Our Story
The Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation (ADVF) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to eliminate preventable blindness worldwide by 2050 through medical outreach, clinician training, sustainable innovation, and global partnerships.
Founded by ophthalmologist Dr. Paul Dougherty in memory of his son, Andrew, the foundation turns compassion into practical action: expanding access to sight-restoring care and strengthening the systems that make care possible.
Our Model
ADVF brings together clinicians, volunteers, innovators, and supporters around a shared goal: lasting access to vision care.
Medical outreach: Support sight-restoring surgery and vision services in underserved communities.
Local capacity: Work alongside local clinical teams and support training, equipment readiness, and follow-up.
Sustainable innovation: Help connect appropriate ophthalmic technologies with community needs.
Partnership: Build programs with local organizations, including AMMS in Morocco.
Collaboration with Vision Innovation Institute (VII)
ADVF’s charitable mission and VII’s ophthalmic research and development work share a long-term goal: expanding access to vision care.
VII develops technologies in areas including intraocular lenses, therapeutics, and diagnostics. ADVF contributes a focus on patient access, medical outreach, training, and community partnerships.
Together, we explore how evidence-based innovation can support sustainable care. Technologies under development require appropriate validation and approvals before clinical use.
Meet the Team
Dr. Paul Dougherty, MD is among the nation’s most experienced laser and lens-based vision correction surgeons.
In addition to serving as medical director of Dougherty Laser Vision (with offices in Westlake Village, Camarillo, San Luis Obispo and Beverly Hills, California), Dr. Dougherty is an assistant clinical instructor of ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine.
He has served as a principal investigator for multiple FDA clinical trials including CATz topography-guided LASIK, Visian ICL for both myopia and hyperopia, Raindrop Implant for presbyopia and the Tetraflex Accommodating and Softec HD IOLs.
In honor of his son, he leads ADVF’s mission to bring world-class eye care to underserved communities and to make preventable blindness a thing of the past by 2050.
Dr. Paul Dougherty, MD | Founder & Chairman
Kal Mentak, PhD | Board Member
Kal Mentak has extensive experience in building medical device companies from the ground up.
He founded and led several companies in the ophthalmic space including Surgidev Corporation, Advanced Vision Science, Inc. (AVS), and Adoptics Ltd.
He has recently been a limited partner at Zuehlke Ventures, investing in novel technologies both in healthcare and in technology.
Kal now applies this expertise through his role on the Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation Board of Directors and his ongoing work with the Vision Innovation Institute, helping ensure that breakthrough ophthalmic technologies reach patients in underserved communities worldwide.
Renata Stone, MBA | Board Member
Renata Stone, MBA brings experience in ophthalmic practice leadership, marketing, and organizational growth to ADVF’s Board of Directors.
She helps guide the foundation’s governance, strategic development, and communications as ADVF works to expand access to sustainable vision care.
Amanda Gaez serves as Executive Director of the Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation, leading strategic operations and the coordination that turns the foundation’s mission into action.
Her work spans medical mission planning, partnerships, volunteer coordination, donor communications, fundraising, and board support. She works with clinicians and local partners to build sustainable programs rooted in compassion, accountability, and patient dignity.
Our Growing Team
Board of Directors: Dr. Paul Dougherty, Kal Mentak, PhD, and Renata Stone, MBA
Executive Director: Amanda Gaez
Advisory Members: Katie Devoe, Amanda Gilbert, and Michael Sinel, MD