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ICO Leader Letter

November 2011, Volume 8, Number 12

1. WOC 2012 in Abu Dhabi - Online Registration Ends December 15

The 2012 World Ophthalmology Congress® (WOC) in Abu Dhabi is just months away, and the deadline for online registration is fast approaching. December 15, 2011 is the deadline for online pre-registration, so do not delay, and register now at: www.woc2012.org/register_online.html.

From February 16-20, 2012, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, WOC 2012 offers more than 230 invited scientific sessions, over 2,000 internationally recognized speakers, with 50 ophthalmologic societies organizing sessions.

The full, searchable program for the scientific sessions is now online at: www.WOC2012.org/scientific_program.html.

For the most up-to-date WOC information: 

• WOC 2012 e-newsletter at: woc2012.org/news.html
• WOC 2012 Web site at: www.woc2012.org
• For information on Abu Dhabi, go to: www.woc2012.org/city_information.html

I look forward to seeing you in Abu Dhabi!

– Manal Taryam, MD, Vice President, WOC 2012

2. Busan Conference for Ophthalmic Educators, April 12, 2012 – Save the Date

The 2012 Conference for Ophthalmic Educators-- New Techniques to Enhance Teaching & Learning -- will be held in Busan, South Korea, on April 12, prior to the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress.

Building upon the 2011 Conferences for Educators in Sydney (March) and Buenos Aires (July), the 2012 Conference is co-sponsored by the ICO, APAO and the Korean Ophthalmological Society. The one day meeting will include short lectures, group discussions and a variety of interactive workshops.

If you would like to be added to the ICO’s educators’ mailing list to receive an invitation, please email us at: educators@icoph.org.

– Karl Golnik, MD, Med, Chair, Steering Committee on Regional Conferences for Ophthalmic Educators

3. Conferences for Ophthalmic Educators - 2011 Webcasts Available Online

The ICO is pleased to announce that webcasts from our 2011 Conferences for Ophthalmic Educators are now available on the ICO Web site:  www.icoph.org/conference_webcasts.html.

The webcasts include 39 presentations from two conferences designed to help ophthalmic educators from all over the world collaborate and learn more about modern educational tools:

• Ophthalmic Education in the Asia Pacific: A Conference for Educators - Sydney, Australia, March 2011.
• Refocusing Ophthalmic Education in the Americas: A Conference for Educators - Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 2011. (Available in Spanish and English)

– Eduardo Mayorga, MD, ICO Director for E-Learning

4. Congratulations to AAO Awardees

Please join me in congratulating these awardees, honored at the 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Meeting in Orlando, Florida, who have made extraordinary contributions to ophthalmology, education and service:

Laureate Award – The Academy’s highest honor, recognizes ophthalmologists who make exceptional scientific contributions toward preventing blindness and restoring sight worldwide.

• Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS, ICO Director for Research. A pioneer in global health, Dr. Sommer and his research team found that most cases of measles-associated pediatric blindness in Africa were related to low vitamin A levels.

International Blindness Prevention Award – Honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the prevention of blindness or restoration of sight around the world.

• Clare E. Gilbert, MD, FRCOpth, MSc. A champion for preservation of sight, Dr. Gilbert developed a classification system for the causes of blindness in children, which is now a World Health Organization standard.

Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award – Recognizes community service and humanitarian activity.

• Steven O. Anderson, MD. Founded the Global Eye Mission to develop sustainable eye care in underserved regions, and volunteered service in Africa, Asia and Central America.
• Mary Cathleen Schanzer, MD. Provided eye care to patients in rural Africa for over two decades, funded a modern eye care facility in Sierra Leone, established the Southern Eye Institute to support mission efforts.

AAO Guest of Honor – Three Guests of Honor were selected by AAO President, Richard L. Abbott, MD, in recognition of significant contributions to the Academy and ophthalmology.

• Bruce E. Spivey, MD, ICO President
• Richard K. Forster, MD
• Charles P.  Wilkinson, MD

– Jean-Jacques De Laey, MD, ICO Secretary General

5. African Program for Onchocerciasis Control,15th Anniversary

The African Program for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) is celebrating 15 years of success in controlling river blindness in Africa, a major public health problem affecting millions of the world’s poorest persons.

The true strength of APOC is the committed partnership of donor countries, communities, and organizations with a shared vision, working together towards a common goal. Launched in December 1995 with the goal of eliminating onchocerciasis, much has been learned about control interventions.

Community-directed treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) has been established as one of the most effective public health interventions, reaching more than 68 million persons in 2009, with an economic rate of return estimated at 17%.

For more information about APOC, please download the WHO publication, “15 Years of APOC.” 

– Serge Resnikoff, MD, PhD, ICO Director for Advocacy

6. Upcoming ICO Meetings and World Ophthalmology Congresses

ICO Board of Trustees Meeting: February 15, 2012, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

ICO General Assembly: February 16, 2012, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

World Ophthalmology Congress®: February 16–20, 2012, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (www.woc2012.org)

World Ophthalmology Congress®: April 2-6, 2014, Tokyo, Japan

World Ophthalmology Congress®: February 5–9, 2016, Guadalajara, Mexico

Upcoming ICO Meetings and World Ophthalmology Congresses

Conference for Ophthalmic Educators, Busan, Korea, April 12:
New Techniques to Enhance Teaching and Learning

• Register online to attend: icoph.org/rsvp/Busan

World Ophthalmology Congress Meetings

• WOC2014: Tokyo, Japan, April 2-6, 2014, www.woc2014.org
• WOC2016: Guadalajara, Mexico, February 5–9, 2016
• WOC2018: Barcelona, Spain (provisional selection, dates to be announced)

More News

For more news of the ICO and international ophthalmology and resources for ophthalmologic leaders, see the ICO Web site at www.icoph.org.

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.

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