As an ophthalmology intern, I had been looking for ways to learn about what advocacy meant and to get involved in the future of ophthalmology. The Academy’s annual Mid-Year Forum provided the perfect launching pad for advocacy involvement.
Hosted each year in Washington, D.C., Mid-Year Forum 2024 drew over 500 ophthalmologists, residents, fellows, and medical students in April.
Advocacy Ambassadors
The Advocacy Ambassador Program provided a clear pathway to advocacy engagement and hosted over 200 young ophthalmologists (YOs) from across the nation … and that was this year alone!
As a medical student, I had been involved in medical advocacy at the American Medical Association. But as a new YO, the idea of defending the profession of ophthalmology and my patients at the congressional level seemed above my head. The amazing Advocacy Ambassador Program is specifically built to train future advocates through congressional dinner briefings, handouts on important topics such as National Eye Institute (NEI) funding, and program sessions that advised us on specific ways to engage. As a bonus, Wilmer Eye Institute residents and I were able to meet residents from across the country and make new friends.
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Wilmer residents with their faculty (pictured left to right): Liz Ciociola, MD; Mohima Sanyal, MD; Idara Akpandak, MD; Whitney Sambhariya, MD; Michael Repka, MD, MBA; Anupam Garg, MD; Nur Cardakli, MD; Fasika Woreta, MD.
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Congressional Advocacy Day
First up on the agenda after our training and briefing was heading to Capitol Hill to speak with our congressional representatives. The Academy arranged meetings with aides of Senate and House representatives in our states.
As a Maryland resident, I was able to meet with staffers from the offices of Rep. David Trone, D-Md., and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., (Image 2). With the guidance of senior Academy members, all the residents were able to get involved and speak on a specific topic they felt passionate about.
I spoke on behalf of NEI and the importance of funding research and physician-scientists such as myself. Having senior Academy and YO members together in these meetings allowed for a safe and fun space to share our thoughts and still have backup to explain the more complex logistical or legal questions surrounding legislation.
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(Left) Dr. Sambhariya (pictured left in front) stands with her delegation from Maryland outside House Rep. David Trone’s office on Capitol Hill. (Right) Academy members had a productive visit to Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s office in Washington, D.C.
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L.E.A.P. Forward Program
After a busy day on Capitol Hill, Friday was geared toward fun and learning. From pom-poms to foam fingers, the advocacy ambassadors brought their spirit to the morning sessions. One of the highlights of the meeting was the Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy, Practice Management (L.E.A.P.) Forward session hosted by the Academy’s YO committee. The program featured an array of speakers and panels.
Michael Puente, MD, received a standing ovation for his work on “Legalizing Gay Eyes” and highlighting the need for the Food and Drug Administration to update its “Guidance for Industry: Eligibility Determination for Donors of Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps)” to allow qualified individuals to be eligible to donate eye tissue. This update is an exciting development that should be happening this year.
The session also contained multiple panels where YOs directed questions to some of the superstars in ophthalmology and win prizes. In particular, each table was set up with Academy members and YO members to allow for up-close and personal discussions between panels.
OPHTHPAC and Surgical Scope Fund Receptions
After long days of advocating on Capitol Hill and attending educational sessions, many of the ambassadors and I were able to attend the receptions for OPHTHPAC® and the Surgical Scope Fund. For those who are not familiar:
- OPHTHPAC is the Academy’s bipartisan political action committee that works to educate Congress on issues important to ophthalmology. OPHTHPAC had its reception at the La Vie Penthouse, where everyone was able to gather for a celebration with good food, drinks, and a fun atmosphere after a long weekend of advocating.
- The Academy’s Surgical Scope Fund raises money for individual states’ efforts to promote surgery by surgeons and ensure patients' safety and surgical standards. Those who donated to the Surgical Scope Fund were invited to a late-night reception at the local Whiskey Bar to celebrate the hard work of members over the past year.
Investment in both of these groups even as a resident was made easy and feasible. The excitement and passion for ophthalmology were contagious at both events.
Council Sessions
Have you ever wondered how the Academy decides on programs and initiatives? At Mid-Year Forum we were able to watch these decisions happening in real time. When Saturday rolled around, I and other YOs felt excited and ready to listen in on the Academy Council meeting, especially the Council Advisory Recommendation (CAR) hearing. At the hearing, we saw councilors representing either their state ophthalmology society or their subspecialty/specialized interest society, debating and deciding the future of ophthalmology.
Overall, Mid-Year Forum not only offered a fun time to network with others in the field but also a time where a YO, such as myself, could learn how to advocate in ophthalmology. Taking one's first steps into advocacy can be overwhelming but the L.E.A.P. Forward program and the Advocacy Ambassadors made this process feasible and fun.
Does all this sound like fun? Do you want to participate next year? Put Mid-Year Forum 2025, April 2-5, on your calendars and request time off now. Advocacy Ambassadors (Academy resident and fellowship trainee members) receive complimentary (free) registration.
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About the author: Whitney Stuard Sambhariya, MD, PhD, is an ophthalmology resident at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute. Dr. Sambhariya was sponsored as an Advocacy Ambassador this year by the Maryland Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (MSEPS). |