PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE If you are not a current member, or ... Q2 Final.pdfdeserve, we need to get every ophthalmologist involved. If you are not a current member, or know someone who

THE FLORIDA OPHTHALMOLOGIST - SUMMER 2016 | PAGE 1

Let me start by thanking everyone who had anything to do with me becoming President of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO) for the 2016-2017 term. It is truly an honor, and a big responsibility, which I do not take lightly. Before introducing myself, I’d like to thank our outgoing President, Dr. Brad Oren. Dr. Oren, along with many dedicated FSO members and staff, is responsible for the creation of a much needed revision of the guidelines involving the proper and ethical practice of co-management in the state of Florida. This revision was accomplished by a National Task Force appointed by the EVP/CEO of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and contained three members of the FSO, including its Chairman, Dr. Mark Michels. Under Dr. Oren’s astute guidance, his term included a well-received Masters of Ophthalmology meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes in Orlando. Great strides in the fight against amblyopia were accomplished during Amblyopia Awareness Month in August 2015 with the continued use of the For Eye Care Foundation child-friendly mascot “Eagle Eye,” and several successful amblyopia screenings throughout the state of Florida. Dr. Oren proved himself to be a highly effective and dedicated leader. He will certainly be a tough act to follow.

As an introduction, I am retina specialist practicing full-time in Vero Beach. I’m happily married and blessed with three amazing kids. I have just over 20 years’ experience in ophthalmology and truly love what I do. If I could go back in time, I would choose ophthalmology all over again, as I think most of us would. Let’s face it, we have a great profession. Of course, it is a profession that is constantly being challenged, both by external forces as well as from within. I hope to use my passion for my chosen career to serve the FSO and the patients of Florida to the best of my ability. I ask in return, that ophthalmologists already involved in the FSO, stay involved. For

ophthalmologists that are not involved, it’s time to get involved, either by giving your time or your financial support, but preferably both. It’s a daunting fight to simply allow you, the practicing ophthalmologist, to do what you love to do, take care of your patients. Keeping in the spirit of the Fourth of July, freedom is certainly not free. Practicing ophthalmology the way we currently do, the way in which we were all trained, unfortunately should not be taken for granted. In fact, we are looking at newer and bolder attacks on our daily professional life each year. One only has to look to California. If the optometrists were successful, they would have once again increased their scope of practice through legislation, rather than the old fashioned, time tested approach, education and training. Why see a national Board-Certified Ophthalmologist when you can see a “Board-Certified Optometric Physician” dressed in a long white coat? If we are going to continue serving our patients to the level of care they deserve, we need to get every ophthalmologist involved. If you are not a current member, or know someone who is not, I implore you to join.

In conclusion, please don’t be a stranger. Contact me with your thoughts, your concerns, your comments and your criticism. To put it bluntly, if you are not in the game, then you don’t deserve a say in the game. As the recently departed Elie Wiesel stated so eloquently, “Action is the only remedy to indifference: the most insidious danger of all.” Once again, thank you for the privilege to serve. I look forward to a productive and fulfilling year.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

SUMMER 2016

In THIS ISSUE:

EDUCATIOnPages 2-3

ADVOCACY Pages 4-7

OUTREACH Page 8-11

MEMBER COnnECTIOnPages 12-18

Adam Katz, MD

If you are not a current member, or know someone who is not, I implore you to join.

PAGE 2 | THE FLORIDA OPHTHALMOLOGIST - SUMMER 2016

Masters in Ophthalmology 2016 Recap

Masters in Ophthalmology 2016 Meeting Highlights

The Masters in Ophthalmology 2016 annual meeting was held at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes in Orlando, June 10-12. The meeting hosted a variety of tracks to meet the educational needs of the entire ophthalmic practice including scientific sessions, a coding and reimbursement course, an ophthalmic practice administrators program, and a two-day course for certified ophthalmic assistants program sponsored by JCAHPO.

