Eye Need View – Humanitarian Eye Screening Mission in Kenya

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Julie Bay, a first-year orthoptics student, will be leaving for a humanitarian mission in Kenya from October 30 to November 14, 2021. The goal of this mission is to provide free vision screenings for children in schools in Taïta.

A project by the Eye Need View association

Eye Need View is a nonprofit organization established in 2014 by three orthoptists under the French Law of 1901. Its mission is to organize vision screening, refraction, and training initiatives in the field of eye health in developing countries.

For the first time, Eye Need View is calling on visual health students to carry out its next humanitarian mission in Kenya. Five students from the fourteen orthoptics departments across France are participating in this project.

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The School of Medicine, represented by Julie Bay

And this year, a first-year orthoptics student at the Montpellier-Nîmes School of Medicine was selected for this assignment. She was recruited after submitting her resume and cover letter, and she will represent the School and the University of Montpellier throughout this assignment. We had the opportunity to meet her:

Hi Julie, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Julie Bay, I’m 29 years old, and I’m originally from Réunion Island. After earning my BTS in Optometry and gaining several years of professional experience in that field, I decided to change careers and become an orthoptist. I am currently a student at the Montpellier-Nîmes School of Medicine.

How did you hear about the Eye Need View project?

As I have a strong interest in the field of vision health and humanitarian work, I regularly kept up with the latest news on these topics. One day, I saw the call for proposals from the FFEO (French Federation of Orthoptics Students) regarding the Eye Need View mission, and I decided to apply because this project perfectly matched my expectations.

Why did you want to take part in this humanitarian mission?

First of all, humanitarian work has always appealed to me; I’ve always been committed to using my skills to help others. The people around me have always encouraged me to get involved in charitable causes. Even back in Réunion, I was part of an organization—along with my family—that helped underprivileged people. What’s great about this project is that it allows me to combine my work with my desire to help others. I’ve already carried out humanitarian screening missions in Paris with Vision For Life for underprivileged people. This helps me grow both personally and professionally.

People don’t always realize this, but 10% of children have a vision problem by age 6 and are not receiving treatment. Vision problems have a significant impact on children, particularly when it comes to learning. That’s why this mission is so important to me.

How did you finance your humanitarian mission?

The cost of the trip is estimated at 9,000€ for all participating students. We received 6,000€ in support from our partners. I also received funding from the University of Montpellier’s Solidarity and Student Initiative Development Fund (FSDIE), which aims to support students with projects in various fields.

Finally, we're going to set up an online fundraiser to raise the remaining funds we need.

The Mission Timeline

The goal during the two-week mission is to screen 2,500 children in schools in the village of Taïta, in southern Kenya. To make this possible, the mission is divided into several stages:

  • The Glasses Drive

    The first step of the mission is to collect as many pairs of children’s glasses as possible. The goal is to collect at least 500 pairs before the mission begins, so that a wide range of prescription options will be available on site.

  • Sorting Eyeglasses

    Once all the glasses have been collected, the students will need to clean, sort, and label them so that distribution during the mission is as simple and quick as possible.

  • Departure for the mission

    After these two crucial steps, the students will finally fly from Paris to Nairobi, Kenya.

    For two weeks, they will travel throughout the village of Taïta to visit children in schools and conduct vision screenings. Children who need corrective eyewear will be provided with glasses immediately.

  • Return to France

    After their mission, the students will return to France to attend the FFEO conference in Paris and present the results of this initiative. In this way, they hope to raise the profile of their respective faculties and inspire other students to participate in humanitarian missions.

Support Julie's project

The Eye Need View organization and the students participating in this humanitarian project are committed to making this mission a success. You can support them in two different ways:

  • Through the eyeglass donation drive: Collection boxes are available on the Arnaud de Villeneuve Campus to collect children’s eyeglasses.
  • Through a financial donation: You can make a donation to help fund this humanitarian mission by clicking this button.
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Interview with photographer Cédric Matet for the exhibition “Man in His Garden”

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As part of the 800th-anniversary celebrations, a photography exhibition will take place from July 10 to October 10. Curated by renowned photographer CédricMATET, it will be held at the Jardin des Plantes. In 2020, this photographer also curated the exhibition “Behind the Masks,” whichfeatures200 portraits of medical personnel.

