Back in Plain Sight: Advances Glaucoma, Cataract, and Pediatrics

NOAO 71st Annual Symposium

The 71st Annual Symposium will be held February 11-13, 2022 at the Sheraton New Orleans, 500 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130!

Participants will learn from the brightest ophthalmologists from around the country on the topics of Glaucoma, Cataract, and Pediatrics.

Register Here

If you are a member of the New Orleans Academy of Ophthalmology, please log in to your member page to register.

Hotel Information Click here to reserve your room at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel  (500 Canal Street,  New Orleans, LA) or call (504) 525-2500 and ask for the room block under the NOAO. Rooms are $219 per night, and it is recommended that reservations should be made well in advance, as there will be limited room availability after January 13, 2022.

View the Program

Note: This program is a draft and is subject to change

2022 Confirmed Faculty Speakers

Wallace Alward, MD, Professor Emeritus, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Neil H. Baum, MD, Clinical Professor of Urology, Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, LA
Edward Buckley, MD, Professor and Chair of Department of Ophthalmology, Vice Dean of Education, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC
Jeffery Daigrepont, Senior Vice President, Coker Group, Alpharetta, GA
Steven J. Gedde, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice-Chair of Education, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL
Davinder Grover, MD, Attending Surgeon and Clinician, Glaucoma Associates of Texas, Dallas, TX
John C. Hart, Jr, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Oakland University, Beaumont School of Medicine, Farmington Hills, MI
Yuri McKee, MD, Ophthalmic Surgeon, East Valley Ophthalmology, Mesa, AZ
Faruk H. Örge MD, FAAO, FAAP, Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH
Roberto Pineda II, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Edward Wilson, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

WORKSHOP INFORMATION

Friday, February 11, 4:35-5:35 PM

How to Become a Thriving Ophthalmology Practice in a Competitive Market
Format: Roundtable
Speaker: Jeffery Daigrepont and Jen Rispo-Maguire

Course Description: This interactive, high-energy, lecture will open with formal introductions and a comprehensive overview of a high-performing practice from the perspective of operations, management, and strategy. The moderator will then open up a series of questions related to strategy, operations, and management. There will be an emphasis on the hard truths and realities of running a practice often not heard from the perspective of a successful practice administrator. Each question will include 5 minutes of interactive/roundtable discussion with the audience and will solicit direct feedback related to the topic. The course will end with open questions and answers and a wrap-up summary.

Friday, February 11, 5:40-6:40 PM

OMIC Risk Management: Lessons Learned from Cataract Surgery
Instructor: Michelle Pineda, MBA
Michelle Pineda, MBA, OMIC Risk Manager, will address the causes of cataract claims and lessons learned from settlements. discuss professional liability risk exposures associated with cataract surgery procedures and provide ophthalmic surgeons and their technicians and nurses with risk management strategies to mitigate those risks. Fully paid meeting registration is required for physicians. 10% discount on your OMIC premium will apply for current ALAO, LAEPS, and MAEPS members who attend this risk management session.
A one-time 10% discount will apply for current NOAO members. OMIC insureds who are not members of these state societies will receive a 5% discount on their OMIC policy upon renewal.

Saturday, February 12, 5:30 – 6:30 PM

Botulinum Toxin Workshop
Instructor: Austin Pharo, MD, Priya Sahu, MD, and Michael Worley, MD
Get hands-on, personalized instruction on the basics of botulinum toxin. This live workshop will identify the proper sites, doses, and indications for the injection of botulinum toxin, as well as tips for avoiding technique-related complications. Instructors will provide support to local oculoplastic surgeons who will inject up to 20-25 volunteer patients.

INDUSTRY-SPONSORED LUNCHES

Friday, February 11, 2022
OMIDRIA® (phenylephrine and ketorolac intraocular solution) 1% / 0.3% Improving Outcomes During and After Cataract Surgery
Speaker: Dr. Rebecca C. Metzinger
Presented by Rayner

Saturday, February 12, 2022
Patient Opportunities with Presbyopia-Limiting IOLs
Speaker: Dr. Bennett Walton
Presented by Alcon

Click here to sign up for workshops and industry lunches

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Wallace Alward, MD is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine where he is also the Frederick C. Blodi Chair in Ophthalmology, Vice-Chair of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, and Director of the UIHC Glaucoma Service.

Dr. Alward is primarily a glaucoma clinician. His areas of research interest include pigmentary glaucoma, combined glaucoma and cataract surgery, normal-tension glaucoma, and gonioscopy. The major focus of his research over the last many years has been the molecular genetics of glaucoma. In collaboration with Edwin Stone and Val Sheffield, Dr. Alward was part of the team that described the first gene for primary open-angle glaucoma. He was involved in the discovery of the myocilin gene for primary open-angle glaucoma, the PITX2 and FOXC1 genes for Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, and the TBK1 gene for normal-tension glaucoma.

