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ICO Notes
Join Us in Orlando To Define International Ophthalmology 2021

July 2011

Dear ICO Members and Friends,

In this ICO Notes, I invite you to join in a stimulating discussion of the future of international ophthalmology and remind you that we want to hear your comments on the ICO strategic plan and proposed changes in governance. Also, there’s another reminder about the July 31 deadline for early bird registration for the 2012 World Ophthalmology Congress in Abu Dhabi.

1. WORLD: International Ophthalmology 2021

How will the practice of ophthalmology around the world change in the next 10 years?

Are the ICO and supranational, national and subspecialty societies doing all we should to help ophthalmologists prepare for the future?

How will we deal with a dramatic increase in diabetic retinopathy?  Is that our responsibility?

These are some of the challenging questions we are going to ask you at the ICO’s 2011 World Ophthalmology Roundtable on Leadership Development (WORLD) at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) meeting in Orlando, Florida.

“International Ophthalmology 2021” will be the theme of this fourth WORLD Roundtable at the Academy. It will be from 12:00 to 13:50 on Saturday, October 22nd in the Bayhill Room at the Peabody Hotel. A light lunch will be provided starting at 11:30.

I invite and urge the leaders of ICO Member societies, particularly, but also other ophthalmologic leaders and educators who will be attending the Academy to join us for enlightening presentations and stimulating discussion. We are going to use an audience response system to probe for consensus on the way forward.

Download the preliminary agenda here: www.icoph.org/downloads/ICO-WORLD-Agenda-draft-7-21.pdf

If you plan to participate, please go to this address and sign up, so that we can be sure to have lunch for you: www.icoph.org/rsvp/WORLD-Orlando-2011.htm.

If you will be in Orlando, I hope you’ll make every effort to join us on October 22 and participate in this Roundtable on what international ophthalmology should be in 2021.

2. ICO Revised Strategic Plan

The ICO Board of Trustees met on March 17-18, 2011, in Australia’s Hunter Valley to continue the strategic planning process launched during the 2010 World Ophthalmology Congress in Berlin.

In June, I asked ICO Members for comment on a revised strategic plan reflecting the discussions from Hunter Valley. In the broadest terms, we want to know if Members generally agree with the goals and strategies as defined in the plan and priorities we’ve defined for implementation.

To review the mailing to Members on the strategic plan (which has links to the summary and other parts of the plan), see: www.icoph.org/mailing-to-members/strategic-plan-june2011.html.

If you have not already done so, please send your comments to me by August 31 at: spivey@icoph.org.

3. Proposed Changes in ICO Governance

A second mailing related to the ICO’s Strategic Plan was mailed to Members last week. This mailing discussed proposed changes in ICO governance, including changing the terms of Officers and hiring an ophthalmologist as a full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO). You can review that mailing at: www.icoph.org/mailing-to-members/ico-governance-july2011.html.

Again, I would appreciate your comments and support for this proposed change, which I believe will not only assure continuity of leadership for the ICO but also help us have a greater impact on enhancing ophthalmic education and improving eye care worldwide.

4. WOC Early Bird Registration Deadline: July 31, 2011

The World Ophthalmology Congress® (WOC) 2012 is rapidly approaching, and the opportunity to take advantage of early bird registration rates ends on July 31, 2011.

WOC 2012 is being held February 16-20 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and is expected to be the largest ophthalmologic congress ever presented in this region. Do not miss your opportunity to attend this exciting event and hear from more than 2,000 internationally recognized speakers.To register for WOC 2012, go to: www.woc2012.org/register_online.html.

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