2018 Focus on Eye Health National Summit

Prevent Blindness will host the seventh annual Focus on Eye Health National Summit on July 18, 2018 from 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

A series of presentations will be conducted in relation to this year’s Summit theme “Research to Impact: Honoring 50 Years of the National Eye Institute.”  Lily Peng, MD, PhD, of Google Brain, will be the keynote speaker for the Summit.  Google Brain is a deep learning artificial intelligence research project at Google. Dr. Peng will speak about developing innovations that will specifically impact the future of eye care.

Attendees of this free event include patient advocates, national vision and eye health organizations, government representatives, and community-based organizations. Those unable to attend in person will have an opportunity to watch a live video stream of event presentations as well as follow the event on Twitter at #eyesummit.

Additional presentations at the Focus on Eye Health Summit include:

• Improving Access through Telemedicine – Moderated by Jorge Cuadros, OD, PhD, UC Berkeley School of Optometry, this session will include presentations from Rajeev Ramchandran, MD, MBA, University of Rochester; Graham E. Quinn, MD, MSCE, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Emily Y. Chew, MD, National Eye Institute; and Lily Peng, MD, PhD, Google Brain.
• Innovative Screening Models and Their Impact on Global Eye Health – Alan L. Robin, MD, Johns Hopkins University and University of Maryland, Board of Aravind Eye Hospital
• Promising Practices Emerging from NEI Partnerships – Michael Steinmetz, PhD, National Eye Institute; Stephen Rose, PhD, Foundation Fighting Blindness; and Cynthia A. Toth, MD, Duke Eye Center and Member of ARVO “Telling the Story of OCT” Steering Committee
• Advancing Eye Health in Native American Communities – Stacy Bohlen, National Indian Health Board
• Vision’s Impact on Learning with Children – Moderated by Laura Anderko, PhD, RN, Georgetown University and Chair of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness, this session will include presentations from Gayathri Srinivasan, MS, OD, FAAO, New England College of Optometry; Marjean Kulp, OD, MS, The Ohio State University College of Optometry; and Mae Millicent Winfrey Peterseim, MD, Medical University of South Carolina
• Eyes on the Hill – A Congressional Conversation, with the Congressional Vision Caucus, including Co-Chair Rep. Gene Greene (D-TX) [subject to change]
• National Eye Health Surveillance System — John Wittenborn, NORC at the University of Chicago

Sponsorship opportunities are available.

During the event, Prevent Blindness will present the 2018 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health to the Johns Hopkins University School-Based Eye Care Team.  The award is presented annually to an individual, team, or organization that has made significant contributions to the advancement of public health related to vision and eye health at the community, state, national and/or international level.

In addition, a Recognition Award will be presented to Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD, on behalf of the National Eye Institute, honoring its 50th anniversary.

“The Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health National Summit has become a key venue to provide all those committed to improving our nation’s vision and eye health with the opportunity to collaborate with leaders in public health, community outreach and service, and government agencies,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “By sharing ideas and resources, we can work to provide Americans with education on vision issues, access to care, program development and sight-saving services.”

Prevent Blindness will also hold its annual Eyes on Capitol Hill event, providing volunteer patient advocates with the opportunity to meet with their government representatives on Tuesday, July 17.  A reception for the Congressional Vision Caucus will be held the evening of this Capitol Hill event.  A Congressional briefing will be held on Thursday, July 19.

To register or for more information about the 2018 Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health National Summit and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.preventblindness.org/eyesummit or call (800) 331-2020.