ASCRS News: Annual Meeting Preview
April 2022
EyeWorld spoke to ASCRS President Richard Hoffman, MD, about his time as president, the challenges faced, goals, and more.
EyeWorld: This past year has continued to see challenges from the pandemic for ophthalmologists both on the personal and professional level as well as for the society and the medical community as a whole; can you speak to that? How have physicians and the society adapted to move forward?
Dr. Hoffman: The initial challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic have, for the most part, been alleviated with masking, social distancing, slit lamp screens, and temperature and symptom screenings within our practice. Although we are not back to 100% patient volume, we are close, and as the pandemic eases, things should return to normal in most practices. One of the things that struck me during the pandemic was how reliant all medical societies are on their annual meetings, and ASCRS is no different. The Annual Meeting is the life blood of our organization, and although we were able to maintain the education and sharing of resources with a virtual meeting and other outreach, the virtual education was no substitute for a live, in-person gathering.
EyeWorld: Did you have specific goals coming in as president and were you able to accomplish them?
Dr. Hoffman: As incoming president of ASCRS, I had three soft goals. The first was to assist in fighting the various political battles that are going on regarding reimbursement and Aetna’s prior authorization mandate for cataract surgery. The Aetna battle is still being waged, and I think we will ultimately be able to reverse this decision with a combination of ophthalmic society pressure and grassroots efforts. There is strong support within Congress for passing legislation on prior authorization that will benefit our patients and reduce unnecessary work within our practices. ASCRS and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) were successful in getting many of the cuts in cataract and combined cataract/glaucoma surgery reduced or postponed, however, I think this will be an ongoing battle with the sustainability of physician participation in Medicare at stake.
My second goal was updating our current bylaws. Our bylaws were written in the 1980s, and many of the structures within our organization have changed. The structure of the organization has grown immensely, and the bylaws should reflect what we are currently doing within the organization.
My third goal was to update the video library on the ASCRS website in order to make it a more useful resource for members. ASCRS is currently working on a new mobile app that will enhance the ability of members to interact with the society’s resources—and each other—and I would ultimately like to use the video teaching skills of our talented members to enhance the video library and make it a major resource for any member wishing to learn new techniques or review older techniques.
EyeWorld: What are some of the most important recent initiatives from ASCRS?
Dr. Hoffman: The fight for maintaining our reimbursement and alleviating the need for prior authorizations has been important, and similar political issues will continue to arise in the future.
I think the effort with AAO to organize a combined Eyecelerator meeting before each organization’s annual meeting has helped to improve our association with industry. This endeavor has allowed physicians the opportunity to stay up to date with treatments of the future, in addition to connecting entrepreneurs, companies, and investors at the forefront of new pharmaceuticals and technologies.
EyeWorld: What do you see as some of the biggest challenges facing ophthalmology in the coming years?
Dr. Hoffman: I think government and private insurance attempts to cut reimbursement and devalue our services will continue to be a major issue. ASCRS has a wonderful Government Relations Committee, and between the committee and the exceptional ASCRS staff, I know we will continue to advocate on behalf of ophthalmologists and the patients who we serve.
EyeWorld: Were there any particularly positive developments that stood out to you with ASCRS or ophthalmology as a whole?
Dr. Hoffman: I have been excited by the cooperation between ASCRS and AAO in recent years. With the leadership of ASCRS Executive Director Steve Speares and AAO CEO David Parke, MD, there has been a spirit of cooperation with combined efforts where the two societies have mutual interests. I think this relationship will continue in the future and strengthen with each threat that presents itself.
EyeWorld: What do you see as the future of ASCRS?
Dr. Hoffman: ASCRS will continue to be the leading source of education for anterior segment surgeons. The facile nature of the organization, the talented board members, and the incredibly dedicated staff will keep this organization at the cutting edge of technology, education, political advocacy, and domestic and international philanthropy.
EyeWorld: How will you continue to be involved with the society after you pass on the presidency?
Dr. Hoffman: I will stay on the Executive Committee functioning as the past president and helping the incoming president with the transition. After this, I will do whatever the organization requests of me. I have enjoyed contributing to the functionality of ASCRS, including lecturing, contributing films, and participating on the Cataract Clinical Committee, Governing Board, and Executive Committee. It is a wonderful organization to be a part of, and I recommend ophthalmologists at any career stage, especially the younger ophthalmologists, look for ways that they can participate.
EyeWorld: ASCRS was able to have an in-person Annual Meeting last year, and this year, we’ll be in Washington, D.C. What are you most looking forward to at the meeting this year?
Dr. Hoffman: Last year we were able to bring back the first major in-person ophthalmology meeting since the pandemic began. I look forward to seeing even more of my colleagues and fellow ASCRS members in Washington, D.C. There is really no substitute for an in-person meeting.
I think the meeting this year will be a great success. The city, Washington, D.C., offers a lot of activities for all to enjoy, including landmarks, museums, and great restaurants. I think many of us enjoy getting to see our colleagues face to face, interacting with lecturers, and having the ability to move from Exhibit Hall to lecture hall to symposium. The Tap Room has been improved and should be a great central location for conferencing and meeting with friends.
It has been a great honor to serve as the president of ASCRS this last year. I appreciate the Executive Committee and leadership having the confidence to allow me this privilege. I want to encourage all of our members to attend the ASCRS Annual Meeting and contribute in any way they can. The thing that separates ASCRS from other organizations is the ease with which young ophthalmologists can contribute to the education of their colleagues and participate in improving the practice of ophthalmology for themselves and the rest of the community. Whether it is presenting a paper, submitting a film, or serving on one of the various committees, help us continue to grow one of the best ophthalmic societies in the world.
About the physician
Richard Hoffman, MD
Drs. Fine, Hoffman & Sims
Eugene, Oregon
Contact
Hoffman: rshoffman@finemd.com
