Special Events
F/A & Surgical Case Conference
This lively session will be moderated by Neil Bressler and Bill Mieler.
Award Lectures
Founders Award
To recognize excellence in vitreoretinal medicine, The American Society of Retina Specialists presents its Founders Lecture Award to individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of vitreoretinal surgery, treatment, research, surgical instrumentation, and patient care.
The Founders Lecture Award was first presented in 1997 to honor the efforts of the founding members of the Society, Drs. Jerald A. Bovino, Roy A. Levit, and Allen Z. Verne, for their foresight, dedication, and leadership in establishing the Society as an open, democratic, worldwide organization dedicated to the advancement of vitreoretinal surgery and the study of vitreoretinal diseases.
The ASRS is proud to recognize Alexander J. Brucker, MD as the 2008 recipient of the ASRS Founders Award. Dr. Brucker will present the Founders Award Lecture on Sunday, October 12, 2008.
Gertrude D. Pyron Award
The Pyron Award was created by the Retina Research Foundation to recognize outstanding vision scientists whose work contributes to knowledge about vitreoretinal disease. The Award offers a cash prize that includes a personal honorarium and a research grant. It is presented each year at the ASRS Annual Meeting, and the recipient is chosen by the ASRS Awards Committee.
The Pyron Award has been endowed by an estate gift from Gertrude D. Pyron of San Antonio, Texas. She was an eminent geologist during her lifetime, and made her bequest to RRF because of her admiration for Dr. Alice McPherson's leadership in vision science.
Retina Research Foundation was founded in 1969 by Dr. Alice McPherson, a member of The Vitreous Society, to establish and fund programs for the eradication of vitreoretinal disease. It is a public charity based in Houston, Texas, that has grown with support from a few community leaders to a major foundation, with broad support, funding a grant program, a major awards program, a career development program, and annual support for several research chairs.
The ASRS and the RRF are proud to recognize Susan B. Bressler, MD & Neil M. Bressler, MD with the 14th Annual Gertrude D. Pyron Award for Outstanding Achievement in Retina Research. Drs. Susan & Neil Bressler will present the Gertrude D. Pyron Award Lecture on Sunday, October 12, 2008.
10th Annual Film Festival
Submissions are solicited for what promises to be another outstanding Film Festival. As in past years, the festival will showcase the observational skills, innovation, and creativity within our ranks in a most entertaining venue.
Movie theater-style showings of the Film Festival will take place on each day of the meeting in several theaters. Sit back, and enjoy some popcorn while you attend this year's premiere.
Each film will be judged according to originality, educational content, audiovisual quality, script writing, editing quality, and effectiveness. A panel of judges will rate and score each film. The coveted Rhett Buckler Award; an impressive eight lb., 24 carat gold-plated statuette, will be bestowed upon the top 10 films. The winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner on Tuesday, October 14.
Young Physicians Section Symposium (YPS)
This symposium will present topics of interest geared toward retinal specialists recently out of fellowship. The symposium will offer an informal forum to present topics discussing the various challenges facing young retinal specialists in both continents.
The symposium fosters substantial discussion, and also allows more senior members the opportunity to impart "pearls of the trade" to recently trained retinal specialists. In addition to clinical management issues, topics will cover the business, political, and off-the-beaten-path side of vitreoretinal practice.
The discussion will be presented in an enjoyable, lively, and highly interactive format. Moderators will be YPS Co-Chairs Robert Kwun and Andreas Lauer.
Each year, the ASRS Young Physicians Section presents the Crystal Apple Award to an ASRS member who has gone to great lengths to advance the education and professional development of young vitreoretinal specialists. The 2008 Crystal Apple Award winner is Stanley Chang, MD who will present the Crystal Apple Lecture at the 2008 YPS Lunch Meeting, which (tentatively) will take place on Sunday, October 12.
Macular Degeneration Poster Contest
The American Retina Foundation (ARF) will recognize one outstanding Macular Degeneration research poster submitted to the 26th Annual ASRS Meeting. All posters submitted that relate to Macular Degeneration will be automatically considered for the award. The winner of the award will receive $2,000. For more information about this poster contest, contact the Foundation office at (904) 998-0356.