The two-and-a-half-day scientific program provided an extensive review on topics relevant to the general ophthalmologist as well as over four-hours of subspecialty breakout sessions including: cornea/refractive surgery, glaucoma, pediatric ophthalmology and retina-vitreous. This year’s Melvin L. Rubin Award Lecturer was W. Barry Lee, MD, a cornea/anterior segment/refractive surgery specialist from Atlanta, GA. Dr. Lee spoke on Complex Cataract Surgery: Techniques to Keep Your Scrubs Dry during the Saturday general session and Corneal Considerations in Cataract Surgery on Sunday during the general session.

On Saturday afternoon, the Florida Society of Ophthalmology held its fifth annual Leadership Luncheon. The luncheon has been designed to update FSO members on current events and politics related specifically to the state of Florida. This year’s featured guest speaker was former Senator Rod Smith, who gave an informative lecture on Looking at the State of Our Elections.

After all of the great presentations on Saturday by nationally renowned faculty, attendees were able to relax and unwind at the Saturday evening reception held in the Citrus Garden.

On Sunday morning the meeting kicked off with the annual OMIC lecture, which is always well attended. FSO members who are insured by OMIC get an additional 10% off their premium for attending the risk management lecture. In between the general session lectures, attendees also got to hear four resident research presentations from residents in-training from Bascom

Palmer Eye Institute, University at Florida, University at Florida-Jacksonville and University of South Florida. A first and second place cash prize was given.

All in all, it was another great meeting this year! We hope that you will make plans to join us for the Masters in Ophthalmology 2017 meeting June 2-4 at the Trump national Doral in Miami.

Resident Research AwardeesFirst PlaceOptical Coherence Tomography as an Adjunctive Tool in the Diagnosis of Corneal and Conjunctival PathologyFouad El Sayed, MDUniversity of Florida

Second PlaceA Nomogram of Retinal Layer Thickness Measurements Established from Optical Coherence Tomography Imagining of Normal Eyes Bascom Palmer Eye Institutenikisha Kothari, MD

Meeting highlights from the Masters in Ophthalmology Annual Meeting held June 10-12, 2016 in Orlando are now available! Don’t forget another great FSO member benefit is that you have member only access to download slides and recordings from the Masters in Ophthalmology 2016 Annual Meeting. Go to www.mdeye.org, login using your username and password, then go

to www.mdeye.org/education/meeting-resources/2016. View several of the highly rated presentations synced with audio.

If you need help with your username or password, please contact [email protected].

EDUCATION

The two resident research award winners with colleagues (L-R Daniel Cohen, MD; Roshni Ranjit, MD; Krishna Kishor, MD; Nikisha Kothari, MD and Fouad El Sayad, MD)


EDUCATION

FSO Thanks 2016 Meeting SupportersThe FSO would like to extend a special thank you to all of the Masters in Ophthalmology 2016 exhibitors and supporters that attended this year’s meeting at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, June 10-12.

Commercial SupportersAlcon, a novartis CompanyAllergan, Inc.Bausch + Lomb Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company (OMIC)

ExhibitorsAbbott VisionAlcon, a novartis CompanyAlimera SciencesAllergan, Inc.Ambler SurgicalBausch + LombBio-TissueDiopsys, Inc.Ellex, Inc.EyeMD EMR Healthcare Systems, Inc.Florida Ocular Prosthetics, Inc.For Eye Care FoundationGenentech-A Member of the Roche GroupGlaukosHeidelberg EngineeringIcare TonometerInternational Sight Restoration Eye BanksIRIDEXJCAHPO

Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & ResearchLipotriad Eye VitaminsLumenis VisionMagMutual Insurance CompanyMarcoMayo Clinic MedFlow, Inc.Modernizing Medicine, Inc.NeoMedix Corporationnew World MedicalNextechOasis Medical, Inc.Omeros CorporationOptovue, Inc.Parallax Medical Systems, Inc.PharmEZ Medical/Wells Specialty PharmacyPine PharmaceuticalsPreserve Vision FloridaQuantel Medical Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.RPS DiagnosticsScienceBased HealthShireSightLifeSun OphthalmicsTearLab

TearScienceTissue Banks InternationalTop Con Medical Systems, Inc.ZEISS

SponsorshipsPlatinumAlcon, a novartis CompanyAllergan, Inc.Genentech-A Member of the Roche Group

GoldRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Silver EyeMD EMR Healthcare System NeoMedix CorporationBausch + Lomb Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company (OMIC)Optovue, Inc.

