| Serving Africa... One Eye at a Time |
Dr. Cathy Schanzer, Director, Chairman and Medical Director
As an ophthalmologist/surgeon, her medical mission efforts have included work in Nigeria, Zimbabwe,
Mozambique and Sierra Leone. Working with existing programs in these various countries. We began
working in Sierra Leone in 2000, just as a tragic ten-year civil war was ending. In 2006 we established
Southern Eye Clinic in Serabu which is located in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, approximately
150 miles southeast of the capital city, Freetown. Cathy attended the University of Texas School of
Medicine in Houston, Texas and completed her ophthalmology training at Baylor College of Medicine.
Cathy is also the Medical Director of Southern Eye Associates, a medical/surgical eye care practice in
Memphis.
Rev. Joe Geary, Director, Vice President
Rev. Joe Geary isa bishop in the Methodist Church and is located in Paris Tennessee. In
addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Rev. Geary has led volunteer missions to Africa since 1995. His
mission work for the last several years has been in Sierra Leone. He is very familiar with the work of SEI
in Sierra Leone and is a strong supporter of these efforts.
Sam Pieh , Director, Member at Large
Sam Pieh is a business man and teacher. A native of Sierra Leone, Mr. Pieh has dual citizenship with the
United States. He is a former member of Rev. Joe Geary’s church community and has co-led numerous
mission trips to Africa for the Methodist Church. It was Mr. Pieh’s influence that first led Cathy and Tom to
Sierra Leone.
Tom Lewis, Executive Director
Tom Lewis received an undergraduate degree from Rice University and a Masters Degree in Health Care
Administration from Trinity University. For twenty years he was a senior health care executive for various
companies, including President and CEO of Omega Health Systems, Inc., a public health care company.
Tom left the business world in 2000 and began working full-time in support of the Southern Eye
missionary efforts. Tom has accompanied Cathy on every mission trip since 1988, oversees the day-to-
day operations of Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu and coordinated all development activities of Southern
Eye Institute.
As an ophthalmologist/surgeon, her medical mission efforts have included work in Nigeria, Zimbabwe,
Mozambique and Sierra Leone. Working with existing programs in these various countries. We began
working in Sierra Leone in 2000, just as a tragic ten-year civil war was ending. In 2006 we established
Southern Eye Clinic in Serabu which is located in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, approximately
150 miles southeast of the capital city, Freetown. Cathy attended the University of Texas School of
Medicine in Houston, Texas and completed her ophthalmology training at Baylor College of Medicine.
Cathy is also the Medical Director of Southern Eye Associates, a medical/surgical eye care practice in
Memphis.
Rev. Joe Geary, Director, Vice President
Rev. Joe Geary isa bishop in the Methodist Church and is located in Paris Tennessee. In
addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Rev. Geary has led volunteer missions to Africa since 1995. His
mission work for the last several years has been in Sierra Leone. He is very familiar with the work of SEI
in Sierra Leone and is a strong supporter of these efforts.
Sam Pieh , Director, Member at Large
Sam Pieh is a business man and teacher. A native of Sierra Leone, Mr. Pieh has dual citizenship with the
United States. He is a former member of Rev. Joe Geary’s church community and has co-led numerous
mission trips to Africa for the Methodist Church. It was Mr. Pieh’s influence that first led Cathy and Tom to
Sierra Leone.
Tom Lewis, Executive Director
Tom Lewis received an undergraduate degree from Rice University and a Masters Degree in Health Care
Administration from Trinity University. For twenty years he was a senior health care executive for various
companies, including President and CEO of Omega Health Systems, Inc., a public health care company.
Tom left the business world in 2000 and began working full-time in support of the Southern Eye
missionary efforts. Tom has accompanied Cathy on every mission trip since 1988, oversees the day-to-
day operations of Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu and coordinated all development activities of Southern
Eye Institute.
Directors and Officers
Copyright 2012 Southern Eye Institute
Directors
Brad Scharff, Southern Eye Institute Coordinator
Brad Scharff joined Southern Eye Institute as its new mission coordinator. Brad is from Memphis, TN
where he attended the University of Memphis and received a Master's in Education from Union
University. Brad comes to us from his extensive experience at Catholic Charities of West Tennessee
Foundation.
Brad Scharff joined Southern Eye Institute as its new mission coordinator. Brad is from Memphis, TN
where he attended the University of Memphis and received a Master's in Education from Union
University. Brad comes to us from his extensive experience at Catholic Charities of West Tennessee
Foundation.
