Dr. Alfred Anduze, honored by the 36th Legislature for his global contributions to ophthalmology, medical research, and community service.
Dr. Alfred Anduze, a world-renowned ophthalmologist from St. Croix, will be honored by the 36th Legislature for his stellar contributions to medicine, science, public health, and community empowerment.
On Monday, Bill 36-0107, the resolution to honor and commend Dr. Anduze, was introduced to the Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Consumer Protection by its sponsor Senator Kurt Vialet.
“Dr. Anduze is a distinguished physician, researcher and author whose scholarly contributions have significantly advanced the fields of ophthalmology and integrative medicine,” Vialet told his colleagues.
Born in 1948 in Christiansted, the native Virgin Islander also traces family roots in France, Puerto Rico, and Southern United States. He has numerous educational achievements under his belt, including his medical degree from Howard University and a fellowship in integrative medicine from the University of Arizona. He is licensed to practice in the territory and several states on the mainland. He has authored numerous works, from peer-reviewed publications on “optic nerve hypoplasia with hyperthyroidism and third nerve palsy,” to children's books featuring historical and Caribbean themes.
His practice has taken him across the world — Dr. Anduze has been invited to perform surgeries in Switzerland, Cuba, Hungary, Nevis, and South Africa. Nevertheless, he remains firmly rooted in advancing knowledge close to home; one of his books addresses “regional language, public health, culture and integrative medicine, including medical terminology of the Eastern Caribbean.”
A former assistant commissioner of health, Dr. Anduze also served on the Virgin Islands Board of Optometrical Examiners and operates a local practice.
A host of family and friends filed into the Legislative conference room on St. Croix to support the resolution to honor Dr. Anduze. “The impact of his contributions to the field of Ophthalmology extends far beyond the confines of hospitals and clinics,” said his cousin, Judge Patricia Steele. “Through his work, he has helped to shape health care systems, drive medical advancements and champion public health initiatives.”
Terrance Highfield, a long-time close friend, informed lawmakers that Dr. Anduze “perfected the surgery for pterygium,” a fleshy overgrowth of the conjunctiva that may affect one or both eyes. He has been credited as the brainchild behind the Anduze Method, a modified surgical technique for pterygium excision. His expertise in the area is further cemented by his book “Pterygium: A Practical Guide to Management.”
Jennifer Jackson, a long-time patient of Dr. Anduze, provided a lengthy account of her chronic health issues with her eyes and spoke of his determination to find a solution for her. “He was different from any other ophthalmologist I've ever seen or consulted,” she told lawmakers. “He never pretended to know everything about what was wrong with my eyes. He kept on looking, researching,” she explained. Meanwhile, the honoree's cousin Rita Dudley-Grant described him as an “icon of our community” and a “renaissance man.”
“This resolution really is a small token and appreciation for his many years of service and lasting clarity of vision he has brought to the people he served,” remarked Senator Novelle Francis.
Senator Franklin Johnson shared a personal account of how Dr. Anduze saved his eyesight thanks to two procedures in 1987. “This is a well-deserved honor,” he declared.
Once Bill 36-0107 receives Governor Albert Bryan Jr’s signature, the President of the Legislature shall present the perma plaque copy of this resolution to Dr. Alfred Lee Anduze at an appropriate ceremony held for that purpose.
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