation supports physician education and provides humanitarian cataract surgery in the United States and developing countries. Through its programs and partnerships, the Foundation works to maximize the benefits of modern ophthalmology and to treat thousands of patients in need each year. The ASCRS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. EIN: 23-7388748.