PCO/Salus Alum Dr. Algernon Phillips Was Committed to Global Service
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PCO/Salus Alum Dr. Algernon Phillips Was Committed to Global Service
Algernon Phillips, OD ‘69, MD, Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) alumni and trailblazer for PCO/Salus University’s commitment to global service passed away on December 29, 2023.
Dr. Phillips had a tremendous impact on the University; as the founder of PCO’s Student Optometric Service to Humanity (SOSH) chapter, he paved the way for the global healthcare impact PCO maintains today.
In 1968, Dr. Phillips planned the PCO Chapter of SOSH’s first humanitarian trip to Haiti after seeing the country’s need for vision care.
This initial trial humanitarian optometric program in Haiti, based in the commune of Cap-Haïtien, took place over the two-week Christmas holiday of 1968-1969. The students on the trip cared for approximately 1,000 people and provided 600 pairs of glasses.
In more than 50 years of service, SOSH has continued participating in humanitarian efforts to provide healthcare to underserved populations and has screened, examined, and treated thousands of people abroad.
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