EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
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EW FEATURE 46 by Ellen Stodola EyeWorld Staff Writer a surgery and explain their compli- cations, challenges, and successes on video is incredibly powerful, he said. However, Dr. Berdahl thinks larger conferences are still essential. "They're essential not only because you can get anything that you want there, but because the relationships are critical," he said. Meetings provide a place to learn and interact with colleagues. Being away from your practice and having an unplanned conversation with colleagues is where great ideas can sprout, Dr. Berdahl said. Dr. Miller has not seen the im- pact that he expected of electronic resources. "I thought the electronic media would significantly change the landscape and people wouldn't go to the bigger meetings as much as they formerly did," he said. He is surprised that this has not been the case. "The big meetings seem just as important as ever," he said. There is something about going to an actual meeting that reading or doing an online educational activity can't replace, Dr. Miller said. It has to do with the personal interaction. Online tools, meetings, journals, and other sources are important to help ophthalmologists stay current W hen it comes to medical education, ophthalmologists get information for their daily practice from a number of valuable sources. Tech- nology is improving and expanding resources for learning new skills and techniques, but meetings, both large and small, and journals remain important resources for improving clinical understanding and prac- tice patterns. John Berdahl, MD, Vance Thompson Vision, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Elizabeth Yeu, MD, Virginia Eye Consultants, Norfolk, Va.; and Kevin M. Miller, MD, Kolokotrones Chair in Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles, shared their thoughts on medical education and how and where surgeons are continuing their education. Obtaining information Mobile access to information and new electronic resources have changed the way ophthalmologists can get information to a degree, but many still rely on large meetings. "Now with virtual access to everything on the Internet and dif- ferent online resources, everything's become much more of a customized and personalized experience," Dr. Yeu said. She thinks that the national organizations as well as different societies recognize this. "Hence the educational component for all surgeons in our field is becoming more tailored to accommodate the newer learning style." However, Dr. Yeu thinks that the larger meetings and print journals still serve a distinct purpose in medical education. Because every- one learns in a different way, these are all important tools for various learning styles. Dr. Berdahl finds that one of the most valuable learning tools are the videos that surgeons create. These can help with tips and tricks for performing different surgeries. The ability to see other surgeons do The changing face of medical education December 2014 Resources for medical education AT A GLANCE • Large meetings not only provide ophthalmologists with educational resources, they also facilitate interaction and discussion among colleagues. • Meetings provide a way to obtain CME credits, and many doctors find this useful if they already planned to attend. • Internet and mobile resources are helpful in customizing the learning experience for a number of ophthalmologists.