AIOS: The future vision of past Presidents


Dr. Babu Rajendran
Senior Ophthalmology Consultant
Vijaya Hospital, Chennai
President, AIOS (2009)

AIOS is a society of the ophthalmologists of India and was established in the year 1930. It is a registered society with a membership of over 20,000 life members. It was created with the objective to cultivate and promote the study and practice of ophthalmic sciences in India, through research and man-power development, with a view to render service to the community. It also aims to promote social contacts among ophthalmologists of the country and it strives towards achieving all these objectives through numerous activities. The society organises annual conferences in different parts of the country, where a number of scientific activities including instruction courses, symposia, lectures, post graduate refresher courses, booth lectures, wet labs, surgical skill transfer courses etc. are conducted. Additionally, it also gives incentives to the members in the form of awards, orations, prizes and Fellowships in recognition of their services in the various specialities. At the helm of affairs of the society over the last many decades have been dynamic presidents and secretaries whose vision has led to strengthening and growth of the organisation. All of the members have also contributed to the best of their ability to enable AIOS to be one of the largest ophthalmic societies in the world.

Recently, when the honorary secretary of AIOS Prof. Namrata Sharma asked me to contribute an article to the AIOS Times about this great organisation, I thought it would be best for it to be a discussion among the last few past presidents, which would reflect their thoughts and experience about the society. So, I selected the last few successive past presidents (so that there was no bias) and sent them a 5-minute survey form, I think my communications did not reach one of them, whose thoughts are not covered in this article. I am honoured and grateful that 10 of them responded honestly and quickly, and this article could take shape. No attempt has been made to edit their comments and these are reproduced verbatim. The respondents did not know each other’s answers and all agreed to reveal their identity even though the survey gave them an option of anonymity. In order to avoid bias on my part in the order of listing their thoughts, I have listed them in the order that the completed form reached me except mine which I have added at the end of each question. My answers were prepared well before the first response came in, so they are not dictated by the view of others.


Dr RB Jain
(2006)

Dr Tara Prasad Das
(2007)

Dr KPS Malik
(2008)

Dr Babu Rajendran
(2009)

Dr Rajvardhan Azad
(2010)

Dr Ashok K Grover
(2011)

Dr NSD Raju
(2012)

Dr Anita Panda
(2013)

Dr Quresh Maskati
(2014)

Dr Debasish Bhattacharya
(2015)

Dr D Ramamurthy
(2016)

The respondents of the survey were the following, in order of the year of office. From Left to Right Dr RB Jain (2006), Dr Tara Prasad Das (2007), Dr KPS Malik (2008), Dr Babu Rajendran (2009), Dr Rajvardhan Azad (2010), Dr Ashok K Grover (2011), Dr NSD Raju (2012), Dr Anita Panda (2013), Dr Quresh Maskati (2014), Dr Debasish Bhattacharya (2015) and Dr D Ramamurthy (2016).

In the year 1988, I was asked to give a talk by the TNOA on “Ophthalmology in the year 2000”. Those were the pre internet, pre- PowerPoint days. It was also the very first electronic audio-visual presentation in any medical conference in this country. I had told the audience then that soon all presentations would be electronic. So, I wanted this distinguished group to postulate for the future. It was twelve years to 2000 then and it is twelve years to 2030. In your own words, describe what you think the AIOC in 2030 will be like?

DR: Relevant, tech savvy, rich in content, run by event managers & ranked among the premium Ophthalmic conferences of the world. (Have a lingering doubt if conferences will be held in the present form. It may be entirely online & access to information may be so easy that meeting to share knowledge may become redundant).

RBJ: It will be full of very high-level papers with latest technology, which may be beyond capability and usefulness of ordinary ophthalmologists – These ophthalmologists are the basic and most important requirement of country.

QBM: I hope it will develop a strong lobby and PR service to lease with media and the govt to protect the interests of members especially Vis a Vis the govt, insurance sector and the public.

AKG: Will be biennial, with regional meetings annually. The webinars including interactive sessions may be the preferred modality for most scientific meetings and conferences largely a social interaction forum.

NSD: By 2030 AIOS will be the largest body of ophthalmologists in the world and so also will be our Annual Conference which will have at least 20000 delegate participations. Only 3 or 4 international convention centres in the country could hold the annual AIOS conference by rotation. AIOS election will be only online and all publications AIOS in e-format only.

RA: Can’t predict

DB: I would see it to be 30,000-member strong organization which functions in a way, AAO functions today. It would be more technology based where members would scout ophthalmology through this window. However, I do not see Indian ophthalmology taking great strides in innovation and research. So, this platform could be mainly around practice, promotion of practice, products, and means to voice practice concerns and engage in improvements in practice management.