Dr. Alward has been active in web education for a number of years and is the driving force behind Gonioscopy.org and the Iowa Glaucoma Curriculum.

He has been honored for his contributions to education. He was one of the 2012 recipients of the Regents Award for Faculty Excellence. Given by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, the award honors faculty members for work representing a significant contribution to excellence in public education. He was also the inaugural recipient of the 2016 American Glaucoma Society Outstanding Educator Award. The award recognizes his extraordinary commitment to advancing glaucoma education to residents, fellows, and colleagues.

Edward Buckley, MD is Vice Dean for Education at Duke University School of Medicine. He also serves as Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Vice Chancellor for Duke-NUS Affairs.

Dr. Buckley is the James P. and Joy Gills Professor of Ophthalmology and the director of the pediatric ophthalmology fellowship program at Duke. He is a renowned expert in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus and has trained over 60 clinical and 10 research fellows.

Dr. Buckley has served as president of the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), chair of the American Board of Ophthalmology, chair of the Section of Ophthalmology of the American Academy of Pediatrics, president of the American Orthoptic Society, and is the current editor-in-chief of the Journal of AAPOS. He has received the Life Time Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and AAPOS.

Dr. Buckley received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and his medical degree from Duke University. He completed an internship in medicine and a residency in ophthalmology at Duke before performing a two-year fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and neuro-ophthalmology at the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He returned to Duke in 1983 as an assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology.

Jeffery Daigrepont, senior vice president at Coker Group, specializes in healthcare automation, system integration, cybersecurity, operations, and deployment of enterprise information systems for large integrated delivery networks and medical practices. His specific interests deal with data migration, vendor contracting, strategic IT planning and optimization, security, and compliance.

A popular national speaker, Jeffery is frequently engaged by highly respected organizations across the nation, including many non-profit trade associations and state medical societies. He has co-authored a top-selling book, Complete Guide and Toolkit to Successful EHR Adoption (2011 HIMSS), and is a contributor to The Healthcare Executive’s Guide to ACO Strategy (2015 HCPro).

Steven J. Gedde, MD is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice Chairman of Education at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He received his medical degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Dr. Gedde completed an ophthalmology residency at Wills Eye Hospital, where he served as a Chief Resident. He pursued a glaucoma fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, after which he joined the faculty. He has served as Bascom Palmer’s Residency Program Director for the past 17 years.

During Dr. Gedde’s tenure as Program Director, Bascom Palmer’s residency has consistently ranked as the top ophthalmology training program in peer surveys by Ophthalmology Times and Doximity. He attributes the success of the residency program to outstanding chairmen and faculty who have been deeply committed to teaching the next generation of ophthalmologists. Dr. Gedde has published over 300 articles, book chapters, and abstracts. Several of his peer-reviewed papers and chapters are on subjects related to residency education. Dr. Gedde is the Editor of the Morning Rounds section of EyeNet, a forum for residents to publish interesting case reports. He also serves on the Editorial Boards of Ophthalmology, Journal of Academic Ophthalmology, International Journal of Ophthalmic Research, Ocular Surgery News, EyeWorld, and Ophthalmology Management.

Dr. Gedde has been involved in multiple committees in national organizations focusing on residents and young ophthalmologists. Dr. Gedde has served on the Resident and Fellows Program Committee and Resident Education Task Force for the ASCRS. He has participated in the Education and Communication Committee for the AGS. He has presented on topics involving residency education at annual meetings of the AAO, ASCRS, and AGS. Dr. Gedde has been honored with several teaching awards in recognition of his commitment to residency education. He received Professor of the Year Awards and a First-Year Teaching Award at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He was selected as South Florida’s Excellence in Health Care Educator of the Year.

Davinder Grover, MD specializes in the medical and surgical management of complex glaucoma as well as complex cataract surgery. His research interests include international ophthalmology, innovative glaucoma surgeries, and clinical outcomes in medical and surgical glaucoma management.

As the son of a career Army officer, Dr. Grover has lived all over the US and abroad, but now Texas is his home. He enjoys continuing his tradition of excellence in the care of glaucoma and cataract patients in the DFW area and beyond.

Dr. Grover has authored numerous peer-review publications reporting innovative and novel glaucoma surgical techniques and findings. Additionally, he has authored several book chapters and serves as a reviewer for many of the premier journals in the field of Ophthalmology (Ophthalmology, American Journal of Ophthalmology, JAMA Ophthalmology, British Journal of Ophthalmology, and Journal of Glaucoma). Dr. Grover serves on various committees and subcommittees of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Glaucoma Society focusing on patient care, patient education, and technology.

