EnVisioning the future of eye care

Image credit: AdobeStock/NancyPauwels

When Bonnie An Henderson, MD, cofounded the EnVision Summit, she had a clear idea: She wanted to create a family-friendly educational experience that celebrated women’s achievements in eye care. Six years later, Henderson is still realizing this dream, with the annual EnVision Summit taking place February 14 to 17, 2025, in Puerto Rico.

“A lot of meetings are usually in beautiful places, and even though some people may bring their spouse or their family, usually the meeting is not a very family-friendly meeting,” said Henderson. “So the physician is usually in the lecture hall by themselves, but their spouse and their children are elsewhere. This meeting really incorporates all parts of your life, so not just your medical life but also your personal life. You will see parents with their children in the lecture halls. The children can sit in the audience and watch Mom on the podium give a talk and listen to what they do on a day-to-day basis. All the meals are included [with] the social events. You really have a nice combination of people who are there to learn but also to share that experience with their family and also industry too.”

The multispecialty ophthalmology meeting has always provided CME, but it is undergoing an evolution. For the 2024 meeting, the EnVision Summit introduced an optometry track to its proceedings. And later the same year, it was acquired by MJH Life Sciences, parent company of Optometry Times.

“I think the optometry program is really special because it really focuses on both the topics that are important to optometrists [and] also important topics that are important to ophthalmologists and optometrists,” said Henderson. “We know that in the US, there are lots of groups that comanage with optometry. There are lots of groups that employ both optometrists and ophthalmologists, and they tend to work hand in hand, especially when they’re talking about preoperative care [and] postoperative care for surgery. There are a lot of issues that come up that are equally shared between both of the groups. I think it’s important to actually have a conversation between the 2, and really have an open discussion of what’s important to them, what’s important to you, and how best to work together.”

Comanagement is the most obvious topic to tackle in an optometry-ophthalmology meeting, but the EnVision Summit hopes to delve deeper. Led by optometry chair Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, the faculty plans to foster discussions on leadership and advocacy and as well as clinical topics.

“I’m thrilled to be returning to the EnVision Summit this year, serving as chair of the optometry track for the second year,” said Koetting. “Last year’s event, and inaugural year for optometry, featured engaging speakers and intimate discussions, creating a unique space for thoughtful panel conversations. It’s truly special to see optometry becoming an integral part of this conference, which fosters both professional connections and a strong sense of community.”

Another unique aspect of the meeting is the Youth Program. The program is built alongside the main agenda and is held in a room adjacent to the lecture hall, so parents and children can move in between (with supervision), allowing children to watch their parent at the podium, or for the adult to visit the youth during a break. The agenda includes activities for all ages: sports camps, arts and crafts, board games, ping-pong tables, yoga classes, and more. They also offer classes for older youth, such as lessons on social media and applying for colleges. If education or fun and games aren’t for your youngster, there is also entertainment, such as a magician who comes to teach a few of their tricks.

“The Youth Program is, in my view, the highlight of the meeting. It’s such a favorite place and space and agenda. If you haven’t been to EnVision [Summit], the Youth Program is really different. It’s not just a program for youngsters. It’s actually an experience,” said Henderson.

And for those who have aged out of the Youth Program but aren’t ready for the full track, EnVision Summit offers yet another perk: free registration for residents, fellows, and students. It’s a great opportunity to rub elbows in a casual environment, according to Henderson.

“Obviously, the free registration is a big draw, but also, I think it’s really the casual nature, the ability to talk to the attendees [who] are there. And you’ll see a lot of people in academia there.… There are residency directors as well as practicing physicians in high-volume practices. I think we had about 100 or so residents and fellows come last year, and the amount of posters that they’re submitting, the talks that they’re submitting, are really growing, and it’s incredible. The quality of the talks that they’re giving is really amazing. I’m really so impressed by these young trainees, year after year.”

Learn more about EnVision Summit by visiting the conference's website.