EDITORIAL

Highlights of the Academy Year

Upholding old traditions and instituting new ones, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, in its first year as an independent organiza­tion, assumed new responsibilities while continuing to provide profes­sional education for its members and others. Becoming an independent organization enabled the Academy to further expand its role as an educa­tional and representative organization.

Educational activities included publishing the Academy's journal, OPHTHALMOLOGY, and its newsletter, the Argus; revising and publish­ing the Basic and Clinical Science Course and other scientific materials; and offering instruction courses, films, and technical and scientific ex­hibits to nearly 8100 ophthalmologists and allied health personnel attend­ing the Annual Meeting. In addition, the Academy considered new issues related to education and began to expand its public and interprofessional education programs.

Representational activities of the Academy included expanding its governmental relations program and continuing its role as a coordinating organization for ophthalmology.

THE OLD AND NEW ACADEMY

A brief description follows of the evolution of the Academy from its inception three-quarters of a century ago into the organization it became in 1979.

The Western Society of Eye, Throat and Nose Surgeons, founded in 1896, changed its name to the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology in 1903. From that time, the two specialties served by the Academy evolved to the point where they were no longer closely related. As it became inappropriate for one organization to serve both specialties, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology began to function as two separate divisions in 1978.

By January 1979, the old Academy had been legally separated into two new organizations; the American Academy of Ophthalmology was incorporated as an independent organization.

It became necessary for both new Academies to expand their respec­tive roles as medical organizations. As this reqUired new staff members and more space, expansion into additional or new office facilities became necessary. As a result, the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Ophthalmology decided to move the Academy headquarter's office from its most recent home in Rochester, Minnesota.

Criteria for the selection of a new location included the availability of a skilled work force, an office or offices with flexibility for space utiliza-

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tion to allow for future growth, facilities for annual meetings, accessibil­ity through adequate airport facilities, and clement weather conditions. San Francisco met all these requirements. Since Academy Executive Vice President Bruce E. Spivey, MD, was already established in San Fran­cisco, and the 1982 International Congress of Ophthalmology is scheduled to be held there, San Francisco seemed a logical choice. Proximity of the Academy staff to its administrative head would facilitate regular Acad­emy functions; proximity of the staff to the location of the International Congress would facilitate the extensive planning which this meeting would necessitate.

The Academy negotiated a lease on a 63-year-old, 21f2-story building in San Francisco, and staff moved into it on May 15, 1979. Major renova­tion of the building was necessary, and it continued through the summer and fall.

MEMBERSHIP SURVEY

As the new headquarters allowed for physical expansion, the Acad­emy was able to follow up on plans to expand its role. New initiatives under consideration by the board of directors were presented to members in the form of a membership survey that asked what priorities should be given to these initiatives. The 59% of members responding to the survey enthusiastically endorsed programs for educating the public about oph­thalmology, increasing efforts in governmental relations (especially with respect to the optometric situation) strengthening ophthalmology's voice and image within the medical profession, and expanding the Academy's continuing education offerings. Members were also asked to comment on Academy activities and more than 45% of the respondents did so. In­dividual comments reinforced the mandates of the tallied responses to specific questions asked in the survey. Summaries and selected survey responses were sent to board members with requests that they be used to formulate suggestions and recommendations for board action.

GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Positive responses of the members as expressed in the survey results added impetus to the implementation of new programs. Particular em­phasis in the area of governmental relations was in accordance with the wishes of 76% of those responding to the survey.

To facilitate expansion of the governmental relations program, the board established a new Secretariat for Governmental Relations. A change in the Bylaws in 1980 is proposed in order to officially establish this Secretariat. The Secretary-Designate, Robert D. Reinecke, MD, will represent the Academy as a consultant to leaders in government on issues affecting ophthalmology. He will be aided by the Director of the Office of Governmental Relations and by the following 5 Associate Secretaries:

VOLUME 86 DECEMBER 1979 EDITORIAL

Associate Secretary for State Affairs George Santos, MD

Associate Secretary for Federal Legislation Thomas Frey, MD

Associate Secretary for Health Plans Lawrence Winograd, MD

Associate Secretary for Research and Regulatory Activities Dwight Cavanagh, MD

Associate Secretary for Health Manpower Richard Ruiz, MD

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Committees under each of the associate secretaries will work to develop a comprehensive governmental relations program for oph­thalmology.

