With great pleasure, we invite our colleagues and the ophthalmic industry throughout the world to Sydney for the 2011 Congress of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) hosted the highly-acclaimed International Congress of Ophthalmology (WOC) in Sydney in 2002. APAO 2011 will be just as memorable.

The meeting will be held in the popular Darling Harbour Convention and Exhibition Centre – just minutes from many of Sydney’s world-famous attractions.

The Scientific Program Committee, under Prof Charles McGhee, is assembling an exciting and stimulating scientific program, which will enable both comprehensive ophthalmologists and sub-specialists the opportunity to update their knowledge and skills.

The Congress already has strong support from the global ophthalmic industry, as well as from the professional associations of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, the International Council of Ophthalmology, and RANZCO itself.

Australia and New Zealand have a long history of world-class expertise in clinical practice and ophthalmological research. This, combined with the warm and relaxed ‘Aussie’ spirit, will ensure your Congress experience is professionally enhancing and personally rejuvenating.

The organisation of APAO Sydney 2011 is under the direction of three internationally recognised leaders in ophthalmology.

Congress President

Clinical Associate Professor Ivan Goldberg

A/Prof Ivan Goldberg is a world-renowned authority on glaucoma, and a highly-respected member of the international community of glaucoma sub-specialists.

He is a member of prestigious organisations such as the American Glaucoma Society, the Becker Glaucoma Society, and the Glaucoma Research Society.

Within Asia, A/Prof Goldberg’s experience and knowledge in the field of glaucoma have been recognised through his election as the Founding President of the South East Asia Glaucoma Interest Group (SEAGIG); as immediate-past President of the World Glaucoma Association; and as an Executive Committee member of the Asian-Oceanic Glaucoma Society.

He was President of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) when the College hosted the 29th International Congress of Ophthalmology (WOC) in Sydney in 2002.

Prior to that, A/Prof Goldberg was, for six years, RANZCO’s Censor-in-Chief, with responsibility for the College’s education and professional development programs.

A/Prof Goldberg is currently Director of Eye Associates in Sydney; Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney; and Head of the Glaucoma Unit and Visiting Ophthalmologist at the Sydney Eye Hospital.

Chairman Congress Sponsorship and Industry Exhibition

Clinical Professor Frank Martin

Prof Frank Martin AM has had a long-standing commitment to the development of ophthalmology in the Asia-Pacific region, as well the teaching and training of ophthalmologists in Australia and New Zealand.

Over many years, he has worked closely with the ophthalmic industry in ensuring their role in the success of major ophthalmic industry events.

He is a past President of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO), and was joint Secretary-General and Chairman of the Scientific Program Committee of the International Congress of Ophthalmology (WOC) in Sydney in 2002.

In 2001, he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to medicine – particularly in the field of ophthalmology as a clinician, teacher and administrator. He was appointed President of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in May 2009.

In September 2009, the New South Wales (Australia) Government appointed Prof Martin as a Business Events Sydney Ambassador in recognition of his longstanding commitment to promoting Sydney as a business events destination.

Prof Martin sub-specialises in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, and is the inaugural President of the Asia-Pacific Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. He also serves on the board of the International Strabismus Association, and is a member of the International Council of Ophthalmology.

Prof Martin works in private practice in Sydney, and is Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. He holds appointments as a visiting ophthalmologist at Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital, and the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

Scientific Program Chairman

Professor Charles McGhee

New Zealand-based Prof Charles McGhee brings many years of experience in congress scientific program management to his role as Chair of the APAO 2011 Congress Scientific Program.

As Chair of RANZCO’s Scientific Program Committee for several years, Prof McGhee directed many highly-successful scientific programs at the College’s Annual Scientific Congresses.

He is the current editor of RANZCO’s scientific journal Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, helping to establish it as a trusted conduit of quality research sourced locally and internationally. He also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, amongst other journals.

Prof McGhee holds Fellowships in ophthalmology and ophthalmic surgery from RANZCO, the Royal College of Ophthalmology (UK), and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (Scotland).

He previously held professorial posts in England and Scotland before being invited, in 1999, to take up the newly-established post of Maurice Paykel Professor and Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He was also appointed as the Clinical Director of Ophthalmology for Auckland District Health Board (1999-2006).

