Eyeworld

Cornea Society News – published quarterly by the Cornea Society 4 T he Cornea Society gave two young physicians the opportu- nity to attend the AAO Mid-Year Forum in April in Washington, D.C. as participants in the Advocacy Ambassador Program. Below are their impressions of the program. Priya Mathews, MD I was delighted to represent the Cornea Society at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Mid-Year Forum, which took place in April in Washing- ton D.C. I am a third year resident at the Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, and will be starting my cornea fellowship at Wilmer Eye Institute this July. At the AAO Mid-Year Forum, I joined more than 450 ophthalmologists from around the country to advocate for millions of Americans suffering from debilitating eye diseases as well as the physicians who take care of them. We discussed the current landscape of ophthalmology, potential opportunities for growth and improvement, as well as real or potential threats and challenges that could compromise quality and ac- cessibility of care for our patients. I also participated in the Advocacy Ambassa- dor Program, which was established in 2004 by the AAO, the state ophthalmol- ogy societies, the subspecialty societies, and training programs to promote early awareness and involvement of residents and fellows at the AAO Mid-Year Forum. This year, there was a record high of 175 residents and fellows from around the country participating in the Advo- cacy Ambassador Program. In addition to having meetings and dinners with senior advocates of the AAO Mid-Year Forum, there were sessions designed for the residents and fellows such as "L.E.A.P. Forward," with stands for "Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy, and Practice Management." A talented group of ophthalmologists was chosen to share their words of wisdom. I was inspired by their humility, honesty, and determination to make a difference for their patients and the future practice of ophthalmology. The Advocacy Ambassadors were welcomed by all of the ophthalmolo- gists to speak during the Capitol Hill meetings. Given our unique position as residents at a tertiary referral center, we were able to educate the legislators and their staff about the current flow for a patient presenting to the emergency room with a serious eye problem. Many were unaware of the long wait (up to 12– 24 hours) that ensues before the patient is examined by a specialist and actually receives treatment, such as fortified antibiotic for a sight-threatening corneal ulcer. We also spoke about the countless hours wasted battling complex prior au- thorization requirements for insurance companies and the detrimental impact on patient care. It was enlightening to hear about possible solutions from the senior advocates during the Capitol Hill meetings and current proposed legisla- tion that could potentially improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of care. We also discussed the positive im- pact that initiatives from prior meetings have had. For example, we explained how we have benefited from federal funding for research projects, and how this has promoted innovation, devel- opment, and therapeutic practices in our field. We hope that this positive feedback will lead to further NIH/NEI funding for vision research. I am honored to have been spon- sored by the Cornea Society to attend the AAO Mid-Year Forum as an Ad- vocacy Ambassador. It was truly an educational and inspiring experience, and I will continue to remain involved throughout my career. Stephen Potter, MD Two years ago, the Department of Oph- thalmology at the University of Florida and the Florida Society of Ophthalmol- ogy sponsored me to attend the AAO Mid-Year Forum as an Advocacy Am- bassador. I left inspired, informed, and determined to stay current on the issues facing our profession and hopeful to re- main active in advocacy. This year I had the privilege to attend the AAO Mid-Year Forum again as an Advocacy Ambassa- dor, this time sponsored by the Cornea Society as a cornea fellow. Advocacy for our profession is easy to overlook, espe- cially with our busy schedules; however, advocacy is of the utmost importance, and it is critical that we as ophthalmol- ogists strive to protect both our patients and our profession. This year more than 400 ophthalmologists met in Washing- ton, D.C. to learn about the pertinent is- sues facing our profession and advocate for our patients and ourselves on Capitol Hill. I felt prepared to take a more active role in discussing this year's important issues—prior authorizations, access to compounded medications, MIPS, telemedicine, and federal funding of VA/ NEI research—with the representatives and senators (and their staff members) representing the state of Florida. It was inspiring to see how much our represen- tatives truly care about their constitu- ents and recognize how the burdens of over-regulation in medicine can nega- tively impact the care they receive. AAO Mid-Year Forum experiences Advocacy Ambassadors with Senator Chuck Schumer's staffer

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