Following the departure of the former Director of the Office of Governmental Relations in Washington, DC, his assistant, Catherine Grealy, staffed the office effectively for most of the year. In Decem­ber, Charles Sonneborn, whose experience in governmental relations and association management is extensive, was appointed Director.

The Office of Governmental Relations monitored the progress of many federal programs, proposals for legislation, and studies that would affect ophthalmology. Particular attention was focused on the issues of Medicare coverage of treatment of aphakic patien.ts by optometrists, on preferential reimbursement to radiologists for ultrasound services, on the Veterans Preventive Health Care Program, and on an HEW study, Analy­sis of Complementarity of Optometrists with Appropriate M.D. Special­ists. The· Academy responded to these and other issues by submitting letters, testimonies, and joint statements with other concerned organiza­tions, by participating in meetings, and by offering consulting services.

COORDINATION WITH OTHER GROUPS

Though the Academy's initiatives in governmental relations were significant, any organization's activities may be enhanced through co­ordination with other groups. With this philosophy in mind, the Academy worked for coordination with other ophthalmologic organizations.

During discussions as to how the Academy and the American Asso­ciation of Ophthalmology could more effectively coordinate their efforts, leaders of the two organizations agreed to conduct a study of the feasi­bility of merging the two groups. Joint Liaison Committees were duly assigned to conduct the study. The committees continue to gather in­formation on the subject.

At the Fourth Annual Ophthalmology Long Range Planning Con­ference in June, the Academy brought together representatives of a dozen ophthalmologic subspecialty and regional organizations. Recertification, governmental relations, plans for the 1982 International Congress of Ophthalmology, and Academy plans and progress in several areas were discussed.

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EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

OPHTH AAO

While the Academy expanded its efforts past its traditional realm of medical education by increasing its activities in the areas of govern­mental relations and coordination with other organizations, its primary focus remained education.

CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS

The Academy's Continuing Education Department extensively re­vised and reprinted three manuals: Basics of Contact Lenses, Interpreta­tion of Visual Fields, and Retinal Detachment. Another subject of revi­sion was the Manual for the Beginning Ophthalmology Resident. A new chapter and substantial new material were added to this manual, result­ing in a second edition more than twice the size of the first.

Several new videocassette programs were also introduced, making a total of 34 tapes available through the Academy's Continuing Education with Television (CETV) program.

The Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP), the Acad­emy's traditional exam for self-evaluation in continuing education, was conducted on January 20, 1979, at ophthalmic training centers through­out the United States.

The Continuing Education Department initiated a new system for producing the yearly revision of the Basic and Clinical Science Course (BCSC). This system, which involved the use of a word processor for editing and telecommunications for transmitting the edited material to the typographer for automatic typesetting, was expected to speed the revision process at a reduced cost. Unfortunately, the problems involved in beginning the process proved to be more time-consuming than had been anticipated. As a result, publication of the BCSC was delayed several months.

A more successful innovation involving the Basic and Clinical Science Course was the presentation at the Annual Meeting of three multiple-period instruction courses based on Sections 3, 6, and 9 of the course. Authors of the original sections taught the courses, which used the three sections as course texts and provided a forum for lecture and discussion on the topics of intraocular inflammation, uveitis and ocular tumors, binocular vision and ocular motility, and the orbit, eyelids, and lacrimal system.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Delays in production were not confined to the Basic and Clinical Science Course. The publishing and mailing schedule for the July through December issues of 1979 OPHTHALMOLOGY, the official journal of the Academy, was significantly delayed for several reasons. Problems arose in coordinating the editorial staff remaining in Rochester, Minnesota

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with the editor and the printer in Omaha, Nebraska. A severe reduction in the Rochester editorial staff and problems with the production of the Annual Meeting Program issue also contributed to the delay. J.B. Lippin­cott assumed responsibility for editing the final issues of the 1979 journal in anticipation of their assuming publication of 1980 OPHTHALMOLOGY.

