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WHAT’S HAPPENING
Academy Names Fifth Copeland Fellow: Michael A. Harrell Jr., MD
At Mid-Year Forum 2022, the Academy, joined by the National Medical Association (NMA), recognized Michael A. Harrell Jr., MD, as the fifth annual Copeland Fellow for 2022.
Dr. Harrell, an active member of the NMA, the largest and oldest organization representing Black physicians and their patients in the United States, is engaged in research addressing ways to improve the ethnic and racial diversity of the ophthalmology workforce. “My two greatest areas of research interest are addressing health care disparities in ophthalmic/visual health that are based upon racial and ethnic inequality and improving the lack of underrepresented minorities in the ophthalmology workforce,” said Dr. Harrell. He is also concerned about scope of practice expansion for optometrists in several states as well as in VA hospitals. “There is a looming possibility for this expansion to cause frank harm to our patients,” he said.1
After graduating from the Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Harrell reported to active duty in the U.S. Navy. Upon completion of his four-year service, he matched into the Boston University/Boston Medical Center Ophthalmology Residency Program, where he is a current resident. He plans to specialize in retinal disease and comprehensive ophthalmology following a medical retina fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago.
The award. The Robert A. Copeland Jr., MD, Advocacy Education Fund was established by the Academy in 2018 to honor the late founding chairman of ophthalmology at Howard University, who had a history of engaging Academy members-in-training in advocacy and who desired greater engagement in advocacy by all ophthalmologists. The fund covers the annual expenses for one resident to attend the Academy’s Mid-Year Forum and Congressional Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., as an Advocacy Ambassador. (Learn more about the Advocacy Ambassador Program at aao.org/advocacy-ambassador.)
Copeland Fellows are selected with the help of the NMA.
Read the full YO Info interview with Dr. Harrell at aao.org/yo-info/copeland.
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1 Harrell MA. YO Info, April 15, 2022.
FOR THE RECORD
Annual Business Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Business Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology will be held during the AAO 2022 Opening Session, which is on Friday, Sept. 30, in Room E354 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. CT.
2023 Board of Trustees Candidates
At their meeting in June, the board approved the candidates for the open positions on the 2023 Board of Trustees. The slate of candidates may be viewed at aao.org/about/governance/elections. Statements written by the candidates will be posted on the Academy website in August and will appear in the September EyeNet.
TAKE NOTICE
Don’t Miss the Global Ophthalmology Summit on Aug. 12 and 13
In collaboration with Aravind Eye Institute and academic ophthalmology programs from around the world, the Academy is hosting a Global Ophthalmology Summit in Park City, Utah, on Aug. 12 and 13. Designed for those interested or involved in global eye care, this two-day summit will cover a broad spectrum of topics, including the World Health Organization’s global eye health targets for 2030 and the role of social determinants of health in vision impairment and health inequities.
Learn more at aao.info/gosummit22.
Watch Winners of the Academy’s Seventh Annual Global Video Contest
Winners for the Academy’s seventh Annual Global Video Contest can be viewed online.
Grand Prize: “Large-Diameter Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty With Ipsilateral Posterior Lamellar Autograft for Advanced Pellucid Marginal Degeneration,” by Massimo Busin, MD; Davide Demaria, MD; and Angeli Christy Yu, MD (Italy).
Second Place: “Triple-Tunnel AGV Tube Placement,” by Ahmed M. Abdelrahman, MD (Egypt).
Third Place: “Tug of War With a Giant Retinal Tear,” by Manish Nagpal, MD (India).
Fourth Place: “Occlusion of the Ahmed Valve Tube Assisted by Endolaser,” by Fernando González del Valle, MD (Spain).
These videos, along with other contest entrants, are featured on the ONE Network. The grand prize winner chose between an iPad mini or $350 of Academy Store credit.
Watch the videos at aao.info/govideocontest7.
Bring the Future of Ophthalmology Into Focus on Sept. 29
Eyecelerator is a partnership between the Academy and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery to showcase and accelerate innovation in eye care. Connect with more than 500 industry-leading clinicians, entrepreneurs, investors, and global strategic executives in Chicago a day before AAO 2022 for an inside look at the emerging business opportunities and advancements disrupting ophthalmology.
Learn more at www.eyecelerator.com.
Two IRIS Registry Research Grant Applications Due Aug. 2
Don’t miss the Aug. 2 application deadline for two private practice research funds: The Knights Templar Eye Foundation (KTEF) Pediatric Ophthalmology Fund and The H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD, Center for Quality Eye Care IRIS Registry Research Fund.
The KTEF fund supports big data analyses that investigate pediatric eye diseases in order to uncover optimal, real-world approaches to prevention and treatment.
The H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD, fund supports clinicians who seek to answer questions that can help improve patient care.
Both funds aim to support Academy members in private practice who want to harness the power of the Academy’s IRIS Registry to improve their practices and their patients’ lives.
Learn more and apply at aao.org/iris-registry/research.
Volunteer: Write Self-Assessment Questions for Residents
Want to help educate the next generation of ophthalmologists? Write self-assessment questions for residents based on the Academy’s Basic and Clinical Science Course (BCSC) content. Approved questions will be used in the BCSC Self-Assessment Program.
