OIS@ASCRS Features New Sessions, Companies

OIS@ASCRS 2019 will convene next Thursday, May 2, preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting in San Diego.

This year’s OIS@ASCRS features a few new additions, as OIS co-founder and Healthegy CEO Craig Simak points out. These include a switch from the “Masters of the Industry” session to “The Emerging Leaders of the Ophthalmic Industry.” And most notable will be that half of the companies and individuals presenting on the OIS stage will be doing so for the first time. This was a conscious effort to keep the content fresh and engaging for our audience, which is again at an all-time high and growing (650+ attendees).

Here’s a preview of the what’s in store for OIS@ASCRS 2019.

Breakfast Breakout Sessions. These popular early morning sessions, beginning at 7:45 am, will feature a revised format that now includes some company presentations with emerging technologies. This year’s line-up of subspecialty sessions will also feature thought leaders addressing dry eye disease, glaucoma, imaging and diagnostics, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), and presbyopia/refractive.

Summit Kick-Off on the main stage with William J. Link, PhD, OIS@ASCRS 2019 co-chair and managing director at Versant Ventures, providing an update on the ophthalmology innovation cycle that will segway into a panel discussion. “Attendees will be updated on the latest projects and companies, as well as successes and challenges,” Dr. Link tells OIS Weekly. “I am very pleased with the strong participation we have from leading entrepreneurs, physicians, industry, and investors ¬— the four constituents critical to impactful innovation.”

Glaucoma Research Foundation Projects. Thomas Brunner, president and CEO of the Glaucoma Research Foundation, will introduce the top researchers working on projects for the Foundation.

Innovation Showcases. Presenting companies have been spaced throughout the program this year while maintaining two dedicated showcases of 16 companies to present their most current data and activities.

Public Market Activity. J.P. Peltier, managing director and global head of healthcare investment banking at Piper Jaffray, will give an overview of recent activity in the public ophthalmology markets, and Michael Lachman, president of EyeQ Research, will talk about the recent performance of the OIS Index, a collection of ophthalmology stocks.

Payor Channels. John Berdahl, MD, of Vance Thompson Vision, will moderate a discussion on traditional vs. premium payer channels, looking at who pays, and how.

FDA Fireside Chat. In this always-popular session, Malvina Eydelman, MD, director of the Division of Ophthalmic, and Ear, Nose, and Throat Devices at the Food and Drug Administration, will talk with Richard Lindstrom, MD on how best to navigate the FDA approval process.

Postoperative Adjustability. Two back-to-back sessions to include innovative company presentations followed by key opinion leader panels. The first on current approaches to post-cataract refractive errors, led by George Waring IV, MD, and the second on postoperative assessment and adjustability of the cornea, led by Elizabeth Yeu, MD.

Sources of capital. This session will feature a diverse panel of active early through late-stage investors focusing on ophthalmology deals.

Strategic Partnering. OIS@ASCRS 2019 co-chair Emmett T. Cunningham Jr., MD, PhD, MPH, will moderate a discussion with leaders from Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, Santen, and Novartis on who they are collaborating with on specific projects and initiatives.

Emerging Leaders. The Masters of the Industry session gives way to the rising stars of ophthalmology. James V. Mazzo, global president of ophthalmic devices at Carl Zeiss Meditec, will moderate a lively discussion with Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Glaukos Corporation, STAAR Surgical, and EyePoint Pharmaceuticals.

“The OIS@ASCRS program is comprehensive and will be highly informative for those involved with innovation in our field,” Dr. Link says.

Contact steve@healthegy.com with any questions.