Q&A: Real World Ophthalmology offers young surgeons lessons in professional, personal growth
Real World Ophthalmology will present this fall’s virtual meeting, entitled “Top 10 Things I Wish I Knew Sooner,” on Nov. 5.
The event is free for all ophthalmologists in training through their first 10 years of practice and will feature an array of clinical and practical topics handpicked to help the next generation of ophthalmologists further their clinical knowledge, business acumen and personal development goals.
Healio/OSN spoke with Lisa M. Nijm, MD, JD, the founder and creator of Real World Ophthalmology, about the topics that will be explored at the meeting and what attendees can expect from upcoming virtual and in-person events.
Healio/OSN: What is Real World Ophthalmology?
Nijm: Real World Ophthalmology is a physician led educational resource dedicated to helping young ophthalmologists successfully transition from training to early practice.
As an MD/JD, I have taught contract negotiation workshops at numerous academic programs and at various meetings, engaging in discussions with countless young ophthalmologists about what it is like to be practicing in real life. Over time, I realized that they had many of the same questions that I had when I first started practice, and it also became apparent that the pandemic had created new challenges for them. I am passionate about education and having been blessed with many incredible mentors who have helped me navigate the “real world,” I felt compelled to do something to help. Fortunately, I found many like-minded colleagues who agreed that we can do a better job of filling in known gaps in knowledge that we as physicians face when we enter practice.
Healio/OSN: What should young ophthalmologists know about Real World Ophthalmology?
Nijm: One of the hallmarks of this meeting is that the program is designed with curated content tailored to the needs of young ophthalmologists and in a format that allows for fast paced absorption of that knowledge. We leverage the full capabilities of the virtual platform to create an educational experience that is unique, enjoyable and memorable.
The topics are physician driven and selected based on demand and feedback from the previous meeting. Dr. Dimitri Azar and Dr. Carol Karp are headlining the lineup of 70+ academic and private practice leaders from across the country. We are delighted to welcome speakers from the Cornea Society, AGS, ASRS, AAPOS, NANOS, AUS and ASOPRS who will be giving their insights into why young ophthalmologists should pursue their subspecialty and information about how each organization supports the younger generation. In addition, we have a special featured Q&A session with American Board of Ophthalmology’s Dr. Sarah Nehls, the chair of the Exam Development Committee, on “Demystifying the Board Exam.”
For ophthalmologists who are a bit further along in their career journey, we are going to dive into important considerations when choosing a job and even more challenging conversations - the why and how about changing positions. We have an entire panel dedicated to questions on opening your own practice, evaluating private equity opportunities and choosing a job in academics.
We are also going to discuss more of the practical aspects of mastering clinical and surgical skills, managing cases that will give you gray hairs, common coding mistakes and the latest from AAO on preparing for audits and payer scrutiny. The sessions will feature live Q&A and practical discussions for early surgeons on subjects such as utilizing the latest IOLs, simplifying dry eye diagnosis and treatment, understanding changes in the management of geographic atrophy, updated strategies for treating glaucoma as well as cutting edge innovations and improving workflow in the office, key topics for the younger generation who are entering the field at a time when the number of patients is increasing at a rapid rate.
In addition to our great educational content there are eight awards given, a new jobs/fellowship/research board and a new poster hall featuring a limited number of research posters by young ophthalmologists. Additionally, anyone registered for the meeting will have the ability to access content and rewatch sessions on the virtual platform for 60 days after the meeting concludes.
Healio/OSN: How will upcoming Real World Ophthalmology meetings build on previous events?
Nijm: Real World Ophthalmology is evolving to become a hybrid educational resource throughout the year. We will continue to have our signature virtual meeting in the fall and in the spring, (previous meetings have attracted 1,000+ attendees each) to allow as many young ophthalmologists as possible access to this important information. In addition, we will have in person events at the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meetings to offer a way for Real World Ophthalmologists to connect in person and continue the conversation throughout the year. AAO Chicago was the start of our first annual event, RWO After Dark at the Ritz, and we were over max capacity.
It has become more than just a meeting; it has become an entire movement by physicians, for physicians. The goal is to help young ophthalmologists fill the gaps in areas they may not have gotten exposed to, including new clinical innovations and business aspects of ophthalmology, such as building the practice, working with staff and negotiating contracts, as well as areas of personal growth, including creating a financial plan and avoiding burnout.
Healio/OSN: What are you most looking forward to ahead of upcoming Real World Ophthalmology events?
Nijm: We are working on plans for professional networking and educational events at ASCRS. We also will have the RWO podcast coming out later this year which will highlight our “greatest hits” and give listeners a chance to hear bonus interviews with our expert faculty.
Healio/OSN: Is there anything else you would like to mention?
Nijm: What we have accomplished in a year has exceeded my expectations. Over 2,500 young ophthalmologists have joined our growing community, and I am so happy to hear how much they value the education we are providing. We have some great success stories that have come out of Real World Ophthalmology - aspiring ophthalmologists who received opportunities for external rotations, research and letters of recommendation as a direct result of networking with RWO faculty, ophthalmologists in practice who began utilizing new techniques and technology that they learned about at RWO, young surgeons who began working with industry, and even faculty who have found new jobs and new associates from Real World Ophthalmology.
It is amazing to see the wonderful things we can accomplish to help the next generation when we are working together.
Sign-up for the Nov. 5 virtual meeting is free for all ophthalmologists in training through the first 10 years of practice (while there is space available) at https://www.RealWorldOphthalmology.com/tickets.
Reference:
- Real World Ophthalmology. https://www.realworldophthalmology.com.
- Accessed Oct. 17, 2022.
For more information:
Lisa M. Nijm, MD, JD, can be reached at email: LNijm@RealWorldOphthalmology.com.
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