Eyeworld Daily News

35 EW SHOW DAILY 2018 ASCRS•ASOA Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. behalf of ophthalmologists, ASCRS needs to find ways to affect govern- ment policy that layers unnecessary burdens on practices and indirectly on patients. If ophthalmologists, nurses, technicians, and adminis- trators are being driven to focus on something that distracts from the primary mission of patient care, that policy needs to be addressed. Dr. Donnenfeld: You are one of the hardest working individuals I know. What do you like to do in your free time? Mr. Speares: I spend a lot of time with my fiancée, Nancy Beesley. We enjoy travel, movies, working out, and spending time with our kids. I also love golf—I've been playing since I was 11—and Auburn University football. Those are my passions. EW and his team have created and the unique perspective and experienc- es I could bring to ASCRS, the job seemed like it was meant for me. Dr. Donnenfeld: What do you like best about ASCRS? Mr. Speares: That one is easy: educa- tion. As I mentioned, I have always found ophthalmologists so naturally connected to both the delivery and receipt of new information and new ideas. The educational approach ASCRS has employed over the years has always been innovative, relative, and most importantly, effective. The clinical success anterior segment surgeons deliver is proof. I plan to introduce additional approaches to how we educate and engage our membership, which in turn should draw new members to our society. Dr. Donnenfeld: You will be suc- ceeding David Karcher, our current executive director, after he's led our organization for 37 years. What are your thoughts about the legacy and contributions of David Karcher to ASCRS? Mr. Speares: Dave is really the ex- ecutive director emeritus, and those of us who follow will have only one objective: build on his foundation. I have known Dave for 13 years and always appreciated his candor, open mind, and integrity. As we have be- gun the process of transition he has been nothing short of exceptional. His kind nature, incredible depth of knowledge, and passion for the so- ciety come across each time we talk. It has also become apparent to me that I am not only filling his shoes but Anne Karcher's as well. Anne has been a great ambassador for ASCRS, and I am fortunate to have both of them as my guides during this period. Dr. Donnenfeld: What are some of the challenges that ophthalmolo- gists face today, and how will ASCRS help us to meet these challenges? Mr. Speares: I think the biggest chal- lenge ophthalmologists face is the perception of the value of the care they provide. I think we have to do more to tell the story of the invest- ment surgeons make in themselves to become ophthalmologists and the value of the extraordinary outcomes they deliver to their patients. If we look across medicine, there is no specialty that delivers more consis- tent, quality outcomes than those that anterior segment surgeons pro- vide, and to watch payers system- atically devalue these outcomes is counter to the laws of logic. As with the rest of society, ophthalmologists are being inun- dated with data and regulations on how to manage that data. As a society tasked with advocating on

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