Global Ophthalmology Updates – January 2022

Residents Take Part in Global Simulation Wet Lab

On Saturday, January 8, our three senior residents joined UW ophthalmologist Jennifer Larson, MD, for a global surgical simulation wet lab training at the VA Hospital in Madison.

This faculty-led training, now in its third year, is a required exercise for senior residents prior to engaging in global fieldwork, or rotations abroad. Participants learn manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) and extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). During their time abroad, residents will be expected to perform both procedures, overseen by UW and onsite faculty physicians.

Special thanks to Dr. Larson for her development of this training opportunity and her commitment to supporting our learners.

Global Cataract Symposium

Global Cataract Symposium Continues Growth, Global Learning

Over 95 participants from three countries attended the most recent Global Cataract Symposium on Monday, January 10. This virtual event, hosted by the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, brought together learners and faculty from UW and our global partners: the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila, Philippines and Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital in New Delhi, India.

Championed by UW’s Anna Momont, MD and UST’s Catherine Macaraig, MD (a DOVS Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Fellowship alumni), this quarterly event features resident case study presentations and group discussion, and has seen continued growth since its inception in 2020. The next Global Cataract Symposium session will be hosted by our colleagues at the University of Santo Tomas, and will take place on Monday, April 25, 2022.

Cat Burkat delivers virtual presentation

Cat Burkat Delivers Virtual Presentation to Global Partners in Brazil

In December 2021, Global Ophthalmology Initiatives faculty co-chair, Cat Burkat, MD, FACS, provided a virtual presentation for the University of São Paulo Brazil’s annual Congress of Ophthalmology conference (COUSP), where an estimated 2,500 registrants attended the meeting. She also served as an expert discussant/panelist for a difficult oculoplastics case.

The University of São Paulo Department of Ophthalmology is another global partner of DOVS. In 2018, Burkat – along with department chair Terri Young, MD and pediatric ophthalmologist Yasmin Bradfield, MD – travelled to São Paulo to present at this event in person.

Of her recent presentation, Burkat says, “It was great to have been invited again and to continue our connections with our partners!”

 

Global Resident Curriculum

In 2020, the residency program and Global Ophthalmology Initiatives developed a resident global ophthalmology (GO) curriculum via Canvas, an online learning platform utilized by UW-Madison. The three-year interactive, multi-delivery format experiential curriculum was informed by the ACGME Core Competencies, in alignment with American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) efforts to create new avenues for academic global ophthalmology. The coursework offers self-directed learning, global learning activities including but not limited to local and global fieldwork (such as World Sight Day – Right to Sight Eye Clinic, India and Philippines rotations).

Resident completion of this GO coursework is acknowledged at graduation, an advancement in their professional and personal learning and growth in relation to their careers as an ophthalmologist.