Hudson Valley Hospital Center Ophthalmologist Travels to Haiti

Cortlandt Manor, NY - (January 10, 2012) – When Dr. Kayvan Kehani traveled to the Philippines in 2010 to perform ocular surgery on a remote island six hours from  mainland Manila, he didn’t know what to expect.

“People traveled for days to get to our clinic and then waited on line for hours just to see us,’’ said Dr. Keyhani, who practices in Yorktown Heights and is a Somers resident. “The trouble with a lot of these third world countries is that there is little or no health care, especially in rural areas. It is very difficult.’’

Now two years later, Dr. Keyhani has a better idea of what to expect when he lands in Haiti on February 17 as part of a 10-day mission with Hands up for Haiti, a medical humanitarian organization that brings badly needed medical care to remote areas of Haiti. Dr. Keyhani, an ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon on staff a HVHC, will be performing plastic surgery on children with eye deformities in rural Cap Haitien, on the northeast coast of Haiti about 3 hours from Port Au Prince.

Dr. Keyhani said that his team with include other local physicians and that they have already received photos of some of their patients.

“The pictures of these people are really striking, some of them terrible,’’ said Dr. Keyhani. “Haiti is among some of the poorest countries so there is little medical care available.’’ 

John Federspiel, President of Hudson Valley Hospital Center, said that Dr. Keyhani is among many physicians and staff at Hudson Valley Hospital Center who donate their time to performing community service. 

“I commend Dr. Keyhani and all of our staff who donate their time and expertise to helping those in need,’’ said Federspiel. “Hudson Valley Hospital Center has a culture which encourages our medical staff to perform community service.’’

Dr. Keyhani said that although this will be his first time traveling to Haiti to perform surgery, he has been on two medical missions to the Philippines, one in March 2010 and one in February of 2011. He said both were very rewarding experiences, and that he expects this mission to be equally rewarding.

Dr Keyhani specializes in reconstructive oculoplastic surgery including the repair of eyelids that turn in (entropion) or out (ectropion), drooping eyelids (ptosis), and eyelids damaged by a tumor or trauma. He also performs tear duct surgery to open blocked tear duct channels. Oculoplastics also includes the management of diseases and trauma to the orbit such as thyroid eye disease (Graves Disease). 

Dr. Keyhani attended medical school at Ohio State University of Medicine and completed his residency at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. He completed his fellowship at the University of Vermont, Ophthalmic Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery. His offices are at 3505 Hill Boulevard in Yorktown Heights.