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Virtual Introductory
Summer Course in
Ophthalmology

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Welcome to VISCO!

VISCO is a free virtual ophthalmology course that aims to increase accessibility to expert ophthalmology knowledge, no matter what stage you are in medical school.

 

The course is composed of two parts:

  1. six weekly workshops presented by ophthalmology faculty and residents across Canada, and

  2. a high-yield structured reading guide using curated resources that is meant to provide background knowledge to supplement the workshops.

 

During the course, you will have opportunities to win prizes and learn ophthalmology from incredible teachers.

 

The content and objectives of this course are based on a curated list of learning objectives endorsed by Canadian Undergraduate Medical Education Leads in Ophthalmology and reference resources from the Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology (AUPO) and the Medical Council of Canada (MCC).  

By participating in these workshops, participants can claim Section 2 credits in the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Each video reviewed can be claimed for 0.5 credits.

Welcome
Links
Course Schedule

Course Schedule

 
Week
Date
Time (ET)
Title
Presenter
1
June 19, 2022
3 - 5 PM
Introduction
Dr. Michael Nguyen
2
June 26, 2022
3 - 5 PM
OCT
Dr. Danah Albreiki
3
July 10, 2022
3 - 5 PM
Retina
Dr. Adnan Alawami
4
July 17, 2022
3 - 5 PM
Pediatrics & Optics
Dr. Michael Wan
5
July 24, 2022
3 - 5 PM
Glaucoma
Dr. Irfan Kherani
6
August 7, 2022
3 - 4 PM
Refractive Surgery
Dr. Kashif Baig
.
.
4 - 5 PM
Uveitis
Dr. Chloe Gottlieb

OUR OBJECTIVES

Interactive Learning

This workshop-based course is designed to supplement existing ophthalmology curricula in Canadian medical schools.

Access to Resources

Registrants will receive access to resource materials to enhance learning done in workshops.

Community Development

VISCO aims to cultivate a learning community among medical students with interests in ophthalmology.

Objectives
Speakers

Speakers

Dr. Michael Nguyen

MD, PGY-4, University of Toronto

Dr. Michael Thai Binh Nguyen is a PGY4 ophthalmology resident at the University of Toronto. He completed medical school at McMaster University and is currently serving as the Co-Chief Resident at the University of Toronto. He was also elected President of the Council of Canadian Ophthalmology Residents (CCOR) for 2021-2022 as part of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS). He is interested in leadership and medical student education and is the Founding Course Director of the Virtual Introductory Student Course in Ophthalmology (VISCO).

Dr. Adnan Alawami

MBBS, PGY-5, University of Ottawa

Dr. Adnan Alawami is a PGY 4 ophthalmology resident at University of Ottawa and is currently serving as Co-Chief resident. He is interested in medical education and was honoured to receive the Resident Teaching Award in the 2019. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and catching up on the latest soccer match.

Dr. Irfan Kherani

AB, MD, FRCSC

Dr. Irfan Kheran completed residency training in Ophthalmology at the University of Ottawa with fellowships afterwards in Glaucoma & Advanced Anterior Segment Surgery at the University of Toronto and Vision Rehabilitation at the University of British Columbia. He is currently working through the one-year Harvard University
Global Clinical Scholars Research Training Program.

Dr. Kherani offers the full gamut of glaucoma and anterior segment medical, laser and incisional surgery including complex cataract/intraocular lens, angle-based Schlemm’s Canal and sub-conjunctival, needling, trabeculectomy and tube-shunt surgery. Academically, he has previously evaluated the role of tele-ophthalmology, both tele-glaucoma
and tele-retina, in resource limited settings, as well as the role the uniform-field electroretinogram photopic-negative response in reflecting ganglion cell function in patients with early glaucoma.

Dr. Kherani hopes to pursue research in vision rehabilitation, especially in glaucoma patients aimed at optimizing their function, as well as a newfound interest in the quantitative effect of glaucoma laser and surgery, comparing both traditional and micro-invasive, on intraocular pressure fluctuation.

Dr. Chloe Gottlieb

MD, FRCSC

Dr. Gottlieb is a uveitis & medical retina specialist at the University of Ottawa Eye Institute.

She is Assistant Professor, Residency Program Director and Vice-Chair of Education in the Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa.

Dr. Gottlieb received the Department of Ophthalmology clinical teaching award in 2019. She is a member of the Female Physician Leadership Committee of The Ottawa Hospital. Her roles with the COS include the MOC committee, Advocacy committee and the adjudication committee for the Awards for Excellence in Research of the COS Annual Meeting.

Dr. Gottlieb enjoys her role as a consultant to the department of ophthalmology at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, where she co-manages the care of children with uveitis alongside a multidisciplinary team. She is currently working with a national group of uveitis specialists led by the Canadian Rheumatology Association, who together will create a set of Canadian guidelines on the management of JIA-associated uveitis.

Dr. Danah Albreiki

MBBS, FRCSC

Dr. Albreiki moved from Saudi Arabia to complete her residency training in ophthalmology at the University of Ottawa Eye Institute. She then proceeded to complete a fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology and adult strabismus surgery at the Eye institute in 2012. Dr. Albreiki is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa Eye Institute.

Dr. Albreiki has a passion for teaching, and was privileged to be the first to win the Dr. William Clarke medical teaching award two years in a row in 2015 and 2016. Dr. Albreiki has a research interest in GCA and medical education. She is director of the neuro-ophthalmology fellowship training program at Ottawa university, a member of the EYE VAN, the Co-Director and content expert for the uOttawa Ophthalmology Undergraduate Medical Education "Anglophone stream", the founder of the "Mentor to inspire" mentorship program for the uOttawa Ophthalmology Residency Program. Dr. Albreiki is a national and international examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the founder and director of the Canadian neuro-ophthalmology review course (CNORC).

Dr. Michael Wan

MD, FRCSC

Dr. Michael Wan is a paediatric ophthalmologist at Sick Kids Hospital and an assistant professor at the University of Toronto. He received his medical degree from Western University and completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Toronto. He completed a fellowship in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, with an additional year of training in neuro-ophthalmology, at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Kashif Baig

MD, FRCSC, MBA

Dr. Kashif Baig is a Cornea, Anterior Segment, and Refractive Surgeon providing tertiary-level care at the University of Ottawa Eye Institute. Dr. Baig is the Medical Director at Herzig Eye Institute Ottawa, our partner location, opening the fall of 2019. He has been an active member of the Toronto surgical team since April 2018, travelling back and forth from Ottawa to perform SMILE, LASIK, PRK, RLE , refractive cataract surgery, and traditional cataract surgery.
Dr. Baig currently serves as the President of the Canadian Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery Society, and the Executive Director of the Sally Letson Foundation.
Dr. Baig is an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa, Pediatric Cornea Consultant at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Clinical Investigator in Regenerative Medicine at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and Director of Clinical and Research Fellowships in Cornea, Anterior Segment, and Refractive Surgery.
He completed his medical and residency training at McGill University in Montreal, Master of Business Administration Degree (specializing in Health Services Management) at McMaster University in Hamilton, and Fellowship training in the United States.
Dr. Baig has a strong interest in the development and implementation of surgical innovations in corneal and anterior segment surgery.

Planning Committee

Planning Committee

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