American Academy of Ophthalmology Envoy to Receive Prestigious International Leadership Award

SAN FRANCISCO, March 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael W. Brennan, M.D., international envoy and past president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (the Academy), will be honored for his work to develop the next generation of ophthalmic leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. He will receive the Jose Rizal International Medal at the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology's (APAO) 30^th Congress.

APAO is presenting the award to Dr. Brennan for his instrumental role in helping the APAO build its own version of the Academy's Leadership Development Program. The Academy's Program was started in 1998 to provide infrastructure for identifying and training future leaders of ophthalmic societies in the United States and abroad.

"Helping to build the APAO's Leadership Development Program has been a hugely rewarding experience as it ensures continuous innovation and quality improvement in eye care in the region," said Dr. Brennan, a comprehensive ophthalmologist based in Burlington, N.C. "I am extremely proud to be part of a program that helps inspire generations of ophthalmologists for years to come, and I am truly humbled by the significance of this award."  

The Jose Rizal International Medal was established by APAO, a federation of 19 national ophthalmic societies in the Asia-Pacific region, to recognize outstanding international ophthalmologists who have helped to significantly further the interests of the profession. Its namesake, Jose Rizal (1861–1896), was a Filipino ophthalmologist who became a national hero.

The award will be presented to Dr. Brennan on April 2 at the Congress, which is the largest ophthalmic meeting in the Asia-Pacific region and is attended by approximately 9,000 delegates from across the globe. Dr. Brennan will speak about his experience during a symposium titled: "Lessons Learned in Building Educational Programs in Multi-Specialty Eye Centers in Asia."

As a co-sponsor of the Congress, Academy representatives – including President Russell N. Van Gelder, M.D., Ph.D., Past President and Secretary for Global Alliances Richard L. Abbott, M.D., Secretary for Member Services Tamara R. Fountain, M.D., and Young Ophthalmologist International Subcommittee Chair Grace Sun, M.D. – will also be presenting and participating in a number of symposia at the meeting. These include:

• "New Developments in Retina" – Speakers will explore advances in retinal imaging, management of retinal diseases and conditions, and the latest surgical tools.
• "Clinical Pearls from EBM (Evidence-Based Medicine) Clinical Guidelines" – Held in conjunction with the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, this symposium will examine the use of EBM in clinical practice and provide updates for some disease-specific guidelines.
• "Highlights from the ONE Network: A global learning experience" – Contributors to the Academy's Ophthalmic News and Education Network® (ONE), the world's largest online source of peer-reviewed, high-quality news and education for ophthalmologists, will share recent educational highlights and discuss open-access resources and best practices for international ophthalmologists .
• "Sticks, Stones and Broken Globes: Management of ocular trauma" – This Women in Ophthalmology session will highlight difficult-to-treat emergencies and injuries, traumatic optic neuropathy, anterior segment trauma and a Bangladesh perspective of ocular trauma in women.
• "APAO Young Ophthalmologists" – This joint APAO/AAO session for young ophthalmologists will explore opportunities in fellowships around the globe, leadership development, speaking engagements and tips to getting published in scientific journals.

The APAO 30th Congress will take place April 1 – 4, 2015 in Guangzhou, China at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center. For more information, visit: www.2015.apaophth.org. For more information about the Academy's Leadership Development Program, visit www.aao.org/member/related/leadership.cfm.

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology, headquartered in San Francisco, is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons, serving more than 32,000 members worldwide. The Academy's mission is to advance the lifelong learning and professional interests of ophthalmologists to ensure that the public can obtain the best possible eye care. For more information, visit www.aao.org. 

The Academy is also a leading provider of eye care information to the public. The Academy's EyeSmart® program educates the public about the importance of eye health and empowers them to preserve healthy vision. EyeSmart provides the most trusted and medically accurate information about eye diseases, conditions and injuries. OjosSanos™ is the Spanish-language version of the program. Visit www.geteyesmart.org or www.ojossanos.org to learn more.

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SOURCE American Academy of Ophthalmology

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