Eyeworld

Eyecelerator: A collaboration to spur innovation 2010s–2020s SUPPLEMENT TO EYEWORLD | 55 I n 2019, ASCRS and the American Academy of Ophthalmolog y began a partnership to develop an innovation meeting that would take place twice a year on the ursday preceding each organization's Annual Meeting. Eyecelerator, as it was named, pro- vided a forum for presentations on the industry and innovation of ophthalmolog y. e meeting is geared toward ophthalmic companies, startups, investors, and ophthalmologists. e first Eyecelerator meeting was virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the first in-per- son event taking place ahead of the 2021 ASCRS Annual Meeting. "If you go back 50 years ago and you think about the environment that spawned ASCRS, [there was] a desire for innovation, a desire for more discussion about disruptive technologies and new treatments, approaches, techniques," Mr. Speares said. "en you look 50 years later, and here we are with our innovation meeting that is jointly cre- ated and shepherded by ASCRS and AAO, and I think it shows that everyone is interested in better ways, bet- ter approaches, better technologies. Our patients need them, and our practices need greater efficiency. "e other thing about Eyecelerator is that it's a nat- ural conduit with industry. at's where it's in our joint best interest for there to be investment and innovation," Attendees at Eyecelerator have networking opportunities and the chance to learn about many companies and the products/technologies they are working on. Source: ASCRS Attendees at Eyecelerator. is innovation meeting offers a unique mix of presentations, panels, and opportunities to network with industry and others in ophthalmology. Source: ASCRS Mr. Speares added later. "For years, all of ophthalmolog y has benefited from the symbiotic relationship between surgeons and industry and a very clear understanding of what the surgeons need and what industry needs to make a commercially successful product. at commu- nication and dialogue is really important." Cathleen McCabe, MD, speaks at an Eyecelerator meeting. Source: ASCRS Gil Kliman, MD, serves as program director of Eyeceler- ator. Source: ASCRS Julie Schallhorn, MD, and John Berdahl, MD, attend the 2023 Eyecelerator @ ASCRS. ey served as program co-chairs. Source: ASCRS

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