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August 7, 2023

WIO Summer symposium: Empowering aspirations

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(Image Credit: AdobeStock/Frank Simonetti)

The 2023 Women In Ophthalmology (WIO) Summer Symposium will begin on Thursday, August 24, and run to Sunday, August 27, at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, Marco Island, FL.

The WIO Summer Symposium is a “must-attend event,” according to the organizers who said, “It is a curated meeting for women offering ‘the best of the best’ content in all subjects of importance to women ophthalmologists. Nowhere else will attendees find so many dynamic speakers and specialized educational content in a collegial atmosphere designed specifically for women.”

The conference has both in-person and virtual programs. Interested parties can register for the in-person program, as well as for the virtual meeting online.

Both programs are described in full on the organization’s website.

The following shows the highlights of the in-person program.

In-person WIO 2023 summer program

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the main educational days of the conference, all feature sessions designed to uplift, inspire, and empower attendees.

All times listed are in Eastern Daylight Time.

In addition to the educational offerings, the program is extremely well-balanced with lots of opportunities for relaxation and spiritual and family-building opportunities.

Thursday, August 24

The opening events on Thursday will focus primarily on relaxing, touching base, and facilitating communication among attendees. Live Well events also are sprinkled liberally throughout the rest of the meeting.

The day’s social events include a golf tournament from 12:30 to 4:30 pm, Live Well mindful meditation from 3:00 to 4:00 pm, a meet-and-greet social from 4:30 to 5:30 pm, a welcome opening session from 5:45 to 6:00 pm, a dinner session from 6:00 to 7:00 pm featuring a discussion of “Neurotrophic dermatitis: improving detection and restoring sensation,” and an opening reception from 7:15 to 8:30 pm.

Friday, August 25

6:00-6:45 am:

Live Well: Daybreak Yoga

7:00-8:00 am: CME Spotlight Breakfast Session

Featuring a talk on “Keeping An Eye on New Advances in Glaucoma Meds and MIGs

8:00-9:40 am: UPRISE SESSION I:THE TACTICAL PLAN.

The keynote session focuses on awareness, resilience, and adaptability.

8:40-9:10 am:

The Bernice Z. Brown Memorial Lecture & Award. Susan Day will deliver the talk titled “The Tapestry of Vocation, Avocation, and Vacation.”

9:40 am-1:00 pm: UPHEAVAL SESSION I: THE GLOBAL SCIENCE SQUAD.

The session focuses on the global hot topics in the pipelines and progress covering simulation training, surgical retina, dry eye outcomes and metrics, and glaucoma drug delivery.

10:20-11:00 am:

Breakout sessions will be available in cataract and refractive procedures, retina and uveitis, glaucoma and cornea, plastics and oncology, and pediatrics and neuro.

12:00-1:00 pm: CME Spotlight Lunch Session

Features a talk on “Practical Management Updates for Thyroid Eye Disease.” The same time slot includes the Medical Student Mentoring Lunch Communication Workshop.

1:00-4:45 pm: UPLIFT SESSION: OPERATION EMPOWER.

This session includes discussions on international inspirers-leading by example, combat communication-handling hostile conversations, and skill labs in glaucoma/minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, dry eye/cornea,

3:00-4:00 pm:

Live Well sessions on watercolor painting; PM eye opener-cardio, sweat, and burn; and pelvic health smarts for your lady parts—bloom in all seasons of womanhood. This time slot also includes a mentoring mixer.

4:00-5:00 pm:

A social and networking reception.

5:30-9:00 pm: INSPIRE SESSION I: BECOMING UNCONQUERABLE.

This is a keynote session that features an address titled “Without a Doubt: How to Go from Underrated to Unbeatable.” A dinner symposium will follow and feature discussion of the SYFOVRE injection and Miebo.

8:00-9:00 pm:

Networking dessert reception

Saturday, August 26

6:00-6:45 am:

Live Well: Beach trek

7:00-8:00 am: CME Spotlight Breaks Session

Featuring a talk on “Improving Ocular Surface and Eyelid Health in the Here and Now”

8:00 am-11:00 pm: UPRISE SESSION II: AWAKE & UPRISE.

This session addresses topics such as new plays for old crusades, a keynote panel session on “Raise Your Play-Leadership Lessons.” The session also includes 2 award lectures, ie, the WIO Honorary Lecture and Award titled “A Vision for Change: Examining the Past, Advancing the Present, and Shaping the Future of Gender Equality in Healthcare”; and the Best Research Abstract Presentation, top surgical Video, and the Joanne Angle Abstract of Distinction Award Presentation.

12:00-1:00 pm: CMESpotlight Breaks Session

Featuring a talk on “Injectable Solutions That Meet Treatment Goals in nAMD and DME Management. The same time slot includes a mentoring lunch for medical students is planned followed by discussions with leaders.

1:00-1:20 PM: UPHEAVAL SESSION II: MINDSET CHANGE.

This session focuses on aligning with allies-make or break moves in cross-specialty collaborative cases.

1:20-2:00: UPLIFT SESSION II: DELVE AND THRIVE.

This features breakout sessions on finance and negotiations, navigating personal and career safety, entrepreneurship and brand building, young ophthalmologists, advancing outreach—impactful volunteerism, achieving academic promotion, motherhood mayhem, and career options for MDs in clinical research and beyond.

2:00-5:00 pm:

Skill labs are available on cataract/phaco, suturing techniques.

3:00-4:00 pm:

Dress for success special forces event--WIO onsite volunteer activity opportunity.

3:00-4:00 pm:

Live Well sessions include Mommy and Me Lab, self-defense class, and salsa dance class.

4:00-11:00 pm: INSPIRE II: CELEBRATING YOU.

Attendees can enjoy a networking reception, cocktail reception, dinner, and dancing.