ICO Leader Letter Special Edition:
Regional Ophthalmic Training Centers

December 2008, Volume 5, Number 5

In This Issue:

1. ICO Initiatives in Nigeria, China and Slovenia: Three Different Models (Bruce Spivey, MD)

2. The University College Hospital and Catholic Mission Hospitals - Ibadan, Nigeria (Bruce Spivey, MD)

3. Peking University Eli Lilly Diabetic Eye Disease Center - Beijing, P.R. China (Mark Tso, MD)

4. Alcon Ophthalmology Training Center - Ljubljana, Slovenia (Bradley Straatsma, MD)

5. Models and Additional Information for the Development of Regional Ophthalmic Training Centers

6. Next ICO Meetings and World Ophthalmology Congress

7. Coming in the Next ICO Leader Letter

8. More News

9. Request for other News and Resources

10. Comments, Change of Address, Privacy Policy, Subscribe and Unsubscribe

1. ICO Initiatives in Nigeria, China and Slovenia: Three Different Models

Bruce Spivey, MD

The Catholic Mission Hospitals near Ibadan, Nigeria; The Eli Lily Diabetic Eye Disease Center in Beijing, P.R. China; and the new Alcon Ophthalmology Training Center in Ljubljana, Slovenia have been established to meet the eye care needs in their local areas, each in their own unique way.

These ROTCs are designed to vary their programs in response to national and regional demography, ophthalmic disease prevalence, health care resources, and local laws and regulations. Descriptions and updates of the Nigeria, China, and Slovenia centers were presented at the informal meeting with the leaders of ICO Member societies on November 8 in Atlanta.

We hope that these models will stimulate more thinking and discussion on how to establish successful training centers where they are needed most. We have included additional presentations about ROTCs that may interest you. Your feedback, comments and discussion will help continue the success of these initiatives, and we welcome you to share your thoughts with us.

- Bruce Spivey, MD, ICO President

2. The University College Hospital and Catholic Mission Hospitals - Ibadan, Nigeria

In October, I visited the ICO Regional Ophthalmic Training Center in Ibadan, Nigeria. I am happy to report that the goal of achieving affordable and accessible eye care to those in this region is underway and is now poised for expansion.

Since 2006, the ROTC in Ibadan has offered Medical-Surgical training for ophthalmology residents and population-based community eye care. Managed by the University College Hospital, this referral center has been supported by Vision 2020, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and the Alcon Foundation. The Aravind Eye Care System of India provides expertise and training course development support for the center. Since 2006, the number of cataract surgeries has increased from approximately 108 per year to 610 per year - a 400% increase. This is considered just a beginning.

To build on this success and to address the dire need for quality eye care services in Nigeria, a public/private cooperative initiative has been created to increase eye care services and training in the South West region of Nigeria, which we hope will serve as a model not only for the country, but also for the West African region.

The Lavelle Fund has provided a grant to support these activities through 2010, and I look forward to reporting on the progress of this next phase of development.

- Bruce Spivey, MD, ICO President

3. Peking University Eli Lilly Diabetic Eye Disease Center - Beijing, P.R. China

Mark Tso, MD

The main focus of this initiative has been to raise awareness of diabetic retinopathy. An existing network of community eye hospitals has been utilized to provide eye care and public education. In collaboration with Lions Clubs International, Aravind was enlisted to develop a strategic plan for public education.

From 2007 to 2008, PU-ELDEC focused on treating and educating the urban population of Beijing and rural population of Shunyi County. In 2008 and 2009 the ICO and PU-ELDEC have proposed the creation of a "National Network of Provincial Eye Hospitals in China" through secondary level county hospitals. These hospitals are eager to collaborate with the nationally known PUEC to improve their educational and therapeutic procedures for patients in China with diabetic retinopathy.

