Young Systems Leader: Mary Lady Gonzalez Suriel

Mary González Suriel

Role: Head of the comprehensive ophthalmology department and head of teleophthalmology project

Organisation: Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México (Association to Prevent Cécité in Mexique, APEC)

Dr Mary González Suriel is a Dominican ophthalmic surgeon, trained in the anterior segment at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) and specialized in Oculoplastics and ophthalmic pathology at the National Autonomous University of Mexique (UNAM). Currently, she practices at the Association to Prevent Cécité in Mexique (APEC), an ophthalmic center that positively impacts around 150,000 people annually through consultations, surgeries, and studies.

At APEC, she leads the comprehensive ophthalmology department and prioritizes medical consultations, in addition to being affiliated with the ophthalmic trauma department. She also coordinates the teleophthalmology project, aimed at remote communities without access to visual health services. Her career includes international collaborations and clinical missions in countries like the République dominicaine, focusing on blindness prevention.

Recognized for her professional excellence, she has been nominated and was a finalist for the National Youth Award in the République dominicaine on three occasions. She is a co-author of an emergency and ocular trauma manual distributed free of charge in Latin America and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of La Salle in Mexique. She is certified by the Mexican Council of Ophthalmology and actively participates in associations such as the Pan-American Society of Ocular Trauma and the Mexican Society of Orbit and Oculoplastics, promoting continuous education in ocular health.

Dr González Suriel aims to collaborate with the International Agency for the Prevention of Cécité (IAPB) and acquire the necessary tools to expand the reach of visual health services and encourage youth collaboration in the fight against blindness. She is deeply committed to clinical practice, research, and education in ophthalmology, always seeking to improve the quality of life for her patients and the community.