Dr Geoffrey Cohn OAM is a highly respected ophthalmologist whose career spans continents, communities, and decades of contribution to global eye health. He completed his medical degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and began his career in a mission hospital in the Kalahari Desert. There, he saw the profound human cost of untreated eye disease and the transformative power of restoring sight—an experience that shaped his lifelong dedication to ophthalmology.

After moving to Australia, Dr Cohn completed specialist training and became a Fellow of both the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He later returned to Africa as a community ophthalmologist, working on the ground to improve access to care while training and empowering local teams.

Dr Cohn has been a lecturer at the University of New South Wales School of Medicine since 1985, where he continues to mentor the next generation of clinicians. His clinical interests include ocular pain, dry eye disease and corneal conditions, with a focus on compassionate, patient-centred care.

A recognised leader in international eye-health development, Dr Cohn has spent more than 20 years establishing sustainable teaching programmes across Myanmar, India, Indonesia and Cambodia. His initiatives connect Australian expertise with local clinicians, providing training, support and vital equipment to strengthen community-led eye care. From 2002 to 2013, he chaired RANZCO’s Overseas Aid Committee, guiding major outreach and capacity-building efforts.

In 2010, Dr Cohn was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his outstanding service to ophthalmology and for advancing eye-health services in developing nations.
Beyond his clinical work, he has a passion for music and writing.