WCPOS ADVANCING THE CAUSE OF CHILDREN'S EYE CARE

The increasingly global nature of ophthalmic expertise and the need for enhanced interaction and knowledge-sharing were highlighted at yesterday’s opening ceremony of the 3rd World Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WCPOS).
Welcoming delegates to Barcelona on behalf of the WSPOS Executive Bureau, Richard Hertle MD, FAAO, FACS, FAAP, USA, said that this year’s gathering of paediatric specialists at the event would help to advance the cause of paediatric eye care in all parts of the world.
“This congress and its venue is like no other in that it allows those of us who care for children and their families to equally share our international and cultural perspectives, from clinical care and research to cuisine and entertainment,” he said.
Dr Hertle said that the WSPOS scientific programme offered delegates a wide spectrum of topics and educational opportunities to enhance their daily clinical practice.
“This programme is filled with timely and provocative information in the form of keynote lectures, skills transfer, instructional courses, wetlabs, electronic posters, video presentations and novel audience-directed sessions,” he added.
Dr Hertle said WSPOS believes that expertise is a global phenomenon, and the society would continue to promote the concept of international collaboration as a cornerstone of its future development.
“If you think these are only words, look around you and you will see the evidence of this: the fact that there are over 1,000 participants here travelling from all continents and over 100 different countries is a testimony to how robust the state of our profession is and how passionate we are to share our experience and knowledge with each other,” he said.
WCPOS provides a valuable opportunity for paediatric specialists to network, develop new friendships and share and learn from each other, he said.
“This is a historic moment for this organisation. We are charged with developing and providing a trusted service to our worldwide community. This meeting and the connections it creates will provide substance as we seek to address key challenges together. Prepare yourself to make new friends, be challenged by new ideas and experience the excitement of being inspired by our common goal of restoring and preserving the visual health of our children.”