Committed to the pursuit of knowledge and education, he continues to present his research, instructs various surgical courses, and gives lectures at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meetings as well as at the American Glaucoma Society annual meetings. Currently, Dr. Grover leads the clinical research team at Glaucoma Associates of Texas (GAT). When he is not caring for patients at GAT, Dr. Grover lectures the residents at UT Southwestern Medical School and supervises their surgeries.

Dr. Grover is extremely passionate about surgical innovation and efficiency. Not only has he developed novel surgical techniques, but he also works with various companies to develop and design instruments to improve surgical safety and efficiency.

John C. Hart, Jr, MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist practicing at Associates in Ophthalmology and also serves as Co-Chief of Anterior Segment Surgery at William Beaumont Hospital. In addition to his practice duties, Dr. Hart is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Oakland University.

Dr. Hart received his medical degree with distinction in Biomedical Research from Wayne State University School of Medicine, before completing Transitional and Ophthalmology residency training at William Beaumont Eye Institute, where he served as Chief Resident during his final year.

As an active member of the medical community, Dr. Hart is a member of several professional organizations, including the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Michigan Society of Eye Physicians & Surgeons, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, the Michigan State Medical Society, and the Oakland County Medical Society.

Throughout his practice experience, Dr. Hart’s work has appeared in numerous publications, award-winning presentations, and abstract papers. He remains on the cutting edge of new technology in the field of ophthalmology. Dr. Hart also enjoys spending quality time with his family, hunting and is an avid fan of wrestling.

Yuri McKee, MD is a Board Certified Ophthalmic Surgeon with fellowship training in Corneal and Refractive Surgery. His clinical and surgical training in corneal disease, complex anterior segment surgery, and refractive surgery was completed at the renowned Emory Eye Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

In addition to being board-certified, well-known, and highly regarded worldwide as an exceptional and skilled eye surgeon, Dr. McKee takes pride in providing high-quality care for every patient. His approach to patient care brings his professionalism to a personal level, as he works directly with you to ensure you are fully educated on the ins and out of your vision care needs. 

Dr. McKee specializes in advanced corneal transplant techniques, premium cataract surgery, anterior segment reconstruction, glaucoma surgery, LASIK, and refractive surgery. He has authored peer-reviewed articles on corneal transplantation and repair of dislocated intraocular lenses, and numerous chapters in textbooks. He served as Executive Editor for three books on advanced ophthalmic surgery. Dr. McKee has also lectured around the world at international meetings regarding these topics. Dr. McKee completed his surgical internship at the University of Minnesota.

He received the Outstanding Graduating Resident Award at the Louisiana State University/Ochsner Clinic Foundation Ophthalmology Residency where he trained in the clinical and surgical subspecialties of ophthalmology. Dr. McKee was also recognized with an award for ranking in the top 5th percentile in the nation for his score on the annual ophthalmology in-service exam. He performed similarly on the American Board of Ophthalmology certification examination. As a resident, he received a research scholarship with which he developed a novel sustained ocular surface drug delivery system. He was recently granted a patent on the technique.

Prior to his training in Ophthalmology, Dr. McKee served for six years as an active duty US Air Force flight surgeon where he attained the rank of Major. During this time, he was the medical director of the Aerospace Medicine Clinic and the course director of Top Knife II USAF Flight Surgeon High-Performance Aircraft Course at Luke AFB, Arizona. He also served as primary care, aviation medicine specialist, and hyperbaric specialist for the largest training base in the US Air Force. Prior to this Dr. McKee was stationed in Okinawa, Japan for four years where he served in a combat-ready F-15 Eagle squadron. Dr. McKee was deployed twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he logged numerous combat flight hours in both air superiority and combat search and rescue missions. His commitment to service was recognized with numerous military medals and awards, including a Command Flight Surgeon of the Year distinction.

Faruk H. Örge MD, FAAO, FAAP, is the William R. and Margaret E. Althans Chair and Professor in Pediatric Ophthalmology, Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University, and director of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. After completing a two-year research fellowship, internship, residency, and a clinical fellowship at Indiana University, Dr. Örge returned to his native country, Turkey, to join the faculty at Yeditepe University. He has been at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospitals since 2007.

Dr. Örge is widely recognized for his clinical expertise and is listed in the Best Doctors of America (since 2009), Top Doctors (since 2011), and Who’s Who (2014). Dr. Örge has served on and led many committees (Online, Public Education, Program committees) of the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and has joined the AAPOS Board of Directors in 2018 as a director at large. He is an examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology and serves as the AAPOS liaison to the ABO. He is currently the fellowship program director and the UH Eye Institute residency associate director. His innovations in teaching include work with ORBIS/Cyber-sight, AAPOS, and the AAO, with interests in telemedicine, live webinars (first to produce national and international sessions in the field of ophthalmology), online journal clubs, and unique learning tools such as an interactive strabismus and retinoscopy simulators. He is the editor-in-chief for the AAO’s newly formed KTEF Pediatric Ophthalmology Education Center; the largest online educational source in the world for pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, it has been visited more than 1 million times from more than 200 countries since its inception in 2015.

