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Portugal hosts first European Meeting of Young Ophthalmologists
The event is the outgrowth of a project developed initially by SPO Jovem, the Portuguese YO, with the support of the SOE.
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For this month’s column, I interviewed Ana Miguel Quintas, MD, FEBO, a young ophthalmologist from Portugal who shares with us her passion for education of YOs. She sits on the committee for the very active Portuguese YO group, SPO Jovem, and is the driving force behind the first-ever European Meeting of Young Ophthalmologists in July in Porto. For more information regarding the meeting and to register, please visit emyo.weebly.com. See you in Porto!
Anthony Khawaja, MB BS, MA(Cantab), MPhil, FRCOphth
Chair of the SOE Young Ophthalmologists committee
Anthony Khawaja, MB BS, MA(Cantab), MPhil, FRCOphth: Ana, tell us a bit about yourself, such as your stage of training and interests.
Ana Miguel Quintas, MD, FEBO: I am a 33-year-old Portuguese ophthalmologist, and I finished my residency in Lisbon 2 years ago. My main interest is cornea and external disease, in which I am currently subspecializing in Hospital Santa Maria in Lisbon.
Khawaja: How did the Portuguese YO start, and how did you get involved?
Quintas: SPO Jovem is the name of the Portuguese YO, and it is a section of the Portuguese Society of Ophthalmology (SPO). The idea began with the last president of the SPO, Manuela Carmona, who was the main person responsible for bringing it together. During my residency, I frequently thought of the importance of resident-oriented reunions but did not really know how to organize them. When I realized that Manuela Carmona wanted to create a SPO section entirely dedicated to young ophthalmologists, a group of residents was already working on it. Thus, my initial endeavors seeking out a solution for the organization of YO reunions met gradually and naturally with the efforts that Manuela Carmona and the group of residents were making in the creation of SPO Jovem.
Khawaja: What is the main mission of the Portuguese YO, and how well do you think you are delivering it?
Quintas: There is a team of six residents and three young specialists, including me, who are working to keep SPO Jovem active. Our main objective is to represent young ophthalmologists in the national meetings of ophthalmology and to organize events focused on the young ophthalmologist’s interests.
We have our own website, and since 2012, we have had five meetings dedicated to young ophthalmologists: the first and second Annual Meeting of Ophthalmologist Residents, the first and second Refraction Course, and a Communication Techniques Workshop. We have promoted other events such as wet labs and scientific photography contests.
The strong participation of Portuguese young ophthalmologists in these activities and the positive feedback make us believe that we are doing a good job and urge us to do more and better.
Khawaja: Tell us about the first-ever European Meeting of Young Ophthalmologists.
Quintas: The first European Meeting of Young Ophthalmologists (EMYO) started as an idea from Prof. Paulo Torres, president of the SPO, and is the first outgrowth of a recent project developed initially by SPO Jovem, with the support of the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE). This project was impelled by the desire of creating a European meeting in which different themes with particular interest for YOs would be discussed. We believe that during the residency and the first years as a young specialist, specific needs concerning scientific knowledge, training and professional orientation are important and have not been thoroughly discussed. The EMYO intends to be a place for discussion of these issues and a place to involve all European countries in the future of ophthalmology.
This year’s theme is Ocular Surgery for Beginners.
Khawaja: Who should attend this meeting?
Quintas: All ophthalmologists can attend this meeting. The number of registrations is limited, so priority will be given to ophthalmology residents.
Khawaja: Why did you choose Porto as a venue?
Quintas: We have chosen Porto as a venue for a number of reasons. First of all, Porto is a vibrant city; it has recently been chosen as the 2014 Best European Destination. It is also an historic city; its city center is classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Easy and economical access is another reason. Porto has low-budget flights to most European cities. Taking these aspects into consideration, we believe that Porto makes an excellent choice for the first European Meeting of Young Ophthalmologists.
Khawaja: Will there be a social program?
Quintas: We have planned a social program with various options for the duration of the meeting.
On Friday night we will have the meeting dinner at BH, a fantastic restaurant at the seafront. After dinner at the same place, we will have the opportunity to enjoy some music and dance with a DJ. All of this with the sea and the sunset as a background. For the following days, other options will be available, such as port wine tasting trips, bus tours and surf lessons.
Khawaja: What are the major issues facing YOs in Portugal and in Europe, in your opinion?
Quintas: I would sum it up into three massive topics: achieving levels of excellence in medical and surgical training recognizable in all European countries; the pros and cons of the unprecedented rapid technological advancement in our training and practice; and our role in the changing health-related politics in Europe.
Khawaja: What advice do you have for YOs wanting to get involved in their national societies?
Quintas: Volunteer. Contact your national society and share your challenges, experiences and ideas. Your input is invaluable and might bring up a new perspective or a creative solution. In this rapidly changing world, you are ever more needed.
- For more information:
- Ana Miguel Quintas, MD, FEBO, can be reached at the Ophthalmology Department of Santa Maria Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal; email: anamiguelquintas@gmail.com.
- SOE Young Ophthalmologists website: http://soevision.org/yo
Disclosure: Quintas has no relevant financial disclosures.