Cynthia A. Bradford, MD

Surgery by Surgeons
Surgeons paid as Surgeons

Ophthalmology is a great profession that not only allows daily miracles for patients, but is personally and financially rewarding for physicians. Our educational programs have high standards and research leads to incredible new treatments for patients. But without advocacy for our profession and patients, our foundation of education and research cannot survive. For years, reimbursement for our services has declined and more physicians are now aware that we must all participate in the solution to stop further decline.

Slowly over the decades optometry has expanded its scope of practice using the phrase, “This is all we want”, forgetting to add the disclaimer, “For now.” Ophthalmologists must realize optometry is not going to stop, unless we act together to stop the progression. As a young ophthalmologist in Oklahoma, I was witness to one of the early laser shots by optometry; a patient who came to me for a second opinion on a laser peripheral iridotomy performed by an optometrist. Her problem? An epiretinal membrane. The year? 1988. Until that time, I thought state government protected patients, but I learned that we must all be active in the political process to protect patients and our profession. As state ophthalmology society president after the 1998 optometric laser bill (you read right, 10 years after they started doing ocular lasers) and subsequent “scalpel law,” the political process was painfully obvious.

As a regional representative, associate secretary and secretary for state affairs I have had the opportunity to learn extensively about the state political process. I have also had the opportunity to meet comprehensive, subspecialist and academic ophthalmologists throughout the country and am awed and amazed at the hundreds of dedicated ophthalmologists that represent our profession actively in each of our state, subspecialty and specialized interest societies. Unsung heroes. Individuals who donate their time and money for the entirety of our profession.

On a federal level, we have equally talented ophthalmologists who are known both inside and outside our profession as experts in the complex system of Medicare. Without this expertise, ophthalmology’s reimbursement levels would be lower. Our Washington DC lobby team is extraordinary and recognized as one of the best.

I look forward to leading our state and national advocacy teams in promoting our profession as the leader of the eye care team. We are the only professionals trained to diagnose and treat ocular disease. Ophthalmologists should be paid reasonably for our work and others without equal training should not be able to legislate the right to mimic our profession.