Regional Refresh

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What is a Regional Refresh?

The COS realizes that not everyone is able to make it to the Annual Meeting every year, and we don’t want ophthalmologists, residents, and fellows to miss out on connecting with other like-minded doctors – especially those who might be living in the same area.

The Regional Refresh events are like a scaled-down COS Annual Meeting or a COS small group ministry with some great discussion topics, speakers, and engagement with other doctors from the area. We are bringing what is experienced at the Annual Meeting to the regional level. These events are also a great opportunity to introduce ophthalmologists to the ministry of COS -- the annual meeting, discipleship and mentor opportunities, missions connections, etc.

It is always encouraging to meet doctors who are living out their faith while practicing ophthalmology, and by coming to a Regional Refresh we hope you will be challenged and inspired just as those physicians who come to an Annual Meeting.

Look for a Regional Refresh coming to your area. If you don’t know of one, consider hosting one...we would love to partner with you! You can contact us at info@cosw.org.

- COS Board and Staff

Regional Refreshes 2020

• East Texas - September
• South Florida - September
• North Carolina - September
• Southern California - September

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Top Ten Reasons to Go To St Paul!!

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Have you signed up yet for the 44th annual COS meeting in St Paul, MN, August 5 - 9, 2020? With apologies to David Letterman, here are the "Top-10 Reasons COS President, Matt McCauley, is going to St Paul this summer:"

10. Great fellowship with my Christian ophtho peeps.
9. I get to knock out a hefty dose of CME's.
8. Free wet lab with gadgets...I like gadgets and I'm cheap, so bonus.
7. Acquire some useful tips for my practice that I can use the next week...they'll think I'm brilliant! 
6. I heard there is a mall there.
5. I do cataract surgery...and I've been told I'm not perfect. 
4. It would be rude to stand up the local meeting hosts and not come.
3. It's the only family vacation my office pays for. 
2. It's hot where I live in the summer, get me out of here!
1. The COS childcare program costs way less than camp!

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Hurricane Dorian Update

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The support from the Christian Ophthalmology Society in the wake of the devastation left by Hurricane Dorian on the island nation of the Bahamas has been tremendous. The pictures and words in this update convey some of what is being done by COS Board Member Dr. Duranda Ash, the people in her practice, and the volunteers and donations made by the COS and many others.

His Gift of Sight (HGOS) Social Clinic is a socially conscious ophthalmic clinic operated by the Ash Eye Institute and during the first week of January, they hosted a Free Vision Outreach for evacuees and other people that were directly affected by hurricane Dorian. The outreach was held on two islands -- New Providence and Grand Bahama.

Duranda writes, “The team consisted of 3 missionary ophthalmologists, 1 missionary optometrist and 19 volunteers (including RNs and the staff of Ash Eye Institute). We had the pleasure of serving and providing treatment to almost 800 people during the outreach (turned away much more than we saw), as well as distributing over 250 glasses. The outreach enabled us to identify individuals that needed vision threatening eye care and glasses.

“It was a privilege to partner with the Christian Ophthalmology Society (COS) and Vision Outreach International (VOI) to provide services and glasses free of charge to these individuals. There were many people who were screened that has required follow up care. The eye care needs, especially in Freeport Grand Bahama, are great (multiple eye diseases).”

The screening personnel included Duranda Ash, M.D. and her staff, (Bahamas); Carol Johnston, M.D. and Carol Smith, O.D., (North Carolina); Mark Cichowski, M.D. and his wife Jan, (Washington); and Roger Cabe, MNA (Michigan).  It was truly a combined effort.

On one particular day they had the opportunity to drive out to an area of severe devastation. The eastern side of the Grand Bahamas was totally destroyed. Electrical poles for over 50 miles were flattened. After months of recovery, many are still without electricity and living in tents as they try to rebuild their lives.

Roger Cabe from VOI, writes, “There were a multitude of stories about God’s protection in the midst of flood waters, home destructions, and total loss. The aftermath has been almost as devastating as the hurricane. The stress and pressure of rebuilding lives and businesses with no money or insurances has caused anxiety, PTSD, and premature death for family and loved ones.

“YET, there is still HOPE in the midst of depression. Each day we would pray before our screening with doctors, staff, and patients. Each station of service was not only a place for screening, but for encouragement, prayer, counsel, and hope.

“There are REAL PEOPLE with real problems. Their needs exceeded our abilities in eye care. That’s when it is pertinent to know and share that GREATER HOPE beyond and above our abilities to bring healing. The hope and healing of the Holy Spirit. It also reminded us of the POWER OF A FRIEND. Just knowing that someone is out there who loves you unconditionally, is available and willing to walk by your side, hold your hand, and help you, gives HOPE for future days.”

From Duranda...”We extend our thanks and sincere gratitude to you for your generosity in support of those affected by hurricane Dorian. It is because of organizations like [the COS and VOI] that HGOS has been able to provide necessary eyecare for free to the Dorian Evacuees. May the Joy of the Lord be your strength, Duranda”

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Cataract Surgery - The Fast and the Infuriating!

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You won't want to miss this engaging and exciting portion of the 2020 annual meeting in St Paul that we are calling the Fast and the Infuriating!

Please join the following speakers who will share engaging talks that will teach us all tips for ways to improve our cataract surgery!

 

Mark Morgan, MD	Ed Kondrot, MD
Phaco outside your comfort zone	How to Re-Engage Cataract surgery after years of Medical ophthalmology
Jason Leng, MD	Glenn Strauss, MD
Highly efficient cataract surgery at home and abroad	Pediatric and Marfan’s Cataract Surgery
Erick Bothun, MD	Dave Hardten, MD
Pediatric Cataract update	Cataract Complications and Management ; Dysphotopsia update, prevention and solutions
Kevin Barber, MD	Ben Roberts, MD
Developing Phaco in the Developing World	Vitrectomy for the Anterior Segment Surgeon

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