Santa Barbara, CA., July 3, 2013—Harry S. Brown, MD, FACS, a Santa Barbara ophthalmologist, founder of Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International in 1974, will serve as the Honorary Grand Marshall during the “spirit of ’76 4th of July parade in Santa Barbara. The parade will take place on Thursday, July 4, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at Micheltorena Street and proceed down State Street to Old Town Santa Barbara, concluding at Cota Street. Dr Brown will be driven in a classic Mercedes convertible loaned by Woody’s Detail, in Santa Barbara.

Dr. Brown graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1952. He served as a line officer in the US Navy before entering medical school. Dr. Brown received his Medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine in 1959. He completed his medical internship at the US Naval Hospital of Camp Pendleton in 1960 and worked in general family practice until 1967. Dr. Brown began his medical practice in Santa Barbara in 1971.

He and his colleagues developed an efficient mobile eye surgery system for intensive, short-term surgical clinics in remote, medically underserved areas worldwide as a response to the lack of opportunities to effectively use the services of trained clinical eye surgeons. Dr. Brown founded SEE to encourage the participation of volunteer ophthalmologists in humanitarian clinics that do not exhaust the facilities of host countries by providing a framework organization for recurring international clinics.

For a lifetime of humanitarian achievement, Dr. Brown has received the International President Award, Lions International; a tribute by the US House of Representatives; the Honor Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology; Lifetime Achievement Award, Santa Barbara News-Press; Community Service Award, George Washington University Alumni Association; Outstanding Humanitarian Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology; Hampton Roy Medal, World Eye Foundation; Leslie Dana Gold Medal Award, St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired; the Outstanding Achievements in the Prevention of Blindness & Services to those Who are Blind; and Paul Harris Award, Rotary International.

The all-volunteer Spirit of ’76 Association works to bring together individuals and organizations of diverse political and partisan origins to create this annual event. Each represents a thread in the creation of this unique fabric of the Santa Barbara community. Through a variety of public events, presentations to numerous schools in the area, and community service projects – including the annual 4th of July Parade on State Street attended by tens of thousands – the organization strives to promote the values extolled by the founding fathers of the United States of America.

Surgical Eye Expedition (SEE) International provides sustainable medical, surgical, and educational services through volunteer ophthalmic surgeons with the objectives of restoring sight and preventing blindness to disadvantaged individuals worldwide. www.seeintl.org

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