ORBIS staff attended the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting (AAO) October 21 – 25 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The conference is the world’s largest, most comprehensive ophthalmic education meeting. More than 25,000 attendees attended this year’s conference which serves as a forum for ophthalmologists and other eye health care professionals to participate in continuing medical education.
At this year’s (AAO) meeting, ORBIS had the opportunity to participate and present during key educational sessions. ORBIS had the opportunity to present as part of a panel of experts at this year’s 2011 International Forum: Latest Trends and Next Generation Developments in International Eye Care.
Dr. Nathan Congdon, Clinical Advisor of ORBIS North Asia office and Professor of Ophthalmology at Sun Yat-sen University at the Guangzhou China office, and Joan McLeod, Regional Director of Latin America for ORBIS presented as panelists during the international forum.
In addition, Heather Machin, Associate Director of Nursing for ORBIS and Elisa Urrichi, staff nurse for the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital, presented for the first time at the American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses Association (ASORN) Congress in conjunction with the AAO. Over 70 attendees from around the world joined the nursing session. Dr. Hunter Cherwek, former Medical Director for ORBIS presented in multiple forums representing ORBIS including an educational session on ORBIS’s Young Ophthalmologist Program.
On Sunday evening of the AAO meeting, ORBIS co-hosted an annual reception which was attended by over 200 individuals. Dr. Robert F. Walters, Chairman of the ORBIS Board of Trustees, welcomed guests at the joint reception and formally introduced Dr. Barbara DeBuono, who was named President and CEO of ORBIS this past Spring. Dr. DeBuono then introduced Dr. Clare Gilbert, this year’s AAO recipient of the International Blindness Prevention Award.
Co-hosts included Hellen Keller International, Himalayan Cataract Project, International Eye Foundation, SEE International and the SEVA Foundation. In addition, volunteer faculty members and long time friends of ORBIS and its Eye Partners also attended the celebration.
