Amanda Gaez Executive Director | Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation 

  • Role: Executive Director, Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation
  • Focus: Nonprofit leadership, program development, and global mission coordination
  • Education: AA, Engineering — Institute of Audio Engineering Arts; BSJ, News & Information — University of Kansas 
  • Notable: Oversees ADVF’s international surgical missions and partnerships with global health organizations

Amanda Gaez is a mission-driven leader and the Executive Director of the Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation (ADVF). Specializing in nonprofit leadership and global health operations, Amanda Gaez leads the strategic expansion of ADVF’s mission to eliminate preventable blindness by 2050. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between high-level surgical medical missions and sustainable healthcare capacity in underserved regions.

Professional Expertise & Education

With a multidisciplinary background, Amanda Gaez brings a unique perspective to global mission coordination. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism (News & Information) from the University of Kansas and an AA in Engineering from the Institute of Audio Engineering Arts. This combination of technical systems logic and strategic communication allows her to manage the complex medical logistics required for international surgical outreach, such as ADVF’s recent mission initiatives in Morocco.

Impact at the Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation

As the Executive Director for the Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation, Amanda Gaez is responsible for the overall strategic direction and program delivery of the organization. Her leadership is defined by a commitment to operational excellence, ensuring that every vision-restoring mission is efficient, scalable, and impactful.

Under her leadership, ADVF has successfully:

  • Built Sustainable Capacity: Training local clinicians to ensure long-term eye care independence.

  • Optimized Global Logistics: Coordinating international surgical teams and medical device partnerships.

  • Advanced Ophthalmic Innovation: Deploying new technologies to maximize the success rates of sight-restoring procedures.

Global Partnerships & Strategic Collaboration

A key pillar of Amanda Gaez’s strategy is fostering high-impact collaborations across sectors. She works closely with local governments, international NGOs, and private medical innovators to secure the resources necessary for ADVF’s global programs. Her ability to align diverse stakeholders under the shared goal of vision health advocacy has established her as a prominent voice in nonprofit leadership.