22nd Advanced Vitreoretinal Techniques & Technology (AVTT) Symposium

Friday, August 20, 2021, 6:45 AM - Sunday, August 22, 2021, 12:00 PM CST, Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile Hotel

The vitreoretinal specialist's practice has evolved substantially in the past decade. Novel surgical techniques and new paradigms for disease management have altered the medical and surgical landscape for the busy vitreoretinal specialist. A portion of this educational activity is also designed to complement the vitreoretinal fellowship curriculum.

Surgical training is at the heart of the vitreoretinal fellowship; and this activity will broaden attendees' surgical knowledge bases by providing exposure to alternative techniques and surgical methods transferred from a renowned expert faculty to attendees.
The two-and-a-half-day symposium is intended to provide the vitreoretinal specialist with an update on the diagnosis and management of vitreoretinal diseases and surgical conditions.  Emphasis will be placed on conditions that have seen recent new developments. Didactic lectures and video presentations will be given, and cases will be discussed.  Controversial issues will be discussed in a debate setting and in panels. 

A special opening day program features a half-day hands-on, interactive wet lab and a half-day didactic session for Senior Surgical Vitreoretinal Fellows, Medical Retina Fellows and Residents. Much of the didactic session on the first day will focus on the best practices of vitreoretinal medicine, covering topics such as risk management, clinical documentation and coding, involvement in clinical trials, patient and physician satisfaction, ethics, advocacy, and prevention of physician burnout.

Days two and three of this symposium are intended to provide Vitreoretinal Fellows, Residents and Practicing Retina Specialists with an update on the diagnosis and management of vitreoretinal diseases and surgical conditions.  Emphasis will be placed on conditions that have seen recent new developments.

1. Discuss the fluidics of vitrectomy surgery.
2. Demonstrate hands-on evaluation of vitrectomy equipment and instruments.
3. Discuss challenging medical, surgical and OCT cases.
4. Review the role visualization plays in vitreoretinal surgery.
5. Discuss the current value of fundus autofluorescence.
6. Debate various controversial issues in vitreoretinal surgery, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and pediatrics.
7. Evaluate digitally-assisted vitreoretinal surgery and intraoperative OCT.
8. Discuss the pathophysiology of and biomarkers in diabetic retinopathy.
9. Discuss a treatment algorithm for DME.
10. Analyze the benefit of surgery for DME.
11. Discuss forthcoming treatments for DME and diabetic retinopathy.
12. Evaluate the innovations in ophthalmology, beyond drugs and devices.
13. Analyze the demographics of and practice patterns in ophthalmology.
14. Discuss the need to keep patients and referral physicians content and informed.
15. Explain the issues of audits and how they impact retina practices.
16. Analyze clinical research and whether or not it is cost effective for one’s practice.
17. Discuss risk management in clinical practice.
18. Explain why participation in a patient registry will almost be mandatory in the near future.
19. Analyze the various types of clinical, academic and research practices.
20. Explain the rationale to be involved in advocacy.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (12.25 hours), AMA PRA Non-Physician (Attendance) (12.25 hours)

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Beaumont Health and Medical Conference Planners International.  Beaumont Health is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Medicine CME: Beaumont Health designates this live activity or enduring material for a maximum of 12.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships: In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, Beaumont Health implemented mechanisms to identify and mitigate relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for all individuals in a position to control content of this activity.