KPSM: In 2030 big corporate conglomerate will dictate terms to AIOS in matters of Halls sponsorships, talks to be included, small town practitioners shall become more dependent on referral practice. AIOS can’t stop this tide.

AP: Time will tell. Also depends upon the executives

BR: Conference then will be like no other we have seen before. It will be huge restricted to three or four cities in India, organised fully by event managers. Technologically, there won’t be presentations like we know now. But will involve augmented realty, Virtual reality, 3D projections. Speakers overseas will appear at the podium in as hologram. Live surgery will involve the entire OT seen as a hologram on the stage and the audience will feel they are in the OT and will be tempted to wear a mask!!Trade stalls will 3D Print many small instruments on the spot.

What are the things that you would most like to change in the society?

DR: Ethics, involvement & participation at all levels (both in the administrative & scientific aspects) & changes in the constitution to make it relevant to today’s world.

RBJ: Latest technology and techniques are welcome, but we should also concentrate on basics. Many ophthalmologists do not understand new technology – they should be familiarised with these. There should be an opportunity given to base level ophthalmologists to present their work.

QBM: Greater transparency, prevent colossal waste of money in mailings; work towards changing our constitution to delete obsolete clauses

AKG: (1) Administrative strengthening with a strong office will be the key to increasing the usefulness of AIOS. Many separate administrative wings will ensure that the ideas generated will transform into action. Aios can take up the accreditation of the subspecialty training programs and have a vibrant interactive website with patient education, teacher’s and resident’s educational resource centres and much more.
(2) Advocacy to form a vital component of activities including the public, Government, law makers at all levels, judiciary and much more.
(3) Regular preferred practice guidelines with specialty wise updates every 3 years.
(4) More regulations and guidelines for the election process to cut down the overboard campaigning.
(5) A more active participation in policy making and implementation of programs related to eye health and blindness.
(6) Proactive role in working with the concerned agencies on ophthalmic education.
(7) Create a National Ophthalmic museum and archives at the AIOS headquarters.

NSD: Provide online submission for AIOS membership Form a full-fledged International Wing Complete professional protection for all members AIOS FAICO must have a structured format and affiliation to a medical university to enhance the academic status of the fellowship Provide social security for all members of the Association The upper age limit for admission to AIOS FBS must be raised to 60 to attract more members Provide financial assistance to AIOS Projects like Prevention of blindness due to ROP, Glaucoma and diabetes.

RA: Scientific content

DB: (1) I would like to see a comprehensive preferred practice pattern document at three levelsprimary, secondary & tertiary. In all sub-specialties of ophthalmology which practitioners across the country can follow.
(2) I would like to see an entire comprehensive teaching module for post graduates in classroom lecture model to cover the entire subject of ophthalmology. For access to members only. This is only a restructure of the 1st point.
(3) I would like to see a comprehensive patient counselling in all clinical situations together with patient education materials in all formats -web, folders, posters and visuals. This is a natural derivative of my desire (No.1)

KPSM: What l shall like is secretary and treasurer to be from anywhere. With funds collected, we should freeze the conference registration fees for at least 5 yrs. The expenditure on prominent / Bollywood singers should be curtailed / alternate entertainers are plenty and good. Limited cities for conference can be considered provided every state society gets due share of earning.

AP: Discrepancy in norms from Individual to Individual should be taken care of. It creates on-necessary harassment.

BR: Our biggest stumbling block to development is rigidity of our constitution Most other state societies have changed their societies act to make it more amenable to the changing times. I think the powers that be in the capital must convince the NCT government also to change the acts 12 and 12A at least. The second biggest issue is the rising cost of attending and even running conferences. I look forward to the day when, like the American Academy and others, can make the conference registration FREE for all delegates. This is possible if we change our “Indian hospitality” mentality and avoid free breakfast lunches and dinners. A very large paid food court would serve the purpose well. May ONE LOC dinner is all that is required. For a society GOING GREEN and the very efficient scientific committee, almost doing away with paper, I was saddened to see a bulky program book which could as well have been available online, as also the AIOS Times. Probably for regulatory reasons, the IJO HAS to be a hard copy. Along with this the kit, the souvenir and the gifts are all dispensable if we put our minds to it. To me, going green is an all or none phenomenon there are No different shades of green!

So there you have it. The mind of the Past leaders who brought this society to this enviable position. If you the reader wants to submit your opinions as well, follow theinstructions below. I have modified this survey slightly to make it easier to answer. I will pass on all the responses to the secretariat for the needful. The above survey is now closed. The one below will stay open till end September.

POINT YOUR CAMERA PHONE TO THIS QR CODE

OR COPY AND PASTE THIS LINK TO YOUR BROWSER.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FYLKD98

drbabu.rajendran@gmail.com