Rana Altan-Yaycioglu – EuLDP Graduate 2013- 15

My name is Rana Altan-Yaycioglu, MD, FEBO, and I am a member of EuLDP Alumni and Alumna community. I participated SOE EuLDP Class 2013 -2015. I was one of the two representatives from Turkey selected by the Turkish Ophthalmological Association. At that time, I was an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Baskent University, Department of Ophthalmology, Adana Clinic and Research Center, Adana, Turkey.

The Class 2013-2015 commenced with our introduction in Copenhagen at SOE 2013 Meeting. Afterwards, we attended the Innsbruck module and got acquainted with the members of the class. During the module, we expanded our knowledge on leadership and time management skills, and learned how to organize ophthalmological scientific organizations. For me, the most interesting part of the program was to find out that my fellow participants’ challenges were basically similar. Furthermore, I was really thrilled to listen to real life stories of and get acquainted with people, who had success in their professional life, and fulfilled their dreams such as the Everest Summitter, Wolfgang Nairz.

Following Innsbruck, the next year we had another module in San Francisco, where in addition to SOE-EuLDP Class we met classes of AAO-LDP and PAAO-Curso LDP. Here we had sessions on ethics, advocacy, presentation skills, relations with media, getting our message right and getting organized. Important tips on public speaking, interviewing, and organizing people to get things done were some of the many things I brought home with me.

The presenters, who accomplished almost impossible things, inspired me. I believe that both modules helped me improve myself in professional as well as personal life. Thanks to the EuLDP Class, my skills in coping with confronting situations, resolving crisis, and organizing time have improved substantially and I have had many everyday experiences where I benefitted these skills.

Currently, I am working at Acibadem Adana Hospital and have a position as Professor of Ophthalmology, at Acibadem University.

Since my graduation from EuLDP Class 2013-2015, I am a member of the Executive Board of Society of Cornea and Ocular Surface, Turkish Ophthalmological Association. For 2 years, I served as the Secretary, and since December 2016, I serve as the Chair of the Board. The board plans the sessions on cornea and ocular surface during national congresses. Additionally, last year we organized several skills transfer courses and skills transfer laboratory in TODEM, Istanbul. Additionally, since July 2016, I am a member of Editorial Board of Journal of Cataract Surgery, which I value greatly.

My husband is a Rotarian. Besides my conduct as the chair of Society of Cornea and Ocular Surface, I served as the Chair of the Committee of “Eye Health in Children” of Rotary District 2430 during the term 2015-2016. To my knowledge, in our district I was the first Rotary-Ann who ever served as a chair in a committee. With the contribution of 41 Rotary clubs from the district, we educated preschool teachers on amblyopia (lazy eye), and taught the importance of getting eye exams in preschool ages and also screened over 5000 children.

In these performances as chair, organizer or performer, I got the chance to use the leadership skills that we were taught during the EuLDP Meetings. I believe that it was a great opportunity to meet our colleagues from different countries and learn from our peers.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank to the EuLDP Committee for this unique experience and for the fantastic program they have organized for us. For me it is a great pleasure to be a part of this group. And, I am still in touch with my friends from my EuLDP class.