US-China Cornea Forum Launched

The US-China Cornea Forum that took place during the American Academy of Ophthalmology fall conference in Chicago was a first. I’m happy to say the gathering was a direct result of Doheny’s enduring emphasis on international collaboration.

Former Doheny technician, resident and fellow, Dr. Mingwu Wang, an MD, PhD graduate of China Medical University in Shenyang, and now based in Tucson, Arizona, organized this inaugural exchange of ideas, with the intention of helping doctors identify peers and establish relationships in person that can move forward virtually.

The forum expands on our targeted efforts in East Asia. Earlier this year, Doheny doctors Olivia Lee and Laura Vickers made a trip to Mongolia to work directly with colleagues on corneal transplant techniques and training. These in-person working groups are critical to sharing the latest know how and even bringing transplantable corneas to patients.

We are fortunate to have ample evidence at Doheny by now that connections made among doctors in person continue successfully online and can have transformative effects on the state of research and patient treatment. My hope is that Doheny’s sponsorship of this new US-China Cornea Forum will incubate many collaborations in the years ahead.