2ND ANNUAL OPHTHALMOLOGY COMMUNITY WET LAB:  MIGS AND MORE 

The Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Society hosted the 2^nd Annual Ophthalmology Community Wet Lab: MIGS and MORE.  Two separate sessions, an introduction and advanced techniques, were held at the UPMC Eye Center – Eye and Ear Institute May 29 and June 13.   Thank you to the following companies who were instrumental (pun intended) in providing equipment, support staff and teaching assistance for each 2-1/2 hour program: Alcon, Allergan, Bausch and Lomb, Glaukos, IanTech and New World Medical.  We also thank UPMC Eye and Ear for use of the wet lab for this worthwhile endeavor. 

A maximum of 9 physicians attended each session where they had opportunity to participate in dry and wet labs for iLoop, iStent, Kahook blade, CyPass, and pars plana anterior vitrectomy with and without trocars. One-on-one learning and coaching was available, and each person was able to self-direct learning and practice opportunities. 

Sharon Taylor, MD and Ian Conner, MD, PhD served as course directors and initiated the program offering.  The directors, industry instructors, and participants all shared their expertise and pearls of wisdom with their colleagues.  

 Comments from participants were uniformly positive and the Society looks forward to offering sessions in 2019.  While we always plan to have vitrectomy practice available, we also welcome suggestions for future wet lab topics or for other educational sessions members would like to see offered.  If you have a skill set others would benefit from learning and practicing, please let us know.  Submit suggestions to Nadine Popovich, administrator, at npopovich@acms.org.

Jill Foster, MD (center) pictured with (left to right):  Srinivas Kondapalli, MD; Daniel Buerger, MD; Sharon L. Taylor, MD (President); and    David Buerger, MD (President-Elect)

 Dr. Foster was the final presenter of the POS 2018-2019 academic season and delivered two excellent lectures.  Thank  you to David Buerger, MD for inviting       Dr. Foster to  Pittsburgh.   Following the first lecture, Sohani Amarasekera, MD, Resident at the University of Pittsburgh Eye Center, presented an interesting case for review and  discussion. 

The Society would like to thank Allergan for support of the February meeting. 

Carl Awh, MD, (center) pictured with (left to right):  Sharon L. Taylor, MD; Andrew Eller, MD, Benjamin Botsford, MD and Thierry Verstraeten, MD 

 Dr. Awh started the 2019 meeting season with two interesting presentations. Following the first lecture, Benjamin Botsford, MD, Resident at the University of Pittsburgh Eye Center, presented an interesting case for review and  discussion. Thank you to Dr. Verstraeten for inviting Dr. Awh to Pittsburgh and to Regeneron and Spark Therapeutics for support of the program. 

Debra Goldstein, MD (left) with Pamela Rath, MD (who invited Dr. Goldstein) and Sharon Taylor, MD, President. 

 lFollowing Dr. Goldstein's first lecture, Jennifer Lee, MD, Resident at the University of Pittsburgh Eye Center, presented an interesting case for review and  discussion. Thank you to Carl Zeiss Meditec and Genentech for co-sponsoring the meeting.

Shakeel R. Shareef, MD (left) with Sharon L. Taylor, MD and Ian Conner, MD, PhD. (right). Dr. Shareef was the guest speaker for the October 4 meeting. Thank you to Dr. Conner who extended the invitation to Dr. Shareef and to Alcon for sponsoring the meeting.