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WHAT’S HAPPENING
Match Day Success for Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring Program
This year the Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring program had its largest cohort of students applying for the match, and 100% matched into ophthalmology residencies. The 16 participants matched to the following programs:
- Adetayo Oladele-Ajose: University of Iowa, Iowa City;
- Alexander Gordon: St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, Queens, N.Y.;
- Amia Green: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md.;
- Anania Woldetensaye: Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif.;
- Catherine Anderson-Quinones: University of Tennessee, Memphis;
- Deion Sims: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland;
- Dominic Williams: New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, New York City;
- Donavon Jared Dahmer: University of Iowa, Iowa City;
- Jean Adomfeh: Duke University, Durham, N.C.;
- Keale Cade: Howard University, Washington, D.C.;
- Lauren Mason: University of Texas, Houston;
- Marcus Turner: University of Washington, Seattle;
- Maylander Menard: Boston University;
- Pamela Capellan: Baylor College, Houston;
- Richard Sofoluke: Geisinger Medical Center, Mechanicsville, Pa.; and
- Ugochi Aguwa: Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia.
The Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring program is a partnership between the Academy and the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology. The goal is to increase diversity in ophthalmology by helping underrepresented in medicine students become competitive ophthalmology residency applicants. Students receive mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to educational resources.
Learn more about the Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring program at aao.org/minority-mentoring.
Photo contest for all matched residents. To celebrate the Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring program students—and all students—who matched in ophthalmology, YO Info encouraged residents to enter its Match Day photo contest by sharing their reactions to being matched. Winners were featured in the Feb. 14 issue of YO Info and received prizes, including a one-year subscription to the BCSC Self-Assessment Program.
See the winning photos at aao.org/yo-info-2023-match.
Dr. Higginbotham to Give AAO 2023 Jackson Memorial Lecture
Eve J. Higginbotham, MD, ML, will deliver the 80th Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture during the AAO 2023 Opening Session on Saturday, Nov. 4, in the Moscone Center, San Francisco.
Dr. Higginbotham is the inaugural Vice Dean for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a senior fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics and professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Currently, she holds leadership roles with the National Academy of Medicine, the National Research Council, the National Academy of Sciences, the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society, and the American Journal of Ophthalmology. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Ascension, one of the largest private health systems in the United States. She remains active in scholarship related to glaucoma, health policy, patient care, and equity.
TAKE NOTICE
Verana Health to Roll Out Final Quality Dashboards
This month, Verana Health began transitioning the remaining Academy IRIS Registry Dashboards from FIGmd to Verana Health. As of April 1, most FIGmd dashboards will no longer be active. Practices that have not yet completed onboarding with Verana Health—the Academy’s exclusive end-to-end data partner—should search email communications from their Verana Health practice experience manager.
To view a list of EHRs eligible for transition, visit aao.org/iris-registry/ehr-systems. If you have any questions, email irisdatalink@veranahealth.com or call 877-837-2621.
EyeWiki International Contest Articles Due May 31
If you are an ophthalmologist outside the United States, the Academy invites you to contribute to EyeWiki through May 31. After creating or revising an article, use the “Enter International Ophthalmologist Contest” button on the article page to submit it for the competition. Winners will receive an online Academy product.
Learn more and submit an article at aao.org/eyewiki.
Don’t Miss Eyecelerator at ASCRS 2023
On May 4, join hundreds of clinicians, entrepreneurs, investors, and global executives for an up-close look at the cutting-edge treatments and technologies that are disrupting ophthalmology. The full-day program in San Diego (a day before the ASCRS annual meeting) will feature insightful panels with key opinion leaders, valuable networking opportunities, and dozens of company showcases from the leading innovators in eye care. Seats are limited.
Register today at eyecelerator.com.
Attend the 2nd Global Ophthalmology Summit in September
Building on the success of the inaugural Global Ophthalmology Summit last August, the Academy is proud to announce the second summit in Atlanta, Sept. 8-10. This event is hosted in collaboration with Emory University, other academic ophthalmology programs, and nongovernmental eye organizations from around the world.
Designed for those interested or involved in global eye care, this summit will cover a broad spectrum of topics, including public advocacy and the World Health Organization’s global eye health targets for 2030.
Deadlines. April 17 is the deadline for abstract submissions. On May 15 early registration ends.
Register today at globalophthalmologysummit.org.
Volunteer: Write EyeSmart Articles for the Public
Are you passionate about educating the public about eye health? EyeSmart is a physician-reviewed resource for information about eye diseases, treatments, eye health news, and tips for a lifetime of good eyesight. The Academy needs your help to bring this valuable content to the public.
Volunteer to author EyeSmart articles for the public. You’ll work with Academy staff to choose a topic and write an article to be published in the EyeSmart section of the Academy’s website. Authors are credited on the article with a link to their Academy biography.
Learn more by visiting aao.org/volunteering and choosing “Write.” (This is just one of many Academy volunteer opportunities.)
OMIC Tip: Handling Patient Requests to Amend Medical Record
OMIC insureds often ask how to handle patient requests to amend their medical records. The HIPAA Privacy Rule allows patients the right to request amendments. Once the request is made, the physician must determine whether to make the changes and respond within 60 days. The medical record should contain the patient’s request to amend the record and the physician’s response.
