At UAB Callahan Eye Hospital & Clinics and the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, we are focused on delivering innovative eye care and pioneering breakthroughs in the preservation and restoration of sight. In 2019, we served over 160,000 adult and pediatric patients, expanded our satellite clinics to nine locations to create more access to care, performed over 14,000 surgical procedures, and treated 7,100 patients in our emergency department – the only freestanding Level 1 Ocular Trauma Center in the country.
With this excellence in hand, the hospital looks to the future of clinical care as we plan for the next generation of advancements and insight through the creation of the 20/20 Initiative.
Working Together for Greater Impact
The 20/20 Initiative is a philanthropic campaign with a goal of raising $25 million from individual donors, foundations, and community members to support five key areas: faculty support, research and innovation, enhancing facilities, resident education, and program support.
Already, $15 million of the campaign has been raised through a commitment among the EyeSight Foundation of Alabama, the International Retinal Research Foundation, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This significant commitment serves as a springboard, catapulting us to the next phase of our 20/20 Initiative: raising $10 million from the community and individual donors.
UAB Callahan Eye Hospital & Clinics continues to see more and more patients each day as the demand for vision care services increases. With the need for services comes the need for more space, equipment, and renovation of facilities. We have always been committed to serving our community, and we will continue this endeavor through the 20/20 Initiative. This initiative is aimed to support five key areas: faculty support, research and innovation, enhancing facilities, resident education, and assisting program areas.
Video filmed prior to COVID-19.
A Legacy of Giving
In 1963, Alston Callahan, MD, founded the Eye Foundation Hospital, now known as Callahan Eye Hospital & Clinics, which is the first facility in Alabama dedicated to the care and the treatment of the eye. The hospital wasn’t built with a standard loan but through the support of philanthropic giving. Dr. Callahan was able to raise all of the funds needed to build the hospital through grateful patients and charitable giving.
Callahan Eye Hospital is the only freestanding Level One Trauma Center in the country and is aligned to serving the community through several satellite clinic locations. Together, this team is committed to making a difference. This is the only facility in Alabama that’s three-pronged mission focuses on ground-breaking discoveries, high-quality patient care, and a comprehensive education. We will continue this journey together, and we invite you to join us on the road ahead through the 20/20 Initiative.
The stakes are at an all-time high, and the time to make a difference is now. Community partners have the opportunity to support any of our five key areas and make an impact on their community, their loved ones, and the world. With your help, we believe our efforts can extend further than ever before. If you are interested in touring our hospital or learning more about our internationally recognized facility, please reach out to Morgan Quarles, development officer, at 205.325.8112 or nmrobinson@uabmc.edu. We hope you decide to join us on our journey.