David Williams, MD, President of the American Society of Retinal Specialists, discusses the ASRS with retinal surgeon Dr. Sophie Bakri. Dr. Williams reviews the history of the ASRS and its formation from what was then the Vitreous Society. Dr. Williams charts his involvement with the ASRS beginning with his first meeting years ago in Paris. In 1997, he was asked to participate in the board of directors for the ASRS and became an at large member. Membership in the ASRS is open to ophthalmologists who have completed a retina fellowship and are practicing in this field.
The ASRS has continued to evolve by including input from younger members resulting in improvements the society; for example, the new “fellow-in-training” membership category, the young physicians section, and “women in retina”. The new features of the annual meeting include instructional courses and the film festival. Outside the meeting the ASRS provides a practice management seminar, the website www.asrs.org, and production of “The Retina Times”.
The ASRS maintains a healthy relationship with industry with the understanding that they share a mutual goal: the health of patients. But recently, the spotlight has been on relationships between industry and individual physicians (and physician organizations such as the ASRS). Concern over industry incentives and perks to inappropriately sway prescribing behavior and affect the content of CME programs have been pervasive. But industry and physicians have common interests: providing the best possible care to patients. The ASRS will continue to engage industry but do so in a very transparent manner. Ultimately, the goal would be to be for the ASRS to become financially self-sufficient.
Internationally, the ASRS and EVRS (the European equivalent) have collaborated on the Con-Retina festival, the largest meeting of retina specialist ever held. Other combined international events are in the works.
Preparations are underway for the 2009 ASRS from September 30 to October 4th in New York City. It will be a combined event with the Macula Society, the Retina Society, and the ASRS. Dr. Williams also describes the changes to the ASRS website now being made by Tom Chang, MD, the former editor of the Retina Times. Gaurav Shah, MD, is now the Retina Times editor.
With more than 2000 members, the ASRS, is the primary representative of Retina Specialists and is recognized as such by AAO, industry, regulators, and by payers. Still, the evolution of the ASRS has drawn largely from ad-hoc initiatives. But now the ASRS is embarking on a strategic planning effort.