Eyeworld

16 | EYEWORLD | DECEMBER 2019 ASCRS NEWS by Liz Hillman EyeWorld Editorial Co-Director Contact information Feuerman: jfeuerman@eyeinstitute.com collegiality between myself and my partners. We all work really well together, we all add some- thing to the group, and it's not uncommon for us to be bouncing ideas off each other, ques- tions off each other." In black scrubs and Brooks running shoes, Dr. Feuerman is always on the move between patient visits. He toggles between two patient exam rooms, equipment rooms, and occasion- ally makes a stop in his personal office. When he's not seeing patients or checking on various items, he does a little bit of coding while stand- ing at a computer outside his exam rooms. As the day wound down and there were only a couple of patients left on the schedule, both of whom were in testing with techs, Dr. Feuerman had a moment with nothing to do. He thrives more in a flurry of activity and finds a lull a bit disconcerting. "There's nothing I can do," he said, waiting for his patients. Though Friday, Dr. Feuerman was on call this particular weekend and was helping educate young eye surgeons in wet labs at the ASCRS Combined Ophthalmic Symposium. J ason Feuerman, MD, hand on the doorknob pauses, takes a breath, blows it out before turning the knob, and presses in to greet his next patient on a busy Friday afternoon in August. "I have to work for my weekend," Dr. Feuerman said on a busy clinic day where he sees several refractive cataract surgery patients with questions about the benefits and limitations of their new lenses, patients who needed YAG capsulotomies, cataract consults, and a few dry eye sufferers. "You get to see the real Friday afternoon." A cornea and cataract specialist at the Eye Institute of Austin for the past 4 years, Dr. Feuerman jokes about being the window washer of the eyes. "There is a cloudy window and we're going to make it clear; it's just very gratifying to see those outcomes in patients," he said. On average, Dr. Feuerman sees about 30 patients in his clinic days, a slightly lower vol- ume than some, which, he said, is intentional. Dr. Feuerman said the Eye Institute of Austin tries to maintain a low-overhead practice, which allows him and fellow partners to work four days a week. Dr. Feuerman said the fifth day is typically an admin day. "It's a little more laid back in that sense," Dr. Feuerman said. "The best thing about my particular practice is, I think, the flexibility and A day in the life of Jason Feuerman, MD About the doctor Jason Feuerman, MD Eye Institute of Austin Austin, Texas equipment failures, along with speaker no- shows, to put together an enriching course. Their trials were trivial in comparison to the tragedy that occurred on the last morning of the course, when Yared Assefa, MD, the residency director from Gondar University who was scheduled to speak, passed away suddenly. "Several Gondar residents left early, too upset to continue, and the mood of the rest of us was quite solemn," Dr. Erny said. Still, reviews of the course were extreme- ly positive, both from the residents and the speakers. Dr. Erny enjoyed: "lecturing on cataract/lens, socializing with the residents, and seeing them work together to review the subject matter." Once the results of the exams came in, the success of the course could not be denied. The pass rate in Ethiopia for optics, refraction and instruments increased by 25%, for visual science by 13%, and for clinical ophthalmology by 15% all in one year. When compared with test-takers from approximately 80 countries, the Ethiopian residents performed above average in all three sections and posted the highest grades among all African participants. The ASCRS Foundation is proud to be working with our NGO partners, like the continued from page 14

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