OtherAbbott VisionEllex


HOT SUMMER ISSUESBy Amy J. YoungFSO Legislative Consultant

ADVOCACY

The summer has been hot in so many ways. We have been working hard on analyzing campaigns to be sure we elect pro-ophthalmology and pro-medicine candidates. In the meantime, the House Republicans are adding up votes for the House Speaker…for the year 2022! The Senate Presidency battle has been settled with Senator Joe negron taking over the helm and Senator Jack Latvala heading up the powerful Appropriations Committee. The number of millionaires in the Florida Legislature was published, causing a stir…a total of 54 Legislators are in the “Millionaire’s club!” There has been no legislative activity since the adjournment of the 2016 Session in March and all eyes are focused on the campaigns…both State and national. Of course, we continue to hear rumors of “scope creep” on the agenda for the 2017 Session so we are keeping a close eye on these issues and stating our positions as we interview candidates for office.

As we await the results of the 2016 election, I thought I would devote this newsletter article to what our firm, Ballard Partners, actually does for the Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO) year round.

What we do for you is actually threefold. First, is the legislative side of our practice. This entails monitoring the myriad of issues that affect your bottom line and protect your patients. Each year more than 3,000 bills are filed that we read with an “eye” as to how they may affect each of you!

We generally start meeting in Tallahassee each September (november during an election year) with committee hearings being held between one and three weeks per month. The 2017 Legislative Session officially convenes in March 2017 and adjourns in May.

The second part of our practice is keeping up with agency activities. We are impacted on a daily basis by decisions made by the Agency for Health Care Administration (ACHA), the Board of Optometry

(BOO), the Department of Health (DOH), the Board of Medicine (BOM), the Attorney General’s office, and the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR)...all of these regulatory bodies have rulemaking authority and when these rules are enacted it is the same impact as if legislation had passed and became law. We are a unique specialty with equally unique issues that affect no other physician groups. We have to keep a watchful eye on a daily basis. The third, and admittedly, equally important part of what we do for you is get involved in the campaign process. Legislators call me on a daily basis for campaign contributions throughout the year with the exception of the prohibited period during Session which is 90-days. The other 262 days of the year they are competing to raise money. They raise money for their own candidacies, for their respective parties, depending on whether they are Republicans, Democrats or Independents, and raise money for their CCE’s which are funds they can use for other candidates, TV ads, travel, etc. How do we do this? We depend on each of you to generously contribute to the FSOs political committees (PC), FOCUS and FOCUS EYEMD. We have a budget, we make recommendations based on past voting records on our issues and seek approval from the FSO PC board. We have an independent consultant who keeps our checkbook with oversight by the FOCUS chair, Bradley Fouraker, MD and she cuts the checks when they are approved by the PC Board. We then travel the State to sit down with these candidates to discuss our issues and contribute. Your contributions are even more critical now because campaign contribution limits were increased a few years ago from $500 to $1,000 per candidate, so expectations are now doubled. So please help us help you by giving generously to FOCUS. Contributions can be made online at: https://www.mdeye.org/support/contribute.

Amy J. Young, Legislative Consultant, Ballard Partners


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FSO Sponsors Residents to attend the 2016 AAO Advocacy Ambassador Program

ADVOCACY

Each year, the Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO) sponsors four residents to attend the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Advocacy Ambassador Program that is held in conjunction with the AAO Mid-Year Forum in DC. This program is a collaboration between the AAO, state and subspecialty societies as well as the training programs. The program has been designed to educate residents on advocacy, current legislative issues affecting ophthalmology both nationally and on a state level, as well as give them experience in meeting with legislators. The FSO hopes that this opportunity and experience and experience for the residents will encourage them to get involved with advocacy efforts in their state ophthalmology society as well as with the AAO.

