|
Quick Links
Member Log-in
- IAO Members - Click here to access pages restricted to IAO members.
- Board Members -
Click here to view the Board of Directors Information page (password protected).
Our Leadership
The Illinois Association of Ophthalmology is governed by representative ophthalmologists from all parts of the state. Click here to view the members of the IAO Board of Directors.
Our Mission
The mission of the Illinois Association of Ophthalmology is to serve the total visual health care needs of the people through public and professional education, membership services, and legislative advocacy. The Illinois Association of Ophthalmology is dedicated to the public's direct access to an ophthalmologist's care.
Other Items
|
Welcome to the
Illinois Association of Ophthalmology!
Our 42nd Year 1970 • 2012
The mission of the IAO is to serve the total visual health care needs of the people through public and professional education, membership services, and legislative advocacy. The Illinois Association of Ophthalmology is dedicated to the public's direct access to an ophthalmologist's care.
What's New & Resources
New & Upcoming Events
- Coding Staff! IAO's next round of full-day coding seminars are coming up.
CLICK HERE for details & registration.
Be sure to mark your calendars:
-- Thursday, Feb. 16 in Springfield
-- Tuesday, Feb. 21 in Rosemont
-- Wednesday, Feb. 22 in Lisle (western suburbs)
-
Recently updated! The IAO/COS 2012 Annual Meeting is set for March 9 & 10 at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Physicians, ophthalmic techs, practice administrators and exhibitors are all invited.
-- Overall conference details: CLICK HERE
-- Exhibitor Prospectus
-
Illinois Residents -- The IAO again will sponsor several residents to attend the AAO's Advocacy Day and MidYear Forum in Washington, DC, April 25 - 28, 2012. CLICK HERE for more details and an online application form.
Other Resources and Information
- Webinar: Are You Ready for ICD-10? A 1-hour interactive online seminar to help you prepare for the transition to the ICD-10 coding system was held on Thursday, December 15, 2011. We are planning additional webinars in the coming year... stay tuned for details!
CLICK HERE for information about our recent webinar.
- Attendees: Check here for handout materials and log-in instructions. (This page requires a password.)
- Join the ISMS - The Illinois State Medical Society represents the interest of all Illinois physicians, and they are a strong partner for the Illinois Association of Ophthalmology in our legislative issues. All ophthalmologists are strongly encouraged to join! Here is a link to the ISMS membership information.
- IAO's Coding Information page for ophthalmologists, professionals and billing staff (member log-in required)
- Eye Wiki -- an eye encyclopedia written by eye physicians & surgeons
- Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft Schemes
- Practice Management Resources
- Contact Lens Dispensing -- In Illinois, it is against the law to sell (dispense) contact lenses without a prescription. Read more.
Current Legislative Issues
IAO News
January 2012 -- IAO President Chris Albanis, MD, was interviewed for an article that appeared in the Spring 2011 issue of "Spirit of Women" magazine about understanding vision loss. Read the article here.
December 1, 2011 --Dimitri T. Azar, MD, chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has been named Dean of the UIC College of Medicine, effective December 16, 2011. This appointment follows extensive consultation with representatives of the faculty, students and college leadership which yielded enthusiastic endorsement for the appointment. Dr. Azar has served as Interim Dean since May 1 of this year. Read more...
September 15, 2011 -- It is with great sadness that we share the news that longtime IAO member Dick O'Grady, MD has passed away in Tucson from stroke complications. He practiced for many years in Glenview and also was very active for decades in the Chicago-area academic community at Northwestern and Loyola. Click here to read the announcement published in the Chicago Tribune.
July 5, 2011 -- Community Service Project: The Collaborative Underserved Relief and Education Network (CURE) hosted a Remote Area Medical® (RAM) mission over 3 days on August 19-21, providing vision, dental, and general medical services to an estimated 3,000 underserved individuals in Chicago. CURE was co-founded in 2010 by Dr. Rama Jager (a vitreoretinal surgeon and fellow IAO colleague) and Dr. Ken Nelson to help bring significantly needed vision, dental, and medical care to the uninsured and underinsured population. For more information about the RAM Chicago event, go to www.ramusa.org. Learn more about CURE by visiting www.curenetwork.org or email Dr. Rama Jager at rjager@uretina.com.
May 24, 2011 -- Governor Pat Quinn has proclaimed June 11, 2011 to be "Eye Health Awareness Day" in Illinois in recognition of the EyeCheck-Illinois screening project co-sponsored by the IAO and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church on Chicago,s west side. CLICK HERE to view the proclamation (in JPEG format).
March 23, 2011 -- From the AMA Wire... Several medical specialty groups and the AMA are collaborating to end patient confusion over who's a medical doctor. Read more...
News archives -- click here
Questions regarding the IAO? Feel free to contact our administrative office.
|
What is the IAO?
The Illinois Association of Ophthalmology (IAO) is the only statewide organization representing Illinois ophthalmologists and their patients. The IAO's activities include legislative advocacy, interaction with third party payers about reimbursement and coverage issues, public education about important eye health care concerns, and continuing medical education for ophthalmologists and their staffs.
View a list of IAO's past president -- CLICK HERE
 |
Ten IAO Past-presidents got together at the 2011 Annual Meeting for a rare photo. Pictured left to right are Doctors Gary Rubin, Pete Lagouros, Okksana Mensheha, Norbert Becker, Chris Albanis (current president), Frank Kresca (IAO's first president), Bob Graham, John Hanlon, Jim Kapustiak and Ron May.
Photo taken February 2011. CLICK HERE for a higher resolution copy in JPEG format.
|
IAO's Public Service Programs
Project Vietnam
The Illinois Association of Ophthalmology has embarked on a major project in Vietnam with a focus in two primary areas: teaching phacoemulsification cataract surgery and working to improve medical and surgical eye care services in Quang Tri Province. Our partners for the cataract surgery course are Alcon and the Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology in Hanoi. For the Quang Tri effort, we are working closely with the Global Community Service Foundation. Read all about Project Vietnam and our video about our fundraising effort to build a facility to help the blind in the town of Vinh Linh.
The Vinh Linh building is complete and was dedicated on June 18, 2010, during a ceremony. The event was attended by two Illinois ophthalmologists, IAO's executive director, representatives of our partner, the Global Commity Service Foundation, and other friends and family.
- CLICK HERE to view a video about the completion of the project and it's impact, produced by the Vietnam staff of the GCSF.
- A photo album from the dedication ceremony can be found HERE.
IAO/AAO eyeSmart Eye Screening Program
The IAO joined with the American Academy of Ophthalmology to conduct a free eye screening as part of the eyeSmart-eyeCheck project. CLICK HERE for details about this event which took place on Saturday, June 11 at the New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago
Administrative Items
|
