The Mid-Year Forum is one of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s most significant yearly meetings, bringing the ophthalmology community together to instigate change and shape our profession’s future.
The complete Mid-Year Forum 2018 program is provided below. See schedule summary.
Commercial support provided in part by 
and 
- Platinum Level.
Detailed Program
Printable Program (PDF, 711KB)
Wednesday, April 18
Congressional Advocacy Day dinner briefing
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Join the ophthalmology community as we descend on Washington to lobby Congress on key issues that protect sight and are important to our profession. Before you make your way to Capitol Hill, you will be fully trained on how to best represent our profession in front of members of Congress and their staff. All Academy members are urged to take part in this critical event to bring your voice to these important issues. Only you can protect your patients, practice and profession.
Appointment pick-up desk hours: 4 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Advocacy Ambassador Program Briefing - by invitation only
8:45 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 19
Congressional Advocacy Day Visits with Members of Congress and Staff
Q&A Session with Breakfast 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Scheduled visits with members of Congress and staff 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The Academy will make appointments with your members of Congress based on the zip code we have on file for you. For questions or concerns about your appointments, contact politicalaffairs@aao.org or call 202.737.6662
Luncheon - 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Reserve Officers Association, One Constitution Ave., NE. The Academy provides a boxed lunch for members visiting Capitol Hill during these hours. Program to follow.
Leadership Development Program Luncheon and Meeting - by invitation only
12:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
122 Cannon House Office Building
Participants in the Academy’s Leadership Development Program XX, class of 2018, who have been selected through a competitive nomination process, meet in a leadership session which addresses a variety of leadership, advocacy and association management topics.
Welcome and Introduction to the Mid-Year Forum 2018
3:30 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.
David W. Parke, II, MD, CEO, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Keith D. Carter, MD, FACS, President, American Academy of Ophthalmology
The Changing Role of the Veterans Health Administration and Its Impact on Eye Care Services
3:40 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Moderators: Keith D. Carter, MD, FACS - President, American Academy of Ophthalmology and David E. Vollman, MD, MBA – President Elect, Association of Veterans Affairs Ophthalmologists
Eye care is one of the busiest services within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and sweeping changes have been taking place within VHA to address problems with timely access to health care services. This session will examine how these changes could impact the eye care services provided to our nations’ veterans and how Academy members, both inside and outside the VA, can be part of the process and work to ensure our nation’s veterans receive high quality eye care. In addition, the session will also focus on how the VA is leading the way on telehealth innovations, especially those impacting ophthalmology and eye care services, and how the changing VA landscape could impact the training of future ophthalmologists.
Council Regional Chair and Co-Chair Orientation – by invitation only
5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Moderators: Lynn K. Gordon, MD, PhD, Council chair, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Sarwat Salim, MD, Council vice-chair, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Council Regional Meeting chairs and co-chairs are invited to attend a special orientation including a review of the agenda for the regional meetings and responsibilities of facilitating the meetings.
Mid-Year Forum Welcome Reception and Awards Banquet
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Keynote speaker: Astronaut David Wolf, MD, EE, will enlighten us with insight on his spaceflight experience, including science, medicine and the unique ways space flight affects the eye and vision changes.
Surgical Scope Fund Reception - by invitation only
9:15 p.m. - 11:15 p.m.
National Press Club, 529 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20045
In appreciation for your support of Surgery by Surgeons in 2018, we invite you to join us to attend this special event. If you have any questions or need to check your giving history, contact Megan Vijiarungam at mvijiarungam@aao.org or call 202.737.6662.
Friday, April 20
Commercial support provided in part by 
- Gold Level.
New-Councilor Orientation – by invitation only
7 a.m. - 8 a.m.
Moderators: Lynn K. Gordon, MD, PhD, Council chair, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Sarwat Salim, MD, Council vice-chair, American Academy of Ophthalmology
New Councilors are invited to attend a special orientation including an overview of Council operational procedures and responsibilities of Councilors.
Advocacy Ambassador Program - L.E.A.P. Forward - by invitation only
8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Moderators: Steven M. Christiansen, MD – Member, YO Committee, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Jesse L. Berry, MD – YO Committee, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Advocacy Ambassadors will be inspired and engaged to be successful leaders in their practice setting, community, state and subspecialty society as well as national and international organizations. Young members will network and interact with active leaders in ophthalmology as they engage with panelists discussing four major topic areas: Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy and Practice Management.
