"I am a foot soldier, front line of the battle, against preventable blindness in Africa. I am happy working with others who are likely to make my work easier."

 

Harry S. Brown, MD, FACS – Founder

Harry S. Brown, MD, FACS, a Santa Barbara ophthalmologist, founded Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International in 1974. Dr. Brown graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1952. He served as a line officer in the US Navy before entering medical school. Dr. Brown received his Medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine in 1959. He completed his medical internship at the US Naval Hospital of Camp Pendleton in 1960 and worked in general family practice until 1967. Dr. Brown began his medical practice in Santa Barbara in 1971.

He and his colleagues developed an efficient mobile eye surgery system for intensive, short-term surgical clinics in remote, medically underserved areas as a response to the lack of opportunities to effectively use the services of trained clinical eye surgeons.

Dr. Brown founded SEE to encourage the participation of volunteer ophthalmologists in humanitarian clinics that do not exhaust the facilities of host countries by providing a framework organization for recurring international clinics.

For a lifetime of humanitarian achievement, Dr. Brown has received the International President Award, Lions International; a tribute by the US House of Representatives; the Honor Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology; Lifetime Achievement Award, Santa Barbara News-Press; Community Service Award, George Washington University Alumni Association; Outstanding Humanitarian Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology; Hampton Roy Medal, World Eye Foundation; Leslie Dana Gold Medal Award, St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired; the Outstanding Achievements in the Prevention of Blindness & Services to those Who are Blind; and Paul Harris Award, Rotary International.

Scott W. Groff – Chairman of the Board

Scott W. Groff is the President and CEO of Repeated Signal Solutions, a Goleta-based company that installs antenna networks to improve wireless communication. He has also designed and built homes in Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Santa Barbara, California, and Kona, Hawaii.

From 1989 to 1998, Mr. Groff was the President and CEO of VARS in San Jose. He invented VARS, the first electronic image archiving system for defect analysis in the semiconductor industry. His product was named Product of the Year in 1996 by Semiconductor International. San Jose Business Journal recognized VARS as one of Silicon Valley’s Fastest Growing Private Companies in 1997. Mr. Groff received his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce/Accounting from Santa Clara University.

Howard R. Hudson, CPA – Treasurer & Secretary

Howard R. Hudson is the owner of Howard Hudson & Co., a full-service Certified Public Accounting firm in Santa Barbara, California. He has extensive experience in the areas of auditing, accounting and business consulting. He is very active in the Santa Barbara community, having served as District Governor of Lions Clubs International, President of Santa Barbara Dance Alliance and on the boards of Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens and National Health Agencies of Santa Barbara among many others. Mr. Hudson holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Accounting from the University of Redlands.

John I. Crowder, MD – Medical Director

John I. Crowder, MD, earned his Bachelor’s and medical degrees from Stanford University. He performed his medical internship at Minneapolis General Hospital. Dr. Crowder was an Associate Professor at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, where he also completed his medical residency and fellowship. He practiced ophthalmology at the Sansum Medical Clinic from 1964 to 1998, where he performed cataract surgery, retinal surgery, glaucoma surgery, oculoplastic surgery, and treatment of other eye diseases.

Dr. Crowder is a co-founder of SEE International. He retired from the surgical practice of ophthalmology in 1998 and has served as a past President of the Santa Barbara Eye Society, as well as of SEE International.

Caryl O. Crahan

Caryl O. Crahan is a PhD candidate at Cambridge University. She earned her Master’s degree in Labor and Industrial Relations at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Ms Crahan is the trustee for the Julia Stearns Dockweiler Foundation, and she has extensive experience with other Santa Barbara nonprofit and international organizations. Ms Crahan also sits on the Board of Directors at the Braille Institute of America and has chaired the Advisory Board of the Santa Barbara Regional Center of Braille Institute since 2006.

Barbara Gaughen-Muller

(Bio coming soon)

Lt. Col. Brian Kelly

Brian Kelly earned his Bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from Point Loma Nazarene University in 1989. He completed two Master’s programs, Aeronautical Science and Business Administration, at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Since 1999, Mr. Kelly has taught Management Information Systems and Logistics Infrastructure Management as an Associate Professor for Embry Riddle. Mr. Kelly completed US Navy Flight training from March 1990 to October 1991. He reported to his first active duty assignment with the Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) at Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii. During this tour, he completed a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf and a six-month deployment to Southeast Asia and was designated a Patrol Plane Commander and Mission Commander.

In 1998, Mr. Kelly separated from active duty and entered the civilian work force as a consultant to Fortune 500 companies. He also started a boutique winery called Pacific Ridge Vineyards. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, he was asked to become the 146th Airlift Wing Plans Officer, responsible for all mobilizations and deployments of personnel for the unit. Subsequently, he has held the positions of Chief of Tactics, Assistant Director of Operations for the 115th Airlift Squadron, and Director of Operations for the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in Afghanistan. He has been a member of SEE International’s board since 2002.

Mr. Kelly’s military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf cluster; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal; Combat Readiness Medal; National Defense Service Medal with one device; Southwest Asia Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Kuwaiti Liberation Medal; Kosovo Campaign Medal; Naval Expeditionary Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; and Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

Michael J. Paveloff, MD, FACS

Michael J. Paveloff, MD, FACS, works at his current practice at the Paveloff Vision Center in Santa Barbara. The University of Chicago awarded him Excellence in Patient Care during his residency. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Santa Barbara Eye Society, and Santa Barbara County Medical Society.

Dr. Paveloff currently sits on many local committees, including the Santa Barbara Surgery Center, the Braille Institute Planning Committee, the Liberty Program, and the Department of Ophthalmology at the Saint Francis Medical Center. Dr. Paveloff earned his Bachelor’s degree from University of California, Irvine and Medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago.

Dante J. Pieramici, MD

Dante J. Pieramici, MD is a Santa Barbara–based ophthalmologist who works out of California Retina Consultants. Dr. Pieramici holds a number of appointments: Vice President of the American Society of Ocular Trauma, Director of the California Eye Trauma Registry, Co-Director of the California Retina Research Foundation, and Visiting Assistant Professor of the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Past appointments include Secretary/Treasurer of the United States Eye Injury Registry, Assistant Professor for the Department of Ophthalmology at Yale University, and Director of the Wilmer Ocular Trauma Service.

Dr. Pieramici received his Bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology from Northwestern University and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University. He has written over 100 publications concerning eye disease.

George B. Primbs, MD, FACS

George B. Primbs, MD, FACS, is a researcher at the Neuroscience Institute at University of California, Santa Barbara; Clinical Professor of ophthalmology at UCLA; and President and Medical Director of the Santa Barbara Eye Foundation. Dr. Primbs’ previous professional positions include Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at UCLA, Clinical Instructor of Ophthalmology at UCLA, and holding a private ophthalmology practice in Santa Barbara from 1962 to 1995.

Patrick T. Welch

(Bio coming soon)

Sara Woodward

(Bio coming soon)