American Academy Of Ophthalmology
Hundreds of Instruction Classes, Transfer Courses, Symposiums and Round Table Discussions to Take Place during World's Largest Ophthalmic Meeting
SAN FRANCISCO–The largest and most comprehensive ophthalmic educational meeting in the world, the American Academy of Ophthalmology's (Academy) 2010 Joint Meeting in conjunction with the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) will be taking place in Chicago, October 16 to 19.
The meeting offers more than 500 instruction courses, a variety of skills transfer courses, breakfast with the experts roundtables, 43 free symposia and Spotlight Sessions and hundreds of scientific papers, posters and videos.
Once there, 2010 Joint Meeting attendees will have the opportunity to share ideas, techniques and experiences with experts from around the world, stay current on what physicians need to know about practice management and see the latest ophthalmic equipment, pharmaceuticals and Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems.
This is the Academy's first Joint Meeting with MEACO. Established in 1988, MEACO is one of the four supranational organizations recognized by the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO). MEACO's mission is to unite ophthalmologists and ophthalmic societies through the Middle East and Africa to improve and enhance their skills and knowledge.
During the meeting, MEACO will offer four symposia, 14 instruction courses and three Joint Sessions with the Academy, including:
- Current Concepts in the Management of Complicated Retinal Detachment, Sunday, Oct. 17; 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- New Trends in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Corneal Disease, Monday, Oct. 18; 8:30a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- Refractive Hot Topics: From the Middle East and Africa to the United States, Tuesday, Oct. 19; 8:30a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Additional meeting highlights include:
Seven Subspecialty Day meetings will take place on Oct. 15 to 16, including the first-ever Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Subspecialty Day meeting.
Saturday, Oct. 16
Academy Café
This popular and interactive program starts off the meeting on Saturday with two sessions (Sports Trauma from 1 p.m. to 2:15 and Cataract from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.). Attendees are encouraged to bring their cell phones, PDA or laptops and send questions to the panel via text message. Academy Café continues on Sunday with three sessions, on Monday with two sessions and concludes on Tuesday with one session.
Exhibit Hall
The largest ophthalmic exhibition in the world opens on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. More than 500 companies gather each year to showcase the latest in ophthalmic technology, products and services. The Academy Resource Center will unveil its new booth this year offering an improved floor plan, upgraded services, demonstrations of the ONETM Network, Academy Online Community, the EyeWiki and new EyeSmartTM patient education website.
Sunday, Oct. 17
Opening Session; 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Abdulaziz I. Alrajhi MD, President of MEACO, will address the Opening Session. Additionally, the Laureate Award will be presented to Bradley R. Straatsma, MD and the prestigious Jackson Memorial Lecture; Cytomegalovirus Retinitis and AIDS: Bench to Bedside will be delivered by Douglas A. Jabs, MD, MBA.
Young Ophthalmologist (YO) Program; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
An essential half-day program designed to help residents and physicians in their first five years in practice navigate the challenges they face. The program covers coding, insurance and contract negotiation.
Monday, Oct. 18
Health System Reform: Now the Work Really Begins; 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
This session, featuring leaders from the AMA, the American College of Surgeons and the Academy, will offer perspectives on health system reforms past, present and future. The Parker Heath Lecture will also be presented during this session.
Global Perspective: Correction of Presbyopia Around the World; 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Around the World in 80 Minutes: Innovations in Refractive Surgery; 4:15 p.m. to 5:35 p.m.
These two free symposia will focus on treatments and techniques that are not available in the United States or not often shared among geographic regions. These sessions will offer insight for learning and discussions.
Tuesday, Oct. 19
Late Breakers Symposium; 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Topics will cover new technology and therapies as well as important topics and controversies that have come up within the last six months in the field of ophthalmology.
Electronic Health Record Implementation: Principals of Project Management; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This course will present and review basic principles used in project management and apply these to the electronic health records (EHR) implementation process.
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About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons—Eye M.D.s—with more than 29,000 members worldwide. Eye health care is provided by the three "O's" – opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. For more information, visit the Academy's Web site at www.aao.org.