EURETINA 2024: Bahram Bodaghi, MD, PHD, FEBO, says the Congress "starts with innovation"

The day before the official EURETINA Congress began, retina specialists joined industry leaders for the EURETINA Innovation Spotlight (EIS). This was the second year of the pre-show event, which puts a special focus on the latest and greatest developments from companies in the retina space.

Bahram Bodaghi, MD, PhD, FEBO, a Co-opted EURETINA Board Member, was impressed by the scope of this year's EIS, but he believes it can be even bigger. In this video, he discusses the importance of innovation and why young ophthalmologists from around the world should seek out EURETINA.

Editor's note: The below transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Bahram Bodaghi, MD, PhD, FEBO: My name is Bahram Bodaghi. I'm a professor of ophthalmology in Paris, France at Sorbonne University.

[The EIS] was an amazing part of [the] kickoff of EURETINA, because we started with that, and it was amazing to see that the ophthalmologists and retina specialists were attending and exchanging with the industry. All-new innovations coming in, and a lot of discussion. It seems that, at the end of the day, it was really appreciated. So I think we need to, maybe, expand that, maybe more advertise on that, in order to make it, next year in Paris, even bigger and more successful.

The format is that the industry is exchanging with the retinal community on their innovations and what they are proposing, and there's a discussion, which is very, very easy between all participants. I think this is important for the community to know what's going on, what's happening, what's entering into the field. So in that way, this is very well appreciated. It's just before they kick off the [EURETINA] meeting itself. The meeting is becoming long, so people are attending [the EIS], and this is really the beginning. We start with innovation.

Now, we know the EBO exam for more than 20 years now, the general exam. But it was important to consider subspecialty exams, glaucoma, anterior segment, and of course, retina for us, which is very important. So thanks to the group, and Nicole Eter, for sure, because she was leading that and she was doing exceptional work. Again, it is a small number of people compared to the EBO exam. But I think this exam has a very high level.

So you have first to pass the MCQ part, which is quite difficult, and then you come up to the Viva Voce. And the Viva Voce is just a discussion around case presentation with the seniors who are there and who are evaluating the retina specialist. And it's very important, because this spirit is the spirit of EBO. I think that it increases the level, because all those who are attending are working very hard. This is not an easy exam, and at the end of the day, I think it's very good for the knowledge and for those who are practicing retina not only in Europe, but also from other places. There are not only European candidates, but many from other parts of the world.

EURETINA is not just only 4 or 5 days in the year. It's also during all the year: webinars, podcasts, case presentations in all different subspecialties of retina. And that makes it very dynamic. And during all of the year, if you are interested in any of these subspecialties, you can have information. It's not just that you are coming to a meeting, and then that's it until the next year. So this is the real spirit, connecting people, and it's very wonderfully done with the Zoom materials. And you know, people are connected. Depending even on the time zones, you can have replays afterwards. So that's really, I think, the speed of EURETINA now.

And this is how our presidents wanted it to go. And the board is helping. I want to, again, to [inaudible], as we are in favor of developing these connections, and have EURETINA, as a society, be present for its members all year.
EURETINA is already the first retina organisation in Europe. We want to expand that. We want to have the even younger people coming more to EURETINA, because this is the future. This was the vision of past presidents, and our president, Anat Loewenstein, in order to increase the attendance, from, again, all other places, not only Europe. This is in Europe, but it's not only [focused on it]. And then I think there are subjects which are very important to us in our life: sustainability, the place of women in retina. It's another challenge, even though we are improving it. Education, yes, another part of it, and I think that we must go for excellence.

Barcelona was great. It's a great city. But I think that we all count on the members to come to Paris next year, because it will be the 25th anniversary of EURETINA.