Dr Spencer is an ophthalmologist in private practice in Nanaimo, BC, Canada. His avocation for 25 years has been alleviating and preventing blindness in developing countries through teaching and promoting cataract surgery. Working as a volunteer and long time board member with Seva Foundation and Seva Canada, he has adapted sophisticated Western technology to developing settings, including introducing manual sutureless cataract surgery in several countries over the past 18 years. He has developed surgical instruments and IOLs and has a particular interest in adapting teaching technique to the setting.

Dr Spencer has published articles in Ophthalmology, Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Ophthalmic Surgery and many others, mainly on cataract surgery in developing countries. He has taught many courses on the subject at the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society and other ophthalmic organizations. He has been an invited speaker at innumerable ophthalmological meetings including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Canadian Ophthalmological Society, Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, All India Ophthalmological Society.

Awards to Dr Spencer include Lewis Perinbam Award in International Development; American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award; Achievement Award, International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness; Outpost Magazine Global Volunteer Award; Verge Magazine Global Hero Award.