When I was a medical student at Baylor College of Medicine, I was working on a research project with Dr. Elizabeth Yeu, who was a cornea fellow at the time, along with Dr. Doug Koch and Dr. Mitchell Weikert, who were faculty at Baylor. They sent me to attend my first ASCRS meeting to present the data. I was immediately hooked and have been attending every year since then to take advantage of the annual opportunity to increase my ophthalmology knowledge and to network.

Ultimately, I became associate residency director and a faculty member at Baylor. The roles shifted, and I was in a position to give back in terms of helping to provide education for the next generation of talented young surgeons. As a member of the ASCRS Young Eye Surgeons Committee, I started to give talks at conferences, including ASCRS, and to work with industry. It has been so rewarding to close that loop, since the opportunities provided by ASCRS are one of the key reasons I have gotten where I am today.

THE VALUE OF ASCRS

To me, ASCRS is really the premier source of surgical and procedural education in the cataract, refractive and anterior segment space for ophthalmologists of all ages. It provides so many opportunities to complement what you learn in your residency and fellowship and then to learn about new techniques and technologies as you continue throughout your career. Along with the meetings, the ASCRS website is a great everyday source of knowledge, from IOL calculators to an online library of education materials on a variety of medical and surgical topics.

With the constant changes to our field — from new diagnostic and surgical devices to new lenses — it is imperative to continue learning all the time so that you can provide the best treatment for your patients.

IN THIS ISSUE

What I love about this issue of Ophthalmology Management is that we presented so many topics with connections to ASCRS. In “Grow your practice with new technology,” Drs. William Trattler and Sam Garg talk about the many factors to consider when evaluating the latest developments from the private practice and academic perspective. The ASCRS meeting is a great opportunity to learn about these new technologies on the show floor, test them out and talk to experts.

ASCRS also offers opportunities to learn about the in-clinic cornea and glaucoma procedures that Drs. Brian Shafer and Nate Radcliffe discuss in their articles. Along with the specifics of how to perform the procedures, they provide insight on how to add them to your office, maintain efficiency and get reimbursed for them.

Among the pearls offered by Dr. Vance Thompson in his article on adding refractive surgery to your practice, he mentions the wealth of educational resources provided by ASCRS, including white papers, online resources, webinars and lectures.

Despite recently leaving academics, I never wanted to stop participating in clinical research. ASCRS was a key for me in cultivating that. After joining Whitsett Vision Group in Texas and becoming the director of research, I utilized a lot of what I learned from talking to friends and colleagues both in ophthalmology and in industry at the ASCRS meetings to set up our clinical research division. Support from the relationships I have forged over the years helped catapult our research program. Keeley Puls-Boever and Dr. Julie Schallhorn provide more insight for those looking to get involved in clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

Along with the education provided through wet labs, webinars, symposia, and more, perhaps the most valuable for my career has been the relationships I’ve made both as a leader and a member of ASCRS. Being able to connect with my peers and develop mentorship opportunities through ASCRS has been vital. I’m so glad to have these opportunities to educate while continuing to learn more about our everchanging field. OM

Special thanks to Dr. David Hardten for his help with this issue.

Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, MD, is an ophthalmologist specializing in cornea, external disease, cataract and refractive surgery. She was a tenured associate professor and associate residency director at the department of ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine, but has recently joined Whitsett Vision Group as a cornea, refractive, and cataract surgeon and director of research. She has taken an active leadership role in national committees, such as the chair of the ASCRS Young Eye Surgeon Committee, and presents at multiple national and international conferences as a key opinion leader in ophthalmology.