We are thrilled to announce the date for the 12th Annual Vit-Buckle Society (VBS) Annual Meeting. Our annual meeting will take place at the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach, FL from April 4-6, 2024! Please save the date! Our 2024 VBS Annual Meeting promises to highlight the best of VBS including our surgical complications session, lightning rounds, and of course the world-renowned VBS Costume Contest, which this year will have a Stranger Things theme! Further information regarding the annual meeting, including registration, will be coming shortly!
We invite you to submit an abstract for the 2024 annual meeting. There are many opportunities to submit presentations for both attendings and trainees, including options for fellows, residents, and medical students. Please note that applicants can apply to all, but can only be awarded one of the opportunities below. While active VBS membership is not required to apply for any of the opportunities below, membership is required to attend the meeting
Podium Presentations- Scientific Study on a Surgical Topic or My Craziest Surgical Case
Who: Attending retina physicians
Deadline: Monday, December 11th, 2023 by 11:59 PM PST
Funding: As a speaker, your registration for the 2024 VBS annual meeting will be waived
What: Submit a scientific surgical study (standard abstract required- Title, Objective, Methods, Results, Conclusion) or your craziest surgical case (include Title, 250 word summary, and 3 minute or less video)
Questions?: Email vitbuckle.ea@gmail.com
Poster Abstracts
Who: Medical students, residents and fellows
Deadline: Monday, December 11th, 2023 by 11:59 PM PST
Funding: The top presenters who are selected will be awarded a VBS Academic Grant (covering meeting registration for the 2024 VBS annual meeting, travel (up to $500), and shared lodging). Even if not selected for a grant, we welcome trainees to present at VBS through discounted trainee registration.
What: Submit an abstract for a scientific (medical or surgical) study to be considered for a poster presentation in standard format: Title, Objective, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
Questions?: Email vitbuckle.ea@gmail.com
The best posters will be awarded a coveted VBS Belt Buckle! Participants are expected to stay for the duration of the meeting.
FOCUS Program- FOstering Careers for Underrepresented Stars
Who: Medical students or residents from backgrounds that are UnderRepresented In Medicine/URIM. For example, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Southeast Asian (for example Cambodian, Loatian, Vietnamese, Hmong, Filipino), and individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+
Deadline: Monday, December 11th, 2023 by 11:59 PM PST
Funding: Presenters who are selected will be awarded a VBS Academic Grant (covering meeting registration for the 2024 VBS annual meeting, travel (up to $500), and shared lodging)
What: Interested applicants should submit a brief CV summarizing their educational background and a no longer than 90 second audio statement addressing the following questions: What do you hope to gain from the FOCUS program? What is your vision of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the field of retina? How do you identify as underrepresented in medicine?
Questions?: Email vitbuckle.ea@gmail.com
A full day of program content targeted to FOCUS participants will occur on April 4th, 2024. Participants are expected to stay for the duration of the meeting.
Participants who have participated in the FOCUS program in 2022-2023 will receive a separate email regarding repeat participation in the program for 2023-2024.
Fellows Foray
Who: US and International Vitreoretinal Fellows
Deadline: Monday, January 1, 2024 by 11:59 PM PST
Funding: Presenters who are selected will be awarded a VBS Academic Grant (covering meeting registration for the 2024 VBS annual meeting, travel (up to $500), and shared lodging)
What: Submit a surgical video (only one video per fellow) of no more than 2 minutes in length. Videos should not have any program or personal identifiers, but they may include a voiceover as long as it does not identify the program or surgeons.
Questions?: Email Susan@EvolveMedEd.com
Of the 20 fellows who are awarded a travel grant, the top 8 winners will present their surgical video at the Fellows’ Program on April 4th, 2024. Moreover, the CONNECT Network will award the fellow who submitted the single best video the prestigious $1,500 CONNECT Network Grant and a VBS Belt Buckle. Participants are expected to stay for the duration of the meeting