To read the regulations that govern a patient’s right to amend Protected Health Information, visit aao.org/amendment-164-526.
OMIC offers professional liability insurance exclusively to Academy members, their employees, and their practices.
ACADEMY RESOURCES
Take the Free Academic Global Ophthalmology Course
The Academy’s Academic Global Ophthalmology course provides an introduction to global ophthalmology experiences and a foundation for global ophthalmology education. Gain the skills necessary to engage in global partnerships and improve eye care sustainably. After taking the course, download a certificate of completion.
Start learning now at aao.org/course/academic-global-ophthalmology.
Visit New Cataract Surgery Documentation Hub
You can now find resources on cataract surgery documentation in one place. At the new cataract surgery documentation hub, you can learn the ins and outs of audits, comparative billing reports, and prior authorization. The Academy’s coding experts also have provided downloadable checklists.
Visit the hub at aao.org/cataract-surgery.
Take the Guesswork Out of Coding
The Academy’s Ophthalmic Coding Coach is a one-stop online coding tool with powerful new search functionality to easily find CPT codes, CCI edits, and modifiers; enhanced note-taking features; the ability to compile a list of favorites; and more. Save time and avoid costly errors with consolidated coding information that can be accessed from any internet-connected device.
Learn more at aao.org/codingtools.
Get Weekly AAOE Tips for Operating a Lean Practice
As ophthalmic practices continue to face the challenge of decreasing profit margins, they can use AAOE’s weekly lean management tips to improve efficiencies and ultimately maximize profitability. For some highlights, see “Four Lean Tips Your Practice Can Implement This Month.”
Read this week’s tip and follow along at aao.org/practice-management/lean-tips-list.
Browse the Latest ONE Network Resident and Medical Student Resources
Discover the latest offerings from the residents and medical students sections of the Academy’s ONE Network to share with your residents or to brush up on essential skills and knowledge.
Resident rotation series. Study curricula for glaucoma, pediatric ophthalmology, and uveitis and scleritis with the new resident rotation series. (Other subspecialties to be added in coming months.) Each rotation features three levels of content, including videos, self-assessments from the BCSC Self-Assessment Program, and more. Residents can take each level and pass a final exam to earn their certificate of completion and unlock bonus content, including additional questions from the BCSC Self-Assessment Program, Subspecialty Day videos, and more. Find these rotation series and others at aao.org/browse-all-resident-content.
New interactive course for delivering bad news. Review the new interactive course, titled “Breaking Bad News to Patients,” to improve communication skills. Learn to incorporate the SPIKES (setting up, perception, invitation, knowledge, emotions with empathy, and strategy or summary) protocol in conversations, build knowledge around visual rehabilitation services, and construct strategies for discussing surgical complications. Take the course at aao.org/resident-course/breaking-bad-news-patient-communication.
Case of the Week. The Medical Students section on AAO.org features many valuable resources for aspiring ophthalmologists, including the new Case of the Week series. View the series at aao.org/case-of-the-week.
MEETINGS
AAO 2023 Registration Opens June 21
Academy and AAOE members: Mark your calendar to register and reserve hotel rooms starting June 21. Registration and hotel reservations open July 12 for nonmembers.
Meeting registration. The Academy will offer in-person and virtual meeting options for AAO 2023. Register before Aug. 16 to take advantage of discounted fees. Registration for AAO 2023 in San Francisco gives you access to all symposia, instruction courses, original paper sessions, posters, and videos, plus networking opportunities with colleagues, mentors, and members of industry.
Extra events. Some learning opportunities require separate registration or an individual ticket, including AAOE Practice Management Master Classes, AAOE Coding Sessions, Skills Transfer labs, and Subspecialty Day meetings.
Learn more about AAO 2023 at aao.org/registration.
D.C. REPORT
Academy’s Federal Advocacy Priorities Are Focus of Congressional Advocacy Day
The Academy’s Congressional Advocacy Day on April 20 at Mid-Year Forum 2023 gives ophthalmologists an opportunity to build relationships with members of Congress and help advance ophthalmology’s top advocacy priorities.
This year’s priorities. The priorities were set by Academy leaders in consultation with subspecialty society leaders at the beginning of the year and reflect the issues of greatest concern to members and patients for 2023:
- Medicare payment, which is key to practices’ sustainability
- Veterans’ eye care, because of an initiative that could significantly reshape scope of practice
- Administrative burdens, such as prior authorization and step therapy requirements, which divert scarce staff resources and delay patient treatment
- Vision research funding, which helps advance treatment innovations
The top issue this year is physician payment reform. For more than 20 years, Medicare payments have failed to keep pace with medical inflation, and multiple policies implemented by CMS or enacted by Congress have resulted in payment cuts to physician services.
Ongoing advocacy. The Academy continues to work with the physician community to press Congress for long-overdue reforms to provide a predictable Medicare payment system for beneficiaries and physicians. Sharing your experiences with the Academy and legislators is key to making the productive changes needed for practice stability.
Learn more about Congressional Advocacy Day at aao.org/cad. Online registration is now closed, but it is possible to register onsite.