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UPDATE 12 national volunteer work throughout her ophthalmic career, and through that work, she soon realized that there was a large need right in her own community. Dr. Graves and her co-director Brian Fowler, MD, decided to bring the mission trip approach to Memphis, Tennessee. "Instead of doing individual surger- ies throughout the year, we want- ed to attempt something larger," Dr. Graves said. "Our goal was to complete 50 surgeries in 1 day using donated supplies like we do for the mission trips. We also wanted to see if we could recruit volunteers to do- nate their time to complete the sur- geries." Through the dedicated work of Dr. Graves and her colleagues, the generosity of corporate spon- sors, and the ASCRS Foundation's Operation Sight program, the first annual Ivan Marais Cataract-a-Thon emerged. "The ASCRS Foundation and Operation Sight make it possible to take care of those patients who otherwise would have no access to the surgical care they need," Dr. A SCRS is, at its core, a member-led organization. Much of the education, information, and other offerings are developed by anterior segment specialists for ante- rior segment specialists. The success of the organization is highly impact- ed by the continued dedication and volunteerism from the individuals who serve as educators. Every month, we feature one of these member volunteers. We introduce individuals who have con- tributed to the society's outstanding education and initiatives, helping members strengthen their skills and sharpen their expertise, and provide better care to patients. This month's spotlight member is Emily Graves, MD. Dr. Graves has done an enormous amount of inter- Denise Monasterio ASCRS Marketing and Communications Manager ASCRS member spotlight: Emily Graves, MD Emily Graves, MD Graves said. "Blindness is more than just lack of vision. Someone who is blind can lose their independence, lose their job, and would have to rely on friends and family to take care of them. Cataract surgery for these people restores more than just vision, and partners like the ASCRS Foundation help make that hap- pen." When asked about the most re- warding part of providing charitable cataract surgery, Dr. Graves said, "I am always blown away by the gener- osity of the volunteers, many of whom take vacation days to partici- pate in our Cataract-a-Thon events. It is almost as if people are looking for a way to give back and they just needed someone to ask. There are many opportunities for those of us who have the privilege to live in the United States to give back." Dr. Graves' advice to other ophthalmologists who are interested in volunteering through Opera- tion Sight is: "Don't hesitate. Get involved. Operation Sight helps change lives." Dr. Graves is an ophthalmol- ogist at the Duncan Eye Center in Memphis, Tennessee. She received her medical degree from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winton-Salem, North Carolina. She completed an internship at Methodist University Hospital and her residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Department of Ophthalmology at the Hamilton Eye Institute. After her residency, Dr. Graves completed a fellowship in cataract and refractive surgery in Nashville, Tennessee, where she received extensive train- ing in LASIK, PRK, and premium cataract surgery. Interested in becoming a volun- teer with ASCRS? Visit ascrs.org/vol- unteer. For more information on the ASCRS Foundation and Operation Sight, visit ASCRSFoundation.org. Not a member? Visit ascrs.org/ join for full information. EW Contact information Monasterio: dmonasterio@ascrs.org T he 2019 ASCRS•ASOA An- nual Meeting—the largest U.S. meeting dedicated to the needs of anterior segment surgeons, practice management staff, and ophthalmic technicians and nurses—will be held May 3–7, 2019, at the San Diego Convention Center. The meeting offers specialized education for every member of an ophthalmic practice, as well as by Denise Monasterio ASCRS Marketing and Communications Manager ASCRS•ASOA Annual Meeting is coming to the west coast in 2019 cross-functional learning opportuni- ties where practice teams can learn side-by-side with one another. ASCRS Program This year, ASCRS has added some new and exciting programming: • ASCRS Roundtables—Meet the Experts will be held on May 4 from 8:30–9:30 a.m. ASCRS Roundtables offer an opportunity for attendees to meet with experts in an informal setting to examine issues as they relate to cataract surgery, IOLs, refractive surgery, cornea and glaucoma. Space is limited, so sign up early. • ASCRS' The Voice of Ophthalmol- ogy is back for a second season, again featured as Part 2 of the AS- CRS Sunday Summit General Ses- sion, which will be held on May 4 from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. This year, ASCRS is holding an open audition process and potential contestants are invited to submit audition videos. Full details are available online at voice.ascrs.org. • The ASCRS Program is also featur- ing an expanded ASCRS Essen- tials Track, including refractive cataract, retina for anterior seg- ment surgeons, IOL calculations and more; a "Shark Tank"-like symposium called "The Winning Pitch"; several special interest symposia (government relations, female leaders in ophthalmology, humanitarian efforts); and more Skills Transfer labs. ASCRS Subspecialty Day On May 3, attendees will have the opportunity to enhance their meeting experience by attending the ASCRS Subspecialty Day pro- gram. ASCRS Refractive Day, ASCRS Glaucoma Day, and Cornea Day will highlight the most important topics in cornea and lens-based refractive surgery, glaucoma management and surgery, cornea and cataract sur- gery, presented by world-renowned experts. ASCRS Refractive Day, spon- sored by the ASCRS Refractive Clinical Committee, provides a comprehensive overview of all the advances in refractive surgery, with innovative techniques and new surgical technologies that will help to improve outcomes.

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