Clinical Updates from PHAC and AMMI Canada – Challenges in COVID-19 Laboratory Testing
The Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (AMMI) Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) are collaborating on an online open access webinar series to provide cutting edge continuing education to Canadian medical professionals in the context of COVID-19.
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2020
Time: 16:00 – 17:00 EDT
Title : Challenges in COVID-19 Laboratory Testing
Objectives:
- Review molecular and serological testing for COVID-19
- Discuss common questions and controversies in COVID-19 laboratory testing
Speakers:
- Dr. Carmen Charlton PhD, D(ABMM), FCCM Clinical Microbiologist, Alberta Precision Laboratories – Public Health
- Dr. Nathan Zelyas MD, MSc, FRCPC, D(ABMM) Medical Microbiologist, Alberta Precision Laboratories – Public Health
To register please CLICK HERE.
Things to note:
- The presentation will be delivered in English and recorded.
- The recording will be made available on the AMMI Canada website immediately following the event.
Feasibility of a School-Based Vision Screening Program to Detect Undiagnosed Visual Problems in Kindergarten Children in Ontario
July 20, 2020
Mayu Nishimura, Agnes Wong, Helen Dimaras and Daphne Maurer
BACKGROUND: Visual problems can negatively affect visual development and learning but often go undetected. We assessed the feasibility of scaling up a school-based screening program to identify and treat kindergarten children with visual problems.
METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study offering vision screening to junior (JK) and senior kindergarten (SK) children attending 43 schools in 15 Ontario communities. Screening comprised photoscreeners and tests of visual acuity, stereoacuity and eye alignment. Children who failed any test were referred for a comprehensive eye examination, with treatment as needed (e.g., glasses).
RESULTS: Using a passive consent model, 89% of children were screened compared with 62% using an active consent model (p < 0.001). Referral rates to an optometrist varied across schools (mean referral rate for children in JK 53%, range 25%–83%; mean referral rate for children in SK 34%, range 12%–61%). Among 4811 children who were screened, a visual problem was detected in 516 (10.7%), including 164 (3.4%) with amblyopia and 324 (6.7%) with clinically significant refractive errors. For 347 (67.2%) of the children with a visual problem, this was their first eye examination. Rescreening in Year 2 did not lead to detection of additional problems among children who passed screening in Year 1. Regardless of location (child’s school or optometrist’s office), 1563 (68.9%) of children attended the follow-up optometry examination. Most of the children who were surveyed (291 of 322, 90.4%) indicated that they enjoyed vision screening.
INTERPRETATION: Many children in Ontario with a visual problem were not being identified by the status quo in 2015–2017. We found that in-school vision screening with follow-up eye examinations is an effective strategy for identifying at-risk children and placing them in eye care before grade 1
Accepted March 20, 2020.
