Eye Foundation of America Celebrates Dr. Clay B. Marsh with the Robert Murphy Visionary Leadership Award

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — September 25, 2026 — The Eye Foundation of America (EFA) marked a defining moment in its 50-year journey toward “A World Without Childhood Blindness” with an evening of celebration, gratitude, and visionary leadership at Forks of Cheat Winery. The gathering brought together supporters, clinicians, educators, and community partners to honor individuals whose work has shaped the organization’s mission and inspired generations.

A central highlight of the evening was the conferral of the Robert Murphy Visionary Leadership Award upon Dr. Clay B. Marsh, M.D., Chancellor and Executive Dean for Health Sciences at West Virginia University. The award recognizes leaders whose contributions to medicine, education, innovation, and human wellbeing reflect the values embodied by Robert Murphy—compassion, service, and transformative vision.

The EFA Board’s citation emphasized Dr. Marsh’s leadership across healthcare, research, education, and community partnership, noting his commitment to transforming institutions and improving lives. The citation reads: “His leadership across education, research, clinical care and community partnership reflects a deep commitment to transforming institutions and improving lives.”

Dr. Marsh’s leadership has long been recognized beyond West Virginia. In a widely referenced interview on academic medicine, he remarked, “Our mission is to improve the health of our people by creating and applying knowledge that helps them live longer, healthier lives.” This philosophy aligns closely with EFA’s belief that eliminating avoidable childhood blindness requires visionary leadership, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to human dignity.

Dr. Raju’s Voice: A Mission Rooted in Service

EFA Founder President Dr. V.K. Raju offered reflections that grounded the evening in the organization’s long-standing mission. His words, drawn from his public addresses and past reports, added depth and urgency to the celebration.

Dr. Raju has often reminded global audiences that “childhood blindness is not just a medical condition—it is a social, economic, and moral challenge.” In his remarks about the award, he noted, “Visionary leadership is about seeing beyond the present moment. Dr. Marsh embodies that spirit by bringing knowledge, compassion, and purpose together for the well-being of humanity.”

He has repeatedly emphasized the stakes of EFA’s mission: “Half of childhood blindness is preventable. When we save a child’s sight, we save a lifetime.” His message resonates strongly with global data and with EFA’s own decades of work.

Childhood Blindness: The Global Context

Your past reports and global health sources provide essential context:

• An estimated 1.4 million children worldwide are blind, and
• Over 17 million live with severe visual impairment (WHO, IAPB).
• Nearly 50% of childhood blindness is preventable or treatable with timely intervention.
• Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains a leading cause, especially in low-resource regions.
• Vitamin A deficiency continues to blind up to 250,000 children annually.

As Dr. Raju reminded the audience: “The tragedy is not that children are blind—the tragedy is that so many did not have to be.” These statistics underscore why EFA’s mission remains urgent and why visionary leadership matters.

Bob Murphy: A Lasting Legacy

The Eye Foundation has instituted this award in the name of Bob Murphy, a visionary educator and innovator at West Virginia University’s Health Sciences Library. He is remembered for his intellect, creativity, and kindness. Known as “a man with ideas,” he pioneered computer-based learning and digital research tools for medical education. Colleagues described him as a walking encyclopedia who connected disciplines from medicine to literature. His work advanced biomedical information sharing and inspired generations of students. Murphy’s legacy lies in his belief that teaching should blend technology with humanity—helping others learn, adapt, and serve. Many called him not only a mentor but also a true friend.

Honoring Friends and Partners

The evening also recognized two longstanding supporters of EFA: Dr. Ranjit Majumdar and Dr. S. Jagannadhan, whose presence reflected the enduring network of friends who have stood with EFA through decades of service.

A special tribute was offered to Jerry and Susan Deal, owners of Forks of Cheat Winery. As Jerry Deal once said in a local feature, “Community is built by people who show up for one another.” Their generosity and friendship have supported EFA year after year.

Music That Elevated the Evening

The celebration was enriched by a moving performance from Sunmi Chang, acclaimed violinist and Founder & Artistic Director of the Summit Chamber Music Series. Chang, a laureate of major international competitions, has performed extensively across North America and Europe. In a recent interview, she reflected, “Chamber music creates community—it brings people together in ways that words alone cannot.”

Her performance became one of the evening’s defining moments, reminding attendees that vision is not only about sight, but imagination—and the courage to create a better future.

Fifty Years, One Mission

As EFA approaches its Golden Jubilee in 2027, it is renewing its commitment to expanding access to eye care, strengthening childhood eye health programs, and mobilizing global partnerships to eliminate avoidable childhood blindness. Recent communications describe this milestone as “50 years of service to children, one mission: World Without Childhood Blindness.”

From Vision to Lasting Impact

The message emerging from the evening was clear: Vision creates possibility. Service creates impact. Partnership creates scale. Generations create lasting change.

As EFA moves toward its Golden Jubilee, it carries forward the legacy of those who began the journey, the commitment of those serving today, and the hope of children yet to come. Together, EFA and its global family of supporters continue to work toward one powerful aspiration: A World Without Childhood Blindness.