Practical Information

 

View the press kit

"People in Their Gardens"

The title of the exhibition is fundamentally linked to itscontent. In fact, for this exhibition, the artist chose to work with anatomical specimens from the Faculty’s anatomy collection. To better understand his project, we interviewed the photographer.

 

What is your background?

I’m originally fromSète. I attended a design school in Montpellier that is now called ESMA. After that, I enrolled at the Gobelins School of Visual Arts in Paris. Later, I went back to school to earn a master’s degree in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development because I’m interested in cities. In the meantime, I’ve been working in art direction and design at various communications agencies.

What interests me is connecting art to the city, to maps, to cartography, and to people. In my view, an artist must be rooted in their context: urban, political, and human.

 

Can you tell us about the “Behind the Masks” project?

It was GéraldCHANQUES, a professor at the faculty and a doctor atSaint EloiHospital, who contacted me and proposed this project. I wanted to convey a vision ofwhat healthcare providers can be and the commitments they make. 

 

How would you describe yourself?

If I had to define myself and my work, I would talk abouttransdisciplinarity. I am a photographer, but I’m also a visual artist; I enjoy working with various materials and collaborating with people from different fields.

 

Can you tell us about your new exhibition, “Man in His Garden”?

It’s been a while since I first thought of writing about the Jardin des Plantes, but I’ve always had a real passion for the anatomy museum I visited when I was a student. Being able to explore botany through the garden, but also to explore humanity and research on the human body—I think that’s fabulous. The project was a collaboration between the two of us, once again with ProfessorCHANQUES.

This project is interesting becauseit takes me out of my comfort zone;I usuallytake portraits, but that’s not the case here.
Furthermore, since all the rooms are designated as heritage sites, I have a special relationship with the curator. She’s the third subject of this project—I can’t work without her. Usually, I direct my model,but here I can’t because of the piece’s fragility—every movement must be carried out by the curator.
It’sinteresting becausethe artwork and the garden exist independently of me. 

There are three of us working on this project: Jane, who creates digital art and is a videographer; Luc, who does motion design, among other things; and me, who works with visuals and handles the art direction for the whole project. None of us knows what the final result will be.

 

How did you choose the anatomical structures?

I first sought advice from ProfessorCHANQUES and the curators to find out which pieces are emblematic of the conservatory. I didn’t choose the pieces based on their aesthetic appeal, since the goal of this exhibition is to tell a story and convey meaning.
The only exception to this is a bust we found—no one knows the identity of the person depicted, its history, or the era it comes from. I found it fragile and touching, so I decided to include it. It’s the only piece I selected based on a gut feeling.

There are some pieces that,unfortunately, we were unable to include because of their fragility. I was also drawn to other pieces, but they didn’t depict the human body and therefore strayed from the subject. I’ll explore those later for another, more personal project.

Some pieces are also too heavy to move. However, that’s part of the exhibition’s story.
For some pieces that we couldn’t bring out to the Jardin des Plantes, we brought the Jardin to them by using branches and foliage.

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Summer Tours at the Jardin des Plantes

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For the past 10 years, the Jardin des Plantes has been organizing summer tours to help the general public learn more about our botanical garden. Check out the summer 2021 program.

 

Tours for all ages

 

Open to everyone, the Jardin des Plantes’ summer tours cover a variety of themes:
  • The medicinal plant collections at the Jardin des Plantes
  • Richer Mountain: Where History and Ecology Meet
  • The Martins Greenhouse and Its Collection of Succulents
  • Tours of the Permaculture Edible Garden
  • Herbs and the Senses

Practical Information

ADDRESS

Henri IV Boulevard,

34000 Montpellier

  • Free admission

  • No registrations

  • Please arrive 10 minutes before the tour begins

PROGRAM
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Contemporary Art Exhibition to Celebrate the 800th Anniversary

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One hundred years ago, students from the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine unveiled works of art in the Jardin des Plantes and its historic building to celebrate the 7th centennial. To recreate this symbolic gesture on the occasion of the 800th anniversary, an association was founded by current students in 2019.