(L-R: Darby Miller, MD, Mark Michels, MD, Stephen Potter, MD, Ryan Smith, MD, Congressman Murphy, Daniel Gologorsky, MD, Eduardo Alfonso, MD, David Cano, MD and Daniel Cohen, MD)

CALENDAR OF EVENTSTampa bay OphThalmOlOgical SOcieTy meeTingSmytbos.com/meetings/tbosmeetings.php

palm beach cOunTy OphThalmOlOgy SOcieTy meeTingS

SepTember 22, 2016maggiano’s, boca raton - SpOuSe eVenTSponsored by: David lerner & assoc.

pbcos.org/Memberz/index.html

OcTOber 20, 2016 ruth’s chris West palm beach, Fl Sponsored by rpS Diagnostics

2016aaO 2016 annual meeTingOctober 15-18, 2016chicago, il http://www.aao.org/annual-meeting

2017aaO 2017 miD-year FOrum April 26-28, 2017renaissance DowntownWashington, Dc

maSTerS in OphThalmOlOgy 2017 June 2-4, 2017 Trump national Doral miami, Fl

be on the lookout for more regional society events in your area! more information here:

www.mdeye.org/advocacy/regional-societies



Third Party Liaison Committee UpdateSubmitted by L. Neal Freeman, MD, MBA, FACSCommittee Chair

The FSO Third Party Liaison Committee is carefully monitoring the CMS proposed rule that establishes the Quality Payment Program. The final rule is expected in the fall of 2016. The proposed rule is CMS’ effort to define the mechanism through which Medicare payments will be provided under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).

This program combines quality, value-based modifier and EHR programs into the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). It also establishes Advanced Alternative Payment Models.

The proposed system will affect payment in 2019. Metric measurement will begin in 2017.

In this program, physicians have a choice between MIPS and Advanced Alternative Payment Models. Ophthalmologists in solo practice or small-group practice may well find MIPS to be the only viable option.

1. MIPS will measure four categories:a. Qualityb. Resource Usec. Advancing Care Information d. Clinical Practice Improvement

e. Quality represents 50% of the total score. It will be necessary to report on various quality measures. This replaces the PQRS system.

f. Resource Use (Cost) represents 10% of the total score. Metrics include total per capita costs for all attributed beneficiaries and Medicare spending per beneficiary. There will also be episode-based measures, including cataract surgery. This replaces the Value Based Payment Modifier system.

g. Advancing Care Information represents 25% of the total score. This replaces the EHR Meaningful Use system. There will be a base score (participation and reporting) and a performance score (activities beyond participation and reporting).

h. Clinical Practice Improvement represents 15% of the total score. A number of options will be available, such as patient safety activities.

Eligible professionals will receive a positive, negative, or neutral payment adjustment based on their composite score. The negative adjustment will be capped at four percent in 2019, five percent in 2020, seven percent in 2021 and nine percent in 2022. Professionals with composite scores above the threshold will receive positive payment adjustments. CMS has predicted that half the adjustments will be negative and half will be positive (balancing bonuses with penalties).

Under MIPS, the applicable plus/minus percentage is four percent for 2019, based on 2017 performance. The positive adjustment could be scaled to three times that. CMS predicts that with the performance threshold as proposed, half will be negative and half will be positive (balancing bonuses with penalties).

2. Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs)Examples of APMs include accountable care organizations (ACOs), bundled pricing, and shared savings systems.

APMs exempt the provider from MIPS and allow for annual bonuses of 5% for services in 2019 through 2024.

However, most ophthalmologists may not qualify for the APM program. For 2019, based on performance year 2017, clinicians must derive at least 25% of payment amounts or 20% of patients from an APM to receive the bonus payment.

OUTREACH

L. neal Freeman

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OUTREACH

For Eye Care Foundation: Helping to Protect Vision in FloridaDavid Cano, MD-Chair, For Eye Care Foundation, Inc.