Concurrent Hearings, 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Drugs in 2018: Access, Pricing and Payment
Moderators: Cynthia Mattox, MD, FACS – Trustee at Large, American Academy of Ophthalmology and David B. Glasser, MD - Secretary for Federal Affairs, American Academy of Ophthalmology
This hearing will look at the ways in which the government and other payers are seeking to lower cost of drugs to patients and improve access and treatment outcomes. Topics include proposed reform of Part B drug payments to physicians, new value based drug pricing schemes and FDA's regulation of compounded/repackaged biologics and other drug products. Join us for the perspectives of government policy makers, industry and ophthalmology leadership on how these changes impact practices and patient care.
IRIS Registry: Scientific Advances and Practice Insights
Moderator: Michael Chiang, MD - Trustee at Large, American Academy of Ophthalmology
The IRIS Registry contains data on almost 50 million patients and 200 million patient visits, is approaching 200 million visits and 50 million patients, serving as the basis for big data analyses that are published in the scientific literature. Attend this session to (1) hear how the newest findings provide insight into current day practices and patient outcomes, and (2) learn how you can get opportunities to apply for research funding to do your own IRIS Registry research.
Concurrent Hearings, 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Private Equity and Other Equity Transfers: What’s My Practice Worth?
Moderators: Robert E. Wiggins, Jr., MD, MHA – Senior Secretary for Ophthalmic Practice, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Ruth D. Williams, MD – Chief Medical Editor, EyeNet Magazine
There has been recent publicity regarding the purchase of ophthalmology practices by private equity firms. Understanding how practices are valued is important for any ophthalmologist with ownership in a practice as well as associates considering purchasing an equity position within the practice. This session will explore what issues should be considered whether selling a practice to a hospital, private equity firm, an ophthalmology or multi-specialty group, merging with other doctors, or buying in or out of a practice.
Drinking from a Firehose: How Not to Drown in the Era of Information Overload
Moderator: Louis B. Cantor, MD – Senior Secretary for Clinical Education, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Information overload challenges practitioners at all levels of training and throughout our entire careers. Maintaining and acquiring new clinical skills and knowledge, advocating for the best care for our patients, navigating reimbursement and changes in practice management, and many other facets of being a physician, confront all of us daily. At this session, learn best practices, tips, and tricks on how to keep your head above water.
Luncheon and Closing Session
The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Ophthalmology
12:15 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Moderator: Rahul Khurana, MD – Editor in Chief, The ONE Network, American Academy of Ophthalmology
The next transformation in ophthalmology is the application of artificial intelligence in diagnosing and treating disease in clinical practice. It is beginning to be used in retinal disease for detecting diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema from fundus photographs, and its potential is to provide more efficient and objective analysis of images and prediction of disease progression. The session will explore what artificial intelligence means for practicing ophthalmologists, its promise and limitations, and what the future holds.
Advocacy Ambassador Program: Post-Hill Visits Debriefing - by invitation only
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Council Meeting
Members of the Academy’s Council, an advisory body to the Board of Trustees, and also leaders of ophthalmic state, subspecialty and specialized interest societies meet to discuss issues specific to ophthalmic societies. The meeting also covers various Academy activities and strategic issues affecting the profession, including key advocacy issues related to state and federal affairs.
Opening Session
2:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Unite with your colleagues from ophthalmic subspecialty and state societies to discuss key issues facing our profession.
Council Regional Meetings
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
The Council will also meet by region to discuss issues common to certain areas of the country.
OPHTHPAC Reception - by invitation only
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Note: All attendees will be required to present a valid photo ID to enter this building.
Potomac View Terrace at the American Pharmacists Association building, 2215 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington D.C.
OPHTHPAC members who contribute to OPHTHPAC in 2018 are invited to attend this lively cocktail reception with a full open bar and hors d’oeuvres. To check your giving history or to make an investment, contact Desta Wallace at dwallace@aao.org or call 202.737.6662.
Saturday, April 21
Council Meeting
Concurrent Meetings: State Section and Subspecialty/Specialized Interest Section
8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
The State Section of the Council will meet to discuss issues specific to state societies. The Subspecialty/Specialized Interest Section of the Council will meet to discuss issues specific to subspecialty societies.
Council Elections and Hearing on Council Advisory Recommendations
9:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Luncheon and Closing Session Entertainment: “The Capitol Steps”
11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m.