The Birth of an Association

To carry out this project,the Association Carabine Montpelliéraine (ACM) and the Syndicat des Internes du Languedoc-Roussillon (SIRL) have joined forces to createthe Association for a Historic Ceremony of Montpellier Medical Students (ACHEMM). The association consists of 19 members and is chaired by Allan Guilliey, a fourth-year medical student. The association’s goal is to bring the project to fruition, from concept to completion, including the search for artists who will exhibit their works at the new Arnaud de Villeneuve Campus.

An event redesigned in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Originally, this exhibition was to be launched with a gala organized by ACHEMM students. Numerous European institutions were to be invited to the event in late 2020, and the association had the opportunity to speak at the COIMBRA Group conference, initially scheduled for June 2020. Founded in 1985, this group aims to bring together and promote excellence among European universities, with the goal of sustaining high standards of education, research, and academic mobility on an international level, while fostering unique cultural ties.
Unfortunately, due to health restrictions that have forced a rethinking of the event, an opening reception for the exhibition will now take place in July 2021 to showcase the students’ work.

A colossal undertaking

To carry out this project, the students in the association had to invest a great deal of their time and energy. To showcase meaningful works, the students issued a call for submissions to local artists. About twenty artists submitted their work; the students then selected thirteen of them based on which pieces seemed artistically most suited to the project.

Next, the association’s members had to approach local governments to secure funding to pay the artists. These institutions were invaluable in helping to bring this project to fruition.

Ultimately, a tremendous amount of organizational work was carried out over the course of these two years to showcase this exhibition and, through it, the history of the Faculty.

Transmission as a common thread

The theme of this exhibition is transmission. Indeed, in 2017, the 800-year-old Faculty was enriched by a new, state-of-the-art campus: the Arnaud de Villeneuve Campus. The works in this exhibition bridge the gap between these two sites, combining the classical and the modern, realism and abstraction, to represent both locations and, through them, both eras.

The centerpiece of this exhibition, created by Nicolas Daubanes, is a DNA molecule—a reminder that, although the Faculty is spread across different sites, all of these campuses share the same DNA and are part of its history.

Artists and Their Works

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Visit the exhibition

Guided tours will be offered on Saturday, July 10, and Sunday, July 11, starting at 2:00 p.m. They will be conducted in accordance with public health guidelines. Registration is required:

 

Saturday Registration
Sunday Registration

The association would like to thank all of its partners (the DRAC, the FRAC, the Hérault Department, the Occitanie Region, Pumkin, the CROUS, the University of Montpellier, the Montpellier Metropolitan Area, and the City of Montpellier) for their support, as well as Professor Gérald CHANQUES and the faculty staff who worked to ensure the smooth running of this project. 

View the press kit
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Exhibition: “The Founders of the 20th-Century School of Medicine”

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In 2016 and 2018, Ms. Barjon and Ms. Blanc, daughters of former Dean Gaston Giraud, bequeathed their father’s archives to the University of Montpellier. Thanks to these archives, we are now able to present an exhibition on the evolution of the Faculty’s various buildings and sites since its 700th anniversary, commemorated in 1921.

 

An exhibition divided into several sections

This exhibition, organized by the University of Montpellier’s Archives Department (Sophie Dikoff, Antoine Redouly, and Gwendoline Perrault) in collaboration with Ms. Barjon and Professor Dedet—and with the special participation of Dean Jacques Bringer, Professor Daniel Jarry, and Mr. Serge Caminade—will focus on the evolution of the various buildings and sites that make up the Faculty: the Historic Building, the Institute of Biology, the extensions in Nîmes and on the northern site of Montpellier (the UPM and the Arnaud de Villeneuve campus building), and finally the Jardin des Plantes.

Dive into the heart of the archives

Thanks to donations from the family of former Dean Giraud, this exhibition features a wealth of photographs. You can admire photos of the old buildings and gain an appreciation of how their architecture has evolved over time. The exhibition also showcases other documents that shed light on the buildings’ development, such as architectural plans, handwritten letters, and postcards…

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A large-scale project

To mark the occasion, we spoke with Sophie Dikoff, the archivist in charge of this exhibition, to learn how it was put together.

Could you tell us about your job?

