NEW YORK—New dates have been announced for two virtual events that are part of the 2021 Vision Monday Leadership Summit. The lead-off Summit event, “VirtualEYZE! How Virtual Health is Expanding Eyecare's Boundaries,” is being rescheduled from June 9 to Wednesday, June 23, from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET. The second event, “ALL-CONSUMING: A Deep Dive into the New Consumer Mindset,” which was originally set for July 14, is now scheduled for Wednesday, August 11, from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET.

Both virtual events are part of the multi-part Summit program, "CREATIVE DISRUPTION, THE NEW NOW: How to Survive It. Why You Need It." The program will feature influential conversations and observations from compelling speakers to help senior executives and eyecare professionals gain valuable insights and ideas to tackle so many emerging challenges. It will culminate in an in-person live + virtual event on Wednesday, Sept 22 in Las Vegas, called "Retail & Healthcare: UPENDED! Ripping Up The Rulebook."

"Powerful new forces, accelerated by the pandemic, are turning healthcare and retail upside down,” remarked Marge Axelrad, SVP, editorial director of Vision Monday. “New players and never-before-seen business models are quickly emerging, and legacy companies are scrambling to compete. And consumers are questioning and reassessing everything."

More details about the program and registration details for the Aug. 11 and Sept. 22 events will be available soon.

The June 23 virtual session, VirtualEYZE!, will explore the demand for new types of patient-centric approaches, virtual care, in the form of comprehensive eye exams with the direct involvement of optometrists, which is gaining ground and credibility. This special VM Summit session will examine this new dynamic and tap the views and experience of optometrists in different practice settings to learn more about what’s working and why. The wide-ranging program will interest optometrists at all levels who want to learn about the pros and cons of delivering primary care remotely, as well as patient acceptance and career options.

The VirtualEYZE! program will feature industry experts and experienced practitioners while opening up new possibilities for optometrists in all modes of practice.

Opening the program will be a Micro Chat about the shift toward patient-centric care featuring Marge Axelrad and Andrew Karp, VM's lens & technology editor. They will be followed by Christopher Brady, MD, an assistant professor in the Ophthalmology Division at the University of Vermont and immediate past chair of the American Telemedicine Association Ocular Telemedicine Special Interest Group. Dr. Brady will offer a broad perspective on the rapid rise of ocular telemedicine and discuss how it is changing the way he works with patients.

Axelrad will then interview two experts on insurance reimburse for telemedicine: Wally Lovejoy, an independent health care consultant, specializing in eyecare and optical retailing, and Julian Roberts, executive director of the National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP).

Mike Rothschild, OD, an optometric practice consultant and authority on the delivery of eyecare through all forms of telemedicine, will then moderate a discussion about the importance comprehensive eye exams with the direct involvement of optometrists. Joining him will be several ODs who are currently using this approach. Jacqueline Evans, OD, an independent practitioner based in Denver, Colo.; Deanna Ippolito, OD, an independent practitioner based in New Jersey; Harvey Moscot, OD, CEO of Moscot, a 106-year-old eyewear company based in New York City, and Sukumar Pandit, OD, a private practitioner and business owner and nursing home eyecare provider.
 
Rounding out the panel is Kirk Lauterback, chief operating office of Shopko Optical, who oversees the company’s retail optical centers and merchandising as well as its manufacturing facility in De Pere, Wis.

Registration includes both virtual broadcasts, full access to the VM Summit virtual platform, networking, on-demand viewing, door prizes, and exclusive access to attendees-only content after the event. Optometrists, opticians, ophthalmologists and students can register for no charge. All other industry registration is $99. Details and registration are posted here.