Carolina Eye Associates (CEA) has announced that an endowment has been established in honor of Dr. Robert Gale Martin, a world-renowned ophthalmologist in the field of cataract and refractive surgery and the founder of CEA.

The endowment, created by Medical Ministry International (MMI), a nondenominational medical ministry, will provide scholarships to train ophthalmology residents from Third World countries. Once trained, the physicians promise to return to their native countries to provide eye care to indigent and working poor people.

"I am honored that MMI has established this endowment," Martin said. "The people served by the organization are the least and last on the economic scale. The health care that they [MMI] offer is usually all that is available to these people, so this is an important step and will help to provide more physicians to the neediest in our world."

MMI is committed to meet the need for medical care among the world's poor with lasting solutions through excellence in medicine, patient care and health education. MMI does this is by mobilizing volunteers on one- and two-week medical projects and by establishing and equipping permanent medical centers. One of the centers, located in the Dominican Republic, is currently training 27 ophthalmology residents.

"The short-term medical missions are staffed by volunteers and they serve a very real need, but we recognize the limitations of this program and want to advance the quality of care to our patients," said Dr. Donald R. Sanders, MMI board member. "This endowment allows us to train residents who will return to their countries and become permanent staff at the missions -- providing long-term and consistent care to many people."

Sanders said that MMI decided to establish the endowment in Martin's honor because he is so well-respected in the field.

"He's really one in a million -- a unique combination of strength, generosity and kindness -- and we thought this would be a very suitable honor for him," he said. "This is an opportunity for his patients and other physicians to show their appreciation for all he has done."

Formed originally as Medical Group Missions in 1967, Medical Ministry International provides two-week opportunities for volunteers to work in medical/dental/ surgical and eye projects. MMI encourages Christian spiritual development through devotions and prayers, evangelism and discipleship.

Since 1967, more than 35,000 volunteers have served in more than 40 countries.

MMI now is a joint ministry of Medical Ministry USA and Medical Group Missions, Canada, and is the world's largest short-term Christian medical mission organization.

Gifts to the endowment can may be made payable to MMI/Robert Gale Martin Endowment and mailed to MMI, P.O. Box 1339, Allen, TX 75013. All gifts are tax-deductible. MMI is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization and a member of the Christian Stewardship Association.

CEA is one of the largest eye centers in the Southeast with their doctors training hundreds of other doctors throughout the world. More than 375,000 patients have been treated since its founding in 1977, and patients have traveled from across the United States and over 20 foreign countries for care.

CEA has centers in Albemarle, Fayetteville, Laurinburg, Pine-hurst/Southern Pines, Sanford in North Carolina, and Cheraw, S.C.

Anyone wanting more information about CEA can visit www. carolinaeye.com or call 295-2100 or (800) 733-5357.

Claudia Watson is a Pinehurst freelance writer and may be reached at cwatson87@nc.rr.com