Virtual Introductory Summer Course in Ophthalmology 2024

A Free Course on the Crucial Elements of Ophthalmology
In French!

The francophone Virtual Introductory Summer Course in Ophthalmology is the first provincial Quebec online course led by ophthalmology residents from the Department of Ophthalmology of Laval University, designed to help medical students strengthen their theoretical and practical foundations in ophthalmology, from the basic eye exam to common ocular pathologies.

How it Works

This course is important for people at any stage in medical school. It is broken down into two parts:

1. Workshops sessions from leading Laval University Residents.

2. A curated set of supplemental readings to enhance the value of each workshop.
Register Now

More About This Course

Opportunities To Win Prizes

You'll have opportunities to win prizes while learning from recognized experts in the field.

Learn From Experts

The content and objectives of this course are based on a curated list of learning objectives endorsed by Canadian Undergraduate Medical Education Leads in  Ophthalmology and reference resources from the Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology (AUPO) and the Medical Council of  Canada (MCC)

Claim Credits

By participating in these workshops, participants can claim Section 2 credits in the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program of the Royal  College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Each video reviewed can be claimed for 0.5 credits.

Our Objectives

Interactive Learning
This workshop-based course is designed to supplement existing ophthalmology curricula in medical schools.​

Access to Resources
Registrants will receive access to resource materials to enhance learning done in workshops.​

Community Development
VISCO aims to cultivate a learning community among medical students interested in ophthalmology, as well as primary care residents and physicians.

Course Schedules

Session
Date
Time
Title
Presenter
View Lecture
1
October 13th, 2024
10:15 AM - 11:05 AM
Ophthalmic Exam Basics
Dr Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen
Lecture 1
2
October 13th, 2024
11:10 AM - 11:45 AM
An Approach to the Red Eye
Dr Imad Hachem
Lecture 2
3
October 13th, 2024
11:50 AM - 12:25 PM
Advances in Ophthalmic Research
Dr Mélanie Hébert
Lecture 3
4
October 13th, 2024
1:20 AM - 1:55 PM
Refractive Errors, Cataract, and Glaucoma
Dr Roxanne Arsenault
Lecture 4
6
October 13th, 2024
1:55 AM - 2:25 PM
The Retina and Retinal Detachments
Dr Sihame Doukkali
Lecture 5

Meet Our 2024 Speakers

Dr Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen

MD CM, PGY-3, University of Toronto, Oxford University
Resident Director and Advisor, FR-VISCO

Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen is pursuing a DPhil in Molecular and Cellular Medicine at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and recipient of the Kennedy Trust Prize. She completed her medical training at McGill University as a national TD scholar, where she received the Dr. Mark Cohen End-of-Studies Award in Ophthalmology. In addition to her clinical and research activities, she is actively involved in community leadership, policy development, and medical education. She co-founded COSIG-GECIO and VISCO and is Vice-President of the Canadian Council of Ophthalmology Residents (CCOR).

Dr Imad Hachem

MD, PharmD, PGY-4 in Ophthalmology, Université Laval

After completing his PharmD in 2015 at Université Laval and working as a pharmacist for three years, Imad decided to return to university to pursue medical studies, where he chose to specialize in ophthalmology. He has a particular interest in oculoplastics and medical education and frequently serves as a small-group tutor in the preclinical curriculum. In his free time, he enjoys playing cards with friends and traveling during vacations, allowing him to discover new cultures.

Dr Mélanie Hébert

Ophthalmology Fellow, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, USA
Prior Ophthalmology Chief Resident, Université Laval

Dr. Mélanie Hébert is deeply passionate about both her specialty and research. With over 50 scientific articles indexed on PubMed, she has earned prestigious FRQS and CIHR research scholarships during her medical training, during which she obtained a Master of Science degree. She is also the recipient of multiple distinctions in ophthalmology, including the Clinician Scientist Emerging Leader Award from Fighting Blindness Canada. Her research interests span several subspecialties, and she has mentored more than 40 students throughout her residency.

Dr Roxanne Arsenault

MD, OD, PGY-3 in Ophthalmology, Université Laval

After completing her first doctoral degree in optometry at the Université de Montréal, Roxanne completed a general ophthalmology rotation at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, which motivated her to pursue medicine. Her passion for eye care grew throughout her medical training, and she is now privileged to be completing postgraduate medical studies in ophthalmology. Actively involved in humanitarian missions in Ecuador and Haiti, she has also conducted research on immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery, published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I participate?

Ocular complaints are prevalent and can greatly impact patient quality of life. It is important for all physicians to have a certain comfort level in managing basic eye issues, regardless of your future career path in medicine. Therefore, VISCO aims to demystify ophthalmology and to provide students access to high quality live teaching and high yield resource content to reinforce important ophthalmology concepts.


Who is eligible to participate in this course?

All medical students and residents, regardless of year of training and interest level in ophthalmology, are invited to participate in this course! We believe that the high-yield content presented during the workshops and through the reading material are pertinent to all future medical practitioners.


Can international students or pre-medical students participate in the course?

As the aim of this course is to provide a Canadian perspective to ophthalmology to medical students, some of the content may be less relevant for students studying outside of Canada. Additionally, some of the course content may be challenging for students without a background in medicine. However, interested international or pre-medical students are welcome to participate in the course.


Should I still register if I can’t make it to all the sessions? Will they be recorded?

Yes - please register even if you can’t make all the dates. This will provide you access to the workshop links/prize draws for the times that you can make it. We will do our best to record some sessions, however, this is at the discretion of the workshop host. Additionally, as the nature of the workshops is very interactive, you will get more out of it by attending in person.


Can I register even though the course has already started?

Yes - while you may have missed a few sessions, you can register to gain access to the remainder of the workshops! Please remember to fill out the pre-course survey during registration and to complete the post-course survey following the completion of the course to be eligible for prizes.

Meet the Organizers

Anas Abu Dieh, MD

PGY-1, Laval University

Course Co-Director
Former COSIG Managing Director

Yosra Er-reguyeg

MD-MSc Candidate, Laval University

Course Co-Director
COSIG Managing Director

Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen, MDCM

PGY-3, University of Toronto

VISCO Founder
COSIG Founder and Resident Advisor