Whether you’re just starting out in practice or a few years in, the Academy has you covered at this year’s AAO 2014 in Chicago. From determining the value of a practice to implementing the latest surgical advances, young ophthalmologists will have a wealth of knowledge at their disposal — and it all comes from the mouth of experts!
Whether you’re just starting out in practice or a few years in, the Academy has you covered at this year’s AAO 2014 in Chicago. From determining the value of a practice to implementing the latest surgical advances, young ophthalmologists will have a wealth of knowledge at their disposal — and it all comes from the mouth of experts! Best of all, you’ll get to share the experience with friends and colleagues while engaging in new relationships that will remain vital throughout your career.
Last month, YO Info looked at what the annual meeting has to offer residents. Here, we focus on three groups of sessions tailored just for the practicing YO.
1. Get Started With The YO Program
This year’s program — “It’s YO World, Jumpstart YOur Career” — includes two hours of programming for YOs in their first five years of practice.
Topics for practicing YOs include:
- Advocating for your profession;
- Marketing essentials;
- Practice building and
- Personal finance.
Be sure to also check out the lunchtime session designed for YOs of all stripes. Speakers will cover topics such as social media and medical malpractice, as well as how to leverage all the Academy resources to benefit the start of your career.
The program also includes Academy President Gregory L. Skuta, MD, who will address leadership and service and present the inaugaral Artemis Award to John Cropsey, MD.
“It’s YO World, Jumpstart YOur Career” course # SPE08 takes place Sunday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in room S101AB of McCormick Place. The YOs-in-practice sessions start at noon. All fees are covered by the Academy Plus Course Pass, which includes access to more than 350 courses.
2. Fine-Tune Your Clinical Skills
In addition to the YO Program, the YO Committee has approved a number of other Instruction Courses relevant to YOs starting practice. These are designed to either help you incorporate a new surgical technique or simply hone a preexisting one. Here’s a sampling.
- Cataract Surgery Crisis Management 101 Course # 157; Sunday, Oct. 19, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room S403B This course focuses on the complicated situations that every surgeon may encounter during or after cataract surgery and provides pearls to manage crises like posterior capsule rupture.
- Comprehensive Strategy for Unplanned Vitrectomy Technique for the Anterior Segment Surgeon 187; Sunday, Oct. 19, from 2 to 3 p.m. in room E451A This course will propose specific plans of action to optimize outcomes in cataract surgery complicated by vitreous presentation.
- Pearls for Evaluating Corneal Topography in Patients Scheduled for Cataract Surgery Course # 196; Sunday, Oct. 19, from 2 to 3 p.m. in room N427BC A team of topography experts will help attendees identify and interpret corneal topographies in patients scheduled for cataract surgery and demonstrate how this information can help them optimize their treatment plans.
If you’ve been in practice for three years or more, the YO Committee recommends the following sessions:
- Spectral-Domain OCT Interpretation for the General Ophthalmologist 319; Monday, Oct. 20, from 9 to 11:15 a.m. in room E451B Lecturers will teach you how to select appropriate SD-OCT scanning protocols and analyze pathology in SD-OCTs of the anterior segment, optic nerve and posterior segment.
- Diplopia Made Ridiculously Simple: Management of Diplopia for the Comprehensive Ophthalmologist 556; Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room E451B This course uses diplopia case examples to illustrate important clinical management concerns. You’ll also learn how to treat diplopia using press-on prisms, ground-in prisms and occlusive methods.
- Basic Oculoplastic Surgery LAB137; Monday, Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in room N226 This session is designed to refresh basic oculoplastics skills in a laboratory setting, while reviewing the fundamentals of ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery.
3. Bone Up On Business Skills
AAO 2014 also offers a host of practice management sessions. This year’s offerings are specifically designed to strengthen the practice-based skills many YOs don’t get much exposure to during training. Here are a few to consider.
- The iPhone and iPad for Ophthalmologists — Basics LAB109; Sunday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in room N227A This course will introduce you to applications of the iPhone and iPad for office management, patient education, marketing and more.
- Audits: It’s Not a Matter of If, But When 176; Sunday, Oct. 19 from 2 to 4:15 p.m. in room S501ABC In this course, you’ll learn the numerous types of audits conducted by all payers as well as how to respond to a request for documentation.
- Managing Your Online Reputation 414; Monday, Oct. 20, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in room S503AB Learn about the benefits and pitfalls of social media marketing, how to manage your online reputation, how to respond to complaints online and more.
Come for the Networking, Stay for the Relaxation
Your meeting schedule will undoubtedly be packed with these events. But AAO 2014 is also an invaluable resource for meeting with leaders in the field, industry professionals, coding experts, and new and old friends.
Drop by the YO Lounge, where you can attend several networking events sponsored by the YO Committee and partner organizations. The lounge also offers WiFi access and, of course, relaxation. Your YO ribbon ensures free admission and access to the following events:
- Meet with an International Expert — Saturday, Oct. 18, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- OPHTHPAC® and Surgical Scope Fund networking event: Saturday, Oct. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m.
- YO ARVO! Exploring Careers in Research — Sunday, Oct. 19, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Event hosted in collaboration with the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology members in training committee.
- Managing YO Practice: AAOE Roundtable Discussions — Monday, Oct. 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- EyeCare America Celebrates 30 Years! — Monday, Oct. 20, from 4 to 6 p.m. Learn about EyeCare America and its “30 by 30 YO Challenge,” an initiative to inspire at least 30 YOs to enroll as volunteers between now and Jan. 1, 2015, EyeCare America’s 30th anniversary.
Next month: The best ways to connect with your peers in the Windy City.
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About the author: Mike Mott is a former assistant editor for EyeNet Magazine and contributing writer for YO Info.