Prof McGhee specialises in corneal transplantation and corneal diseases such as keratoconus, inherited corneal dystrophies, and in complex anterior segment surgery following trauma. He is a Senior Ophthalmic Surgeon at Auckland City Hospital and Eye Institute, New Zealand. He has published more than 200 research papers and chapters, as well as three textbooks on his research interests, and has been invited to give a number of named lectures at international conferences. He is scientific Co-Chair of the APAO Congress, Beijing 2010.

The Scientific Program covers the full spectrum of ophthalmology, and will be of interest and benefit to all ophthalmologists.

International Societies and their programs will be integrated into the main program. The Scientific Program will consist of symposia and session themes, courses and workshops (didactic, interactive, and hands-on), live surgery demonstrations, poster and poster presentations, and free papers.

The Scientific Program will span the latest developments and best practice in ophthalmology, delivered by renowned national and international speakers. The Program will encompass all aspects of ophthalmology including the latest advances in clinical practice and cutting-edge research – providing ample choice for both comprehensive ophthalmologists and sub-specialists. There will also be sessions on ancillary subjects important to the professional and personal well-being of ophthalmologists.

In addition to the Scientific Program, a spectacular range of social activities is being planned for all delegates and accompanying guests. Take the opportunity to experience Sydney’s most famous sites and iconic landmarks, as well as our renowned hospitality and friendliness.

Louis Kraml, CEO of Bingham Memorial Hospital, announces a recruiting campaign which is targeting doctors that are close to the completion of their residency. The ideal candidates are Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic residents, who are known for their high work and ethical standards.

The recruiting campaign is another step in BMH’s plan to offer the highest quality, medical-related services in Idaho, by bringing the patient care service quality to the best standards once again. Bingham Memorial has launched not only a media campaign that supports this initiative, but also a dedicated landing page where the potential candidates can learn more about this project.

Louis Kraml, who is also the administrator of the hospital, has declared: “we have a great team of specialists at Bingham Memorial, but we are always interested in hiring even more physicians. Unlike most hospitals, BMH is a place where we also value the personal life of our doctors, understanding that they need to unwind at the end of a tiring day by spending quality time with their family and friends, engaging in outdoor activities, being an important part of various communities, and more. We do our best to help our doctors have a good balance when it comes to work / recreational activities”.

Fortunately, the state of Idaho is well known for the various outdoor activities that can be enjoyed throughout the entire year, no matter if we are talking about horse riding, biking, hiking, snowboarding rafting, kayaking, and so on.

Idaho has a long tradition for being a great working place; not only that, but this year it has ranked number one, being the best place to practice medicine according to Physicians Practice, a publication that offers practice management help and resources for close to 200,000 American physicians. It is the second year in a row when Idaho has won the first place, being preferred by the doctors because of its affordable prices and the flexibility of the medical system in the region.

The evaluation was done by taking six different criteria into account. The first one was the cost of living, which is defined as the cost that is required in order to maintain a specific living standard. Of course, since the standards of the individuals have a dynamic structure, the cost of living can change significantly as the time goes by. In addition to this, there are important cost of living (COL) variations from one country to the other.

The second evaluation criterion was the tax burden, also known as tax incidence; it is called a “burden” because it will “fall” on a specific group that will actually have to support this burden, paying the tax. The taxes in America are shared equally by the employers and by the employees.

The third criterion which has put Idaho to the top of the list was the malpractice payout per capita. “The total amount of money that was paid for malpractice was about 20.5 million dollars; as a comparison, the state of New York had to pay over 677 million dollars in 2012”, said Mr. Louis Kraml.

The rest of the criteria had to do with cases where the authorities had to take disciplinary actions against some of the physicians; the small value of this important factor has highlighted Idaho as a potential winner. Finally, Medicare’s geographic practice cost index (GPCI) and the number of physicians per square mile were the last two criteria that have pushed Idaho to the top of the list.

According to Louis Kraml, “Bingham Memorial Hospital is definitely a good proof that Idaho’s first place is well deserved. Due to the existence of the numerous associated clinics, BMH offers a broad range of medical services for all its patients. No matter if we are talking about children or people that are interested in getting treatment for medical conditions that are associated with aging, Bingham Memorial offers them access to the best services, while allowing the doctors to have the best conditions not only for the development of their medical careers, but also for activities that can be practiced together with the loved ones”.