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.
Commercial support provided in part by 
and 
- Platinum Level.
Wednesday, April 22
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/Reception - by invitation only
8:45 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 23
Congressional Advocacy Day Visits with Members of Congress and Staff
Appointment pick-up desk hours: 6:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
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 Dash Delan at ddelan@aao.org or call 202.737.6662
Luncheon - 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., 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.
Location: Rayburn 2075 House Office Building
Participants in the Academy’s Leadership Development Program XXII, class of 2020, 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 2020
3:30 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.
David W. Parke II, MD - CEO, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Anne L. Coleman, MD, PhD - President, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Opening Session: Physician Payment
3:40 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Moderator: Michael X. Repka, MD, MBA - Medical Director for Governmental Affairs, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Council Regional Chair and Co-Chair Orientation – by invitation only
5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Moderators: Sarwat Salim, MD, Council chair, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Thomas A. Graul, MD, 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.
Boqueria
777 9th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
In appreciation for your support of Surgery by Surgeons in 2020, we invite you to join us to attend this special event. If you have any questions or need to check your giving history, contact David Overy at dovery@aao.org or call 202.737.6662.
Friday, April 24
Commercial support provided in part by 
and
- Gold Level.
New-Councilor Orientation – by invitation only
7 a.m. - 8 a.m.
Moderators: Sarwat Salim, MD, Council chair, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Thomas A. Graul, 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. - 11:45 a.m.
Moderators: Andrea A. Tooley, MD and Arvind Saini, MD, MBA – Members, 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 and interact with active leaders in ophthalmology as they participate in panel discussions covering 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.
Risk Management and You: Protecting Your Patients, Your Practice and Your Sanity
Moderators: Tamara R. Fountain, MD - President-elect, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Robert E. Wiggins, MD, MHA – Past Senior Secretary for Ophthalmic Practice, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Scope of Practice Challenges in the United States
Moderators: Rachel C. J. Reinhardt, MD - Associate Secretary, Committee for State Organizational Development, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and John D. Peters, MD - Associate Secretary, Committee for State Governmental Affairs, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Concurrent Hearings, 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Private Equity 2020: Challenges for SOs and YOs
Moderator: Ravi D. Goel, MD - Senior Secretary for Ophthalmic Practice, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology: Application of Science and Learning
Moderator: Rahul Khurana, MD - Editor-in-Chief, the ONE Network, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Luncheon and Closing Session
The 20/20 on 2020: Our Profession and the Election
12:15 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Moderator: Daniel J. Briceland, MD – Senior Secretary for Advocacy, 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.
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.
The Watergate Hotel, 2650 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington D.C.
OPHTHPAC members who contribute to OPHTHPAC in 2020 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 25
Council Meeting
Concurrent Meetings: State Section and Subspecialty/Specialized Interest Section
8 a.m. - 9:15 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
9:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Luncheon and Closing
11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m.