Women in Ophthalmology 2021 Summer Symposium to deliver creative hybrid meeting
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The Women in Ophthalmology 2021 Summer Symposium will take advantage of a hybrid format to welcome as many attendees as are interested, even if they are unable to travel to an in-person meeting.
“What we’ve done is focused high-quality CME content in the morning to early afternoon that will also be livestreamed to the virtual audience,” Lisa M. Nijm, MD, JD, CEO of Women in Ophthalmology, told Healio/OSN.
Following mornings of parallel programming, in-person attendees can break off for skill labs, networking opportunities or to relax with their families. Virtual attendees can access full programs throughout the afternoon tailored specifically to virtual audiences, and in-person attendees will have access to the virtual content to view at any time as well.
“It’s really two full meetings in one,” Nijm said.
The meeting is scheduled for Aug. 26-29, 2021, on Amelia Island, Florida.
In addition to sessions focused hot topics in ophthalmology, keynote speakers Audina M. Berrocal, MD, and Jeannette Bankes, president and general manager of global surgical franchise at Alcon, will speak on breaking the glass ceiling in ophthalmology. Other highlights of the meeting include Adrienne Graves, PhD, being honored as the Bernice Brown lecturer and Leslie Jones, MD, as the recipient of the WIO Presidential Award.
“I think it gives an opportunity to focus on the unique attributes that women ophthalmologists bring to the field,” Nijm said “We have a one-of-a kind meeting where cutting-edge surgical innovations and techniques are presented alongside professional development workshops, allowing attendees to learn intangible skills that really make for the success of an ophthalmologist.”
Tips for negotiations, panels on diversity, equity and inclusion, pearls for starting your own practice and building your academic career, and specialized mentoring sessions for medical students and residents are just a few of the topics that will be discussed. Skill labs will offer attendees hands-on practice in managing glaucoma, cataract, dry eye and strabismus. A record-breaking 300 research posters will also be available electronically for attendees to view and speak with authors.
“WIO focuses on what you need to know and presents topics that are not readily covered at other meetings in a warm, collegial environment. We welcome all those in ophthalmology —men and women — to come, learn, share their knowledge, create new friendships and attain new skills to help them achieve their career goals,” Nijm said.
The meeting will also mark the end of a year-long clinical trials training program, which Nijm spearheaded, that brought Women in Ophthalmology and industry partners together to help women ophthalmologists integrate clinical trials research into their practices.
“The best experience for WIO is always going to be in person, but we were happy to welcome more than 750 attendees last year virtually, and so we have expanded the programming and taken a more creative approach to be able to include everyone, no matter whether they can come in person or virtually, because we want to share this great experience with as many attendees as possible,” Nijm said.
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