The For Eye Care Foundation continues to expand its outreach over the past year with more vision screening events that are being planned for the near future throughout Florida. The Foundation has already had many successful vision events in the past year with our hope continue to expand our outreach in the future. Among our planned events is a vision screening planned at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach as part of their “Stroller Daze” event, which will take place Wednesday, August 24th from 9am – 1pm. Unfortunately, only about 20 percent of children in Florida are appropriately screened for Amblyopia, which is a preventable and completely treatable form of vision loss if detected at an early age.

At the beginning of the year, the Foundation acquired its first vision screening device. According to information found on the Welch Allyn website, the Spot Vision Screener is a handheld, portable device designed to help users quickly and easily detect vision issues on patients from 6 months of age through adult. Spot screens both eyes at once from a nonthreatening 3-foot distance. The touch-screen display allows for one-touch activation, simple management of patient data entry, and easy configuration for both vision screening and autorefraction applications. Spot is a versatile vision screener. Its portability and speed from binocular testing help clinicians to collect accurate refractive data on patients who commonly present screening challenges. It can efficiently test infants to seniors, and patients with limited mobility or other potential handicaps. Instant results provide refractions as well as measuring

horizontal and vertical eye alignment, pupil size, and pupillary distance. The device was showcased at our Foundation’s booth at the Masters in Ophthalmology 2016 meeting in Orlando with much interest and will be available to our members for screening events in the future. So please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in using it for an event.

It is our hope that the Foundation will secure more of these high technology objective screening devices which all the FSO members can have access to for future vision screening events in their respective areas in Florida and can encourage our pediatric colleagues also to use similar screening devices in their practices. Together, we are hoping to continue raise awareness about this issue here in Florida where there is no mandate presently that requires this crucial vision screening for our preschool children. We are truly proud of all the volunteers that are involved in vision screening projects across our State and hope that we can expand our outreach into the future.

Our Foundation is a non-profit charitable arm of the FSO dedicated to outreach including projects like amblyopia awareness in our state, but we need your help. You too, can make a difference by contributing to or becoming a For Eye Care Foundation volunteer for the FSO.

To learn more about getting involved or to make a financial contribution, please visit: www.mdeye.org/support/foreyecare.

(L-R: David Cano, MD, Stacey Kruger, MD, Howard Freedman, MD and annual meeting attendee at the FECF booth.)

(L-R: David Cano, MD, Stacey Kruger, MD and Laura Sims, MD)



New Officers Installed at Masters in Ophthalmology 2016President

Adam Katz, MD is a board certified opthalmologist and has been practicing medicine in Vero Beach, FL since 2009. He was born and raised in new York, where he completed most of his education before moving to Florida. He received his Bachelor of Science from Union College, graduating summa cum

laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He then obtained his medical degree from Albany Medical College. For his post-graduate training, he completed an internship in New York City at Lenox Hill Hospital, followed by a three-year residency in ophthalmology at St. Vincents Hospital in Manhattan. Dr. Katz went on to complete a one-year medical retina fellowship at nYU, followed by a two-year fellowship with world renowned retinal surgeon Steve Charles, MD. Dr. Katz has over 20 years of clinical experience treating patients with retinal and vitreous disorders.

Dr. Katz is a clinical assistant professor at Florida State University. Dr. Katz is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and served as vice president of the Indian River Medical Society. He has also co-authored the third edition of Vitreous Microsurgery.

President-ElectKrisha Kishor, MD is an assistant professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the University of Miami/Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. In 2008 he was appointed to the Ann Bates Leach Eye Hospital and has also been at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in West Palm Beach, FL since 2011. Dr. Kishor received his Bachelor of Science degree

from Virginia Commonwealth University, and Doctor of Medicine degree from Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, where he also completed his residency. Dr. Kishor has co-authored multiple publications, book chapters, and abstracts. In 2011, he received the Michael R. Redmond, MD Outstanding Young Ophthalmologist Award from the FSO.

