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36 | EYEWORLD DAILY NEWS | APRIL 23, 2022 ASCRS ANNUAL MEETING DAILY NEWS Dr. Braga-Mele said that not only has she mentored many ophthalmol- ogists throughout her career, but she has also been mentored by many. She noted that some of these have been older mentors, while others have been at similar stages in their career as her. She plans to highlight some of her many mentorship experiences during the lecture. Her lecture will also cover the importance of balance in life, and how she personally could not have achieved everything she has accomplished without this. Everyone's balance is different, Dr. Braga-Mele said. "Other things that inspire me outside of med- icine—such as body building, karate, coaching—have taught me to be a bet- ter teacher," she said, adding that these things have helped to teach her mental health coping strategies. "Without all of that, I don't think I'd be who I am and wouldn't have been able to give as much to ophthalmology or education if I didn't have other aspects in my life to channel my energy." the type of person to accept anything at face value. "I'm going to talk about the research I have done validating new technology, creating new tech- niques that improve patient outcomes or help us become better, more effi- cient surgeons, and how my curiosity has fostered advances," she said. "We should never feel that we're too old to dream or challenge ourselves because all of that creates change, and change can be very good and positive for our profession and patients." Dr. Braga-Mele has been an educa- tor for her entire career and noted that she has received accolades from her students as well as from her teaching institutions. "People often ask me why I'm not in private practice," she said. "I think the message I'd like to bring across in that part of the presentation is that for every person who I educate, I can help exponentially more patients, and for every friendship I foster with my residents, I learn so much more and grow as a person." T his year, the ASCRS Binkhorst Lecture will be given by Rosa Braga-Mele, MD. The lecture will take place today during the Opening General Session. Dr. Braga-Mele will discuss her journey in ophthalmology, touching on innova- tion, education, and mentorship. She spoke with EyeWorld about the lecture. Dr. Braga-Mele noted that her lecture won't be a typical presentation focusing on one specific technique or technology, but rather, she plans to in- clude a variety of pearls on mentorship and innovation. She will also discuss work/life balance, creating the ability to be a better person and doctor, and how she personally achieved this in her career. All of these are factors that have contributed to her career in ophthal- mology, Dr. Braga-Mele said. With respect to innovation, Dr. Braga-Mele said she has never been Preview of the 2022 Binkhorst Lecture by Clara Chan, MD EyeWorld Cornea Editor T he ASCRS Annual Meeting is one of the highlights of my year. There is a multitude of course offerings, symposia, lectures, skills transfer labs, and networking and industry meetup opportunities to suit whatever your interests are. The atmosphere will be electric, as many attendees may not have had a chance to attend an in-per- son meeting in awhile. It is always enjoyable to catch up with friends and colleagues from near and far; to see what new technology there is; to wander the Exhibit Hall floor to physically try out the new technolo- gy in person; to hone your skills in a hands-on course; and to absorb the knowledge being shared. For me personally, members of the University of Toronto Cornea Department attend the meeting with our team of fellows, and it's a great time for bonding, learning, and sharing. Leading up to the meeting, we have all been very busy prepar- ing our lectures and courses ranging from the basics of DMEK to complex DMEK, as well as pearls for ocu- lar surface procedures and how to optimize ocular surface disease both medically and surgically. It gives me great pride to see our cornea fellows sharing their research and taking to the podium. The opportunities pro- vided at the ASCRS Annual Meeting fuel their drive to continue in their academic pursuits as they return to their home countries to serve their communities and become leaders in the field. For others attending the meeting, I hope that they, too, feel that they have gained additional skills and knowledge after just a few days. Ride that high feeling of being inspired and empowered to remain at the top of the game and to contin- ue to be the best ophthalmologist and surgeon possible. Your patients will be grateful. A highlight of the year

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