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“I came into this world with nothing, and all I’m going to leave with is my conscience.”

- Dr. Taylor's godfather

Garth Taylor
A heroic Fighter Against Global Blindness

By The Ambassadors Research Foundation

The brilliant, humble, outspoken, kind-hearted, and generous ophthalmologist and humanitarian, Garth Alfred Taylor was born in Jamaica on April 29, 1944. He died last November after emergency surgery at the Ottawa Heart Institute. He had taken his skills to more than 40 countries, where he treated thousands of patients and trained many doctors and surgeons. The ophthalmologist from Cornwall, Ontario, joined the new flying eye hospital as a volunteer, committed to curing blindness and eye diseases in developing countries. Two years later, he became president of Orbis Canada, focusing on eliminating preventable blindness around the world. Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, converted DC-10 with a high-tech mobile surgeon suite and lecture theatre, as the world's only airborne eye hospital and training facility. At the time of his death, Dr. Taylor completed 111 missions with Orbis, the last being to China. He trained many doctors and surgeons in cornea, cataract and refractive procedures, including the treatment of ocular parasites in more than 40 countries.

Orbis is an international non-profit humanitarian agency (www.orbis.org) that grew from a vision that Houston ophthalmologist David Patton had established more than 20 years ago. The current president of Orbis Canada, is the famous Ottawa retina surgeon, Brian Leonard, who interned with Dr. Taylor at Ottawa Civic Hospital, mentioned, "we considered him a legend. No one knew more about global blindness. The ORBIS team is devastated by the loss of our dear friend and colleague. Dr. Taylor gave his life completely to the service of others. A humanitarian, Dr. Taylor truly embodied the spirit of ORBIS, working tirelessly so that no human being should be needlessly blind. He will be greatly missed. On behalf of the ORBIS family around the globe, we extend our deepest sympathies to Dr. Taylor's family and loved ones." The WHO estimated there are about 54 million people in the planet and 135 million with low vision: 90% of the world's blind live in developing countries, with 9 million in India, 6 million in China, and 7 million in Africa.

Dr. Taylor was convinced that as much as 80% of global blindness is avoidable - 60% treatable and 20% preventable. He repeatedly mentioned, "Tell me and I will forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I will understand."

In 1976, after becoming the first black ophthalmologist to graduate from Queens University, he became a pioneer in cornea transplants and laser-eye surgery. Soon he became chief of ophthalmology at Cornwall Community Hospital and a lecturer at Queens University. After joining Orbis and volunteering in the third world, he recruited other Canadians as volunteer surgeons and staff.

He was also a co-founder of CanSEE, the Canadian arm of the aid agency, Surgical Eye Expeditions and used to donate a week of his time annually with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind's Eye. For his contribution to international ophthalmology, Dr. Taylor received many awards and distinction including the Meritorious Service Cross of Canada, the Paul Harris Fellow Medal from Rotary International, the Harry Jerome Award from the Black Business and Professional Association of Toronto, the Jackie Robinson Award from the Montreal Association of Black Business Persons and Professionals, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Ophthalmic Education. Most notably, Dr. Taylor was named at the top of Maclean's magazine’s Honour Role in July 2004 and this past summer was awarded the prestigious Order of Jamaica.

In Dr. Taylor’s words, “I found my nirvana 23 years ago aboard my first ORBIS flight... By treating avoidable blindness, people don’t just get back their sight, they get back their self-esteem and their respect through their ability to act as society expects… Nothing is more important than what we are able to do for patients through our combined efforts as participants in the ORBIS sight-saving program.” Before his death, he mentioned to his friends that one simple letter from a patient touched him deeply, "I write this letter to you because prior to meeting you, I could not see to write."

For his outstanding service to international ophthalmology and humanity, Dr. Taylor (1944-2005) has truly left an extraordinary legacy. But for Dr. Taylor, these accomplishments were simply part of his calling: “Until I have a breath to breathe, I will continue to do this because I think I was chosen for this, not for money, not for compensation, but just to make the quality of life of my fellow human being better. That’s all I ask.” The task of treating and preventing blindness around the world remains with humanitarians like Dr. Taylor, who relentlessly dedicated his time, skills and kindness to the dream of bringing vision to the world.