YO Important issues of this time 

 An important issue that should attract your attention in this Newsletter is the publication coordinated by the SOE YO Chair, Miguel González Andrades and other SOE YO committe members in the respected journal Eye. They published the survey on the current situation in residency surgery training in different European countries https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35354947/. The article is based on extensive survey among the residents and documents striking differences  across European Union countries.  In some coutries, residents perform a good number of operations, whilst in  others, they may become  a specialist without even the most essential surgical training. As the EC directive assumes that the uniform level of medical care should allow for free movement of medical personnel, this paper outlines a concerning fact that there is no agreement on minimum requirements of surgical training across the  EU.  That  would  need to be addressed in ETR’s (European Training Requirements) that are still being discussed by Ophthalmology section of the UEMS (Union of European Medical Specialists) as ophthalmology is one of the last specialties that have not as yet produced the ETRs. 

This paper was produced as one of the projects of SOE YO committee and may serve as  the information basis for those  who lead the UEMS Section of Ophthalmology and EBO.  Another SOE YO project will soon yield  a new paper with the proposals on minimum surgical training  that YOs believe would be realistic to do in every country and could lead to formation of more uniform EU specialists who could then  further develop in any subspecialty directions through respective surgical or medical fellowships. 

There were some ambiguities  on how to react on  Russian and Belarus assault to Ukraine, also regarding the participation at the upcoming SOE and EMYO meetings.  There are two main types of organizations in Europe, one type is composed of country representatives, such as SOE or EBO/UEMS. The other is composed of individual members, such as ESCRS or EURETINA. Whilst national representation of Russia and Belarus have been largely suspended by European organizations, individual memberships or participations have largely not been banned.  As many Russian or Belarus colleagues intimately or openly condemn agression or face opression and severe penalties if they express their opinion, it may be fair to  join forces with them to stop this war at its outset and this will be discussed at the upcoming SOE board meeting. 

However, as  many YO’s are affected by the war in Ukraine, the SOE YO committee discussed options for  professional or educational  help across Europe. SOE YO decided on  join an intiative by a colleague Atanas Bogoev, who currently works in Germany and established a website that collects info of both those who seek placement and the centres that can offer  help. The website interface has been adapted by the SOE an all the centres that may offer help to Ukraine colleagues are welcome to contribute to its success at the following link:  https://soevision.org/help-for-ukraine/ .Certainly, national SOE YO representatives in  respective countries will be instrumental to help them locally. 

As the Covid-19 pandemic finally subsided,  the 4th European Meeting of Young Ophthalmologists  will take place from, 8-10th July 2022, organized by Vincent Qin and Stefaan Van Nuffel under auspices and help of SOE YO committee where, besides most interesting topics, important aspects of surgical training and fellowships will also be discussed. 

SOE may be proud of the  excellent work of its SOE YO committee and continue to support it.

Marko Hawlina

Chair of SOE Education Committee

Mentor of SOE YO Committee