Ascrs/asoa winter update 2013

This year the Winter Symposium will honor the legacy of Alan Crandall, MD — , former co-chair of this meeting and a tireless teacher and humanitarian.

Alan was not only an incredibly gifted surgeon, but also an incredible teacher. All of us have benefitted from his efforts in advancing cataract and glaucoma management. He was passionate about caring for his patients and instilled this passion into everyone he taught or met.

He genuinely cared for every soul on earth. We miss him terribly but will continue on with his legacy. Robert J. Cionni, MD. Alan loved his work and was deeply dedicated to sharing his amazing skills as a surgeon, educator, researcher, and humanitarian in the service of others. Douglas D. Some categories are up, and some are down. Here are the current pre-reg numbers through Thursday afternoon:.

These numbers may surprise many of you, but I believe they reflect the value our annual meeting brings to our members, and the enthusiasm they have for our organization. Current Situation in Boston: Earlier this week Governor Baker declared a State of Emergency for 30 days through April 10 at which time it will be reassessed for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which essentially grants him expanded powers to issue executive orders such as cancelling large public gatherings.

Earlier today , Governor Baker announced a restriction on crowds of or more effective immediately until the State of Emergency no longer exists or the Order is rescinded, whichever is earlier. That said, as of today, the guidance we have once again received directly from the city of Boston is to continue moving forward with our meeting.

This could change at any moment, but that is the current state. Next Steps : With the meeting date still 63 days away, and amidst the daily chaos wrought by COVID, it is crucial for us to make calm and measured decisions with the best interests of our members, attendees and the society considered.

ASCRS considers the health and safety of its meeting attendees as a top priority. Staging a meeting this size comes with many responsibilities which we treat with equal weighting. Included in these responsibilities are the numerous contractual obligations ASCRS has with our convention center, logistics and hotel partners in Boston. If we initiated a voluntary cancellation today, ASCRS will be responsible for fulfilling all contractual obligations.

However, if a government entity initiates a cancellation, a number of these obligations would be removed, significantly reducing the financial exposure for the society. While safeguarding the health and safety of meeting attendees is essential, it is critical to the vitality of our organization that these decisions are carefully managed and executed.

Everything we do is viewed through the lens of serving the needs of our members, their practices and their patients. We will take no decisions that betray that commitment.