VICE PRESIDENTS VP of Advocacy

Darby Miller, MD has been elected to serve as Vice President of Advocacy. Dr. Miller is a cornea and cataract specialist and an assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. He completed his cornea fellowship at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and his ophthalmology residency and medical

school at George Washington University Medical Center. Dr. Miller completed his internship and earned his MS degree at Georgetown University. He completed his MPH degree at Harvard University and his undergraduate studies at the University of Kansas. Dr. Miller has been happily married for 10 years and has three energetic children.

VP of EducationDavid Eichenbaum, MD has been re-elected to serve as Vice President of Education. Dr. Eichenbaum has been employed at Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida – St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Tampa, Florida since 2007. He is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the

University of South Florida College of Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Arts and his medical degree from the University of South Florida. He completed a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at Tufts/Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston. Dr. Eichenbaum is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

VP of OutreachStacey Kruger, MD has been re-elected to serve as the Vice President of utreach. Dr. Kruger is an attending physician at Stacey J. Kruger, M.D. & Associates, P.A. in Miami, FL. Dr. Kruger received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis and her medical degree from S.U.n.Y. Health Science

Center at Brooklyn. She completed a residency in ophthalmology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in new York, and did a pediatric ophthalmology fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. In her private practice in Miami, she offers a full range of ophthalmic and contact lens services for children and young adults, as well as adult strabismus.

Secretary/TreasurerKara Cavuoto, MD is an assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology and clinical pediatrics at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She evaluates and treats patients with pediatric eye disorders, including amblyopia and strabismus, as well as adults

with strabismus. In addition, Dr. Cavuoto serves as the director of medical student education in ophthalmology at the University of Miami. In this role, she oversees all ophthalmology clerkships and pre-clinical graduate coursework and advises University of Miami medical students applying for ophthalmology residency.

Dr. Cavuoto attended both college and medical school at the University of Miami as part of the Honors Program in Medicine combined BS-MD degree program. She completed an internship in internal medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital followed by ophthalmology residency and a pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

MEMBER CONNECTION


Annual Award Winners Announced at Masters in Ophthalmology 2016The Florida Society of Ophthalmology announced the winners of five special annual awards at the Masters in Ophthalmology 2016 meeting.

The John R. Brayton, Jr., MD, Leadership Award Presented to Rick Bendel, MD

Rick E. Bendel, MD, received the John R. Brayton, Jr., MD Leadership Award, which was established in honor of John R. Brayton, MD, and recognizes a Florida-based ophthalmologist who exemplifies leadership and dedication to the profession.

Dr. Bendel is an assistant professor of ophthalmology and a consultant for the Department of Ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Fla. Dr. Bendel serves on the FSO Board and is past-president of the FSO.

Dr. Bendel has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and abstracts. He has been an editor and reviewer for the American Journal of Ophthalmology since 2004. Dr. Bendel has given numerous scientific and medical presentations and investigations at national and international meetings including the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), European Glaucoma

Society and the Mayo Clinic Alumni Association. He has also had two visiting professorships - one at Universities and Hospitals in China, Hong Kong, Chengdu and Beijing in the People’s Republic of China, and the other at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

Dr. Bendel hails from California where he received his Bachelor of Arts from Ponoma College then worked in biochemical genetics at the City of Hope in Duarte, California. He also completed an internship at the University of Oklahoma and an ophthalmology residency and fellowship at the Kresge Eye Institute of Wayne University.

The James W. Clower, Jr., MD, Community Service Award Presented to Stacey Kruger, MD

Stacey Kruger, MD, received the James W. Clower, Jr., MD, Community Service Award, which was established in honor of James W. Clower, Jr., MD, and recognizes a Florida-based ophthalmologist who has made the greatest contribution of time and service to his or her community.

Dr. Kruger is an attending physician at Stacey J. Kruger, MD & Associates, PA in Miami, FL. Dr. Kruger received a Bachelor of

MEMBER CONNECTION

Continues on the next page...

