JUNE 2022 | EYEWORLD | 25
the skills they need to provide the highest level
of care. Over the years, the society grew to be
the leading educator for any anterior segment
surgeon. ASCRS has engaged our trainees to
introduce them to the field, advocated for our
profession and our patients, proliferated the
best clinical practices, and provided education
for our colleague administrators and support
staff, all for the benefit of patients.
What's special about ASCRS is the focus
on the anterior segment surgeon and the needs
that our patients have. We are starting to branch
out and work with groups that are pursuing
evidence-based research to change the practice.
We'll always be the best educators, but instead
of just educating on what the standard of care is
currently, the society is moving toward becom-
ing one of the forces to positively influence
where that standard goes. We are one of the
forces evolving what that standard of care is
rather than just reporting on it.
EyeWorld: Do you have any closing thoughts?
Dr. Rhee: We're all still emerging from the glob-
al pandemic and are part of various societal and
world events that are shaping our society and
our mindset. As part of our society's evolution,
how we choose to be educated and convene
with our colleagues has been evolving. ASCRS
held the first and very successful virtual meeting
when the pandemic began. Also, it held the first
in-person meeting to take place when it became
safe to do so. I fully expect our society will
continue to engage our members to provide the
multiple modalities and venues that they want
to best serve their educational needs.
