Eyeworld

40 | EYEWORLD | APRIL 2023 ASCRS NEWS Contact Berdahl: john.berdahl@ vancethompsonvision.com Schallhorn: jschallhorn@gmail.com by Ellen Stodola Editorial Co-Director About the physicians John Berdahl, MD Vance Thompson Vision Sioux Falls, South Dakota Julie Schallhorn, MD Rose B. Williams Endowed Chair in Corneal Research University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, California the state of investment and level of optimism in the ophthalmic marketplace. This year's conference will also feature the new Eyecelerator Marketplace, which Dr. Schallhorn said is a forum available to all attendees to browse through the pitch decks of the most exciting up-and-coming companies digitally displayed on electronic kiosks and have an opportunity to sit down and meet with them. "We designed the Eyecelerator Marketplace to bring maximum exposure among meeting attendees to the companies that are hand- picked to participate," she said. "The goal of the Eyecelerator Marketplace is to facilitate mean- ingful conversations and connections to turn the dream of a successful product into reality." Those attending will have a full day of programming and networking opportunities. "Attendees can expect to be faced with the wonderful but difficult choice of networking with their colleagues, where all the movers and shakers are in the same place, versus attending some of the highest quality sessions they'll see all year," Dr. Berdahl said. In his role on the Program Committee, Dr. Berdahl hopes to bring both the point of view of a surgeon and an entrepreneur to the content. He wants the program to convey both the unmet needs that physicians face and the difficult task that companies face in overcom- ing all of the hurdles to bring an innovation to the market. "We've got the most insightful and trusted names on the business and clinical side of ophthalmology helping us push toward the future," he said. "Anyone interested in innovation in oph- thalmology should attend Eyecelerator. The program is a crash course in how to bring a product to market, and it offers the best networking opportunities among innovators, strategic partners, and finance that exist," Dr. Schallhorn said. "Like the innovative companies Eyecelerator is designed to help, we have the latitude of introducing new features and think- ing outside the box to maximize the benefit to attendees." ASCRS ANNUAL MEETING PREVIEW Eyecelerator @ ASCRS 2023 to highlight innovations in anterior segment surgery E yecelerator @ ASCRS 2023 will take place on May 4 ahead of the ASCRS Annual Meeting in San Diego, Cali- fornia. John Berdahl, MD, and Julie Schallhorn, MD, are this year's Program Co-Chairs, along with Gil Kliman, MD, Program Director. Dr. Berdahl and Dr. Schallhorn shared what to expect at this year's conference, which will feature a provocative and authentic look at the state of innovation in ophthalmology. "The lineup is spectacular," Dr. Berdahl said. "The message is crafted for investors, bankers, innovative ophthalmologists, and every compa- ny associated with ophthalmology to see where new technologies are headed, hear new ideas that are out there, and learn about the challeng- es our whole ecosystem faces. This is going to be a high-energy event where companies share their authentic challenges and their tremendous progress." "This year we're focusing on the source of many of the exciting innovations in ophthal- mology: small companies and startups," Dr. Schallhorn said. "Our sessions cover topics that are very pertinent to the journey of a new prod- uct from conception to launch." The Winning Pitch Challenge, a session Dr. Berdahl will moderate with Vance Thompson, MD, is back again and features a Shark Tank- like format where chosen finalists pitch their ideas for cash prizes for funding their innova- tions. "I'm excited about The Winning Pitch Challenge where the audience will vote to de- termine which ophthalmologist-founded startup companies have the most promise to change our profession," Dr. Berdahl said. A new session of the program will focus on products being launched at or soon after the ASCRS Annual Meeting. Another one will take a deep dive into a case study of a technology that has ultimately succeeded after multiple near-death experiences. This year's focus will be on the iLink procedure (Glaukos) for kerato- conus treatment (as well as Photrexa, Photrexa Viscous, and the KXL system for performing the procedure). "A candid discussion with the Glaukos team promises to be very insightful," Dr. Berdahl said. The first session of the day, "We Love Oph- thalmology, Does Anyone Else?" will examine

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