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ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS continued from page 13...Arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis and her medical degree from SUnY Health Science Center at Brooklyn. She completed a residency in ophthalmology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in new York, and did a pediatric ophthalmology fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. In her private practice in Miami, she offers a full range of ophthalmic and contact lens services for children and young adults, as well as adult strabismus.

Dr. Kruger serves as Vice President of Outreach for the FSO and serves as the Treasurer of the For Eye Care Foundation, Inc., the charitable arm of the FSO. Dr. Kruger worked very hard with the FSO and other health organizations to have a resolution passed in April 2015 designating August 2015 as Amblyopia Awareness Month, promoting the education of Florida parents on the importance of vision screening at an early age. Dr. Kruger was heavily involved with the launch of the amblyopia awareness campaign in the summer of 2015. She also participated in multiple pediatric screening events around the state.

The Michael R. Redmond, MD, Outstanding Young Ophthalmologist Award Presented to Darby Miller, MD

Darby Miller, MD, received the Michael R. Redmond, MD, Outstanding Young Ophthalmologist Award, which was established in honor of Michael R. Redmond, MD, and recognizes a Florida-based ophthalmologist younger than 40 years old, who has demonstrated organizational leadership, service, competence and devotion to the high

ethical and professional standards of the FSO.

Dr. Darby Miller is a cornea and cataract specialist and an assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. He completed his cornea fellowship at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and his ophthalmology residency and medical school at George Washington University Medical Center. Dr. Miller completed his internship and a MS degree at Georgetown University. He completed his MPH degree at Harvard University and his undergraduate studies at the University of Kansas. Dr. Miller was recently elected as the Vice President of Advocacy for the FSO. Dr. Miller has been happily married for 10 years and has three energetic children.

The Shaler Richardson, MD, Service to Medicine Award Presented to Howard Freedman, MD

Howard Freedman, MD, received the Shaler Richardson, MD, Services to Medicine Award, which was established in honor of Shaler Richardson, MD, and recognizes a Florida ophthalmologist who has made the greatest personal contribution to quality patient care by coordinating, participating, collaborating,

and integrating ophthalmology into the great body of the medical profession on a local, state or national level.

Dr. Freedman is a retired clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology. He practiced pediatric ophthalmology in Redmond, Wa. for 21 years and also taught at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Freedman received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Harvard, then graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1973. He completed his residency at Washington University in St. Louis and traveled to England to complete his fellowship training.

Dr. Freedman invented the first photo screening camera to test preschool children’s eyes for amblyopia and began volunteering on missions around the world. Dr. Freedman is very active with the Lions Clubs and serves as the medical director of the Bonita Springs Lions Eye Clinic, which provides free eye care and treatment to the uninsured and needy in the community.

President’s Recognition Award Presented to Mark Michels, MD, FACS

Mark Michels, MD, FACS, received the President’s Recognition Award, which was established in order to recognize an individual for service and dedication to the FSO and for advancing the development of the specialty.

Dr. Michels attended Tufts University in Boston before being admitted to the Junior Honors Medical Program at the University of Florida after two undergraduate years. There, he completed his undergraduate studies and remained there for his medical training. After completing a rotating internship in Atlanta, Ga., Dr. Michels completed three years of ophthalmology training at Emory University. Dr. Michels served as visiting assistant professor at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute in Los Angeles, Calif., and completed his two-year vitreo-retinal diseases andsSurgery fellowship as a Heed and Abe Meyer Fellow. While at UCLA, he won the Clinical Fellow Research Award.

Dr. Michels has been practicing in Palm Beach County since 1991. In addition to serving as an adjunct clinical assistant scientist with the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Boston, he has served four terms as president of the Palm Beach County Ophthalmology Society receiving the Society’s first Ophthalmologist of the Year Award. He has also served in many capacities as an officer of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology where he served as president in 2001. Dr. Michels won the John Brayton Leadership Award as well as the Curtis Benton Outstanding Young Ophthalmologist Award. Dr. Michels has also served as president of the Florida Society of Retinal Experts from 2004-2006.

