EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/1538634
ASCRS FOUNDATION SYMPOSIUM AT THE 2025 ASCRS ANNUAL MEETING in terms of general medical supplies and funding may be best left to others. 4. Engage with those who have local knowledge before forming a plan. What may initially seem like a strong idea—such as telemedicine or a global network of consul- tants—might be unnecessary or impractical in the local context. 5. Be both diplomatic and firm when setting aside well-in- tentioned ideas that, while appealing, may be unnec- essary, unfeasible, too costly, unsustainable, or beyond capacity to manage. 6. Avoid politics as much as humanly possible. In securing support from your organization, he of- fered some advice, notably the importance of commitment (clearly define roles, responsibilities, and timelines), risk assessment (analyze safety, legal, and reputational risks), official advice (adhere to guidance from the State Depart- ment or relevant authorities), funding (verify the availabil- ity and long-term sustainability of financial resources), and expertise (confirm that the team has the necessary skills and capabilities). Dr. Ogilvie-Graham discussed the critical importance of local partnerships. Confirm they are effective, connected, established, and trustworthy. S usan MacDonald, MD, chair of the ASCRS Foun- dation, and Cathleen McCabe, MD, moderated the ASCRS Foundation symposium at the 2025 ASCRS Annual Meeting, "Ophthalmic Care Strategies During Humanitarian Crises: Addressing Challeng- es and Ensuring Patient and Physician Safety." The sympo- sium was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Vision. 'Resource Optimization and Leadership Best Practices for Keeping Patients and Staff Safe' Tom Ogilvie-Graham, PhD, CEO of ESCRS, gave his thoughts on best practices for humanitarian ophthalmic care in areas near conflict, noting that before you think about getting involved, there are some general principles to consider: 1. Determine whether you want to engage. Consider the broader political context, ongoing conflicts, the region, and the likelihood of support from your organization and all stakeholders, including membership. 2. Consider if you can add value beyond the medical sup- port already being provided. For example, there may be little point in providing ophthalmic care if the situation is intense combat in a remote region; this is more frontline emergency medicine where ophthalmology may not be the priority and the risks of providing it are not justifiable. 3. Work out how you could best add value as ophthalmol- ogy may not be the main priority, and providing support Dr. MacDonald and Dr. McCabe moderated the ASCRS Foundation symposium. Source: ASCRS Dr. Ogilvie-Graham shared principles to keep in mind when considering humanitarian care in areas near conflict. Source: ASCRS