ASCRS News: Foundation Update
Spring 2024
On Saturday, April 6, the ASCRS Foundation will host an international symposium, “Be the Change You Wish to See,” from 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. The discussion will include lessons learned, current needs, and future opportunities for addressing blindness domestically and worldwide.
The symposium will feature four sections, all in roundtable discussion format and moderated by ASCRS Foundation Board members.
David F. Chang, MD, will lead a discussion on how technology is transforming global training. Panelists will cover online learning, virtual seminars, simulators, and virtual mentorship for live surgery. The panel will also highlight some of the Foundation’s partner nonprofits, like Orbis, ACE, Aravind, and HelpMeSee.
Adrienne Graves, PhD, will lead a section on volunteering, which will highlight those who have been nominated for the ASCRS Foundation’s Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award. This year’s awardee, Martin Spencer, MD, and other nominees will discuss needs at local training programs and how ASCRS members can get involved.
“This symposium is a rallying call for all of us to join in the effort to reduce blindness.”
Susan MacDonald, MD
Operation Sight, the ASCRS Foundation’s U.S.-based charitable cataract surgery program launched in 2014, will also be covered in this symposium. Participating Operation Sight surgeons will discuss this patient population and how Operation Sight works and will share their experiences as volunteer surgeons.
Finally, Susan MacDonald, MD, ASCRS Foundation Chair, will lead a discussion on promoting global work among young surgeons. She will give an overview of the Young Eye Surgeons International Service (YIS) Grant, which was created to inspire young eye surgeons to become involved with global eyecare on a long-term basis.
Dr. MacDonald will introduce this year’s YIS grantees, who will discuss their projects and why they want to make global ophthalmology a part of their professional career, and how early career ophthalmologists can get involved in global ophthalmology.
“This symposium is a rallying call for all of us to join in the effort to reduce blindness,” Dr. MacDonald said. “We would love to see all ASCRS members join in this discussion of bringing care to those in need. We are all part of the solution.”
“The ASCRS Foundation is a great resource for those in the ophthalmic community who want to get involved in addressing the worldwide problem of preventable blindness. Our symposium aims to provide networking and discussion on ways to tackle this problem, through the Foundation’s various domestic and international programs and partnerships. Individuals interested in getting involved in these efforts have a variety of opportunities, from donating to providing charitable surgery. Every one of these efforts helps to have a positive impact on patients in need and providing quality patient outcomes,” said Abigail Markward, ASCRS Foundation Executive Director.