PCC Rounds – The ABCD Grading System for Keratoconus: Practical Lessons for Staging and Monitoring of Progression
Joint International Rounds between Precision Cornea Centre (Ottawa, Canada) and University of Arizona (Tucson, USA)
Topic: The ABCD Grading System for Keratoconus: Practical lessons for staging and monitoring of progression
Presenter: Michael Belin, MD
Date: Tuesday, July 21st, 2020
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00 pm (EDT, UTC -4)
Registration: https://webinar.ringcentral.com/webinar/register/WN_ReFi0NzyRRuK9sFz-OK2Zw
Ottawa Lead: Kashif Baig, MD
Tucson Lead: Michael Belin, MD
The Precision Cornea Centre International Rounds is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Learning objectives: At the end of the session participants should be able to: 1. Use both the ABCD staging and ABCD progression display in the evaluation and treatment of keratoconus 2. Understand how to incorporate the ABCD staging and progression display into clinical practice
PCC Rounds – Advances in the Treatment of Keratoconus with Asymmetric Intracorneal Rings
Joint International Rounds between Precision Cornea Centre (Ottawa, Canada) and Zaldivar Institute (Mendoza, Argentina)
Topic: Advances in the treatment of keratoconus with asymmetric intracorneal rings
Presenter: Juan Carlos Grandin, MD
Date: Tuesday July 14th, 2020
Time: 5:00 – 6:00pm (EDT, UTC -4)
Registration: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/6137462244
Ottawa Lead: Kashif Baig, MD
Mendoza Lead: Juan Carlos Grandin, MD
PCC Rounds – Advanced Excimer Cases: PTK in Corneal Scars and PRK after PKP
Joint International Rounds between Precision Cornea Centre (Ottawa, Canada) and Children’s Hospital Ricardo Gutierrez (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Topic: Advanced excimer cases: PTK in corneal scars and PRK after PKP
Presenter: Esteban Santiago, MD
Date: Tuesday July 7th, 2020
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00 pm (EDT, UTC -4)
Registration: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/6137462244
Ottawa Lead: Kashif Baig, MD
Buenos Aires Lead: Esteban Santiago, MD
Clinical Updates from PHAC and AMMI Canada Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) – Management Of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care
The Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (AMMI) Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) are collaborating on an online open access webinar series to provide cutting edge continuing education to Canadian medical professionals in the context of COVID-19.
Date: Thursday, July 9, 2020
Time: 16:00 – 16:45 EDT
Title: Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) Management of COVID-19 in Long-term Care
Speaker: Dr. Jerome Leis MD, MSC, FRCPC
Dr. Leis is the Medical Director of Infection Prevention & Control at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. His research is focused on the development of new models of care that reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infection and promote the appropriate use of antibiotics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Leis has supported both hospital and long-term care sectors in both prevention and control of COVID-19 transmission.
Objectives:
• Review the transmission of COVID-19 in long-term care homes
that experienced outbreaks
• Discuss infection prevention and control practices for protecting residents
and healthcare workers in long-term care facilities
Moderators:
- Sarah Forgie MD, MED, FRCPC, President, Association of Medical, Microbiology and Infectious Disease (AMMI) Canada
- Marina Salvadori MD, FRCPC, COVID-19 Clinical Lead Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
To register please CLICK HERE.
Things to note:
- The presentation will be delivered in English and recorded.
- The recording will be made available on the AMMI Canada website immediately following the event. www.ammi.ca
The Consortium of Universities for Global Health – Webinars

The Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) is a Washington, DC based organization of over 170 academic institutions and other organizations from around the world engaged in addressing global health challenges. CUGH was established in 2008 with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation.
CUGH supports academic institutions and partners to improve the wellbeing of people and the planet through education, research, service, and advocacy.
While CUGH is not focused exclusively in eye health, it is a resource for global health. Ophthalmologists with a mind for global health will find their webinars touch on a broad range of subjects from around the world. To access CUGH list of future webinars and collection of previously recorded webinars, click here.
PCC Rounds- Latest Trends in Corneal Transplant Surgery
Joint International Rounds between Precision Cornea Centre (Ottawa, Canada) and Apollo Hospitals (Hyderabad, India)
Topic: Latest trends in corneal transplant surgery
Presenter: Rajesh Fogla, MD
Date: Tuesday June 30th, 2020
Time: 7:00am-8:00am (EDT, UTC- 4)
Registration: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/6137462244
Ottawa Lead: Kashif Baig, MD
Hyderabad Lead: Rajesh Fogla, MD
Webinar – Retina Connect : Imaging Features of Placoid Disorders
The University of Toronto, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences invites you to RETINA CONNECT.
Webinar Details
Date: June 30, 2020 | 6:00pm–7:00pm NEW TIME*
Title: RETINA CONNECT – Imaging features of Placoid Disorders
Speaker: Anita Agarwal, West Coast Retina
Panelists:
- Bailey Freund, Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York
- Lee Jampol, Former Chair, Northwestern University
- Larry Yannuzzi, Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81602932731?pwd=L2M3RnZzQWw0QXZxT1d0b1FQY0hudz09
Password: connect