First published September 29, 2026 by Cure Blindness Project
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has selected Cure Blindness Project Board Chair and 27-year volunteer Dr. Matthew Oliva as recipient of its 2026 AAO Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award.
The humanitarian award recognizes individuals or organizations for extraordinary efforts in promoting human welfare, alleviating suffering, and championing social justice. This honor celebrates those whose selfless actions and volunteerism make a profound, measurable difference in the lives of the underprivileged or those affected by crises. It acknowledges those who have performed above and beyond the typical duties of an ophthalmologist.
Dr. Oliva’s first exposure to international ophthalmology was as a medical student at the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1996, working in rural Tanzania with Johns Hopkins University, doing trachoma and glaucoma research. Two years later, he reached out to Cure Blindness Project co-founder Dr. Geoff Tabin.
Oliva worked alongside Tabin in Nepal and northern India at large surgical outreaches treating cataract blindness. “That’s when my lightbulb turned on,” he recalls. “This is what I want to do with my life.” Oliva has worked with the global non-profit that works to end avoidable blindness ever since. He currently travels quarterly to volunteer.
Dr. Oliva leads clinical operations in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somaliland for Cure Blindness Project as well as teaching residents from the countries where the organization works. These efforts are strengthening current health systems working towards self-sustainability.
The thing that keeps me going is the number of blind people in the world and seeing the young doctors, nurses and ophthalmic assistants succeed. It’s super inspiring to me to be a part of it and to continue to grow my skills.
— Dr. Matthew Oliva
Last year, Cure Blindness Project celebrated its most impactful year to date, with 315,000 sight-restoring surgeries. Founded as Himalayan Cataract Project, Cure Blindness Project today celebrates more than 30 years of restoring sight. What began in Nepal has grown into a global effort reaching more than 30 countries through high-quality eye care, education, and the development of world-class eye care infrastructure.
Together with partners, Cure Blindness Project has provided more than 2 million sight-restoring surgeries and screenings and basic care to more than 20 million people. Dr. Oliva has personally performed over 50,000 cataract surgeries.
Describing his more than 27 years with Cure Blindness Project as “exhilarating, meaningful and challenging,” Dr. Oliva is thankful for the opportunity to do this work that fulfills “why I wanted to be a doctor.”
The Academy’s own announcement of the award notes several further parts of Dr. Oliva’s record. His work with the U.N. Millennium Villages program deepened his understanding of the link between blindness and poverty and shaped his long-term focus on sustainable access to care. He has supported residency programs in Ethiopia, helped found Eritrea’s first ophthalmology residency, and advanced subspecialty development in Somaliland. He has taught advanced surgical techniques across Asia and Africa and has taken a leading role in major international eye banking initiatives.
Dr. Oliva earned his medical degree at the University of Washington School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency, and did a fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. He practices at the Medical Eye Center in Medford, Oregon, and is an affiliate assistant professor at the Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health & Science University.
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