Joanne Mansour, OCSR, started her career in ophthalmology in 1988 in Toronto, Canada. Since 2004, she has been the practice administrator at the Virginia Retina Center, which has four physicians and three satellite offices in and around the Northern Virginia region. She currently serves as chair for the AAOE’s Board of Directors.
First annual meeting—2006. "My first annual meeting was AAO 2006 in Las Vegas. Running into old friends at the annual meeting is always a highlight. Getting together for dinner and inviting along new acquaintances is just so valuable. The annual meeting is like a family reunion that takes place regularly. "
Top tip for getting the most out of the annual meeting—take a systematic approach to planning your schedule. "I like using the Mobile Meeting Guide as it helps to organize all the courses. My first step is to go through each category and add the courses that sound interesting to me and that may present a gap in my knowledge or may address a particular challenge that I currently have in my practice. Next, I look at all the courses I have selected and usually find that I have many sessions that are double- and triple-booked. I look for courses where I may have overlap with other courses on my list. I also sometimes research presenters and see if the size and make-up of their practice is similar to mine. I will prioritize these talks, since I am likely to get more out of them. While at the meeting, I will attend a course and sometimes, if I feel it is information I already know, I will switch rooms to attend one of the other courses I was interested in during that time slot."
Biggest beginner’s mistake—being too shy to talk to other attendees. "During the AAOE program, you can learn a lot from your fellow attendees. Administrators are amazing people—they are just like you! They spend their days managing staff and the day-to-day. You have a lot in common with these people; you can learn from them, and they can learn from you. Be bold! If you just attended a class with another administrator, ask them what they thought about something you didn’t understand. Ask what electronic health record (EHR) system they are using. Start the conversation. You will have a lifelong friend and someone you can reach out to when you need some advice."
How your meeting strategy has evolved—seize the opportunity to network. "I used to feel like I had to be in courses from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day or I wasn’t getting the most from the meeting. I’ve learned that a big part of the meeting is networking. I try to spend some time in the AAOE Lounge to meet others."
What you missed during the 2020 all-virtual meeting—networking in person. "With the pandemic and a virtual annual meeting last year, there is a lot of networking to catch up on this year! Not being able to see friends and interact with people who, as practice managers, have had shared experiences has been difficult, so I’m hoping to catch up this year after a long drought!"
Guilty pleasure at the annual meeting—arriving early for a me day. "My husband is an ophthalmologist, so we usually come to the meeting a day earlier so he can attend the Subspecialty Day meetings. This gives me a day to myself in the city. I love to walk the city, get my nails done, engage in some retail stress reduction, and enjoy a quiet day before the meeting begins."
Attend the AAOE Member Reception
If you are an AAOE Member, come and put some faces to the names that you see on AAOE-Talk. No reservation needed.
When: Saturday, Nov. 13, 5:30–7:00 p.m.
Where: New Orleans Marriott, Mardi Gras Ballroom Salons, 3rd floor
Visit the AAOE Lounge
If you are an AAOE Member, you are invited to come network with your colleagues.
When: Friday, Nov. 12 to Monday, Nov. 15, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Where: Room 201-202.