NEW YORK—Leaders from vision care companies and the healthcare field have joined the roster of those taking part in the the Vision Monday Global Leadership Summit, a virtual event series that will examine how the COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping business, culture, consumer attitudes and many aspects of the healthcare field, vision care included. Titled “AFTERSHOCKS: Remaking Healthcare’s Future, Vision Beyond 2020,” the VM Global Leadership Summit will comprise four two-hour sessions to be held over four consecutive weeks, starting Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Oct. 14 and Oct. 21, from 3:00 p.m. ET to 5:00 p.m. ET each day. Registration is open now for this very special event which will examine the big themes and urgent questions facing ECPs and vision care decision makers in light of the pandemic which has created new challenges on so many levels.

The VM Virtual Summit will include:

• Wednesday September 30: 3PM – 5PM ET

CAN CONSUMERS TRUST OUR HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEM?

Gaps in our healthcare system, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, have left many consumers feeling disconnected, distrustful and scared. The healthcare landscape is changing very fast, to offer tech solutions that connect patients and providers in new ways while lowering costs and improving outcomes. How can vision care prepare? Speakers in this session will include John Whyte, MD, chief medical officer of WebMD, who has been interviewing senior execs, healthcare, clinical and cultural leaders about the pandemic throughout the year: Brad Michel, Accenture’s North American Life Sciences’ lead, who will share the company’s just-issued reports canvassing patients’ and consumers’ attitudes since the advent of COVID-19: noted healthcare economist, influencer and author Jane Sarasohn-Kahn, will illuminate the big view of the impact of the pandemic on the healthcare ecosystem, financial impact, patient trust and the advent of healthcare “citizenship.”  

• Wednesday, October 7: 3PM – 5PM ET

WHO ARE THE NEW GATEKEEPERS? WHAT’S VISION’S ROLE?

This session will look at patient access to care and what’s changing on this frontier. The rise of medical optometry; diabetes diagnosis and management as a pathway forward has been gaining new attention. What are the opportunities for vision care? Joining this session are Thomas Van Gilder, MD, chief medical officer of Walmart Health & Wellness, who will talk about Walmart’s emerging role in healthcare, including integrating vision care into its new Walmart Health program. Addressing the rise of telemedicine is Teladoc’s Lewis Levy, MD, chief medical officer of the fast-growing firm, which also recently announced its pending acquisition of Livongo, the company that enables patients to better manage their own medical conditions, including diabetes. Alexis McLaughlin, president and CEO of 2020 On-site, will speak about how the company delivering mobile vision care is pivoting to new ways of addressing patient and employee care in new settings. A Vision Voices panel of prominent ODs will feature a conversation about the future of medical optometry with Paul Karpecki, OD, FAAO, Kentucky Eye Institute and clinical editor of Review of Optometry with Ben Gaddie, OD, FAAO of Gaddie Eye Centers and Keplr Vision and Robert Allen, OD, of Associates in Eyecare.

• Wednesday, October 14: 3PM – 5PM ET

LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM HEALTHCARE’S FRONT LINES What’s Next for Payors, Providers… And Vision Care?

The coronavirus pandemic has stressed hospital and provider systems in unexpected ways, challenging administrators, clinicians and support staff to respond to a crisis that changes almost daily. What have the big healthcare systems learned? How are its lead executives adapting to better meet the challenges? How will insurance coverage and access to care for private pay and public/government patients transform? How will systemic changes in healthcare provide an opportunity for vision care providers to play a wider role? This session will feature David Holmberg, president and CEO of Highmark, Inc. and chair of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association as well as insights from Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health, New York State’s largest health system. John Whyte, MD, chief medical officer of WebMD will also take part. Joining this session will be United Healthcare Vision’s CEO, John Ryan and Lori Archer, COO, who will talk about how a major health payor is viewing the future and vision’s role in the healthcare system. Vision Voices will include Inder Singal, MD, Bennet & Bloom Eye Centers, Kentucky and Dasa Gangadhar, MD, Grene Vision Group, Kansas.


• Wednesday October 21: 3PM – 5PM ET 

STEPPING UP THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE New Tactics & Technologies Take Hold and Transform Engagement

How is technology enabling new ways of connecting to the patient and to the consumer? How is “experience” defined now? What are the components, how are communications, interactivity, decision making and choice impacted? We will look at how digital technologies are bringing doctors/patients/ customers into the healthcare process in more exciting ways, blending IRL/physical with online/virtual. Robin Raskin, founder, Solving for Tech, a noted expert in digital health trends, will explain the renewed interest in new technologies and connections to patients. Presenting at this session will be the executive team of MyEyeDr., including Sue Downes, CEO with Angela McCoy, COO, Artis Beatty, OD, chief medical officer, VP of planning and purchasing, and Christina Perraud. Also discussing the ways technology is changing the patient experience is the executive team of Canada’s New Look Vision Group, including Antoine Amiel, CEO, Jean-Michel Maltais, SVP, Omnichannel, Eric Babin, president of Iris Visual Group and Eric Varady, founder of Topology. Also speaking on ecommerce will be Andy Bilinsky, co-founder and CEO of Lensabl. Vision Voices for this session include Annie Hicks, LDO, SeePort Optometry, North Port, Fla. and Jennifer Stewart, OD of Norwalk Eye Care and Performance 20/20 in Conn.

Registration includes all four broadcasts, full access to the Vision Monday Summit virtual platform, networking, on-demand viewing during and after, door prizes and exclusive access to Summit attendee-only content after the event. Registration details and full speakers' info are posted here.

The Vision Monday Global Leadership Summit is sponsored by Platinum Sponsors: Essilor, Luxottica and VSP Global. Gold sponsors are CareCredit, Ocuco, Think About Your Eyes and The Vision Council. Silver Sponsor: Alcon.