Eyeworld

JUNE 2022 | EYEWORLD | 37 Contact Beshad: soroosh.behshad@emory.edu Jarstad: ajarstad@ medfordeyedoctors.com Nikpoor: drneda@alohalaser.com Swan: russell.swan@ vancethompsonvision.com View the full YES Connect webinar on global fellowship and international outreach in June at ascrs.org/member- ship/young-eye- surgeons/webinars. stateside who can mentor you for your first few SICS cases after taking the course. Soroosh Behshad, MD From undergraduate through a master's degree in public health to being involved with Emory University's global ophthalmology fellowship, Soroosh Behshad, MD, said global ophthalmol- ogy and humanitarian work has changed over the years. "Gone are the days when U.S. doctors would fly across the globe to underserved places to perform hundreds of cataract surger- ies, then return home to their own practices and patients," he said. "What we have seen is that many of these communities now have their own healthcare systems in place and in many cases have local ophthalmologists who can do these types of surgeries in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. Ophthalmology has moved toward ways of magnifying impact and building/strengthening local partnerships." Dr. Behshad said that international work gives him a deeper perspective on other cul- tures but also his own practice in the U.S. "A lot of times here in the U.S. we do not realize how much our healthcare system is focused on things like patient volume and earnings as metrics of success. The international experienc- es have helped me remember the importance of the doctor's role serving our patients," he said, adding that the experiences abroad often improve his own surgical technique at home. "Many of the techniques that I use to do vision screening working in a refugee camp and other places globally I have adapted and use here with local volunteer work," Dr. Behshad said. Dr. Behshad also mentioned other import- ant considerations, such as attending lectures on these topics at meetings, increasing your skills in training, finding a mentor, and logistics like getting an up-to-date passport, getting a license to practice medicine where you're trav- eling, and making sure you have the necessary vaccines. Dr. Swan said one of the most rewarding moments from his work has been to see one of the first residents they started training in Hon- duras come back from a year-long fellowship and join the faculty at the same training center. "It's special to see the evolution of her from the beginning of her training and residency through her program and now back on faculty," he said. Allison Jarstad, DO After residency and a cornea/refractive fel- lowship, Allison Jarstad, DO, did a year-long global ophthalmology fellowship with Stanford University/the Himalayan Cataract Project (Cure Blindness). "I was able to work with some extremely talented ophthalmologists," she said. With this fellowship, Dr. Jarstad traveled to various places throughout Africa and Asia mostly working with cornea specialists who had already done some cornea training. "After we complete our fellowships, we often get to work with a mentor, but in some of the countries I worked in, there was only one cornea specialist, and for these doctors access to mentorship is limited. Building an ongoing relationship with these doctors was special," she said. Dr. Jarstad said she also grew significantly as a surgeon herself. "Whenever you're teach- ing, you grow. But when you're teaching in a location where you have limited access to other subspecialists and equipment, it forces you to improve. Getting through challenging cases in a limited resource setting stretched me as a surgeon," she said. Dr. Jarstad said that it's important to rec- ognize that you can have an incredible impact without doing a lot of high volume surgeries when participating in humanitarian outreach. "When you develop a mentorship relationship with another physician abroad, you can ex- change your skills and what you have to offer," she said. If you are embarking on international work, Dr. Jarstad said you should take a SICS course, and it is helpful to engage with someone Relevant disclosures Behshad: None Jarstad: None Nikpoor: None Swan: None Dr. Jarstad completed a fellowship with the Himalayan Cataract Project (Cure Blindness) where she traveled around Asia and Africa performing surgery and teaching. Source: Allison Jarstad, DO This is a child found to need further examination after failing a pediatric vision screening program Dr. Behshad and his team established in a Syrian refugee camp. Source: Soroosh Behshad, MD

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