Victoria Sheffield elected as new IAPB Vice President

Victoria Sheffield, President and CEO of eye care NGO and IAPB member the International Eye Foundation (IEF), is the new IAPB Vice President after being elected by the membership via online ballot.

Ms. Sheffield has 45 years experience in ophthalmology and international blindness prevention. After service as a Viet Nam era veteran in the US Air Force Medical Corps, she trained as a Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist at the Georgetown University Medical School in Washington, DC. Ms. Sheffield joined IEF in 1979 as Assistant Director for Paramedical Training Programs living and working in Kenya for three years. In 1984, she joined Helen Keller International as Director of Technical, Educational, and Scientific Services where she consulted with the WHO’s “Programme for Prevention of Blindness” and worked closely with UNICEF during the drought and famine in Ethiopia and Sudan in 1985/1986 battling vitamin A deficiency and trachoma. She has held leadership positions within IAPB, VISION2020/USA, InterAction, AAO committees, the IPOSC Advisory Board, and the Board of the St. John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital. Among her numerous awards and citations are the 2010 “Prince Abdulaziz Ahmad Al Saud Prevention of Blindness Award” from MEACO, and the AAO Senior Achievement Award in 2014.

Ms. Sheffield replaces Johannes Trimmel who recently stepped down having held the position since 2012. She will be in place for one year until all Officers’ roles will be up for election at the General Assembly.