ESCRS Launches Its' Inclusivity Programme: Building Our Sustainable Society (BoSS)

26 June 2024

The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) announced today the launch of its new programme: BoSS (Building Our Sustainable Society). This will be one of the key initiatives that ESCRS will focus on in the coming years.

Under the guidance of ESCRS President Filomena Ribeiro and BOSS Working Group Chair Mor Dickman, a comprehensive multi-year program has been developed with ESCRS consultant Kristine Morrill. BOSS is launching this week with an introductory video by ESCRS Secretary Burkhard Dick and the debut episode of the new monthly podcast, "Inclusivity in Focus," hosted by Working Group members Artemis Matsou and Diana Silva.

“We started working on the inclusivity program more than one year ago, so it is exciting to reach this point and share it with the ESCRS membership, as well as the wider ophthalmic community,” said Ribeiro. “The goal of the BOSS programme is to foster an environment where every ESCRS member feels that they have a voice in the society and feel valued.”

In addition to the podcast, a new BOSS-focused section of the ESCRS website launched today (https://www.escrs.org/boss/). Here, visitors can meet the working group members, watch videos from the team discussing inclusivity and related topics, and visit a library curated by Sotiria Palioura, a member of the working group.

“Building the BOSS programme has truly been a team effort with everyone getting involved to develop the Barcelona activities, and the ongoing program that will take place throughout the year”, said Dickman. “The themes of leadership and mentorship will be central to our work in the months ahead”.

Two symposia will anchor the BOSS programme with the first opening the annual meeting on Saturday at 8:45 am in the Plenary Hall. Entitled ‘Hidden Bias in Science’, this symposium will focus on bias in scientific research, publications, as well as in AI tools.

The second symposium on Monday morning (9-11 am) is jointly organized by the ESCRS practice management committee (Leadership, Business & Innovation) and is titled ‘Leadership and Mentorship in an Inclusive Society.’ This symposium will feature the leaders of ASCRS, AUSCRS, BRASCRS, and AAO, as well as industry leaders.

In between, there will be Speed Mentoring Sessions, a workshop on hidden biases by Project Implicit, an instructional course on hidden biases led by Australian surgeon Tanya Trinh, and opportunities to network, including Sunday evening in an event sponsored by Ophthalmic World Leaders (OWL). Plans for this year also include a nursery/family room operated by a licensed childcare provider. Full programme details for Barcelona will be available soon on the Barcelona congress section of the website.

In September, the ESCRS plans to release the results of a membership survey designed to better understand its members' needs. Members and non-members can complete the survey at https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90711840/ESCRS-2024-Membership-Survey-Updated or use the QR code shown below.

More details on all these activities will be available in the coming weeks, as well as on the ESCRS website, www.escrs.org, and in Eurotimes.