- The Winning Pitch Challenge
- ‘From Operating Room to the Boardroom—Surgeons Exploring Career Pathways Beyond Clinical Care’
- Inaugural Business of Interventional Glaucoma program
- Upcoming: Friday at the ASCRS Annual Meeting
- Attend the ASCRS Foundation Party for a Purpose
The Winning Pitch Challenge
The Winning Pitch Challenge took place at the SightLine at ASCRS meeting on Thursday, April 24. Vance Thompson, MD, and John Berdahl, MD, moderated the session with judges Jim Mazzo, Richard Lindstrom, MD, William Link, PhD, and Ali Bauerlein.
Finalists pitched their ideas to the moderators and judges and were awarded prizes at the end of the session.
- First place: Srini Venkatesh, PhD
- Second place: Daemon McClunan, MD
- Third place: Prasanna Ramesh, MD
‘From Operating Room to the Boardroom—Surgeons Exploring Career Pathways Beyond Clinical Care’
In the final session of SightLine at ASCRS, Raj Rajpal, MD, led a discussion with Vance Thompson, MD, Michael Rivers, MD, Elizabeth Yeu, MD, Steve Schallhorn, MD, and Cathleen McCabe, MD.
During the session, panelists shared advice that they would give to someone interested in getting involved beyond clinical practice.
Inaugural Business of Interventional Glaucoma program
ASOA and ASCRS hosted the inaugural Business of Interventional Glaucoma program on Thursday, April 24, bringing together administrators, surgeons, and industry to gain a better understanding of how to efficiently, effectively, and profitably adopt an interventional glaucoma approach in practice.
“It’s the most righteous of offerings, and it also happens to be one that is profitable,” said Matt Jensen, former administrator and CEO of Vance Thompson Vision, kicking off the program. “Industry has great technologies, but if they never reach the patient, then shame on us.”
Mr. Jensen said from his research, “interventional glaucoma (IG)” was first published on in 2015. He said IG is a mindset, a philosophy, but he added that it’s more important than just a way of thinking.
Drops are a mainline glaucoma treatment for most patients with this disease, but for various reasons, patients are not compliant. He cited data that patients who are offered drops as their main treatment are two times more likely to lapse in their care. “There is unmanaged disease going on, and we think this is a travesty. How do we arrest this trend?” Mr. Jensen said.
This is where interventional glaucoma therapies come in. Not only are they ethical for the patient, Mr. Jensen said, but they can help practices grow.
Upcoming: Friday at the ASCRS Annual Meeting
ASCRS Annual Meeting programming kicks off today with ASCRS Subspecialty Day. Be sure to attend these programs focusing on cornea, glaucoma, and refractive topics, which will include discussion of relevant clinical topics as well as special lectures.
The ASCRS Exhibit Hall opens today at 12:00 p.m. Be sure to stop by exhibitor booths and the ASCRS Tap Room. The Exhibit Hall will be open 12:00–5:00 p.m. today and 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday.
The first session on the ASCRS Main Stage will take place today from 4:00–5:00 p.m. Hear from the ASCRS Annual Meeting Program Chair Thomas Samuelson, MD, Incoming ASCRS President Francis Mah, MD, and Outgoing ASCRS President Vance Thompson, MD. The session will also feature the presentation of the Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award to Elena Barraquer, MD. Additionally, Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, will be inducted into the ASCRS Hall of Fame. Finally, the session will feature the presentation of the Cornelius D. Binkhorst, MD, Lecture by Ronald Yeoh, MD.
Attend the ASCRS Foundation Party for a Purpose
Don’t miss the ASCRS ASOA Party for a Purpose tonight at The Novo at L.A. Live from 8–11 p.m. All ASCRS, ASOA, industry/exhibitor attendees, and their guests are welcome (bring your Annual Meeting registration badge for entry, and attendees of the Party for a Purpose must be 21 or older). Cheer on teams showcasing iconic movie moments, all while socializing with your friends and raising money to cure preventable blindness as part of the work of the ASCRS Foundation. Come as you are or dress like Old Hollywood or a modern-day celebrity ready to walk the red carpet.
Participating teams will be representing a variety of movies. Neda Shamie, MD, will lead the Grease team; Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, MD, will lead the Barbie team; Daniel Chang, MD, will lead the Back to the Future team; Erin Powers will lead the Top Gun team; Carrie Jacobs, COE, will lead the Saturday Night Fever team; and John Hovanesian, MD, will lead a team highlighting Marvel movies. The ASCRS Foundation would like to thank iOR Partners for their generous match donation. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to have a great time while supporting the ASCRS Foundation!
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