PAAO President’s Message

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

As 2020 draws to a close, all of us at the PAAO have much to be proud of. Despite a long and difficult year filled with uncertainty, all of you have made great efforts in confronting the crisis we are now enduring.

A record number of PAAO virtual and online activities took place and we were able to continue to develop our mission in administration, support to our members, and in particular, training and education.

Many of you, PAAO members, deserve a huge thank you for your impactful participation in our virtual PAAO activities.

We also thank our quiet hero’s, those who continue to seek solutions to the many devastating ocular diseases through patient care and research in these extraordinary times.

Our immense gratitude extents to our administrative staff, where the work has been unstoppable and the dedication to the PAAO second to none.

All of you, have adapted to new ways of working in the clinic, on site, and in the home office. You have done so with courage and empathy. Thank you.

A crisis like this also brings personal and professional challenges. I hope that this upcoming holiday brings to us an opportunity to rest and regenerate. Although face to face gathering will not be possible this year, many electronic tools will allow us to connect with friends and family.

Looking ahead to the New Year, there is optimism, particularly as the vaccines become available.

Let’s continue to have open and compassionate conversations with each other. Talk when you need to, listen when you can help others. We become stronger when we work through difficult things together.

With my best wishes for the holiday season and the New Year.

With friendship, gratitude and admiration,

Miguel

Miguel N. Burnier Jr. MD MSc PhD
PAAO, President