Viewpoint

A breath of younger air

FROM THE CHIEF MEDICAL EDITOR

Larry E. Patterson, MD

Ophthalmology Management focuses its content on what the title inherently implies; business and clinical management concerns of our practices. We are the go-to source for all day-to-day business issues you deal with, including articles on coding, cash and patient flow, hiring and firing. But OM is also a great source to help ophthalmologists manage the common clinical problems that we see every day. You won’t see much space devoted to rare X-linked recessive diseases — there are plenty of fine journals that play a better role there. But for “bread and butter” disorders like cataracts, glaucoma, dry eyes, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration — we have you covered.

Well rounded

It’s in that spirit that I’m happy to announce a new feature: “Grand Rounds in Ophthalmology”. Under the auspices of Joel Schuman, MD, chair of Ophthalmology at NYU Langone Medical Center, this feature will showcase a different clinical entity and will be presented by the program’s residents. NYU has a good-sized program, whose seven residents accepted each have clinical experiences in numerous NYC hospitals including Bellevue. They have a weekly grand rounds program, alternating locations with Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. Residents talk about their cases on some days and on others, invited guests do so.

Conversations between generations

Our goal is also to facilitate an exchange of generational ideas. We’d like not only for these younger ophthalmologists to read and contribute to this publication, but we’d also love for the older folks (yes, that means us) to write in and offer their advice. You might read the article and respond with “Kid, you did a fine job with this case but next, try this…” or maybe even “Hey kid, you not only did a great job, you taught me something new — thanks!”

At the same time, we’d like to give established ophthalmologists a taste of what’s going on in residency programs today. As time goes on, we could easily expand this concept and showcase other residents and programs around the country. I’m hoping these cases will spur even more conversation in the ophthalmic world.

The inaugural article, focuses on the real-life, practical management of a patient with diabetic retinopathy. The authors impressed me with the quality of their medical analysis, and also with the practical applications they chose. Sometimes defined and controlled clinical trials can bump heads with everyday clinical and socioeconomic realities. Read it — you’ll be impressed, too.

Having spent nearly three years lecturing monthly at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, I’ve had a chance to renew my outlook on our profession; and that outlook is positive. I hope you enjoy this new addition to OM, and as always, your comments are appreciated. OM