Eyeworld

APRIL 2023 | EYEWORLD | 17 EYESUSTAIN UPDATE Dr. MacDonald is an associate clinical professor of ophthalmology at Tufts Universi- ty School of Medicine, where she has taught for more than 25 years. She co-founded Eye Corps Inc., a 501(c)(3) based in Tanzania with the mission of reducing cataract blindness by supporting in-country cataract services, and currently serves as its chief executive officer. Dr. MacDonald said that she looks forward to continuing the established success of the Foundation while finding more ways for mem- bers to get involved, facilitating cross-pollina- tion among different non-profits, and working with industry to explore ways to bring sustain- able eyecare to low-resource settings. "Following in David's footsteps is a daunt- ing task but an amazing opportunity. I am very lucky to be able to carry on with his vision for the Foundation and will work hard to do him justice as I consider him a dear friend and col- league," Dr. MacDonald said. Dr. MacDonald emphasized the benefit volunteer surgeons receive from giving of their time. "In 2023, we hear a lot about physician burnout," Dr. MacDonald said. "I think getting involved in volunteerism in the United States or internationally is a way to reconnect to our profession and join with our colleagues to be part of something bigger than ourselves and experience the joy of giving." Dr. Chang will continue as a member of the Board of Directors during a transition period and said he will "always support the Foundation and its initiatives." "In my experience, many ophthalmologists feel grateful to have received outstanding train- ing in a truly rewarding specialty, and they want to give back. Supporting the ASCRS Foundation is a great way for anterior segment surgeons to do this," Dr. Chang said. Young ophthalmologists' energy and passion for restoring vision is matched only by their interest in doing so in an environmentally conscious way. Since launching EyeSustain in April 2022, we have had hundreds of ophthalmologists in train- ing and early career practicing ophthalmologists worldwide who have taken an interest in becom- ing involved. This EyeSustain Update column highlights an essay by George Liu. Mr. Liu was the winner of the 2022 John Henahan Writing Prize for Young Ophthalmologists. This prize is named in honor of John Henahan, who edited EuroTimes, the news magazine of the Europe- an Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), from 1996 to 2001. Mr. Liu is a voice for the younger generation of ophthalmologists in his beautifully written response to the prompt, "What can the field of ophthalmology do to meet the pressing challenges of climate change, sustain- ability, and social equity?" —Aakriti Garg Shukla, MD, EyeSustain Editor Our problems, a global issue The United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) contributes 5% of the country's car- bon footprint. It is not alone. If global health services formed their own country, they would be the fifth-largest carbon emitter on the planet. This is a global issue. In ophthalmology, patients often present with chronic disorders needing multiple con- sultations (generating travel emissions), and often, surgical procedures are the only solution. Whilst there is a beneficial high turnover of surgical cases in ophthalmology, this also incurs increased waste generation, which is exacerbat- ed by unsustainable practices such as disposable equipment, including substantial amounts of plastic and iron ore. To make matters worse, an NHS investigation showed that children were being exploited to manufacture surgical equipment in Pakistan. So perhaps reusable sterilized equipment is the way forward? Whilst Nostra culpa About the author George Liu Medical Student Anglia Ruskin University School of Medicine Chelmsford, U.K. by George Liu continued on page 18 continued from page 16

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