San Francisco captures eyes of ASCRS, ASOA attendees

Take-home

Educational opportunities abound at this year’s meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery/American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators, April 19 to 23, in San Francisco.

From Staff Reports

San Francisco-This famed city by the bay has captured the hearts of many over the years. For attendees of the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS)/American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA), it also captures the eyes.

Meeting from April 19 to 23 at San Francisco’s Moscone Center, the conference is described by event organizers as the only meeting in the United States dedicated to the precise needs of the anterior segment specialist, aligned with the most established practice management program for comprehensive ophthalmology and subspecialties.

The meeting also poses an opportunity to meet leaders in the field, experience in-depth educational programming, gather invaluable connections and professional relationships, and find the tools eye-care professionals need to stay sharp and be competitive in the profession.

Among highlights of the meeting:

Friday, April 19

Cornea Day 2013 will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 1-day symposium will provide an overview of managing the atypical cornea in cataract surgery, challenges in refractive surgery, advances in ocular surface, and a global perspective of corneal transplantation and corneal disease. Visit www.corneaday.org for details. Separate registration is required.

ASCRS Glaucoma Day 2013 will address the start of the microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) era with a full program developed specifically for the anterior segment specialist. Visit www.ascrsglaucomaday.org for details. Separate registration is also required. This event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday evening also brings the ASCRS eyePAC reception, a private event for contributors, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 20

The ASCRS Resident and Fellow Program will be held from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Highlights will include “How to Avoid Being Sued: What You Can Do to Reduce the Risk of Regulatory or Malpractice Liability,” given by Mark Kropiewnicki, JD, LLM, as well as presentations on evaluating employment opportunities, negotiating contracts, and demystifying the path to the podium.

The ASCRS Opening General Session will be held from 10 to 11:45 a.m. It will include speeches from David F. Chang, MD, outgoing president, and Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, incoming president. There also will be brief comments from Honored Guests Jae Ho Kim, MD, PhD, and Harold A. Stein, MD. ASCRS Ophthalmology Hall of Fame inductees will be honored, and Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, will deliver an update on the ASCRS Foundation. Finally, the Binkhorst Lecture, “Intraocular Lens Evolution: What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been,” will be presented by Nick Mamalis, MD.

The Physician Symposia and Scientific Papers start on Saturday, as do physician courses and skill transfer sessions, and continue through the rest of the meeting.

Sunday, April 21

The Combined Symposia of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Societies will be held from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

The ASCRS Lecture on Science and Medicine will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. as part of the Sunday General Session. “When Experts Disagree: A New Approach to Medical Decision Making” will be presented by Jerome Groopman, MD, and Pamela Hartzband, MD.

The Government Relations General Session, with invited guest Sen. Rand Paul, MD (R-KY), ophthalmologist, will be held from 11 a.m. to noon.

The ASCRS Foundation has partnered with TearLabs to host the First ASCRS Foundation Run for Sight 5-K run and 1-mile walk on Sunday. The run will go through some of San Francisco’s most beautiful neighborhoods and will support the foundation’s humanitarian work in Ethiopia and China. The Run for Sight event will take place from 7 to 9 a.m. at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Shuttle busses will transport runners to and from the major hotels beginning at 6:30 a.m. on race day, and a light breakfast will be provided. All proceeds from the race benefit the ASCRS Foundation’s cataract blindness treatment efforts.

Registration is $25 in advance and $35 on the day of the race. All registered runners will receive a race T-shirt, bib, and timing chip. Medals will be awarded to the male and female winners in each age category.

Monday, April 22

The Innovators Session will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The Charles D. Kelman Innovator’s Lecture, “Humans, Happiness, and the Wonder of New,” will be presented by Richard J. Mackool Sr., MD.

The 31st Annual Film Festival Reception and Awards will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. During the meeting, attendees can view more than 180 videos entries on their mobile devices and at film and poster kiosks. Entries are submitted in the following categories: Cataract Complications, Cataract/Implant Surgery, Glaucoma Surgery, In-house Productions, Instruments and Devices/IOLs, New Producer, New Techniques, Quality Teaching, Refractive/Cornea Surgery, and Special Interest. A winner and runner-up will be chosen in each category; among these finalists, three will be recognized as Best of the Best and one Grand Prize winner will be selected.

Now in its second year, the People’s Choice Award is presented for the single film that receives the most votes from meeting attendees.

Beginning on Thursday, April 18, each meeting attendee can cast a vote once for their favorite film on the ASCRS website or at film and poster kiosks. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Sunday. A team of nine panelists will judge the films based on applicability/education value, originality, scientific content/validity, clarity, cinematic quality, and artistic effects.

Other program highlights

• The Ophthalmic Photographers Society Exhibit: This will be held Saturday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Winning photographs from 18 categories will be on display.

• Exhibit Hall: The exhibition hall will be open Saturday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Virtual Poster Discussion Forum: During the meeting, virtual posters will be available on demand at kiosks throughout Moscone Center. Live discussion of posters will be available via an online forum that will enable attendees to post questions or comments about a poster, reply to a discussion thread, receive e-mail notification of replies to specific posts and threads, and set up a “buddy” list to see which of their friends are currently online.

ASOA highlights

• COE Overview, Part I; Practice Management Boot Camp; Everyday Use of Excel for the Practice Administrator, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday.

• Pinto Practice Coaching; Maximizing Leadership Skills, 8 a.m. to noon, Friday.

• ICD-10 Workshops, 8 a.m. to noon or 1 to 5 p.m., Friday.

• ASOA Welcome Reception, 5:45 to 7 p.m., Friday.

• COE Overview, Part II, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday.

• ASOA Opening General Session: Presidential speeches followed by roundtable discussions, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday.

• ASOA Celebration, 8 p.m. to midnight, Regency Center, Sunday.

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Details, details

For more details or to register for the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators, visit www.ascrs.org.