If you’ve already mapped out your AAO 2019 experience, you’re one of the few.
To help you catch up with your planning, here’s a quick YO-specific guide for getting the most out of your time at the annual meeting. Watch out: Phaco pearls and therapy goats are just ahead.
Get the AAO 2019 YO Event Guide
Download the AAO 2019 YO Event Guide, which features educational and social events that the Academy’s YO Committee has planned just for young ophthalmologists.
Bookmark the Mobile Meeting Guide
Bookmark the Mobile Meeting Guide on the Academy website. Search for YO programs and events while you’re on the way to San Francisco and set up alerts in your personal planner for events listed below to remind you when they’re starting.
Don’t Miss the Program Built Just for YOs
The Academy’s annual YO Program (Sunday, Oct. 13; Moscone South, Room 151) is a program like no other. It’s the pinnacle YO event for all residents and physicians in their first five years of practice.
- Part 1: Job Searching and Career Starting (10 to 11:45 a.m.). Gain insight from experts on how to transition from training to practice, including getting the job you want and continuing to grow your clinical and surgical knowledge. Get tips from the Academy’s President George Williams, MD, on the importance of advocating for your profession and your patients.
- Part 2: Wellness and Mental Health (11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Discover pearls on everything you need to keep yourself mentally healthy. From dealing with surgical complications to dealing with #LIFE, learn how to recognize when you are struggling and how to get help.
- Part 3: Ophthalmology on a Global Level (1 to 2 p.m.). Hear from the Academy’s 2019 Artemis Award Winner, Marcus Ang, MBBS, PhD, who has created free vision care for people across Asia. A panel will also discuss the latest technology and medical advances that have been incorporated into ophthalmic practices in different regions of the world.
For other instruction, search for subspecialty courses under Program Search.
Learn Something New at 7 YO Lounge Power Hours
Your first stop at AAO 2019 should be the YO Lounge (Moscone South, Room 102). It provides a casual space for young ophthalmologists to take a break and also offers eight “Power Hour” events where you can receive expert consultations.
Saturday, Oct. 12
- 1. Meet With an International Expert, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Network and gain pearls from experts well-versed in international work.
Participants: Michael Brennan, MD; Susan Day, MD; M. Scott Hickman, MD; Lisa Park, MD; Rosalind Stevens, MD; S. Grace Prakalapakorn, MD; Sidney Gicheru, MD
- 2. Ophthalmology Around the Globe, 4 – 5 p.m. International YOs are invited to network with global YO society leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges specific to their own region.
Sunday, Oct. 13
- 3. Tai Chi with Chai Tea, 8:15 – 9:15 a.m. Learn about Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art practiced for its gentle physical exercise, stretching, and meditation.
- 4. YO ARVO! Navigating a Career as a Clinician Scientist, 4 – 5 p.m. Gain tips on pursuing a career path as a clinician scientist and how to secure research grants.
Participants: Jeffrey L. Goldberg, MD, PhD; Julia A. Haller, MD; Stephanie Watson, MBBS, PhD; Cecilia S. Lee, MD
Co-sponsored by the Academy’s YO Committee and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Members in Training Committee
Monday, Oct. 14
- 5. Laughter Yoga 8:15 – 9:15 a.m. Begin the day with laughter exercises that warm up the mind and body and help generate gentle deepening of mindful awareness.
- 6. Meet with Practice Management Experts, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Learn the latest about finance and risk management, how to deal with ethical and professional challenges and practical tips to consider if your practice is considering private equity.
Participants: Howard Chen, MD; Hardeep Dhindsa, MD; K. David Epley, MD; Linda Harrison, PhD; Lisa Nijm, MD, JD and Sara Rapuano, MBA, OCS
- 7. Advocacy Ambassador Reunion, 4 – 5 p.m. Network with young ophthalmologists who have taken part in the Advocacy Ambassador Program and test your advocacy knowledge in YO Bingo with two chances to win an $100 Amazon gift card.
Take Advantage of the Many YO-Centric Sessions
AAO 2019 also offers a range of individual courses designed just for young ophthalmologists – from clinical practice to building a practice. Join in these sessions:
- YO Learning Lounge Event: Wise Ways to Spend Your Money and Time When Starting a Practice, Saturday, Oct. 12, 4 – 5 p.m. Discover how to get your practice started as participants discuss different financial strategies.
- Phaco Pearls for the Beginner, Sunday, Oct. 13, 10:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Learn how to fine-tune your surgical strategy, optimize outcomes of phacoemulsification and prevent and successfully manage common complications should they occur.
- Welcome to the Real World of Ophthalmology: Reality 101 for Residents and Fellows, Monday, Oct. 14, 12:45 – 1:45 p.m. Learn about the nonmedical aspects of practicing ophthalmology and get your questions answered in this free interactive forum.
- YO Symposium: The Millennial Movement: How Gender Equality, Big Data and Technology Will Be Embraced by the Young Ophthalmologist, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 8:30 – 10 a.m. Find out how millennials are positioned as the driving force to change future treatment paradigms and create new norms for workplace solutions.
Kick Back with Colleagues
Remember, you’re in one of the most awesome spots on the West Coast – don’t forget to take a breath, grab a bite and play.
- Meet your YO peers from around the planet during the Global YO Reception (Sunday, Oct. 13, 9 p.m. to midnight).
- Visit EyePlay Experience (Booth 2581) for an opportunity to play with therapy dogs, rabbits and goats. It’s also your chance to relieve stress, network, recharge and get assistance at the Tech Bar.
- Lunch with a colleague or mentor. The area around the Moscone Center offers many exciting options, including the reliable Pizzeria Delfina and ultra-popular ramen shop Ippudo San Francisco.
- Join in on an EyeSpy scavenger hunt. Check back on the Exhibition page for more details.
For more tips on what to do in San Francisco while you’re here, check out these insider tips from your fellow YOs.
The 2019 YO Lounge and YO Program are supported in part by Allergan, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and Regeneron.
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About the author: Mike Mott is a former assistant editor for EyeNet Magazine and contributing writer for YO Info.