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901-569-3939
5350 Poplar Avenue
Suite 925
Memphis, TN 38119
5350 Poplar Avenue
Suite 925
Memphis, TN 38119
Service Since 1988
Dr. Schanzer dreamed of being a medical missionary since her childhood days when she first heard a Marynoll
priest describe his missionary adventures. Shortly after completing her medical and ophthalmology programs she
began researching various missionary opportunities. She selected a program in Abak Nigeria and in February
1988 embarked on her first missionary trip. Accompanied by her husband, Tom Lewis, Dr. Schanzer performed as
many cataracts and other eye surgical procedures as the local generator and their 30 boxes of carry-in supplies
would allow. It was a very successful and rewarding experience, which marked the beginning of their mission
career. Her missionary dreams became their passion. Over the years, Cathy and Tom have also worked in
Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Sierra Leone. All of their efforts were carried out in existing programs that gratefully
accepted Cathy’s surgical skills, Tom’s administrative support and their donated medical/surgical supplies.
However, in 2006 this pattern of mission work changed. For the first time in their mission career, Cathy and Tom
led the development of a permanent eye care center in a remote village in Sierra Leone.
Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu
In early 2004, Catholic Archbishop Joseph Ganda invited Cathy and Tom to work in his home village of Serabu,
which is located approximately 125 miles southeast of the capital city of Freetown. Until that time, Cathy had been
working at Kissy Eye Hospital in Freetown. But the undeserved countryside of Sierra Leone was calling. They set
up a temporary eye clinic in early 2005. Cathy was the first doctor in Serabu in fifteen years. A day and night long
celebration occurred upon their arrival. A make-shift operating theatre and triage eye clinic was set up in a basic
block building located on Catholic Mission property, between Sacred heart Catholic Church and Central Mosque of
Serabu. After this temporary effort, Archbishop Ganda challenged Cathy and Tom to set up a permanent eye
clinic, a challenge that they accepted. In late 2005, for several months Tom supervised the renovation of the
donated block building, adding water well based water systems, generator electricity, patient examination areas, an
optical dispensary and a modern operating theatre, complete with state of the art technology equipment and air
conditioning, something virtually unheard of in the Bush but necessary for the high-tech equipment. Serabu was to
have the most modern eye care and surgical center in all of Sierra Leone. On Cathy’s birthday, January 7, 2006
Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu was dedicated which included another day and night of celebration. Government
and civic leaders from all around Sierra Leone were in attendance at the festivities, which began with Catholic Mass
and a blessing of the clinic, followed by hours of eating, dancing and celebration. Today, Southern Eye Clinic of
Serabu in open year round, providing diagnostic examinations, medicines, eye glasses and modern eye surgery
free of charge to all patients. The Clinic is dependent on visiting surgeons for eye surgery, which includes Cathy’s
January and June trips each year. Cataract surgery is the number one procedure performed because cataracts
are the leading cause of curable blindness in third world countries like Sierra Leone. And cataract surgery at
Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu incorporates modern technology, allowing for a much smaller incision, shorter
recovery time and significantly reduced opportunity for infection, all of which is a major enhancement to the
traditional standard of care. As a result of these design features, Southern Eye Clinic has developed a high quality
reputation. It is not uncommon for patients to walk several days to reach Serabu for their eye care needs. Local
radio stations and churches advertise for weeks in advance of a visiting surgeon coming to the Clinic. Upwards of
100 clinic patients and 20 surgical patients per day is not uncommon when Cathy and Tom are in Serabu. A Staff
of 14 full time employees keeps the clinic operational and has expanded the Clinic operations to include two
satellite clinics in nearby villages. This joint effort of Cathy and Tom with Catholic Mission continues to be a huge
success for the needy people of Sierra Leone.
It does, however, require that Cathy and Tom provide the financial support to keep Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu
viable. While Catholic Mission contributed the land and building, it is not in a position to offer financial support.
Therefore, Cathy and Tom established Southern Eye Institute in order to raise financial support for the Clinic. And
although Cathy and Tom are committed to the Clinic, Southern Eye Institute offers a long-term structure for
financial sustainability, ultimately independent of Cathy and Tom.
