ASCRS News
December 2022
by Steve Speares
ASCRS Executive Director
As we moved into 2022, ASCRS faced yet another year of uncertainty as the Omicron variant of the COVID virus was tearing through the U.S. population. The continuous roller coaster of uncertainty generated by the global pandemic had infected our organization with what can best be described as “beaten dog syndrome.” Two plus years of changing regulations, travel restrictions, and contract haggling had conditioned our staff to expect the worst. But as the year winds down, we can all breathe a collective exhale that the worst of the pandemic is behind us.
When the ASCRS Executive Committee met in November 2021 at the AAO Annual Meeting, we laid out an ambitious plan to overhaul the ASCRS bylaws for the first time since 1984. Multiple amendments were considered, but the overriding philosophy was to bring our processes and governance into the 21st century, utilizing technology and developing greater transparency for the broader membership. In my 4-and-a-half years with the organization, it has been gratifying to see the passion and affinity our leadership has for this organization. That passion was on full display as various amendments were debated and discussed.
When the dust had settled, we had a slate of changes that would guarantee greater transparency, more inclusive processes, and most importantly, adhered to the long-established essential ingredient of maintaining meritocracy as the first requirement for future ASCRS leaders. These changes would mean turnover of familiar faces within the Executive Committee. There is a lot of risk for an organization to move on from leaders who have shown unwavering support, leadership, and dedication.
But the confidence in the future leaders of ASCRS trumped the fear factor as the Executive Committee members adopted changes that would mean the turnover of some of their individual positions. There was a fine line to walk as we aimed for limits to serving in particular roles while keeping institutional knowledge and expertise readily available.
The ratification of these new bylaws at the 2022 ASCRS Annual Meeting was an important milestone in the history of the organization.
ASCRS has been extremely fortunate to have leaders like Edward Holland, MD, David Chang, MD, and Eric Donnenfeld, MD, helping to steer the organization through calm and calamitous conditions. These individuals have given cumulative weeks of their time and donated generously to the ASCRS Foundation and eyePAC for the betterment of our medical society. But turnover does not mean abandonment. ASCRS will continue to rely on the best and the brightest in our field of anterior segment surgery to educate ophthalmic surgeons from all corners of the globe.
Leaders like Warren Hill, MD, have provided essential resources such as the ASCRS Post-Refractive IOL Calculator in an effort to help surgeons give their patients the best possible outcomes. The life-changing impact of Operation Sight implemented by the ASCRS Foundation came directly from Kerry Solomon, MD, who had created the program along with his wife, Cindy, to serve patients in need in South Carolina. Just as with previous leaders, they will continue to be vital resources for the members of ASCRS.
I am excited to see the contributions our next generation of leaders will bring to ASCRS. Sumit “Sam” Garg, MD, has already brought a fresh perspective and energy to this publication. ASCRS Treasurer Vance Thompson, MD, has helped fuel the success of Eyecelerator with the expansion of The Winning Pitch Challenge, which is an ophthalmic version of the popular television series Shark Tank. Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, MD, has done outstanding work leading the Young Eye Surgeons (YES) Clinical Committee and building greater engagement among ASCRS and these surgeons who are just embarking on their career.
As we look forward to 2023, we feel a confidence not experienced since 2019. Coincidentally, that was the last year ASCRS held its Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. Historically one of our members’ favorite destinations, San Diego has enhanced its convention center and expanded its hotel and restaurant options compared to 4 years ago. The city has weathered the pandemic and looks forward to welcoming back ASCRS. And we all look forward to a year with less uncertainty.
Contact
Speares: sspeares@ascrs.org
