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ICO Notes
Strategic Planning Progress, 2010 Program Update

November 2010

Dear ICO Members and Friends,

1. ICO Strategic Planning, Thank You for Your Input

As you know, the ICO is conducting a strategic planning process, and we recently sent a survey to learn how we can better serve your societies and you in your role as a society leader. We also sent similar surveys to ophthalmic educators and individual ophthalmologists.

I want to thank those of you who took the time to share your points of view, and we sincerely appreciate your time and input.

This month, a small group of ICO leaders will meet to continue the strategic planning process. The survey results, along with your initial contributions at June’s General Assembly, will form the foundation of our discussions and subsequent plans. We are will be making quick use of your valuable ideas and suggestions. I look forward to sharing our progress with you in the coming months.

2. 2010 ICO Program Update, Dues Request

The ICO has had an eventful year. Our programs and initiatives continue to grow and evolve thanks to the leadership and dedication of our many volunteers and the work of our small but effective staff. We had a wonderfully successful World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) in June, among many other accomplishments.

I hope you will enjoy reading a short note on each of our initiatives in the 2010 ICO Program Update: http://icoph.org/downloads/ICO2010ProgramUpdate.pdf (PDF – 1.3 MB).

One of the purposes of this Program Update is to keep you informed of all we are doing. We could not be successful without the support of our ICO Member Societies. As we approach the time to collect annual dues (we’ll send you a request for 2011 dues later this month), I do hope you recognize the importance of your ICO Membership dues and what they allow us to accomplish.

We heartily thank you for your support and cooperation this past year and look forward to continuing our partnership with you in 2011 and beyond.

3. WOC 2012 Scientific Program Update

ICO Scientific Program Chairman Peter Wiedemann, MD, of Leipzig, and a new Scientific Program Committee are already making great progress on the invited program for the 2012 World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC), February 16-20 in Abu Dhabi.

We currently have more than 45 session topics confirmed. The invited scientific program will cover 30 subspecialties and areas, with several new topics for 2012––an eye care personnel educational program; an invited video program; ocular imaging; ophthalmic history; and ophthalmic practice models and socioeconomics.

In true global style, the WOC 2012 scientific program coordinators have been invited from Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and Middle East/Africa with involvement from more than 40 ophthalmologic societies. There will be free subspecialty days on cataract, refractive surgery, glaucoma, retina, pediatric ophthalmology and oculoplasty on February 16, 2012.

For more details on the WOC 2012 scientific program, see http://icoph.org/downloads/WOC2012ScientificProgramFactSheet.pdf (PDF – 88.5 KB).

4. Please Help Publicize WOC 2012

We are thrilled to bring the WOC to the Middle East for the first time in history. You and your colleagues are sure to enjoy Abu Dhabi, a Persian Gulf port with a laid-back feel and local flavor, about an hour from bustling Dubai. Just 50 years ago, Abu Dhabi was little more than a fishing village. It has now developed into a modern city, but one with a unique culture waiting for you to explore.

Please add the dates and a link to the 2012 World Ophthalmology Congress, www.woc2012.org, to your Web site and mention it in your society newsletters and other communications. You can sign up for the WOC 2012 mailing list, http://www.woc2012.org/join_maling_list.html, to receive updates and news.

We would appreciate anything you can do to inform your members and others about the 2012 World Ophthalmology Congress, encouraging them to join us in Abu Dhabi. Please also remember that the official representative from all ICO member societies will receive free registration to attend WOC 2012.

Thank you in advance for helping us raise awareness of the 2012 World Ophthalmology Congress. I look forward to seeing you in Abu Dhabi!

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