WELCOME TO THE SCHANZER EYE INSTITUTE
The Call to Mission
Dr. Cathy Schanzer first heard “The Call” to be an African missionary while in the third grade, listening to a Maryknoll priest describe his African missionary adventures. Her missionary dreams were finally realized in February 1988 when she and her husband, Tom Lewis, traveled to Nigeria where Cathy performed the first of her ultimate 10,000+ African eye surgeries. Over the years, Cathy and Tom worked in several African nations. Their efforts typically occurred in under-resourced facilities that gratefully accepted Cathy’s surgical skills, Tom’s assistance, and their donated medical/surgical supplies. However, in 2006 this pattern of mission work changed. At the invitation of Catholic Archbishop Joseph Ganda, Cathy and Tom developed and opened a modern, permanent eye care clinic in a remote village of Sierra Leone named Serabu.
Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu
For several months Tom supervised the renovation of a donated block building, adding water systems, electrical power, patient examination areas, an optical dispensary and a modern operating theatre, complete with state-of-the-art surgical equipment and air conditioning, something virtually unheard of in the “African Bush”, but necessary for the high-tech equipment. Cathy insisted that Serabu was to be a modern, 100% charity, eye care center.
On Cathy’s birthday, January 7, 2006, Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu opened with a dedication service led by Archbishop Ganda and included all-day and all-night celebrations. Today, Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu is open year-round, draws patients from seven West African countries, and provides diagnostic examinations, medicines, eye glasses and modern eye surgery, free of charge to all patients. It is not uncommon for patients to walk several days to reach Serabu for their eye care needs. Upwards of 100 clinic patients and 30 surgical patients per day is typical when our mission doctors are in Serabu. A Staff of 63 full-time employees keeps the main eye clinic and 10 satellite clinics operational, and supports numerous community development campaigns, including food and water programs, a twenty-station computer center, education scholarships from kindergarten to medical school, housing reconstruction, numerous sports and cultural events and USA student volunteer opportunities. And in this half-Christian, half Muslim community, there are significant faith-sharing experiences in a nurturing environment of mutual respect and love of God.
Schanzer Eye Institute
Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu is a joint effort, created by Cathy and Tom with the support of Catholic Mission of Sierra Leone. Since it opened in 2006, it continues to be a major resource for the needy people of Sierra Leone and West Africa. Catholic Mission contributed land and a small building, while Cathy and Tom built and continue to operate the Clinic as well as contribute and coordinate all financial support and solicitations through Schanzer Eye Institute, a USA based 501C3 charity organization. Before Cathy died in June, 2025, she asked all doctors that had ever worked with her in Serabu to cover for her in her absence. Twelve surgeons volunteered to continue their service to the Clinic and each mission team typically includes two or more volunteer surgeons. Southern Eye Clinic of Serabu continues to be blessed with excellent medical and surgical providers, strong financial support through Schanzer Eye Institute and the loving oversight of Dr. Cathy. For his part, Tom continues as Executive Director, overseeing all Clinic and Schanzer Eye Institute operations.