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Scholarship Established for SLU Ophthalmology Students in Global Studies 

by Debbie Dugan

When Michael Brush, M.D., (SOM ’00) decided to focus on ophthalmology during his third year at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, he never looked back. 

“I remember the first time using a slit lamp microscope, feeling clumsy and uncertain, but then being able to get a closer look at the front of the eye, observing cataract surgery, learning about LASIK, and many other moments,” said Brush. “Ophthalmology is an amazing field of medicine.”

A man pours water over a womans hands. They both wear scrubs and masks.

For the past five years, Michael Brush, M.D., (SOM ’00) has trained several junior faculty members in surgical skills at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, through the Cure Blindness Project. Contributed photo.

Brush has now served as the director of the ophthalmology department at Kaiser Permanente in Washington for over a decade. In 2025, he and his wife, A. J. Brush, Ph.D., established the Drs. Michael and A. J. Brush Endowed Fund for Global Ophthalmology. This named fund will provide financial support for SLU medical students and residents to gain hands-on experience in clinical care, research and service in underserved communities worldwide. 

“My goal for the fund is to give students and residents at SLU some freedom from financial concerns while exploring their interests in eye care in other countries,” Brush said. “Global ophthalmology can also involve local work that reaches underserved populations and provides education, free exams and other mission-based services.”

For the Brushes, giving people opportunities to become aware of what exists outside the United States early in their training or career can impart invaluable lessons, Brush said. He knows how vital those experiences can be for physicians’ careers. For the past five years, he has trained several junior faculty members in surgical skills at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, through the Cure Blindness Project. This spring marked the first time a SLU resident has accompanied him on his mission trip. He hopes to inspire other doctors to extend similar invitations, allowing multiple SLU students and residents to benefit from the funding each year.

Three people pose for a photo in front of a building. A sign above them on the building says eye centre.
Michael Brush, M.D., (SOM ’00) decided to focus on ophthalmology during his third year at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Contributed photo.

Brush also encourages fellow alumni to consider making a meaningful contribution to further SLU’s mission and world-class education.

“Think about your passion, what drives you to do what you do, and how you can make something like that more accessible to future generations and in partnership with SLU,” he said. 

“If you have something that you truly enjoy and have the passion to do it, and you want somebody else to get involved, make it a little easier for them,” he added. “For me, it’s about leaving a legacy that continues to help future generations long after I am retired and gone.”

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