Eyeworld

14 | EYEWORLD | NOVEMBER 2019 ASCRS NEWS by Evelyn Morales ASCRS Foundation Program Manager Contact information Morales: emorales@ascrs.org actually been attending it since my first year of ophthalmology residency. The meeting is filled with enriching lectures, interactive wet labs, dynamic roundtable sessions, as well as young eye surgeon-geared talks and events that have enabled me to strengthen my knowledge base and grow as a young clinician and surgeon. The meeting also permits young trainees to begin sharing their research and clinical work on the podium by submitting original posters and papers, and I have challenged myself to present several original research papers and posters each year I have attended. Many of the leaders in anterior segment surgery come from around the world to participate in this meeting, and attend- ing the meeting is an invaluable opportunity to meet and network with these individuals as well as learn clinical and surgical pearls from them. ASCRS Foundation: Would you recommend other current residents or fellows to apply for the award? Dr. Venkateswaran: The Annual Meeting is one of the most informative meetings for young eye surgeons. The variety of educational lectures, wet labs, paper and poster sessions, and roundtable seminars is unparalleled and receiv- ing the funding to attend the meeting this year through the award was a fantastic opportunity. In addition to sharing my research and attend- ing lectures, I was also able to meet and speak with so many inspiring leaders in our field. Dr. Venkateswaran's advice to those inter- ested in the award: "I would absolutely recom- mend current residents and/or fellows to apply for this award! Reach out to your residency or fellowship program director and express your interest in being nominated." E ach year the ASCRS Foundation offers 10 Resident Excellence Awards for $1,000 to enable young ophthalmolo- gists exhibiting exemplary performance to attend the ASCRS Annual Meeting. The ASCRS Foundation is now accept- ing nominations for the 2020 Resident Excellence Award. The categories for consideration include research, patient care, leadership, and education. Candidates must be in year 2–3 of residency, or an active fellow, and must be nominated by their program director or coordinator. Nandini Venkateswaran, MD, a current cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery fellow at Duke University was one of the prom- ising young ophthalmologists selected last year to attend the Annual Meeting in San Diego as a 2019 Resident Excellence Award recipient. Dr. Venkateswaran shared her experience with the ASCRS Foundation staff. ASCRS Foundation: How did you learn about the Resident Excellence Award? Dr. Venkateswaran: One of my senior resi- dents, Dr. Swarup Swaminathan, who had won the Resident Excellence Award the prior year, encouraged me to apply for the award at the beginning of my third year of residency. He felt that it would be a wonderful opportunity for me to attend the 2019 ASCRS Annual Meeting given my strong interest in cornea, external disease, cataract, and refractive surgery. My res- idency program director at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Dr. Steven Gedde, also encour- aged me to apply. ASCRS Foundation: Tell us about your experi- ence at the Annual Meeting? Dr. Venkateswaran: ASCRS is by far my favorite meeting to attend every year, and I have ASCRS Foundation's Resident Excellence Award: Supporting the future of ophthalmology Nandini Venkateswaran, MD Fellow, Duke University Durham, North Carolina To learn more about the Resident Excellence Award, visit ascrsfoundation. org/education. The deadline for the 2020 Resident Excellence Awards is Friday, Jan. 10, 2020.

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