Dr. Michels co-authored the benchmark article on Lucentis for wet macular degeneration which was published in the prestigious new England Journal of Medicine and was announced as the sixth most important medical publication of 2006. He has authored more than 50 medical articles, book chapters, and published abstracts. Along with the team at Retina Care Specialists, Dr. Michels is principal investigator in 12 active national clinical trials and several other studies on diseases impacting people in our community. Dr Michels has been recognized as a South Florida Super Doctor by his peers as published in the new York Times supplement on January 20, 2008.


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MEMBER CONNECTION

Recruit New FSO Members and Save $100 or more on Your Annual Dues!As a Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO) member, you already know the value that membership brings to you, your career and your patients. From top-notch educational programs to legislative advocacy in Florida’s capitol, membership in the FSO provides you with access to lifelong learning and professional integrity in order to provide the best possible patient care.

As a member, you are the best advocate we have to recruit new FSO members. With nearly 1,400 board-certified ophthalmologists in Florida, there is a lot of room for growth in our society. As you know…there is strength in numbers. When more ophthalmologists come together and speak with a unified voice, we can achieve great things, both on a state and national level.

In order to help recruitment efforts, we are offering a $100 discount to you on your FSO annual membership dues for every new member that joins based on yOur referral. Recruiting a few new members could bring significant savings to you on the value that FSO membership brings.

How It Works… it’s simple Contact your fellow ophthalmologists whom you may know or are located in your area. We can assist you with contact information if needed. Share with them the benefits of FSO membership and encourage them to join to help further the profession and strengthen their own career development. If they choose to join, simply have them fill out an online application at https://www.mdeye.org/join and where it says “Recommending Member” have them fill in your name and we will take care of the rest! Also, please remind prospective members that if they join before the annual meeting in June, they can attend the Masters in Ophthalmology 2016 scientific sessions Free!

if you have questions regarding the recruit a member program, please contact FSO membership manager amanda east at [email protected].



MEMBER CONNECTION

FSO Member Discount Benefit Programs

20% Discount

Up to 10% Discount

15% Discount

aDp TotalSource - 15% DiscountIn an arrangement between the Florida Society of Ophthalmology and ADP TotalSource, FSO members utilizing ADP will be provided with the freedom of outsourced human resources. Each FSO member new to utilizing ADP services will receive a 15% reduction from the standard administrative fees for the initial term of their services agreement. Additionally, for each full-time employee enrolled in ADP’s services, FSO receives between $50.00 and $100.00 annually.

lifelock - 20% DiscountLifeLock is a comprehensive identity theft protection company that protects against more than just credit fraud. Their advanced protection system has broader coverage for both credit and non-credit-related identity threats. FSO members will receive a 20% discount on identity theft protection services with LifeLock. To enroll, visit www.lifelock.com, click Enroll now, in PromoCode Section, change PromoCode to FSOFLA20, then click APPLY.

Ophthalmic mutual insurance group (Omic) - up to 10% DiscountOMIC insured’s can earn a risk management premium discount by registering for the annual FSO meeting and attending this cosponsored program. Participants must also turn in an attendance form at the OMIC seminar along with their email address. Participants no longer have to complete the online part after the meeting as OMIC has concluded that they can contact you to survey and determine the effectiveness of the risk management education. OMIC insured’s who are current FSO members can receive a 10% discount for attending live OMIC course at the Masters in Ophthalmology meeting. non-FSO members earn a 5% discount. These insurance premium discounts are applied upon renewal with OMIC. For further information call (800) 562-6642.

The FSO has an interactive website at www.mdeye.org that incorporates many members-only resources such as latest news and updates, annual meeting highlights, member directory, and much more. You can also view your membership account and keep your contact information up-to-date. Please feel free to email [email protected] for assistance, or [email protected] for login information.

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Florida Society of Ophthalmology6816 Southpoint Parkway, Suite 1000Jacksonville, FL 32216

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Documents

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE If you are not a current member, or ... Q2 Final.pdfdeserve, we need to get every ophthalmologist involved. If you are not a current member, or know someone who