In addition to a new publisher, 1980 OPHTHALMOLOGY has a new format and editor. Paul Henkind, MD, agreed to assume these responsibil­ities after Stanley Truhlsen, MD, editor of 1979 OPHTHALMOLOGY, resigned in order to fulfill a commitment to edit the Transactions of the American Ophthalmological Society.

Argus, the newsletter that keeps Academy members abreast of socio­economic developments affecting ophthalmology, underwent a change in type style and other minor modifications in format.

GUIDELINES FOR REVIEW

A series of articles published in the Argus caused considerable con­troversy. These were draft Guidelines for Review of various kinds of ocular surgery, developed by the Academy's Committee on Terminology and Audit at the request of the American Medical Association, under contract with the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. The Academy had also been requested to develop similar guidelines by Acad­emy members on Professional Standards Review Organizations and audit committees in hospitals.

Reactions from individual members and specialty societies to these guidelines were strong. There was a great deal of concern that the guide­lines might be inappropriately interpreted as the official position of the Academy. As a result of this, the board of directors passed a motion in November, stating:

The Guidelines for Review, as published, are not and never were the official position of the Academy or its members. In those instances where the guide­lines have been applied as criteria for ocular surgery and payment is denied, the Academy offers its assistance to members and their patients to correct such misinterpretation.

RECERTIFICATION

Another controversial issue in which the Academy became involved was recertification. Following the mandate of members speaking at the Open Hearing on Recertification at the 1978 Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, the Joint Committee on Recertification and the Ophthal­mology Recertification Advisory Committee reexamined various aspects of recertification. (These committees comprise representatives from the Academy and the American Board of Ophthalmology, and ophthal­mologic regional and subspecialty organizations.) They came to the con­clusion that recertification would not necessarily be more effective as a means of physician quality control than extant voluntary continuing

2198 KAREN HOLMES OPHTH AAO

education programs. In a letter to Glen Leymaster, executive director of the American Board of Medical Specialities, Committee Co-chairmen David Paton, MD, and Bradley Straatsma, MD, expressed this finding and further suggested that individual specialities should be allowed to choose whether or not they wanted recertification and the means by which they would recertify should they choose that option.

PUBLIC AND INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

The Academy did not confine its educational activities to continuing education offerings and related activities oriented solely toward ophthal­mologists. Expansion of its program to educate nonophthalmologists about the profession was one of the Academy's major projects.

A Public Education Resource Group, made up of 40 members who volunteered their services, was formed to suggest courses of action for the Academy's public education program, to evaluate current public educa­tion materials and the need for new ones, and to help Academy staff respond to inquiries from the media and the public.

FORUM ON PUBLIC EDUCATION

In response to the high priority assigned to public education by mem­bers surveyed, the Academy sponsored a forum on public education at the Annual Meeting. Representatives from several ophthalmologic and other eye care organizations reported on programs their organizations had developed to educate the public about eye care. Mter these presentations, individual Academy members offered their views on how the Academy should focus its efforts. Some suggested professional public relations campaigns to inform the public about ophthalmology and the difference between medical doctors and optometrists, and many called for coordina­tion of efforts with all ophthalmologic organizations. The forum brought forth many useful ideas.

At year's end, staff was preparing summaries of these and other sug­gestions from members and outlining alternatives for consideration by the Public and Professional Education Committee.