Dr. Örge’s research interests comprise almost all aspects of pediatric ophthalmology (ocular imaging, drug release, ROP, glaucoma, microsurgery, cataract, genetic conditions, eyelid trauma, consultation, sedation, strabismus, nystagmus, amblyopia, etc.) His dedication to research and clear direction resulted in him being awarded grants including the prestigious Knights Templar Eye Foundation Research Grant for his project in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), Cleveland Foundation grants (New glaucoma device formation, suture sterilization, resident microsurgery course assessment) through Minimally Invasive Pediatric Surgery Center, Rainbow research awards, Case Western Reserve University PFI Funding (for I-Strab Objective Strabismus Measurement Device), Ohio Amblyope Registry (An organization that fights amblyopia in state-level) and UH Innovation day award for his newly designed eye speculum. He holds a patent for a novel glaucoma device and also filed several patents on drug delivery, eye imaging, wound healing, and other therapeutic technologies.

M. Edward Wilson, MD is currently the N. Edgar Miles Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics at the Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina. He served as Storm Eye Institute residency program director from 1990 to 1998 and then as Storm Eye Institute director and Pierre G. Jenkins professor and Ophthalmology Department chair for 15 years, from 1996 to 2011.

Dr. Wilson has received a Life Achievement Honor Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS).

Dr. Wilson is a past member of the AAPOS Board of Directors and is also a past president of AAPOS. He is also a past chair of the governing council of the American Ophthalmological Society (AOS) and a past president of AOS.

Dr. Wilson served a full 8-year term on the editorial board of the Journal of AAPOS and served for more than 10 years as executive editor of the American Journal of Ophthalmology. He has been elected to membership in the prestigious American Ophthalmological Society, and the Association for Research in Strabismus (“The Squint Club”). In 2017, he was elected to another exclusive group known as the Internation Intraocular Implant Club. He is a member of the AOA Medical Honor Society and actively supports the MUSC chapter of AOA.

At MUSC and the Storm Eye Institute, Dr. Wilson serves as the pediatric ophthalmology fellowship program director. He is also on the Appointment, Promotion, Tenure, and Mentoring Committee. He is a career-in-medicine mentor for medical students and a promotion and tenure mentor for academic faculty members. On a national scale, he serves in a leadership role on several clinical trials including his role on the steering committee of the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study.

Dr. Wilson received a BS degree from Clemson University and an M.D. degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. After an internship and residency in ophthalmology at the Nation Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, Dr. Wilson completed a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C. under the direction of Dr. Marshall Parks. Dr. Wilson is board certified in ophthalmology and is a life fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Wilson’s research interests include surgical techniques for use in the treatment of pediatric cataracts, as well as the full range of strabismus in children and adults. Dr. Wilson has given more than 700 invited presentations at national and international conferences including 23 named lectures. He has written or contributed to 27 books and published over 250 scientific papers, chapters, and invited editorials on a wide variety of subjects. Dr. Wilson has trained residents and fellows for more than 30 years and maintains a large referral practice, receiving patients for consultation and surgery from around the world. He has been selected by his peers as one of the Best Doctors in America and as a U.S. News & World Report (top 1% in the U.S.) America’s Top Doctors.

“I thought it was one of the MOST WONDERFUL meetings in the world! GREAT information, lots of fun and learning and GREAT attendees.” – Kathleen Digre, Salt Lake City, Utah

“Covers clinically significant subjects, nice group size, good facility, and of course, NOLA.” anonymous, 2016 Symposium

“Excellent conference with three areas of interest, updates and new technologies discussed, 20 hours of CME credit.” -anonymous, 2016 Symposium

“Overall, one of the best meetings as far as content and speakers, a very good learning environment.” -anonymous, 2016 Symposium

“Quality of lectures, ability to personally interact with the experts” – anonymous, 2016 Symposium

“Another phenomenal meeting sponsored by the NOAO!!” – anonymous attendee, 2015 Symposium

Subscribe to our emails or follow us via the social media buttons to the left for all the latest news about our upcoming symposium.

Exhibitors click here for more information and reservation.

Check out our Annual Symposium for general information or our FAQs page to find out more information about NOAO, benefits, the process to become a member, annual symposia, quarterly dinners, and more.

Member feedback greatly aids the formation of this world-class educational meeting. If you have any suggestions for topics and/or speakers, please contact us as soon as possible.