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Leading to the future: APAO today and tomorrow
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The Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology has been working closely with various ophthalmological societies to advance the development of ophthalmology in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. In order to better realize its vision and mission, the APAO believes in nurturing talent and assisting ophthalmologists to better realize their potential and become leaders in ophthalmology.
The Leadership Development Program (LDP) is one of the collaborative efforts between the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Aimed at fostering a variety of skills including leadership, advocacy and association governance, APAO LDP provides its participants with a unique training opportunity that enables them to become future leaders of ophthalmology. Over the years, the APAO has been pleased to witness the growth of its LDP graduates as they assume leadership positions in both national and supranational organizations.
The first APAO LDP class was held at the Bali Congress in 2009. We were glad to have Bruce Spivey, MD, the president of the International Council of Ophthalmology, and Michael Brennan, MD, former AAO president, attend the first induction session to share with the LDP participants their insights on what it takes to be a true leader in ophthalmology. Eighteen participants have gone through the challenge and graduated. Many are now leaders in either the APAO or the APAO’s member societies, contributing to the promotion of ophthalmology both nationally and regionally.
Image: Lam DSC
In order to maximize the benefits and development opportunities for participants and allow them to become acquainted with one another on a personal level, a mid-year forum has been introduced to the program since the second LDP class. This year, the LDP mid-year forum will be held in Bangkok, Thailand. Hosted by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand and supported by the ophthalmic industry, the LDP mid-year forum will again feature didactic lectures and interactive sessions that allow the participants to better understand what being a leader in ophthalmology entails. Chaired and convened by Tjahjono Gondhowiardjo, MD, and directed by Catherine Green, MD, the APAO Leadership Development Standing Committee is also supported by Hunter Yuen, MD, who has been serving as secretary, and Brennan, whose advice is crucial to the development of the program.
Image: Lam DSC
The APAO LDP is now calling for nominations for its fourth class of participants from its member societies. Interested parties should contact their national societies by Oct. 5.
Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week
APAO officials will organize the second Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week from Oct. 8 to 14 to coincide with World Sight Day, an annual awareness day to focus global attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation of the visually impaired. Yizhi Liu, MD, chair of the APAO Public Education Standing Committee, has worked closely with the APAO Central Secretariat to identify three main themes this year: diabetic eye diseases, normal tension glaucoma and lazy eye in children. Participating member societies of the APAO will receive a media kit with banners, educational material and press statements about the situation in the Asia-Pacific region. Various activities held in the Asia-Pacific region during Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week will be reported on the APAO website. It is hoped that with the concerted efforts of various member societies of the APAO, we can create a ripple effect in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, raising awareness about major eye diseases to facilitate detection, diagnosis and prognosis.
Image: Lam DSC
Looking at the demographics, the Asia-Pacific region is not only home to almost 3.5 billion people, but also houses 28% of avoidable blindness in the Southeast Asian region and another 26% in the Western Pacific region. According to figures published by the World Health Organization, there are 285 million people who are blind or visually impaired. Approximately 80% of the cases can be either avoided or cured. To help realize the global initiative Vision 2020, the APAO will step up its efforts in combating avoidable blindness through various campaigns including advocacy, publication, public education and online education.
Upcoming meetings
Ophthalmologists and visual scientists will have a busy meeting calendar starting in November, when the joint AAO-APAO meeting will be held. Then, there will be the inaugural congress of the Asia-Pacific Glaucoma Society in early December, followed closely by the International Symposium of Ophthalmology – Hong Kong (ISO-HK), which provides a platform for the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society Congress; the inaugural meetings of the Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology Society and the Asia-Pacific Society of Ocular Oncology and Pathology; the Asia-Pacific Society of Eye Genetics Symposium; and the Hong Kong Ophthalmological Symposium.
Image: Lam DSC
The APAO is pleased to learn that there are more subspecialty-based societies in the Asia-Pacific region catering to the needs of various subspecialists in ophthalmology. Responsible leaders are taking the lead to unite together to respond to the needs in the region.
Finally, in January 2013, the APAO Congress will be held in Hyderabad, India. The meeting is anticipated to bring together 10,000 delegates with more than 800 world-renowned speakers. With multiple networking platforms providing congress-goers so many learning and collaborative opportunities, it is believed that ophthalmological development can be further advanced in the Asia-Pacific region, where avoidable blindness could soon become a terminology of the past. – by Dennis S.C. Lam, MD, FRCOphth, Secretary General of the APAO; Tjahjono Gondhowiardjo, MD; Yizhi Liu, MD; and Frank J. Martin, AM, FRACS, FRANZCO, President of the APAO