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.
Download a printable version of the Program (PDF, 900KB)
Wednesday, April 6
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 your appointments, you will be fully trained on how to best represent our profession in front of members of Congress and their staff. Due to significant visitor restrictions on Capitol Hill, our staff is working on details for your legislative visits in their offices on the Hill, an alternate nearby meeting area or by video conference from the meeting hotel
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 7
Congressional Advocacy Day Visits with Members of Congress and Staff
Q&A Session with Breakfast 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Scheduled in-person and Zoom 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 Dash Delan at ddelan@aao.org
Leadership Development Program Luncheon and Meeting - by invitation only
12:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Participants in the Academy’s Leadership Development Program XXIII, class of 2022, 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 2022
3:30 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.
Stephen D. McLeod, MD – CEO, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Robert E. Wiggins MD, MHA – President, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Opening Session: Behind the Scenes in D.C.
3:40 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Moderators: George A. Williams, MD – Senior Secretary for Advocacy, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Michael X. Repka, MD, MBA – Medical Director for Governmental Affairs, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Council Regional Chair Orientation – by invitation only
5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Moderators: Thomas A. Graul, MD – Council chair, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Prem S. Subramanian, MD, PhD – Council vice-chair, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Council Regional Meeting 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.
Surgical Scope Fund Reception - by invitation only
9:15 p.m. - 11:15 p.m.
Friday, April 8
New-Councilor Orientation – by invitation only
7 a.m. - 8 a.m.
Moderators: Thomas A. Graul, MD – Council chair, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Prem S. Subramanian, MD, PhD – 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. - 11:45 a.m.
Moderators: Andrea Tooley, MD – Member, Young Ophthalmologist Committee, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Lindsay De Andrade, MD – Member, Young Ophthalmologist 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 with active leaders in ophthalmology as they interact with panelists discussing four major areas: Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy, and Practice Management (including pearls on private equity).
Concurrent Hearings, 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
The Ophthalmic Office of the Future
Moderators: Mary Louise Z. Collins, MD – Trustee-at-Large, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Ravi D. Goel, MD – Senior Secretary for Ophthalmic Practice, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Medical Waste
Moderators: Ruth D. Williams, MD – Editor-in-Chief, EyeNet, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Cathleen McCabe, MD – President, Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society
Concurrent Hearings, 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
The Impact of Innovation on Coding, Coverage, and Reimbursement
Moderator: David B. Glasser, MD – Secretary for Federal Affairs, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Changing Demography for the Practice of Ophthalmology
Moderators: Robert E. Wiggins, MD, MHA – President, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Chris Albanis, MD – Chair, Leadership Development Program, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Luncheon and Closing Session: On the Brighter Side
12:00 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Moderators: Daniel J. Briceland, MD – President Elect, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Purnima S. Patel, MD - Trustee-at-Large, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Advocacy Ambassador Program: Capitol Hill Wrap Up - 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.
Council Opening Session
2:30 p.m. - 3:50 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.
Saturday, April 9
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 Closing and Hearing on Council Advisory Recommendations
9:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Luncheon
12:00 p.m. - 1 p.m.
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