ESCRS OBSERVERSHIP PROGRAMME IS HELPING YOUNG OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

Under the ESCRS Observership Programme, young ophthalmologists are given the opportunity to travel outside of their own country and experience clinical practice in a hospital or university setting. The programme is now in its second year and the feedback from both trainers and trainees has been very positive. 'I would advise my young colleagues to apply for these grants as soon as possible,' said Oliver Findl MD, MBA, chairman of the Young Ophthalmologists’ Forum.

“The Observership Programme is for young ophthalmologists who are starting their surgical training or already in surgical training,†said Dr Findl. 'While the young ophthalmologists taking part in the programme will not be able to carry out surgery, they will get the opportunity to see senior ophthalmologists working. It will also be interesting for them to see how an ophthalmological department is run,†he said.

One of the trainees who took part in the programme said her experience had been very rewarding. Anna Lysenko, a young ophthalmologist from the Ukraine was given a grant for an Observership in the Ophthalmology Department of Goethe University Clinic, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, from July 30 until August 10, 2012.

“I observed clinical and surgical cases in the Department of Cataract and Refractive surgery and also in the Paediatric Ophthalmology Unit of Goethe University Clinic,†she said. “In the operating room, I had the opportunity to observe different approaches to cataract and refractive surgery with Prof Thomas Kohnen, as well as surgery of the cornea and anterior segment and also vitreoretinal and strabismus surgery. Then in the clinic I observed and studied the different approaches to diagnostics and treatment of such patients,' she said. Dr Lysenko said she was very grateful to Prof Kohnen, Prof Frank Koch, Dr Jens Buhren, Dr Burkhard von Jagow, Dr Fritz Hengerer and Dr Melanie Bodemann who were her mentors during the Observership. 'I also gained valuable experience working with Dr von Jagow and Dr Bodemann in the Paediatric Ophthalmology Department,' she said. 'I will apply this knowledge into everyday practice in my department.'

Dr Lysenko said her Observership was a unique learning experience. “It will have a positive impact on my personal knowledge and practice in the field of cataract and refractive surgery. I strongly feel that the programme’s training will facilitate both my short- and long-term career aspirations,' she said. Dr Lysenko said she would like to offer special thanks to the ESCRS for the opportunity to visit one of the best clinics in Europe. 'This is a great opportunity for ophthalmologists like myself, working in small Ukrainian cities, who don’t have the opportunity to visit European meetings or congresses of ophthalmologists, to observe different surgical and management training,' she said. Dr Buhren said: “It was a pleasure to have Anna as an observer in our department and we wish her all the very best for her future career.

* To apply for an Observership visit: http://www.escrs.org/Youngophthalmologist