In October, Eversight team members had the privilege of attending two industry events in the ophthalmology world: the Cornea and Eye Banking Forum (CEBF) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2024 conference. These conferences offered an invaluable blend of education, networking and collaboration, allowing our team to connect with leaders in the field.
CEBF is hosted by the Eye Bank Association of America and the Cornea Society. This event highlights the latest scientific and research developments in cornea and eye banking, as well as innovations that are on the horizon.
The AAO annual meeting is a conference for eye care professionals to learn about the latest ophthalmology technologies and research, network and exchange ideas and topics. The events are hosted together each year.
CEBF and AAO are a great opportunity for eye banks like Eversight to engage with our surgeons and industry partners and educate cornea specialists on the latest surgical techniques and eye bank offerings.
The power of hands-on learning
For Global Development Director Carrie Wolverton, the hands-on sessions Eversight hosted at UIC—particularly the Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) and Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) wet labs—were a highlight of the AAO conference.
Seven surgeons participated in the DMEK and DALK wet labs, which facilitated a more intimate learning environment where detailed guidance could be provided by the expert instructors.
"The conference provided an excellent platform to stay updated on the latest trends in corneal transplantation and eye banking,” Carrie said.
Additionally, the networking opportunities allowed her to strengthen relationships and gain insights from leaders in the field.
“It is crucial for Eversight to attend conferences like AAO to stay at the forefront of ophthalmic innovation, demonstrate our dedication to quality and directly engage with our surgeons and clinicians,” she said. “These interactions enable us to understand emerging needs and trends, which can help us improve our tissue offerings and services.”
Attending AAO gave Carrie valuable knowledge into evolving surgical techniques and allowed her to gain a better understanding of the challenges surgeons face in the operating room, which will help Eversight enhance our services.
Building relationships & expanding knowledge
For Partner Relations Director Sara McKoy, the conference was an opportunity to connect with Eversight’s partners and team members in both professional and social settings.
“Seeing my colleague Michael Szkarlat present was very cool,” Sara said. “My favorite part was witnessing how colleagues approach and interact with various attendees, and how I can incorporate that into my relationships.”
Being at CEBF and AAO also highlighted the continuous journey of learning for Sara and peers.
"It was a good reminder that there’s always more to learn," she said.
Attending presentations and interacting with industry professionals reinforced the importance of communication, trust, collaboration and building on every experience—a sentiment many Eversight team members shared.
Eversight education & collaboration
He was also thrilled to see colleagues presenting at CEBF, underscoring the importance of sharing Eversight’s work on such a prominent industry stage.
During CEBF, Michael presented an abstract that was a collaboration between Eversight and Johns Hopkins’ Dr. Uri Soiberman on the “Feasibility of Manual Preparation of Bowman Layer Grafts in the Eye Bank Setting.” Work like this is crucial to the evolution of cornea care and eye banking.
Team building & memorable moments
The team also enjoyed dinners and events together, helping to strengthen their personal relationships.
Michael’s favorite moment? Dancing at the Jules Stein Alumni event to DJ AJA with his friends from Vietnam and LA.
These informal, joyful moments reflect the spirit of camaraderie and shared purpose that bring the Eversight team together and drive our collective mission forward.
After CEBF & AAO 2024: Looking ahead with renewed purpose
Attending CEBF and AAO helps Eversight stay at the forefront of ophthalmic innovation and strengthens our commitment to serving the needs of surgeons, clinicians and patients. By engaging in events like these, Eversight team members gain valuable feedback, industry insights and build relationships that fuel our work and ensure our dedication to quality and excellence in eye banking.
“The primary purpose of attending AAO is to showcase Eversight's commitment to advancing corneal transplantation by providing quality tissue, staying updated on the latest research and building relationships with surgeons,” Carrie said. “It's also an opportunity to gather feedback on our tissue offerings and strengthen our presence in the ophthalmology community.”
As we reflect on the connections, collaboration and unforgettable experiences from these conferences, we’re reminded of the dedication and passion that unite our team in a shared vision for the future—creating a world without preventable blindness.
