In October 2008, three members of the Illinois Association of Ophthalmology are travelling to Hanoi, Vietnam, to teach a course in cataract surgery (phacoemulsification). The large ophthalmic company, Alcon, is the corporate sponsor and the Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology is hosting the course.
Why would a bunch of ophthalmologists be involved in something like this, you might ask? As is true with a lot of initiatives, this has its genesis with the experience and vision of a single individual. In this case, it was Ronald C. May, MD, an ophthalmologist who practices in Deerfield, Illinois. About 40 years ago, he got an all-expense paid trip to Vietnam courtesy of the U.S. government to serve as an Army physician during the war. More recently, he has gone back to Vietnam as a tourist. It was on one of these trips that he attended a medical conference in Hanoi and had occasion to visit the Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology (VNIO).
Turns out his hospital in Highland Park, IL, was getting some new cataract surgery machines and he thought the VNIO might find some use for the perfectly good equipment that was going to be retired. Although that export couldn't be worked out, discussions with Alcon executives developed into the "phaco" course in Hanoi.
As a longtime board member of the Illinois Association of Ophthalmology, Dr. May thought it would be a wonderful project for the group, and the IAO leadership agreed. Nearly 30 members already have expressed an interest in participating.
In our next post, we'll outline the basic concepts behind the course, and we'll report on an interesting side-project that may develop as an offshoot.
During the first course in October, Rich Paul -- IAO's executive director (and the author of this blog) -- will report "from the field." I hope you will find these reports to be of some interest.
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