Eyeworld Daily News

EW SHOW DAILY 34 ASCRS News Saturday, April 14, 2018 by Eric Donnenfeld, MD, EyeWorld Chief Medical Editor who are passionate about bringing a new approach to treating glaucoma patients to the European market. Dr. Donnenfeld: You've been ex- ceptionally successful in corporate ophthalmology. Why leave this area to lead ASCRS? Mr. Speares: I have had so many amazing opportunities in my time in ophthalmology, and these opportu- nities have exposed me to the many issues, challenges, and opportunities that touch ophthalmology. When I considered both the opportunity to build on what David Karcher great opportunity, and I learned a great deal working with colleagues and surgeons, as I worked in 42 countries. My roles at Alcon evolved into other responsibilities, culminat- ing in becoming the vice president for Alcon's global surgical marketing organization. In 2015, I joined Glaukos to set up a direct organization in Europe as Tom Burns and Chris Calcaterra were looking to replicate the struc- ture they had in the U.S. This role has been extremely rewarding as I have had the opportunity to work with a dedicated group of people I love the elegance of the procedures. Ophthalmic surgeons definitely incorporate an artisan's approach in the way they oper- ate, and I have always found this marriage of technology and art a compelling story. I love the value ophthalmolo- gists provide their patients. At some level, the phenomenal success our specialty has experienced is almost taken for granted. If you step back and look at the life-changing value proposition that cataract, refractive, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery bring to patients, it makes all of us who are part of ophthalmol- ogy feel tremendous gratification. Dr. Donnenfeld: Please tell us a little bit about your background in ophthalmology. Mr. Speares: I began my career as a sales rep with Grieshaber in April 1991, covering the Southeastern U.S. We made the finest handcrafted instruments in the world, and all subspecialties of ophthalmology used them, so it gave me a broad view of the various surgical proce- dures within ophthalmology. I was fortunate to learn a great deal from Hans Grieshaber and Mark For- chette there. In 1998 Alcon acquired Grie- shaber, and I moved to Texas to work for Mike Southard and Cary Rayment in surgical marketing for the international division. It was a Following an exhaustive search process, ASCRS welcomes Steve Speares as its new executive director E ric Donnenfeld, MD: On behalf of ASCRS members and EyeWorld, we welcome you in your new position of leadership. Steve, during the interview process your passion for ophthalmology was quite evi- dent. What is it that you love about ophthalmology? Steve Speares: Thank you for the kind welcome, Eric. I am eager to get started. I am sincere when I say I really do love everything about oph- thalmology. To begin with, I love ophthalmologists. I learned early in my career how much surgeons love to teach. Much of my education in ophthalmology came from my customers. I also found them eager to learn about what other surgeons were doing and how open-minded most of them were. Introducing Steve Speares Mr. Karcher and Mr. Speares Source: ASCRS Steve Speares

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