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ICO Notes
Please Comment on Refocusing Ophthalmic Education

June 2009

Dear ICO Members and Friends,

How can we stimulate and support the utilization of curricula for ophthalmic training worldwide?

How can we make continuing education more effective?

After residency training, what is the next most important thing to emphasize in ophthalmic education: allied health, medical student education, subspecialty training or something else? Why?

It would be very helpful for the International Council of Ophthalmology to hear your answers to these questions and your other thoughts on our plans for "Refocusing Ophthalmic Education."

If you are going to be in Amsterdam for the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) Congress, please come to the ICO WORLD session Tuesday, June 16 from 14:30 to 16:00 in Room Y of the Convention Center.

If you are not going to be in Amsterdam, please comment at icoph.org/refocus/. Just scroll down below my introduction and click on "# comments." Your ideas will drive this initiative and help improve ophthalmic education worldwide.

You can download the agenda for Amsterdam session at: archive.icoph.org/pdf/ICOWORLDSOE.pdf. (PDF - 140 KB)

Read the "Refocusing Ophthalmic Education" plan at: archive.icoph.org/pdf/icorefocusing.pdf. (PDF - 176 KB)

A few additional reports:

SOE Amsterdam Congress Symposia

In addition to the "Refocusing Ophthalmic Education" symposium, you may also be interested in the following:

• VISION 2020 Global Initiative: New Opportunities in Eye Care Education, New Opportunities in Eye Care Education; Sunday, June 14, 10:15 - 11:45
• E-learning in Ophthalmology: Technological and Pedagogical Milestones for E-learning Teachers; Monday, June 15, 10:15 - 11:45
• Young Ophthalmologists in International Ophthalmology; Monday, June 15, 16:30 - 18:00
• ICO Symposium: Enhancing Ophthalmic Education; Tuesday, June 16, 08:15 - 09:45

More information on the scientific program is available on the SOE Congress website: www.soe2009.org/glance.asp.

I hope to see you in Amsterdam.

New Helmerich Fellowship for Ophthalmologists in Developing Countries

Dr. Bradley Straatsma and the ICOFoundation announce the new ICO Helmerich Fellowship for ophthalmologists in developing countries. Sponsored by the Retina Research Foundation, the Helmerich Fellowships honor the public service leadership of Mr. W.H. Helmerich III.

These Fellowships were created to provide advanced subspecialty training to ophthalmologists and to help them share their newly acquired knowledge when they return home. Two, 12-month fellowships will be awarded each year. The awardees will receive salary for one year and air transportation support, and the host institution will receive a stipend to assist with training expenses.

The full details of the Helmerich Fellowships, along with application requirements and instructions, are available for download from: archive.icoph.org/pdf/helmerichfellowships.pdf. (PDF - 736 KB)

Application letters and related information should be sent to the ICO Helmerich International Fellowship Committee by e-mail at helmerich@icoph.org prior to September 1, 2009.

Please help spread the word to your colleagues about this new opportunity for subspecialty training.

Robert Ritch is the New ICO Advisory Committee Chair

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Robert Ritch, MD, of New York City, is the new chair of the ICO Advisory Committee and, thus, an ICO Board of Trustees member. He was elected by members of the Committee, whose tasks are to suggest new issues or actions by the ICO as well as to review issues that need particular in depth review prior to consideration by the ICO Board.

Dr. Ritch holds the Shelley and Steven Einhorn Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology and is Surgeon Director and Chief of Glaucoma Services at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in New York City and is Professor of Ophthalmology at The New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. He is also is a member of the Glaucoma Research Society and the Steering Committee of the World Glaucoma Association.

Bob has served on the Advisory Committee of the ICO since 2002, and will host his 21st ICO International Fellow at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary this year. I congratulate Bob and look forward to working closely with him.

With warm regards,

Bruce

Bruce Spivey, MD, MS, MEd
President, International Council of Ophthalmology

945 Green Street
San Francisco, CA, 94133, USA
Fax: (1-415) 409-8403
spivey@icoph.org
www.icoph.org