ISOO Summer 2020 Newsletter
Message from the President, Victoria Cohen
Dear Colleagues and friends,So much has changed since I last wrote to you in April 2020. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic demands a creative, resourceful approach to practicing medicine. I really appreciate the messages I have received from Ocular Oncology Services around the world who have been able to continue to accept new retinoblastoma cases from abroad. Fortunately, most institutions understood that essential cancer services had to continue even in the peak of the pandemic. However, huge uncertainties exist as countries gradually emerge from lock down and try to return to more routine work. I believe the biggest challenge is still ahead as we have to manage the inevitable surge in cancer referrals, whilst trying to keep outpatient waiting room numbers and surgical cases within the confines of social distancing. There is no doubt that telemedicine will play an increasingly important role in the future.Training and education in Ocular Oncology has been a challenge to sustain this year. Meetings planned earlier in the year did not have enough time to adapt to a virtual format, such the Ophthalmic Oncology Group Meeting (OOG) which was due to be held in Tel Aviv, Israel March 2021 but had to be cancelled. However, innovative videoconferencing has allowed some international conferences to continue such as "Ocular Oncology - What new am I doing in 2020” organized by the All India Ophthalmological Society in April 2020, which was great success. The Virtual World Congress of Ophthalmology will go ahead this weekend June 26-30 2020. There will be a very extensive section on Ocular Oncology so I highly recommend registering for this event using the link below in the academic calendar. You can watch the Ocular Oncology sessions in the comfort of your living room and the educational content will be accessible for 3 months.The most important news for members is a change in the date for our next Congress. Due to government restrictions in the Netherlands it is no longer possible to host a large international meeting in 2021. After lengthy discussions between the Local Organising Committee and the Executive Board we have made the decision to postpone the ISOO Congress in Leiden, Netherlands to June 2022. To maintain the smooth running of the society, the current Executive Board will continue to hold their positions until our next Congress. Accordingly, the subsequent Congress in Goa, India will be put back to January 2024, allowing sufficient time to submit new abstracts for that Congress. This has kindly been agreed by the Local Organising Committee in India.In view of the above and to keep updated in Ocular Oncology, Vicky Dai (Program Secretary) will organise a virtual educational day on the 18th June 2021. This will consist of interesting cases, in a rapid-fire format which is likely to be very popular. Contributions are welcome. Ethics and Professionalism No recent update CommunicationPlease also let us know if you have some important news to share in the next Newsletter. Website developmentThe mobile connectivity and functioning of our website has been improved. Key publications from our members can now be added to the “Resources” section of the website. May I take the opportunity to highlight the recently uploaded Uveal Melanoma Review published in Nature. Please inform ISOO at contact@isoo.org if you have any other significant publications to share.Victoria CohenPresident, ISOO
ISOO CONFERENCE UPDATES
2022 ISOO CONFERENCE IN LEIDEN, THE NETHERLANDS June 17- 22, 2022NEW DATES & DEADLINESRegistration as member deadline 15 December 2021Abstract submission deadline 21 December 2021.As we wish all our members to be able to travel to the ISOO meeting, we decided to move the meeting from 2021 to 2022. We hope that by then, travel has become normal, and we can meet again in person.The new date of the ISOO meeting will be June 17-21, 2021, in Leiden.In the meantime, we will organise a virtual case meeting on June 18, 2021.with kind regards,Martine J. JagerPresident of the 2022 Congressalso on behalf of Annette Moll, Emine Kilic and Vicky Dai, MEMBERSHIP UPDATES from ISOO Admin Secretary ***ISOO 2020 dues****Your membership will grant you:
- access to published articles in the journal Ocular Oncology and Pathology. You can find a link to the journal on the ISOO website isoo.org
- attendance and abstract submission to ISOO meetings
- reduced fee attendance to various ocular oncology meetings including WOC
At this time your 2020 dues should be paid. Payment is available online www.isoo.orgWe wish everyone good health and peaceful days! Sandra DaileyISOO Administrative Secretary
MEMBERSHIP UPDATES from ISOO Membership Committee
Dear Members, Membership season is still open. For those colleagues who applied as members in training in previous years and are now fully trained Ocular Oncologists, we would appreciate if you could update your status. This should be done through ISOO website, applying as Active / Ordinary member.An Active / Ordinary member can:Participate in all meetingsVoteServe as officer if electedServe in any capacity in SocietyWill receive newsletters, bulletins, and reminders Members in training should also register their membership to be eligible for grants at the next ISOO Congress. Thanks in advance! Maria Manquez HattaMembership Committee Chair ISOO
CLINICAL UPDATES AND COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
The VHL Alliance are in the process of finalising their screening recommendations for Von Hippel Lindau disease. The ophthalmic section of the guidelines have been formulated by American Ocular Oncologists and retinal specialists. The guidelines were presented at the retina society meeting in London, to the macula society, AAOOP and will be presented and the AAO this year. Please watch this space for publication details. https://www.vhl.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Active-Surveillance-Guidelines-2020-1.pdf
OCULAR ONCOLOGY ACADEMIC CALENDAR
WORLD OPHTHALMOLOGY CONGRESS 2020. **NOW VIRTUAL**ISOO, AAOOP and OOG will be running Ocular Oncology Symposia at this Congress with LIVE sessions.Discounted rates for ISOO/AAOOP/OOG members receive a discounted rate.Registration: https://icowoc.org/Link to the Ophthalmic Oncology Program: https://icowoc.org/program/sessions/#ophthalmic-oncology 
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF OPHTHALMOLOGY, OCULAR ONCOLOGY & PATHOLOGY SUB DAY 2020, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA ***still scheduled in person***Friday November 13thhttps://www.aao.org/annual-meeting/education/oncology-pathology
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Dr. Vikas Khetan was elected by his peers to represent the AP section, Pathology/oncology sub-section on the ARVO annual meeting program committee, a 3-year elected position.Dr. Carol Shields past ISOO president, was named to the Ophthalmologist 2020 Power List Top 10Dr. James Muecke, Ocular Oncologist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, chairman and founder of the charity Sight for All, has been awarded the outstanding achievement of ‘Australian of the Year 2020.’Kudos from all of us at ISOO!If you wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter, or have any questions regarding the ISOO organization, please send an email to contact@isoo.org