The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (Eye and Ear) will again host GENEYE, a fully immersive training event for both trainee and current ophthalmologists to strive for excellence in their field.
At GENEYE 2023 – taking place 23-25 May in Melbourne – modern educational strategies and techniques are utilised to train the mind and body as well as to develop specific skills required for high performance in eye health.
Using virtual reality simulators alongside forms of dedicated practice, event organisers say learners can develop highly specialised microsurgery skills in a safe and controlled environment.
Virtual reality training aims to improve patient outcomes, reduce complication rates and improve surgeon skills and confidence. This approach for beginner surgeons has been demonstrated to decrease serious complications of cataract surgery by around 40%.
Dr Jacqueline Beltz, ophthalmologist at the Eye and Ear, founder of GENEYE and previous director of Training for the Victorian Branch of RANZCO, is looking forward to holding the program in person again after the pandemic impacted face-to-face training.
“It’s fantastic to be able to host this great opportunity in person once again. The pandemic helped us to realise that in order to adequately care for our patients, we also need to also care for ourselves and each other. At GENEYE, we work on the mind skills required for high performance, as well as ways to improve or maintain our mental and physical health,” Beltz said.
“A good surgeon might walk out of the operating theatre thinking that they have done a good job, but a great surgeon walks out wondering how they can do better next time. This is the type of mindset that we aim to encourage and develop.”
GENEYE’s unique combination of virtual reality, high performance psychology, ergonomics training and co-operative learning benefits experienced surgeons as well as trainees and allied health professionals, as all involved in eye health provision require active and ongoing training throughout their career.
The event will focus on technical and non-technical skills required to pick up new techniques and technologies to perform at a high level and to maintain personal resources and wellbeing.
Three different virtual reality platforms will be in use at GENEYE 2023, but training will also heavily focus on the mind and body. High performance psychologists will be in attendance to help encourage the skills and mind set required for high performance.
“Focus will also be on ergonomics and preventative care when it comes to physical health in our field that requires repetitive fixed postures,” Beltz said.
She said surgery can be a lonely and exhausting practice, but training together can encourage progression and better quality patient outcomes.
“As surgeons, we can all work harder to look after ourselves, our families, and our colleagues. Through GENEYE we hope to encourage a more open and collaborative environment through which we can all improve.”
Supported by the Eye and Ear and Alcon, GENEYE 2023 will take place from 23-25 May at Glaushaus Bruke on Bridge Road, Richmond in Melbourne.
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