Eyeworld

30 | EYEWORLD | SPRING 2025 ASCRS NEWS Contact Lindstrom: rllindstrom@mneye.com for decades and participated in other society meetings around the world, and I think there's a camaraderie because vision is so important, with a collaboration among industry and the physicians as well for that reason." Dr. Lindstrom also praised ASCRS advocacy, which he has participated in through the years. "I've done my share of advocacy as well, and those challenges will always be with us," he said. "ASCRS has punched above its weight in that regard." The Society has helped to repre- sent ophthalmology's interests in Washington, D.C., and has worked to collaborate with other medical societies on these issues as well. "For the anterior segment surgeon who does cataract surgery, lens implantation, re- fractive lens-based surgery, refractive corneal surgery, glaucoma, and cornea, ASCRS has a lot to offer," Dr. Lindstrom said, adding that ASCRS and ASOA also provide tools and education in practice management, helping to give surgeons all the skills and knowledge in many areas to maintain and sustain their practice. Dr. Lindstrom's legacy at ASCRS will have a lasting effect. Notably, the ASCRS Foundation launched its Lindstrom Legacy Gift Club last year, and the Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, Lecture is presented annually on the Main Stage at the ASCRS Annual Meeting. This year, Dr. Lindstrom is being inducted into the ASCRS Ophthalmology Hall of Fame. He called this a great honor. "I'm humbled that my colleagues … would be willing to give me that honor," he said. served as chair of the Anterior Segment Service at a large academic center, University of Min- nesota, and chief of the Minneapolis VA Hospi- tal, which was a very busy surgical VA, so that taught me a lot about practice management and sharing ideas with colleagues," he said. "They were positioning their practices for success, and it helped me as an academician and a director of a large government hospital. I later found- ed a group called Minnesota Eye Consultants, which started as me alone to now 33 doctors, five offices, and five ASCs. ASCRS was the most important source of valuable information for me and for my administrators." Dr. Lindstrom said ASCRS goes beyond the practice of ophthalmology and helps cultivate relationships in the field. "Probably the most valuable thing was the personal relationships. It was where a lot of my lasting friendships in the field of ophthalmology came from, interac- tions at ASCRS Annual Meetings, going back to 1978." Being committed to teaching, Dr. Lindstrom has trained around 80 fellows in his career and said this is one of the more rewarding things he's done. "I've introduced them to ASCRS as well, and it's been fun to see them gain the same benefits that enhance their patient care, enhance their practice management, and help develop strong friendships," he said. "Personally, I love ASCRS. It's been a very important part of my life." While Dr. Lindstrom will be moving out of official leadership positions in the Society, he still plans to attend the meetings and be in- volved. He noted several close peers and friends that he's worked with and attended meetings with through the years, including Samuel Masket, MD, Douglas Koch, MD, and Robert Osher, MD. "There's still a role for us, in nurtur- ing our friendships, in supporting the Society from a philanthropy perspective, which is becoming ever more important, and in being available to the younger doctors. They are always interested in hearing about the past but also in learning from us." Ophthalmology is a unique specialty, Dr. Lindstrom said. "I hear that all the time when people, particularly from industry, move from other specialties into ours. I think partly the reason is that vision is so important. We have a partnership among ourselves." This is not just U.S. based, but global. "I traveled a lot continued from page 28 W. Barry Lee, MD, EyeWorld Cornea Editorial Board member, shared what he is excited for at the ASCRS Annual Meeting: "I always look forward to attending the ASCRS Annual Meeting. It provides me with cutting-edge technology updates from lectures and hands-on wet labs, as well as an incredible floor of all the ophthalmic industries to demo products and learn what I need to enhance my practice." ASCRS ANNUAL MEETING P R E V I E W

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