A Q&A with the new OOSS executive director

Diane Blanck joined the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society (OOSS) as executive director in September 2019, taking the reins from outgoing director Kent Jackson. A career-long marketing professional, Blanck founded Kansas City-based 2B Creative Marketing agency and has worked with clients in many industries, including ophthalmology and orthopedics, both practices and ASCs. The Ophthalmic OASC talked with Blanck about what she hopes to achieve in her new role.

Q. What drew you to the executive director position?

A. The purposeful mission and the people. The impact that ophthalmic procedures can have on patients and their caregivers literally changes lives. That fuels my passion.

Q. What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

A. Forming relationships with members as well as industry partners to make OOSS even more valuable in their professional lives. The opportunities for OOSS are endless, yet the resources are limited. Developing a patient-centric strategy and aligning resources to support it will require discipline and creativity. I love challenges. I’m naturally curious and like to ponder the “what if” and “what about” questions to explore fresh ways of thinking and approach challenges in creative ways.

Q. What are your short- and long-term goals?

A. Short term, we will focus on defining value and assessing utilization of OOSS services and assets to maximize our impact with the resources we have. Throughout the last few years, OOSS has launched many member-driven programs and services, such as robust analytic tools, education programs, and marketing tools. This year, we launched OOSS Gives, a philanthropy to support ophthalmic missions to serve indigent patients in the U.S. and around the world.

In 2020, we will focus on articulating our purpose and programs to members, building on our momentum, and assessing the performance of current initiatives, while exploring new opportunities for the future.

Long term, we believe there is room to grow in order to continue to provide advocacy and meaningful support, programs, and services to serve our membership and partners.

Q. What is something about OOSS that you wish more members knew?

A. Member engagement and active participation are keys to success for OOSS. We are all better and stronger together. OOSS offers many opportunities and resources for members to connect with us and with each other. I want members and partners to know that the board of directors and I are very receptive to their ideas and input, and that I look forward to working with and for each of them.

OOSS was conceived almost 40 years ago to develop a new and entrepreneurial channel to provide patient care effectively and efficiently. OOSS continues to have the same mission and culture today.

Q. What’s the biggest challenge facing OOSS members, and how can OOSS help?

A. Some of the current topics garnering focus include industry consolidation, the role of private equity in the ophthalmic ASC space, emergence of new channels of service, and ownership succession planning for ASCs for young surgeons and those contemplating retirement.

Collaboratively with its members, industry partners, and strategic alliances with other associations, OOSS remains focused on advocacy for patient care in a safe ASC environment; reasonable and equitable payment for services provided; fiscal responsibility with patients, taxpayers, and other third-party payers; and continued success for physicians-owners of ASCs. ■