Roger L. Hiatt

NEW ORLEANS, La. — For his vast contributions in the field of ophthalmology — including humanitarian service in the Philippines — Roger L. Hiatt was honored here Nov. 9 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Brother Hiatt, a member of the Memphis 2nd Ward, Memphis Tennessee Stake, was the 1998 Guest of Honor at the annual meeting of the academy, which noted that "his dedication to education and research has benefited not just his patients and students, but all of ophthalmology." He was also given the Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award by the academy, made up of more than 15,000 ophthalmologists, for his vast charitable activities.

"At this stage in my life, it is a special honor to be recognized by my peers," Brother Hiatt told the Church News. "It makes you feel like the work you did was recognized."

However, he added, that he is especially humbled to be honored for his humanitarian service. "I never turned down a patient for lack of income," he said.

When Brother Hiatt was called to serve as president of the Philippines Baguio Mission in 1994, he was at the peak of his medical career. "I had the greatest skill I had ever had and the most income," he recalled. "I left [my profession] not knowing if I could use that talent in the Philippines."

Brother Hiatt said he had always wanted to serve a mission with his wife. After he arrived in the Philippines he knew it was the most important thing he could do with his time. "The icing on the cake was that I got to practice my medical profession one day a week," he explained.

With special permission , the mission president spent his preparation days offering public clinics, free screenings and eye glasses, and working with the medical school at Baguio General Hospital.

He also started a training program, helping to provide books and equipment and teaching skills to several doctors in the country. When he left the mission field just over a year ago, eight doctors were continuing the work he started.

Brother Hiatt has been a leader in his medical field for many years, serving as chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine for almost 30 years, as president of the Memphis Society of Ophthalmology and the Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology, as director of Pediatric Ophthalmology at the LeBonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis and as the third vice president of the American Association of Ophthalmology. An endowed professorship was named for him at the University of Tennessee in 1994.

In a letter from a colleague on the American Academy of Ophthalmology state affairs committee, Brother Hiatt was described as a man whose devotion was first and foremost to his family. "Whether it was a good period or not, your demeanor never changed and you talked so positively about everything," said Elliot Finkelstein, now president of the academy, in the letter.

Brother Hiatt said he always tried to put his family and the Church before his profession and to keep a positive attitude.

Before serving as a mission president, the father of three children served as a stake patriarch, mission president's counselor, stake president and counselor and high councilor.

Brother Hiatt — who loves spending time with his wife, Nancy, and their children and 12 grandchildren — is currently serving a Church service mission as health director of the Church's North America Southeast Area.

In the future, he hopes to be able to work as a humanitarian Church service missionary somewhere in the world, continuing his "service to people, especially those with threatening blindness." — Sarah Jane Weaver