SLIDE-SCRIPT PROGRAMS

Meanwhile, the Interprofessional Education Committee began to develop a color-illustrated booklet, Introduction to Ophthalmology, based on its popular slide-script package of the same name. This will be made available to members for use in public and interprofessional education. Introduced for the same purpose were a new slide-script package, Intro­duction to Cataract, and Ophthalmology for the Emergency Room Staff, a set of slides for ophthalmologists to use in educating hospital emer­gency room personnel about eye care emergencies.

VOLUME 86 DECEMBER 1979 EDITORIAL

ANNUAL MEETING

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The major educational event of the year was the Annual Meeting. Though this meeting followed an 85-year history of Academy Annual Meetings, it was the first Annual Meeting of the newly independent and incorporated American Academy of Ophthalmology. It took place at the Civic Auditorium and Brooks Hall in San Francisco, California during the week of November 5 through 9. Total registration for the meeting was 13,912, which exceeded the 1978 total by 4,285.

The meeting was officially convened at the Opening Ceremonies on November 4 with addresses by Academy President Frederick Blodi, MD, and Academy Executive Vice President Bruce Spivey, MD. Frank Newell, MD, Chairman of the Section of Ophthalmology of the American Medical Association and Editor-in Chief of the American Journal of Ophthal­mology, and Professor Gerhard R. E. Meyer-Schwickerath, who designed and invented the initial light coagulation instrumentation for treatment of ocular diseases, were introduced as honored guests of the Academy. (Professor Akira Nakajima, another guest of honor, was unable to attend.)

Dr Blodi presented a Public Service Award to a representative of the International Association of Lions Clubs in appreciation of International Lionism's contribution as "a major world force in the conservation of sight and in the rehabilitation of the blind."

The Opening Ceremonies concluded with the 1979 Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture, given by Herbert Kaufman, MD, on The Correction of Aphakia.

FROM THE MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

The meeting was called to order on the afternoon of November 5 in San Francisco's Civic Auditorium.

Dr Spivey presented a new schedule of dues, fees, and rates as recom­mended by the Executive and Finance Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The membership adopted the schedule by standing vote.

The recommendations for appointments to the standing committees, special committees, and representatives for 1980, as approved by the Board of Directors, were unanimously adopted.

Dr Blodi reported on meetings of the Liaison Committee of the Acad­emy and the American Association of Ophthalmology charged to study the possibility of a merger. Part of a joint statement by the committee follows:

Consolidation of program and merger of structure of two major organiza­tions were under careful consideration. Discussions are continuing and

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members of each organization will receive additional information as de­liberations proceed.

The names of the 32 Honor Award Recipients for 1979 were an­nounced as follows:

Jules L. Baum, MD, Boston, Massachusetts J. Elliot Blaydes, MD, Bluefield, West Virginia Walter D. Cockerham, MD, New Orleans, Louisiana David G. Cogan, MD, Chevy Chase, Maryland Richard D. Cunningham, MD, Temple, Texas Chandler R. Dawson, MD, San Francisco, California Donald J. Doughman, MD, Minneapolis, Minnesota Ruth Fisher, Iowa City, Iowa Frederick T. Fraunfelder, MD, Portland, Oregon Bartley R. Frueh, MD, Columbia, Missouri Walter E. Gager, MD, Waukesha, Wisconsin Arthur S. Grove, Jr, MD, Boston, Massachusetts W. Rex Hawkins, MD, Houston, Texas Paul R. Honan, MD, Lebanon, Indiana Robert E. Kalina, MD, Seattle, Washington Ingrid Kreissig, MD, Bonn, West Germany Debora P. Langston, MD, Boston, Massachusetts Charles R. Leone, Jr, MD, San Antonio, Texas Ruth S. Long, MD, New York, New York Enrique S. Malbran, MD, Buenos Aires Alan 1. Mandell, MD, Memphis, Tennessee Michel Mathieu, MD, Montreal Malcolm L. Mazow, MD, Houston, Texas Anthony B. Nesburn, MD, Los Angeles, California Gholam A. Peyman, MD, Oak Park, Illinois Charles D. Phelps, MD, Iowa City, Iowa Joel B. Pollard, MD, New Orleans, Louisiana Jerry A. Shields, MD, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Richard A. Thoft, MD, Boston, Massachusetts Stephen R. Waltman, MD, St Louis, Missouri Thomas A. Weingeist, PhD, Iowa City, Iowa