Dr. Schanzer dreamed of being a medical missionary since her childhood days when she first heard a Marynoll
priest describe his missionary adventures. Shortly after completing her medical and ophthalmology programs she
began researching various missionary opportunities. She selected a program in Abak Nigeria and in February
1988 embarked on her first missionary trip. Accompanied by her husband, Tom Lewis, Dr. Schanzer performed as
many cataracts and other eye surgical procedures as the local generator and their 30 boxes of carry-in supplies
would allow. It was a very successful and rewarding experience, which marked the beginning of their mission
career. Her missionary dreams became their passion. Over the years, Cathy and Tom have also worked in
Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Sierra Leone. All of their efforts were carried out in existing programs that gratefully
accepted Cathy’s surgical skills, Tom’s administrative support and their donated medical/surgical supplies.
However, in 2006 this pattern of mission work changed. For the first time in their mission career, Cathy and Tom
led the development of a permanent eye care center in a remote village in Sierra Leone.
Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu
In early 2004, Catholic Archbishop Joseph Ganda invited Cathy and Tom to work in his home village of Serabu,
which is located approximately 125 miles southeast of the capital city of Freetown. Until that time, Cathy had been
working at Kissy Eye Hospital in Freetown. But the undeserved countryside of Sierra Leone was calling. They set
up a temporary eye clinic in early 2005. Cathy was the first doctor in Serabu in fifteen years. A day and night long
celebration occurred upon their arrival. A make-shift operating theatre and triage eye clinic was set up in a basic
block building located on Catholic Mission property, between Sacred heart Catholic Church and Central Mosque of
Serabu. After this temporary effort, Archbishop Ganda challenged Cathy and Tom to set up a permanent eye
clinic, a challenge that they accepted. In late 2005, for several months Tom supervised the renovation of the
donated block building, adding water well based water systems, generator electricity, patient examination areas, an
optical dispensary and a modern operating theatre, complete with state of the art technology equipment and air
conditioning, something virtually unheard of in the Bush but necessary for the high-tech equipment. Serabu was to
have the most modern eye care and surgical center in all of Sierra Leone. On Cathy’s birthday, January 7, 2006
Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu was dedicated which included another day and night of celebration. Government
and civic leaders from all around Sierra Leone were in attendance at the festivities, which began with Catholic Mass
and a blessing of the clinic, followed by hours of eating, dancing and celebration. Today, Southern Eye Clinic of
Serabu in open year round, providing diagnostic examinations, medicines, eye glasses and modern eye surgery
free of charge to all patients. The Clinic is dependent on visiting surgeons for eye surgery, which includes Cathy’s
January and June trips each year. Cataract surgery is the number one procedure performed because cataracts
are the leading cause of curable blindness in third world countries like Sierra Leone. And cataract surgery at
Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu incorporates modern technology, allowing for a much smaller incision, shorter
recovery time and significantly reduced opportunity for infection, all of which is a major enhancement to the
traditional standard of care. As a result of these design features, Southern Eye Clinic has developed a high quality
reputation. It is not uncommon for patients to walk several days to reach Serabu for their eye care needs. Local
radio stations and churches advertise for weeks in advance of a visiting surgeon coming to the Clinic. Upwards of
100 clinic patients and 20 surgical patients per day is not uncommon when Cathy and Tom are in Serabu. A Staff
of 14 full time employees keeps the clinic operational and has expanded the Clinic operations to include two
satellite clinics in nearby villages. This joint effort of Cathy and Tom with Catholic Mission continues to be a huge
success for the needy people of Sierra Leone.
It does, however, require that Cathy and Tom provide the financial support to keep Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu
viable. While Catholic Mission contributed the land and building, it is not in a position to offer financial support.
Therefore, Cathy and Tom established Southern Eye Institute in order to raise financial support for the Clinic. And
although Cathy and Tom are committed to the Clinic, Southern Eye Institute offers a long-term structure for
financial sustainability, ultimately independent of Cathy and Tom.
Copyright 2012 Southern Eye Institute Directors & Company Information