Before you start writing, contact Sarah Page at spage@aao.org to receive a list of topics, instructions for writing questions, and BCSC access.
Learn more at aao.org/volunteering, then choose “Develop Interactive Content.” (This is just one of many Academy volunteer opportunities.)
Externship Deadline Extended
Are you interested in an externship opportunity with a leading refractive, cataract, cornea, or lens-based surgeon?
The International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS) Externship Program fall application deadline has been extended to Aug. 19. This opportunity offers a chance to bolster your clinical knowledge in imaging technology, diagnostic devices, and various surgical platforms by learning alongside colleagues in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Externships typically last between two weeks and three months. Stipends are available to help cover expenses such as airfare, transportation, lodging, and meals.
Learn more at isrs.org/externships. Fall applications are due Aug 19.
ACADEMY RESOURCES
New to IRIS Registry–EHR Integration? Don’t Miss the Aug. 1 Deadline
Integrating your electronic health record (EHR) system with the IRIS Registry is the least onerous way to report quality data for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). If you met the June 1 deadline to register for integration, you should now be working with an IRIS Registry vendor—either Verana Health or FIGmd—on mapping your data to the registry.
Aug. 1 is a key date. To make sure that you can report 2022 MIPS quality data via IRIS Registry–EHR integration, you should complete the integration process by Aug. 1. Meeting this deadline requires that you are actively involved in the process and respond promptly to emails from Verana Health or FIGmd.
The IRIS Registry is your one-stop shop for MIPS reporting. You also can use the IRIS Registry to manually attest to promoting interoperability (PI) measures and improvement activities.
Those practices that aren’t able to report quality via IRIS Registry–EHR integration may manually enter data for quality measures.
Learn more at aao.org/iris-registry.
Use the IRIS Registry to Create an ABO-Approved Improvement Project
Is your electronic health record (EHR) system integrated with the IRIS Registry? If so, you can use data from your IRIS Registry dashboard to design an improvement project that can earn you credit for both American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) Continuing Certification (Maintenance of Certification) and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). For MIPS 2022, this project would count as a medium-weighted improvement activity.
Submit your plan to the ABO no later than Aug. 31. Using the IRIS Registry dashboard, select one or two quality measures in which to improve your performance. Then, set goals for those measures and submit your plan for achieving those goals to the ABO.
If the ABO approves your plan, implement it for 90 to 120 days. Use the IRIS Registry dashboard to track your progress and fine-tune your processes as needed. Once the project is complete, review its effectiveness and send a summary to the ABO.
Learn more at aao.org/iris-registry/maintenance-of-certification and https://abop.org/IRIS.
MEMBERS AT LARGE
Dr. Dugan Explains Orbital Fractures on “Good Day Philadelphia”
After the Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid sustained an orbital fracture and mild concussion during the 76ers win over the Toronto Raptors on April 28, a local Fox News station brought ophthalmologist John D. Dugan Jr., MD, on to discuss the injury. During a four-minute segment on “Good Day Philadelphia,” Dr. Dugan, who is the attending surgeon at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, explained orbital fractures to cohosts Alex Holley and Mike Jerrick in a way that would be understandable to the show’s audience.
Watch Dr. Osher’s Video Journal: Vol. 38, Issue 1
The Video Journal of Cataract, Refractive, and Glaucoma Surgery (VJCRGS), created by ophthalmic surgeon and educator Robert H. Osher, MD, has been publishing educational cataract, refractive, and glaucoma videos since 1985. The surgical videos are submitted from ophthalmologists around the world and are hand-picked by the VJCRGS editorial board.The first issue of 2022, entitled “Great Lectures,” features Ehud Assia, MD, who gave the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons Binkhorst Lecture; Richard Packard, who gave the United Kingdom & Ireland Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons Choyce Medal Lecture; and Michael E. Snyder, MD, who delivered the AAO 2021 Kelman Lecture.
Watch for free at www.vjcrgs.com.
D.C. REPORT
Congress’ August Recess Is Almost Here: Here’s How You Can Advocate at Home
Worried about scope of practice problems in the VA (see this month’s Opinion, “The VA Federal Supremacy Project and Scope of Practice”) and in your state? Concerned about payer’s abuse of prior authorization and the continued reductions in reimbursement? Congress’ upcoming August recess offers you a chance to build relationships with federal lawmakers and their staff and advocate for ophthalmology.
This pivotal time when federal lawmakers return to their districts isn’t a vacation—it’s an opportunity for them to reconnect with constituents to better understand the issues facing voters. By taking advantage of their August recess, you can help establish yourself as a valuable resource to them on health care issues. You’ll be able to advocate for ophthalmology’s key policy issues, such as averting Medicare payment cuts and reducing regulatory burdens like prior authorization.
How it works. Once you sign up to advocate in your home state, the Academy will help you schedule a meeting at Congress members’ district offices or virtually. You can even invite your members of Congress to visit your practice, clinic, or ambulatory surgical center. Prior to the meeting, the Academy will provide talking points and issue briefs to help you prepare.
Learn more and sign up at aao.org/local.
Scheduling questions? Academy staff is just an email or phone call away. If you have any questions about how to navigate the scheduling process, contact Academy grassroots specialist Dash Delan, at 202-737-6662 or ddelan@aao.org.