Spotlight on members
Meet 2024 DCERF mentee Obed Amoah-Smith, OD, MSc, SC-GARD, Prof Cert Med Ret, FAAO
Obed is an optometrist and part-time lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (Ghana), where he earned his Doctor of Optometry degree (2013). He holds an MSc in clinical optometry as well from Cardiff University, a Specialist certificate in glaucoma and retinal disease from the University of Melbourne, a College of Optometrists (UK) professional certificate in medical retina and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. His clinical specialties are in glaucoma, medical retina and paediatric optometry, however his research interest focuses more on glaucoma due to the high prevalence in Ghana.
Obed is a member of the Class of 2024 from the ARVO Foundation's Developing Country Eye Researcher Travel Fellowship (DCERF). The DCERF Program provides support for early-career researchers from developing nations to participate in the ARVO Annual Meeting and access the latest in vision science research. Fellows are paired with a mentor to facilitate networking connections and career development opportunities during the Meeting, plus one year of ARVO membership is provided. The goal of the program is to aid Fellows in establishing effective vision research program in their home countries. Obed shared recently with ARVONews about how his DCERF experience has impacted him professionally and personally.
Why did you apply for ARVO’s DCERF Program?
There has been an ever growing passion to offer the best of eye care to any patient who enters my consulting room right from the time I graduated from optometry school. As such, I have always looked for opportunities to enhance my clinical as well as research knowledge and skills so as to be better positioned to offer the best of eye care to the Ghanaian populace and beyond. I applied for the DCERF program to help broaden my clinical knowledge and research skills, ensuring that I not only manage my patients based on recent research findings, but also actively undertake breakthrough researches that would help reduce the prevalence of avoidable blindness and visual impairment.
The ARVO Annual Meeting provides the opportunity to have access to latest research findings in the field of vision science and ophthalmology while enhancing ones research skills as well. It also provides a very great opportunity to network and learn from experienced top-notch vision scientists and clinicians. The DCERF Program not only made it possible to be at an ARVO Meeting but it also provided the enabling environment for me as an early vision science researcher (who aspires to be a clinician scientist) to be mentored and equipped to embark on quality research that would help drive quality eye care.
What were some of the highlights of the Program for you?
I really learnt a lot during the poster and presentation sessions. These sessions were an eye opener so far as investigations, diagnosis and management of certain ocular diseases were concerned. I got new research ideas that I plan to develop. The opportunity to see and listen to world-renowned vision scientists talk and present on a variety of topics was one to be cherished. I was very excited to have met with Donald Hood, PhD, FARVO. I remember reading his article on the use of OCT (optical coherence tomography) in glaucoma diagnosis during my glaucoma program with the University of Melbourne. I had not heard of the macula vulnerability zone back then until I read his article. This really helped enhanced the way I assessed the optic nerve heads of my patients. Seeing someone like that at the program and getting to talk with him as well as taking a picture with him, and the opportunity to colloborate with him in the future is something I will forever cherish.
How did having a mentor help you?
My mentors were Emily Gower, PhD, and Ashay Bhatwadekar, MS, PhD, RPh. They got in touch prior to the ARVO Annual Meeting so I got the opportunity to know something about them before heading to Seattle, Wash. They were available on the first day to give me guidance on the best way to make the most out of the Meeting. The pieces of advice they gave me helped me in planning each day of ARVO 2024. They were ready to introduce me to any speaker or ARVO member I wanted to meet. Professor Gower, for instance, introduced me to some potential researchers who are ready to make an app they created available to me to embark on research here in Ghana. We also discussed ways we could collaborate in the area of vision research. It was really nice to have people help me navigate my way through my first ARVO Meeting (and even took a stroll with me through Seattle).
"The opportunity to see and listen to world-renowned vision scientists talk and present on a variety of topics was one to be cherished."
What was your top takeaway from attending ARVO 2024?
The kind of research being undertaken by vision scientists all over the world was really an eye opener for me. The fact that most of these groundbreaking research works carried out in developed countries were funded by governmental and private agencies made me realise how much could be achieved with teamwork. I believe with the needed funding, vision scientists in developing countries will be able to contribute their quota to the eradication of blindness through quality research. We all have a role to play to ensure that no one goes blind under our watch.
Do you have any thoughts on where the field of vision research is heading?
I believe research on the use of adaptive optics and artificial intelligence (AI) in the diagnosis and management of ocular diseases would be on the rise. Research in the future is likely to focus on developing optical equipment and AI tools that would enhance early detection and management of blinding eye conditions
Any additional thoughts you would like to share with the ARVO membership?
The DCERF Program provides a great opportunity for researchers from developing countries to enjoy the benefits of being at the ARVO Annual Meeting as well as enjoy the benefits available to all ARVO members. Being a member of ARVO provides one with the enabling environment to access quality research findings, educational webinars and to network and collaborate with other vision scientists. I would recommend the DCERF Program to anyone who has a passion to develop their research skills and also wants to network for research collaborations. It would be nice to get more sponsors for the DCERF Program to increase the number of awardees per year. Making it possible for previous DCERF awardees to make it to subsequent ARVO Meetings would also be great. I want to say a big thank you to all sponsors of the 2024 DCERF Program.