A wide variety of awareness tools have been created and distributed, including posters, pamphlets, PowerPoint presentations, videos, advertisements, and even stickers. Seminars for doctors and paramedical professionals, meetings with patients and diabetic clubs and presence at a diabetic fair and exhibition have all helped to communicate awareness about the disease. In addition, outreach through diabetic retinopathy screening camps has screened 8,000 people.

- Mark Tso, MD, Education Director

4. Alcon Ophthalmology Training Center - Ljubljana, Slovenia

Bradley R. Straatsma, MD, JD

The center offers two main training opportunities: Fellowships and Observerships. Each year two Fellowships will be offered. Lasting a minimum of one year, the Fellowships are intended for specialists who already have some surgical expertise. Observers are welcome for a period of four to six weeks to view live surgery and participate in wet lab courses.

In addition to Fellowships and Observerships, the Alcon funds will support teaching activities, equipment upgrades and mentors. Professor Hawlina is optimistic that this training center will also help to stimulate further plans for fellowship programs for other doctors in the area.

- Bradley R. Straatsma, MD, JD, President ICOFoundation

5. Models and Additional Information for the Development of Regional Ophthalmic Training Centers

At the informal meeting of ICO Members on November 8 in Atlanta, we also heard about the importance and need for additional training and the model of Aravind in India. We are offering these presentations here to help you consider ways to improve your efforts with current centers and in the search for new opportunities for ROTCs. In addition, we have included a presentation from sustainability consultant David Green, in the hope that his approach might provide a bridge to funding for new and existing centers. These PowerPoint presentations are now available for download on the ICO website through the links below.

"The Need for Ophthalmic Training Worldwide and Role of Regional Training Centers"

R. Pararajasegaram, MB, FRCS, ICO Advisory Committee http://www.icoph.org/ppt/PararajasegaramNeedforTraining.ppt

Dr. Pararajasegaram' s presentation highlights the worldwide need for training, and specifically addresses why regional training centers can be a very effective strategy. It also contains updated statistics on the causes of blindness in different regions of the world.

"Ophthalmic Training Centers: Aravind and Models in other Regions"

R. D. Thulasiraj, Executive Director, Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology http://www.icoph.org/ppt/ThulasirajTrainingAravind.ppt

Dr. Thulasiraj' s presentation discusses how Aravind approaches training, using a team development and community-oriented approach. Learn how they have been successful by focusing on quality while basing their system on the needs of the community. Their approach has three parts: policy, strategy, and action; and they include all clinical and non-clinical staff in their "eye care management training."

"Governing Principles and the Process for Development of Sustainable Group Practices"

David Green, Sustainability Consultant
http://www.icoph.org/ppt/GreenSustainability.ppt

David Green' s presentation highlights steps on the road to sustainability, including how to use profit and production capacity to serve humanity, how to reduce the cost and price of technology, details on financing and capacity building, and how to use pricing to achieve sustainability. His examples include the Aravind model and others.

David Green is a social entrepreneur who has assisted Aravind in its manufacturing capabilities and has worked with many sustainable eye programs around the world.

6. Next ICO Meetings and World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC)

• ICO Board of Trustees: 29 March 2009, Bahrain
• ICO Board of Trustees: 24 October 2009, San Francisco
• ICO General Assembly: 5 June 2010, Berlin
• World Ophthalmology Congress®: 5 - 9 June 2010, Berlin (www.woc2010.de)

Other future ICO Meetings: www.icoph.org/lead/icomeet.html.

7. Coming in the Next ICO Leader Letter:

Prevention of blindness awards, news from the ICO Board and Advisory Committee meeting, ICO Assessments, AAO's O.N.E. Network and more.

8. More News

For more news of the ICO and international ophthalmology and resources for ophthalmologic leaders, see the ICO's Eye Site at www.icoph.org.

9. Request for Other News and Resources

Do you have other news of international ophthalmology or know resources (particularly on the Web) that would be valuable to ophthalmologic leaders? Please let us know at leader@icoph.org.

10. Comments, Change of Address, Privacy Policy, Subscribe and Unsubscribe

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