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MAY 5, 2023 | EYEWORLD DAILY NEWS | 3 ASCRS ANNUAL MEETING DAILY NEWS to do the [Ophthalmology Quicksand Chronicles] podcast. Some people don't have time to attend lectures at a meeting, and they want to learn on the go. I wanted to make education as fresh as possible and as attainable and attractive as possible. We've adapted our approach [to the pod- cast] multiple times, making shorter segments. It's a way to let people know that we've all been through the tough moments. There's nothing like a live meeting for that real soul food. In person, we get to connect with old friends and teachers and also meet with experts we admire. The live approach helps to truly experience and learn new techniques so I can help my patients and also be able to visit the Exhibit Hall to see what else is in the pipeline. Being able to go to the Exhibit Hall, to courses, and to hear from experts is a complete opportunity. You can't get that in one weekend anywhere else. EyeWorld: Do you have any addi- tional comments about ASCRS and the direction it's moving? Dr. Yeu: What I like is that ASCRS is always listening and evolving and researching to make sure it's not "stale" in its approach. I think the last 5 years demonstrate that. ASCRS is very representative of the membership. The leadership is based on meritocracy, and those that are involved become leaders. I love the diversity of the different offerings. It is a comprehensive offering for all anterior segment surgeons. We're also expanding to have education focused on digital topics. It's exciting to learn about the newest developments and what's to come. This is going to be an exciting year that I'm looking forward to! like the ASCRS Annual Meeting. I received so much that is part of my core and essence that I wanted to also contribute and give back in a way that was valuable through education and research that I did alongside my mentors. The progression has been won- derful. It was great to be involved in the different arms of ASCRS and be able to contribute by being a poster judge or part of a paper session, then be able to have a poster or paper accepted. That was incredible. The time that I won Best Paper of Session was unreal. When I was able transition to be a part of a Clinical Committee, which at the time was called Young Physicians and Residents, it was a relatively unknown committee. It later became the Young Eye Surgeons (YES) Clinical Committee. This was close to two decades ago. It was just becoming an area where the Executive Committee and leadership realized that we needed to place a greater emphasis. I remember the curricula that we created, including specific skills transfer sessions that could span all generations, and that was so enlight- ening to see. This was before the era when virtual webinars were popular, and it was our committee that began doing the webinars. It's much more accept- ed and mainstream now, but it wasn't that long ago when this was disrup- tive, and it's so exciting to see. I became chair of that committee and later moved on to the ASCRS Cornea Clinical Committee, then on to the Executive Committee. It was such an honor that because of my commitment and volunteerism, I was nominated to serve on the Executive Committee. I think that's what it's all about— it doesn't matter where you come from, if you have a true desire to volunteer or have a passion for phil- anthropic or government relations involvement, there is an arm within ASCRS. If you want to give back, there is a place to give back within ASCRS. It can be that there's a mentor who opens the door to an opportu- nity, but it's what you do with that opportunity and how you find a way to contribute and give back that's important. EyeWorld: Do you have specific goals that you'd like to focus on during your presidency? Dr. Yeu: I think 1 year is not enough to say that one is going to move and change an organization. All I can do is listen and continue to work with the executive director and the ASCRS staff, as well as work on my continu- al mission. I think that ASCRS needs to serve the constituents by: 1) Always make sure that we're mighty at the level of government relations. For example, we took a stand on the recent FDA draft guidance on LASIK. We are small but mighty, and I love that we will make certain that we can provide guidance, provide the objective information, and provide the direction and any information necessary to help our membership do what they can to also voice their opinion. 2) We have to make sure we're listening to every generation and providing education in a format that every generation can find valu- able. People love skills transfer and lectures, but the younger generation also likes other options for learn- ing. This is one of the reasons why, alongside Nicole Fram, MD, I wanted continued from page 1

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