ASCRS News: Annual Meeting Preview
April 2022
by Ellen Stodola
Editorial Co-Director
This year, the ASCRS Binkhorst Lecture will be given by Rosa Braga-Mele, MD. The lecture will take place during the Opening General Session on Saturday, April 23, at the ASCRS Annual Meeting. Dr. Braga-Mele plans to discuss her journey in ophthalmology, touching on innovation, education, and mentorship. She spoke with EyeWorld about the upcoming lecture.
Dr. Braga-Mele noted that her lecture won’t be a typical presentation focusing on one specific technique or technology, but rather, she plans to include a variety of pearls on mentorship and innovation. She will also discuss work/life balance, creating the ability to be a better person and doctor, and how she personally achieved this in her career. All of these are factors that have contributed to her career in ophthalmology, Dr. Braga-Mele said.
“We should never feel that we’re too old to dream or challenge ourselves because all of that creates change, and change can be very good and positive for our profession and patients.”
Rosa Braga-Mele, MD
With respect to innovation, Dr. Braga-Mele said she has never been the type of person to accept anything at face value. “I’m going to talk about the research I have done validating new technology, creating new techniques that improve patient outcomes or help us become better, more efficient surgeons, and how my curiosity has fostered advances,” she said. “We should never feel that we’re too old to dream or challenge ourselves because all of that creates change, and change can be very good and positive for our profession and patients.”
Dr. Braga-Mele has been an educator for her entire career and noted that she has received accolades from her students as well as from her teaching institutions. “People often ask me why I’m not in private practice,” she said. “I think the message I’d like to bring across in that part of the presentation is that for every person who I educate, I can help exponentially more patients, and for every friendship I foster with my residents, I learn so much more and grow as a person.”
Dr. Braga-Mele said that not only has she mentored many ophthalmologists throughout her career, but she has also been mentored by many. She noted that some of these have been older mentors, while others have been at similar stages in their career as her. She plans to highlight some of her many mentorship experiences during the lecture.
Her lecture will also cover the importance of balance in life, and how she personally could not have achieved everything she has accomplished without this. Everyone’s balance is different, Dr. Braga-Mele said. “Other things that inspire me outside of medicine—such as body building, karate, coaching—have taught me to be a better teacher,” she said, adding that these things have helped to teach her mental health coping strategies. “Without all of that, I don’t think I’d be who I am and wouldn’t have been able to give as much to ophthalmology or education if I didn’t have other aspects in my life to channel my energy.”
About the physician
Rosa Braga-Mele, MD
University of Toronto
Toronto, Canada
Contact
Braga-Mele: rbragamele@rogers.com