My role as an archivist at the University of Montpellier is to assist all departments in managing their archives in accordance with current legislation governing public archives. I carry out this mission in collaboration with the Hérault Departmental Archives, which provides scientific and technical oversight. Archives serve to document changes—whether architectural, societal, or otherwise…

 

Where do the archival materials in this exhibition come from?

Most of these items come from donations by Dean Giraud’s family. Indeed, the dean kept many documents related to his various projects, both in his capacity as dean of the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine and in his personal capacity, as he was passionate about the history of medicine and the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine. The remaining archival materials come from the University’s image collection, the University’s photo library, and that of the Conference of University Presidents, which have been supplemented by photographs taken for the exhibition.

 

How long did it take you to prepare this exhibition?

The exhibition was originally scheduled to take place in October 2020, but due to health restrictions, we had to postpone it. So I’ve been working on this project since around the beginning of 2020. The process is very time-consuming, as it first requires conducting research to understand the various aspects of the subject (searching archives, reading, meeting with experts), selecting the most interesting documents, obtaining permission to use photos in accordance with copyright laws, writing texts, and determining a visitor route. For the exhibition design, we enlisted the help of a professional exhibition designer, André Dumonnet. For this exhibition, the approach was to organize the presentation by building and then in chronological order. One panel presents a timeline covering all buildings and sites.

 

An exhibition open to everyone

The exhibition, which will run from June 18, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. to July 21, 2021, at 6:00 p.m., is free of charge. Self-guided tours will be available Wednesday through Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with guided tours available on Saturdays from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

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Multidisciplinary University Health Centers: An Assessment and Outlook

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"The Avicenne Multidisciplinary University Health Center (MSPU) was inaugurated in Cabestany, near Perpignan, in 2018. In June 2021, two additional MSPUs were added to this regional network. To mark this opening, a formal ceremony was held on Thursday, May 27 to review the Cabestany MSPU and present the plans for the two new MSPUs.”

 

MSPU: What is it?

A Multidisciplinary Health Center is a multiprofessional health center that has entered into an agreement with the Regional Health Agency (ARS) and a university with a medical program to promote training and research in primary care. 

 

Avicenne's MSPU: A Positive Assessment

This MSPU, led by Dr. Mark OUDE ENGBERIK and comprising some 30 healthcare professionals from various fields, has carried out several projects over the past five years. Two major projects were discussed at this conference:

  • The TSAPPproject, which aims to train healthcare professionals on providing access to care for people with disabilities.
  • The SPES (Primary Care, Environment, and Health) project, which aims to promote health and environmental awareness among professionals and the general public.

In terms of academic programs, this MSPU has 16 clinical instructors in various fields of health care and accepts 6 to 10 interns per year.

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Two new MSPUs in the region

Following the success of the projects carried out by the Avicenne MSPU, two other centers were opened in the region to meet local needs in this area.

  • MSPU LA SOURCE

    • Opened in February 2020, this MSPU is located in Vergèze and is managed by Dr. Céline Varraut.
    • It has 25 professionals working in 10 different healthcare fields
    • It focuses its objectives on three main areas: the region, training, and care

  • MSPU Pauline Lataud

    • This MSPU operates at multiple locations; it has facilities in Castries, Prades-le-Lez, Saint-Georges-d’Orques, and Vendargues, and is managed by Dr. Philippe Lognos.
    • It has 50 professionals working in 9 different healthcare fields
    • It also focuses its objectives on the same themes as the previous one.

A joint project is taking shape around these three MSPUs: to build a research network and make the service accessible to local residents.

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Webinar for Primary Care Physicians: PrEP in Community Settings

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Following the HAS’s approval of the initial prescription of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in community settings, the University Departments of General Medicine in Toulouse and Montpellier, along with COREVIH Occitanie (Regional Coordination Committee for the Fight Against STIs and HIV), are hosting an online themed evening on HIV prevention—specifically through PrEP—STIs, and addiction issues related to sexual health.

 

Webinar Agenda

The webinar will take place on Monday, June 14, at 8:00 p.m. It is intended for general practitioners practicing in the Occitanie region.
The moderators for this event will be Julie Dupouy (MCUPH, DUMG Toulouse), Beatrice Lognos (MCUPH, DUMG Montpellier), and Marie Bistoquet (COREVIH physician).

