Tamara Fountain, MD, to lead AAO in 2021
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The best performing organizations have leaders who train for and learn from the unexpected, Tamara R. Fountain, MD, said in the president-elect address at the virtual American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.
In accepting the gavel from AAO president Anne L. Coleman, MD, PhD, the 2021 president said the focus for ophthalmologists over the past year of “disruption and devastation” wrought by the coronavirus pandemic was to first take care of patients.
“Many of us used limited hours and skeleton staff to take care of our patients’ most urgent needs. And while never a complete substitute for direct care, easier access to telehealth technology threw others a lifeline,” Fountain said.
Secondarily, training and education needed to continue. Some 650 young ophthalmologists received notice on March 9 that oral board examinations were canceled.
“COVID or no COVID, these young doctors had to somehow get certified,” Fountain said.
The American Board of Ophthalmology “rose to this colossal challenge,” pivoting from in-person to an all-electronic platform.
“This first ever virtual experience was so well received by examiners and examinees alike there is talk that oral board exams may never take place in person again,” she said.
Similarly, e-learning modules and virtual options were developed for resident and prospective resident training and education.
“This engagement will help sustain the competitive pipeline for ophthalmology’s 2021 match,” Fountain said.
But there is still work to do.
For one, social injustice and racial inequality “show up in health care,” Fountain said.
“This is our lane. As a profession, we have a special moment in time to narrow this gap and make a difference for our patients. Together we can do this,” she said.
For another, a perennial focus for the academy is to preserve patient access to quality health care, she said.
“Governments around the world will be facing fiscal headwinds as the bill for this pandemic comes due. We’ll have to fight that much harder to preserve funding for cutting-edge research, to resist burdensome hurdles to patient care, and to emphasize the value of the ophthalmologist, the eye care team and ophthalmology in the broader house of medicine. Together we can do this, too,” she said.
Fountain remains encouraged, even as the upheaval of 2020 rolls into her tenure.
“We may be separated, but we don’t have to be divided. We may not be able to congregate, but we can still collaborate. We may be apart, but we are not alone. Let’s use these times — this opportunity — to improve ophthalmology for our industry, for our profession and for our patients,” Fountain said.
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Fountain TR. President elect address. Presented at: American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting; Nov. 13-15, 2020 (virtual meeting).
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