ASCRS News: Annual Meeting Preview
April 2022
by Liz Hillman
Editorial Co-Director
The ASOA Annual Meeting in conjunction with the ASCRS Annual Meeting will host 1 day of Pre-Conference Deep Dives followed by 4 days of its main program, which includes general sessions, roundtables, and practice management courses.
“The ASOA Annual Meeting offers attendees the opportunity to learn from their peers and trusted industry experts, share challenges and solutions, and network, network, network,” said ASOA Executive Director Laureen Rowland. “This meeting consistently ranks as one of ASOA’s top membership benefits (although it is open to non-members as well), with programming described as best in class.”
In fact, 99% of attendees from the 2021 ASOA Annual Meeting said they would recommend the meeting to colleagues.
The highlight of the ASOA Annual Meeting is always its General Sessions. Saturday’s Opening General Session will feature keynote speaker Bill Stainton, a 29-time Emmy Award-winning producer, who will speak about “Connecting the Dots: Breakthrough Thinking for Ophthalmic Professionals,” how practice administrators can incorporate innovative thinking into their day-to-day lives. Monday’s General Session will feature keynote speaker Laurie Guest, a former administrator who will address how to achieve customer service excellence and staff development in her talk “Life in the Espresso Lane: How to be Smooth, Bold, and Balanced in a Fast-Paced World.”
“This meeting consistently ranks as one of ASOA’s top membership benefits (although it is open to non-members as well), with programming described as best in class.”
Laureen Rowland
“ASOA’s speakers are known for the message they deliver but also their presentation style,” Ms. Rowland said. “Historically, our Opening General Session speaker is engaging and uplifting, setting the tone at the start of the meeting. The goal is to have attendees leave that session enthused and ready to learn. With so much stress, and often negativity, in practices these days, it’s important for our attendees to hear the positives about themselves and the leadership they provide.”
In addition to the General Sessions, ASOA is known for its interactive roundtables, which will be held for 90 minutes on both Saturday and Monday on a variety of topics. More than 95 practice management courses will be offered throughout the meeting. Tags have been added to certain courses to help attendees identify the following learning pathways.
- MD Business Essentials: These are ASOA practice management courses recommended for physicians and provide essential business management education.
- Mid-Level Manager: These are recommended for those who are currently or seeking to become mid-level managers.
- ASOA Essentials: These are recommended for all skill levels. These courses provide a foundation in the fundamentals of ophthalmic practice management.
- Advanced Admin: These are recommended for those with 10+ years’ experience looking to further their professional education.
- ABC (Administrator Beginners Circle): These are recommended for those with 4 or fewer years’ experience in ophthalmic practice management.
ASOA Pre-Conference Deep Dives take place ahead of the Annual Meeting on Friday. They include Part 1 of the Certified Ophthalmic Executive (COE) Review (Part 2 takes place Saturday afternoon); “Finance 201 and Beyond: Learning the Language for a Seat at the Table,” designed for those familiar with basic financial concepts but with a need to develop deeper knowledge; and “The Intentionality of Creating an AMAZING Practice Culture—A Deep Dive Workshop for Practice Leaders and Their Teams,” which will leave attendees with a Practice Culture Evaluation Framework and ideas and tips to facilitate a “successful culture revamp.”
The COE Exam will take place Tuesday morning. Other special events include the Administrator Beginners Circle (ABC) Networking Lunch and the COE Luncheon and Program (“The 10¢ Decision: How Small Change Pays Off Big,” presented by Laurie Guest). The ASOA Networking and Engagement Lounge will be open Saturday through Tuesday.
The ASOA Annual Meeting continues to be a go-to learning and networking event for ophthalmic practice management professionals at all career stages, Ms. Rowland said. This year, she continued, will be no exception. The hands-on learning opportunities, interactive session formats, and depth of topic coverage provide attendees a rich, expansive learning experience that yields insights and information to improve business practices and the patient experience from beginning to end.
“ASOA is ready for a monumental experience,” Ms. Rowland said.
About the source
Laureen Rowland, CAE
ASOA Executive Director
Fairfax, Virginia
Contact
Rowland: Laureen@asoa.org