  • Introduction and COREVIH in a Nutshell (moderators)

  • Epidemiology of HIV and STIs in 2020 (France, Occitanie, Cities) (Alain Makinson, President of COREVIH, Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases, Montpellier) (15 minutes)

  • STIs: Treatment and Vaccination (Dr. Pauline Lansalot Matras, COREVIH Physician) (20 minutes)

  • PrEP: What Do the Studies Say? (Prof. Pierre Delobel, Infectious Diseases, Toulouse) (20 minutes)

  • Diverse Prevention Strategies and PrEP in Practice (Dr. Cyril Perrollaz, CeGIDD Montpellier), (15 minutes)

  • Psychoactive Substances and Sexual Performance: Chemsex (Prof. Hélène Rigole, Montpellier Addiction Center) (20 minutes)

  • Prep and Prevention in the City: What I Do (Dr. Julien Artigny, DUMG Toulouse) (20 minutes)

  • Summary and Q&A (30 minutes)

Attend the webinar
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800 Years: Come get a thrill as you take part in a real-life mystery investigation!

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The celebration of our Faculty’s 800th anniversary continues with a new, fun-filled event! Join the team at the Manoir du Crime on Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6, for unforgettable evenings full of thrills…

A Full-Scale Investigation

This historic building will be the setting for a life-size game. Fans of Cluedo and mystery shows, put on your best detective outfit to solve the mysteries of theTroupe du Manoir!

The year is 1806. Gabriel Prunelle is traveling the roads of the Empire, gathering a large collection of books to build a one-of-a-kind library.
But meanwhile, in Montpellier, something sinister is brewing at the university. One of the books acquired by Mr. Prunelle is at the center of a macabre discovery. 
Will you be able to get to the bottom of this story?

This “Soirée du Crime” marks the return of the Manoir du Crime Association after several months of anticipation.
And the Manoir Troupe is celebrating its return in partnership with the University of Montpellier and the School of Medicine.
To mark the faculty’s 800th anniversary, we are once again delighted to welcome you to the prestigious setting of the anatomy amphitheater in the historic building located across from the Jardin des Plantes.

A demonstration that adheres to safety guidelines

We want to ensure you have a wonderful evening in an incredible setting while complying with health guidelines, so here are the rules to follow:

– Masks are required for everyone, including members of the Troupe.
– Hand sanitizer will be available. Please feel free to use it.
– Teams of 6 players will be formed to comply with the current “Rule of 6”
– Teams will be spread out throughout the auditorium to ensure social distancing
– The evening’s “assistants” (members of the Troupe du Manoir) will wear gloves when handing out event materials.
– Part of the evening will take place outdoors, in the main courtyard.

An event requiring registration

Two sessions are offered:

  • Saturday June 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Sunday June 6, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Flat rate: 20€

Registration
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#800YearsOfMontpellierMedicine: Resumption of Conferences Announced

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The University of Medicine of Montpellier is the oldest university medical school in the world. It celebrated its 800th anniversary on August 17, 2020. To mark the occasion, a series of events was scheduled to take place throughout 2020. Due to the current health situation, these events had to be postponed to 2021. The 800th anniversary is being marked by numerous events that will take place through the end of the year. Among them are five scientific or academic conferences, which will be held either remotely or in person on the university campus.
Learn more about them below:

  • The SFHST Symposium

    April 21–24, 2021

    This year, the French Society for the History of Science and Technology (SFHST) has chosen Montpellier to host its triennial conference and thus take part in the events marking the 800th anniversary. Held entirely online, this conference brings together professors and leading experts from across Europe.

  • May 29, 2021, 10:00 a.m.

     This event, open to the general public, will tell the story of the great doctors from Montpellier in the modern world. It will take place in the historic building of the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine.

    In-Person Registration

    Attend the conference remotely

    The faculty is writing its contemporary history

  • Symposium on Medicine and Judaism

  • Gui de Chauliac Symposium

  • SFHM Meeting

    June 18 and 19, 2021

    The Montpellier Society for the History of Medicine (SMHM) and the French Society for the History of Medicine (SFHM) are joining forces to host a joint conference celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Montpellier School of Medicine.

 

Check out the program for each event and registration details on the 800th Anniversary website.

The 800th Anniversary Website

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