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'Subspecialty Challenge' to debut at OSN New York symposium
The annual meeting will offer rapid-fire updates in retina, glaucoma, neuro-science, pediatrics and oculoplastics.
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This year's OSN New York symposium will feature several new components that, while maintaining the flavor of past meetings, are geared to keep general ophthalmologists abreast of the latest developments in several subspecialties. The meeting will take place Oct. 13 and 14 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
 Thomas W. Samuelson |
One notable addition this year is the "Subspecialty Challenge," a section chaired by OSN Glaucoma Section Editor Thomas W. Samuelson, MD.
Subspecialty challenge
This new section comprises a series of five lectures delivered by experts in retina, glaucoma, neuro-science, pediatrics and oculoplastics who are challenged to provide a "concise whirlwind tour of what's happening in the various subspecialties," Dr. Samuelson said. The presenters will also share their "opinions as to which of the new developments are likely to come to fruition and which are less likely to be implemented," he added.
"Each presenter's goal is to provide a brief update of their specialty and to present something particularly exciting in their field, then explain how it relates to general ophthalmologists and their patients," he said. "We believe this format will be attractive to the general ophthalmologist, who may not need great detail about some of the new developments but wants to know what's going on, what's evolving."
Almost all of the presenters are OSN Editorial Board Members, Dr. Samuelson said, adding that the idea for the subspecialty challenge was borne out of discussions at the OSN Section Editor Summit in February.
"We were looking to freshen up the format of the meeting," he said. "So rather than have a concentrated glaucoma section or a concentrated retina session, we are going to provide a brief synopsis of the different subspecialties in ophthalmology."
The presentations will feature "real-time, interactive feedback" in the form of audience response surveys, Dr. Samuelson said, and each 10-minute lecture will be followed by a 5-minute question-and-answer session. An hour-long reception with the faculty will cap off the day.
Cataract and refractive surgery elements
The meeting is still geared toward the general ophthalmologist and will feature more cataract and refractive surgery coverage than in past years. A section devoted to lens-based refractive surgery will start the symposium Oct. 13, under the direction of OSN Cataract Surgery Section Editor William F. Maloney, MD, who will oversee presentations focusing on accommodating, presbyopia-correcting, phakic and toric IOLs. Next, OSN Refractive Surgery Section Member Steven J. Dell, MD, will oversee a section on cornea-based refractive surgery, which will include tips for avoiding ectasia, a comparison of sub-Bowman's keratomileusis to PRK and LASIK, and other topics.
Also Oct. 13, OSN will award the inaugural Waring Medal to two authors who have made significant contributions to the Journal of Refractive Surgery, which, along with Ocular Surgery News, is published by SLACK Incorporated. The medal is named for the journal's editor-in-chief, George O. Waring III, MD, FACS, FRCOphth, and will be presented to Konrad Pesudovs, PhD, and Dan Z. Reinstein, MD, FRCSC, FRCOphth. Dr. Pesudovs has published prolifically on wavefront aberrations, and Dr. Reinstein has written about ultrasound scanning and long-term safety in LASIK.
Bookending the Waring Medal ceremony will be two half-hour keynote addresses. OSN Glaucoma Section Member Bradford J. Shingleton, MD, will tackle glaucoma, and OSN Retina/Vitreous Section Member Allen C. Ho, MD, will speak on retina issues. As always, the presentations will be geared toward general ophthalmologists who are seeking broad information beyond their usual scope of practice.
Throughout all of the presentations, the OSN New York symposium will feature opportunities for interaction with the faculty and co-attendees. Each section will conclude with a 15-minute question-and-answer session, and several of the presenters will incorporate electronic audience response surveys into their lectures. With the response surveys, attendees will learn instantly how the information being presented will affect treatment decisions among their colleagues.
Cataract surgery and more
Oct. 14 will begin with a cataract surgery section chaired by OSN Chief Medical Editor Richard L. Lindstrom, MD. A hand-picked, expert faculty will discuss topics ranging from the power and efficiency of phacoemulsification fluidics to aspheric IOLs, the management of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome and more.
After a light brunch, OSN Cataract Surgery Section Member Robert H. Osher, MD, will lead a faculty debate panel in which four top cataract surgeons will share their perspectives on the future of cataract technology. OSN Cornea/External Disease Section Member Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, will then lead two corneal health round table discussions on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-infective agents, and dry eye and allergy.
OSN Regulatory/Legislative Section Editor Alan E. Reider, JD, will conclude the meeting with an hour-long series of compliance case studies. Attendees will hear how new regulations will affect their practice, including the latest in fraud and abuse, relationships with optometrists and payment issues. Mr. Reider will also discuss how to respond to government investigations and pay-for-performance initiatives.
For more information:
- Thomas W. Samuelson, MD, OSN Glaucoma Surgery Section Editor, can be reached at Minnesota Eye Consultants, 710 E. 24th St., Suite 106, Minneapolis, MN 55404; 612-813-3628; fax: 612-813-3656; e-mail: twsamuelson@mneye.com.
- To register, contact: Registration Manager at Vindico Medical Education; 877-307-5225 (United States and Canada only); 856-994-9400; fax: 856-251-0278; e-mail: meetingregistration@VindicoMedEd.com; Web site: www.OSNSuperSite.com/ny.
- Andy Moskowitz is an OSN Staff Writer who covers all aspects of ophthalmology.