Eyeworld

AUGUST 2020 | EYEWORLD | 17 Contact Chang: dceye@earthlink.net Donaldson: kdonaldson@med.miami.edu by Ellen Stodola Editorial Co-Director According to Kendall Donaldson, MD, pro- gram co-director, discussions about the creation of this program have been ongoing for more than a year. "Dr. Chang had the brilliant idea of creating this course to help fill in some of the gaps that are not covered in a typical residency or fellowship program," she said. "During train- ing we learn the technical skills to perform safe and effective cataract surgery, but we don't have the time or the access to all of the different expert faculty to learn the science, thought pro- cess, and art of refractive surgery as practiced by some of the world's best surgeons. We've been fortunate to gather an amazing faculty to help us with this groundbreaking program." The "20/Happy in 2020" program will pro- vide CME education that is evidence-based and takes a generic and balanced approach to most device topics. For product-specific information, corporate-sponsored sessions will complement the main master class symposia. These live non-CME programs will immediately follow the master class symposia and will be recorded and available on the "20/Happy in 2020" website. The target audience for the virtual series will include residents, fellows, comprehensive ophthalmologists, and experienced refractive cataract surgeons looking to improve their skills. "Because of this unique format, the size and caliber of the faculty, the timing, and several newly approved IOLs, we expect strong atten- dance reflecting a historical high in refractive IOL interest," Dr. Chang said. As far as the virtual aspect of this meet- ing, Dr. Donaldson said the individual lectures will be pre-recorded but will also have live and interactive components, allowing the attendees to ask questions of renowned surgeons from around the world. "We also wanted to create a class that could be taught in segments that could later be available for reference for the practicing surgeon," she said. "It may be diffi- cult for someone to tune in on nine Saturdays, but this format will allow them to watch and A SCRS is launching a new master class in refractive cataract surgery. "20/Happy in 2020: The ASCRS Master Class in Refractive Cataract Surgery" is a series of virtual CME symposia featuring lectures, live panel discussions, audience polling, and Q&A sessions. The master class will focus on achieving patient satisfaction in refractive cataract surgery, covering knowledge gaps in practice management, surgeon communication skills, and proper patient selection and counsel- ing. Significant course and discussion time will also be spent on managing complications and patient dissatisfaction. The series seeks to provide a new model for interactive learning, especially given the necessary changes in clinical education since the COVID-19 pandemic. The curriculum is divided into a series of nine biweekly, 2-hour programs. Program co-director David F. Chang, MD, said "20/Happy in 2020" will assemble more than 75 leading international faculty. They will lecture and participate in live virtual panel discussions and Q&A sessions with the audi- ence. "We hope that this format will facilitate more substantive virtual interaction with the attendees," Dr. Chang said. All symposia will be recorded and archived on a dedicated master class website. ASCRS members will also receive a certificate attesting to completion of the nine- part advanced refractive cataract master class. "The cancellation of most of 2020's live meetings means that attendees will not be traveling and must look elsewhere to get clinical updates and CME," Dr. Chang said. "Our vir- tual live symposia will be on Saturdays so that no clinic time is missed, and attendees can also watch the recorded events at their own con- venience and pace." The pandemic has forced ophthalmologists to reassess their practices, he added, and many are using this as an oppor- tunity to recommit and refocus on refractive cataract surgery and premium IOLs. ASCRS launches virtual CME series: '20/Happy in 2020: The ASCRS Master Class in Refractive Cataract Surgery' continued on page 18 About the doctors David F. Chang, MD Clinical professor University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, California Kendall Donaldson, MD Medical director Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of Plantation Plantation, Florida

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