Megan Webber, Co-founder of KnowTheGlow (KTG), and Helene Dameris, Director of Global Outreach for KTG, recently met with Dr. Daniel Ortiz-Morales, a dedicated pediatric oncologist from Mexico City, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in improving retinoblastoma (RB) care in Mexico. Their conversation underscored the urgency of early detection and the potential for impactful collaboration to save children’s lives and vision.
Dr. Ortiz-Morales’ journey into pediatric oncology began with a surprising pivot. Initially interested in finance, he discovered his passion for medicine during a pre-med program. By the second year of his residency, he had chosen to specialize in pediatric oncology, drawn to the unique challenges and hope associated with treating children. His dedication to RB, a rare cancer that can often be detected early through the Glow in a child’s eye, ignited his commitment to raising awareness and improving outcomes for children across Mexico. Practicing at the Hospital General de México, Dr. Ortiz-Morales has encountered both triumphs and heartbreak in treating children with RB. His personal encounters with disparities in care, such as families traveling many hours from rural areas or struggling financially to access treatment, have deepened his resolve to push for systemic improvements.
Dr. Ortiz-Morales shared the pressing obstacles to pediatric vision treatment in Mexico. The country’s divided healthcare system, consisting of national, state, and specialized systems for groups like the Navy and Army, creates barriers to care for many families, particularly those without insurance. The lack of a national cancer registry further complicates efforts to track RB cases and outcomes, as no centralized database exists to collect comprehensive cancer data. Expertise and resources are also limited, with almost 300 pediatric oncologists serving around 8,000 annual pediatric cancer cases. Most hospitals lack specialized equipment like RetCams, essential for early diagnosis. Geographic and economic barriers further delay treatment, as families from rural areas often face long travel times and significant financial burdens.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Ortiz-Morales has a clear vision for improving RB care in Mexico. He advocates for a centralized referral network, designating specific hospitals for diagnosis and treatment based on available resources. He sees an opportunity to leverage cost-effective social media campaigns to educate parents about the warning signs of RB, such as the Glow, and to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to incorporate RB awareness into medical school programs. Additionally, he is working with experts like Dr. Didi Fabian on a global RB database, with nine Mexican hospitals already participating, to improve data collection and care standards. He emphasizes the need for education and training among healthcare professionals, particularly on the importance of early detection and even on advising parents to accept the recommendation of enucleation, a life-saving procedure that can prevent further complications and save lives.
For Dr. Ortiz-Morales, RB is not just a professional challenge, it is a deeply personal mission. He recognizes the heartbreaking disparities in RB care between Mexico and more well-equipped countries like the United States. While children in the U.S. often preserve vision in one or both eyes due to early detection and advanced treatments, Mexican children frequently face late diagnoses and more severe outcomes; most cases require enucleation with some even requiring bilateral eye removal. Two recent cases remain etched in his memory. In one, a family relocated to Canada, where their child received outstanding care and is now thriving. In the other, a little girl from a rural village faced insurmountable challenges and lost her battle to RB, underscoring the systemic inequalities he hopes to address. Dr. Ortiz-Morales noted that the financial and logistical challenges faced by families from rural areas often make early diagnosis and treatment even more difficult, resulting in outcomes that might have been preventable with earlier intervention.
Dr. Ortiz-Morales draws inspiration from mentors like Dr. Carlos Leal, pediatric oncologist in Mexico, whose impactful street advertising campaigns raised awareness about RB. While these efforts have transitioned to social media for broader reach, they remain a powerful example of how public engagement can drive change. He also collaborates with international colleagues, including Helen Dimaras, and draws on insights from the SIOP community to enhance his understanding and approach to RB care. These global connections fuel his determination to improve RB care not only in Mexico but also worldwide, as he continues to share knowledge and learn from experts across the globe.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ortiz-Morales is optimistic about the potential for collaboration with KnowTheGlow. Together, they discussed launching a KTG campaign in Mexico in 2026, focusing on building awareness through social media, educating parents and healthcare professionals, and integrating KTG’s resources into national efforts. By working together, Dr. Ortiz-Morales and KTG hope to strengthen public awareness, create a cohesive RB treatment network within Mexico, and advocate for systemic improvements to prevent RB-related deaths. This partnership holds the promise of transforming RB care in Mexico and saving the sight and lives of countless children.
