CRU 2023: Education that offers comprehensive overview and perspective, empowering OD and MD collaboration

John D. Gelles, OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FCLSA, FSLS, FBCLA, co-chair of the CRU Eye Symposium, caught up with Optometry Times®' editor, Kassi Jackson, to talk about the education portion of the meeting.

CRU is an acronym that stands for "current, relevant, useful," and the second annual symposium will be held November 10-12, 2023, at the Silverado Resort in Napa Valley, California. S. Barry Eiden, OD, FAAO, FSLS, and Stephanie Woo, OD, FAAO, FSLS, are also co-chairs of the meeting, with honorary ambassador Vance Thompson, MD, FACS.

If you are interested in attending the CRU meeting, click here to register.

Transcript

Editor's note: This transcript has been edited for clarity.

Kassi Jackson:

Hi, everyone. I'm Kassi Jackson with Optometry Times. I'm joined today by Dr John Gelles, who is part of the faculty of the second annual CRU eye symposium, which will be held later this year in November in Napa Valley, California. So, thank you for being here Dr Gelles.

John D. Gelles, OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FCLSA, FSLS, FBCLA:

Oh, thank you so much.

Jackson:

Of course. So, let's just dive right in. Why don't you tell us a bit about CRU, and why optometrists should be excited about it.

Gelles:

When me, Barry, and Steph founded CRU, what we were really trying to do was create a symposium that catered to the ideas of having current, relevant, and useful education. So many times you hear on the podium excellent research being presented, but with little clinical applicability. Our goal here was to have education that you could apply in your practice when you got back. Also, for you to be rested when you got back because you were able to enjoy the fruits of the Napa Valley.

Jackson:

Wonderful. It sounds like it's going to be a lovely time. So what sets the education of CRU apart from other meetings?

Gelles:

Well, mostly in CRU our goal is to allow for collaboration between MD and OD. Our goal is to give you a very comprehensive overview as to what is being done today to manage a variety of different topics. This is going to be good for just about anybody in optometry. It's going to cover retina, glaucoma, dry eye, [and] contact lenses. It will cover a variety of different aspects of care that will touch just about everybody in optometry.

Jackson:

Great. And how can folks register if they're interested in coming out to to Napa Valley?

Gelles:

Excellent. Well, you can visit crueye.com and follow the registration links there.

Jackson:

Great. Is there anything else you'd like to be sure to mention that we didn't touch on?

Gelles:

Well, it's just gonna be a great time. The enjoyment of CRU is really to be in the Napa Valley at the Silverado resort, which you see behind me, [and] enjoying the veranda, the deck out there. [Also], being able to get world class education in the morning, and then have an opportunity to just enjoy the Napa Valley in the afternoon.

Jackson:

Wonderful. Well, thank you so much for your time today, Dr Gelles, and we look forward to seeing you in California.

Gelles:

Thank you so much, Kassi, I'll see you there.