Members voted unaminously to elect 660 candidates for Active Fel­lowship and one candidate for Associate Fellowship. In addition, the Fellowship of all members elected to the Division of Ophthalmology of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology in 1978 was ratified unanimously. This ratification was necessary because of the transition of the former AAOO Division of Ophthalmology into the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

The following slate of officers was presented and unanimously adopted:

President President-Elect

Edward W. D. Norton, MD David Shoch, MD

VOLUME 86 DECEMBER 1979

First Vice President Second Vice President Third Vice President Secreta~ for Program Secreta~ for Instruction Secreta~ for Continuing

Education Councillor (1983)

EDITORIAL

Jerome W. Bettman, MD Alice R. McPherson, MD Fred M. Wilson, MD Robert D. Reinecke, MD Melvin L. Rubin, MD

David Paton, MD Theodore Steinberg, MD

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Also presented but needing no election were:

Past President (1980) Past President (1981) Past President (1982) Councillor (1980) Councillor (1981) Councillor (1982) Executive Vice President Editor

Frank W. Newell, MD Bradley R. Straatsma, MD Frederick C. Blodi, MD Whitney G. Sampson, MD Marshall M. Parks, MD Thomas D. Duane, MD Bruce E. Spivey, MD Paul Henkind, MD

Dr Blodi introduced the President of the Academy for 1980, Edward W. D. Norton. Dr Norton presented a certificate of appreciation from the membership to Dr Blodi for serving as President of the Academy during 1979. The meeting was adjourned.

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

In the scientific program planned by Robert Reinecke, MD, the Acad­emy's Secretary for Program, there were 22 symposia (all of which were tape recorded for the first time), 60 scientific exhibits, 89 poster presenta­tions, and 5 films.

INSTRUCTION COURSES

An offering of 186 single-period and 178 multiple-period instruction courses in 11 major categories was given by a faculty of 680. The instruc­tion course section of the meeting was planned by Melvin Rubin, MD, the Academy's Secretary for Instruction. Many courses were sold out; all were well attended.

TECHNICAL EXHIBITS

Ophthalmologists and allied health personnel had a unique oppor­tunity to view an immense selection of the latest instrumentation and other equipment and publications for use in the practice of ophthal­mology at the 188 technical exhibits at the meeting. A special Exhibits Visitation Day enabled high school and medical students and others to view the exhibits as well.

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OTHER GROUPS, SOCIAL EVENTS

OPHTH AAO

A total of 72 other eye care organizations held social events and meet­ings, some in conjunction with the Academy. Eighty-nine alumni groups also held gatherings during the meeting. All Academy members were invited to the President's Reception, which honored Dr Blodi and was held in the Grand Ballroom at the St. Francis Hotel.

INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION

The meeting attracted considerable attendance by doctors from around the world, foreshadowing the International Congress of Ophthal­mology to be held in 1982. Participants came to the meeting from every continent. An especially large number of French-speaking physicians necessitated simultaneous translation of selected scientific sessions for the first time. Dr Li Jung-te of the People's Republic of China attended the meeting as his country's first representative in 30 years.

Thus, the Annual Meeting brought together ophthalmologists and other health professionals from all parts of the world, scientific and tech­nical exhibitors, faculty members and representatives of many ophthal­mologic and related organizations, marking the largest gathering on behalf of ophthalmologic education to date.

The meeting culminated a year marked by growth and innovation as well as the continuation of an 85-year-old tradition. The combined under­takings of the Academy and its members represent a significant and auspicious beginning for the new American Academy of Ophthalmology.

KAREN HOLMES