Welcome to my daily learning journal. My daily goal is to watch one Ted Talk and one cataract surgery. I also plan to read one journal article and read/listen to a book chapter, short story or significant work.

Here’s today’s list:

1. Ted Talk – Jimmy Wales – The birth of Wikipedia. “Jimmy Wales recalls how he assembled “a ragtag band of volunteers,” gave them tools for collaborating and created Wikipedia, the self-organizing, self-correcting, never-finished online encyclopedia.” (ted.com).

I love Wikipedia. Nice history from Wikipedia’s co-founder & “benevolent dictator.”

2. Cataract Surgery – Uday Devgan MD Challenge: Monocular Dense Cataract. Dr. Devgan writes, “Operating on a monocular patient is always stressful since we know thatThis compilation video features the best of many prior videos regarding dense cataract techniques. The video has many clips which are shown at high speed in order to cover more material in the 10 minute timeframe. This is the same presentation that I would give at a large ophthalmology congress and now you can watch it now on your mobile device, at your leisure. Streaming on demand has taken over for television and movies, and it is now revolutionizing medical education.”

Like reading a great poem while listening to a symphony.

3. Journal – Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 in Tears of Patients with Moderate to Severe COVID-19. Ritu Arora, MD et. al. Ophthalmology. Published:August 31, 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.08.029PlumX Metrics

4. Book Chapter – Why Moats Matter: The Morningstar Approach to Stock Investing. Chapter 1. With thanks to author and hedge fund Guy Spier for sending this amazing book. Guy’s appearance on The Investors Podcast inspired me to attend the Berkshire Hathaway meeting in 2018 and 2019. Cancelled my 2020 hotel/flights due to COVID.

Guy Spier’s book on The Education of A Value Investor is filled with life lessons.

5. We Study Billionaires, hosted by Preston Pysh and Stig Brodersen, is the flagship podcast of The Investor’s Podcast Network, with more than 30 Million downloads.

1. TIP314: THOUGHTS FROM RAY DALIO, ERIC SCHMIDT, PETER THIEL, & SAM ZELL ON THE CURRENT ECONOMY.
2. TIP313: ED HARRISON FROM REAL VISION TALKS ABOUT CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS

6. I posted a tweet about the #IIRSI program image above. My tweet is here which includes numerous responses. I have great respect for the all-star faculty. But I make no apology for the tweet itself. I think the profession needs to do better. We need to identify unconscious and unintentional biases which affect professional growth for diverse genders and communities.

5. Rest in Peace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Welcome to my daily learning journal. My daily goal is to watch one Ted Talk and one cataract surgery. I also plan to read one journal article and read/listen to a book chapter, short story or significant work.

Here’s today’s list:

1. Ted Talk – Daniel Kish – How I use sonar to navigate the world. “Daniel Kish has been blind since he was 13 months old, but has learned to “see” using a form of echolocation. He clicks his tongue and sends out flashes of sound that bounce off surfaces in the environment and return to him, helping him to construct an understanding of the space around him. In a rousing talk, Kish shows how this works — and asks us all to let go of our fear of the dark unknown.” (ted.com).

This is a must-see for all ophthalmology colleagues. 13 minutes which includes a brief Q&A. Have a box of tissues handy. And prepare to be inspired.

2. Cataract Surgery – Uday Devgan MD Challenge: Monocular Dense Cataract. Dr. Devgan writes, “Operating on a monocular patient is always stressful since we know that the stakes are higher due to the patient having just this one eye with visual potential. It is also stressful for the patients, who often are so afraid of surgery that they delay procedures for years. That is the case here: the patient was so afraid of the potential risks of surgery that she waited for years until she presented with a dense white cataract with iris synechiae. Dr. Ali Al Beshri from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia does a great job helping this patient. He releases the synechiae and performs the double capsulorhexis technique to ensure a good outcome. The result is an outstanding outcome with a happy surgeon and an amazed patient.” Well done!

3. Journal – Duane A. Congenital Deficiency of Abduction, Associated With Impairment of Adduction, Retraction Movements, Contraction of the Palpebral Fissure and Oblique Movements of the Eye. Arch Ophthalmol. 1996;114(10):1255–1256. doi:10.1001/archopht.1996.01100140455017

The classic 1905 Duane’s Syndrome article!

4. Book Chapter – Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass: Sparknotes, Wikipedia, and Gutenberg. Books 16-17.

5. Rest in Peace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I have admired Justice Ginsburg since she stood with President Clinton in the White House Garden. A constant inspiration.

Welcome to my daily learning journal. My daily goal is to watch one Ted Talk and one cataract surgery. I also plan to read one journal article and read/listen to a book chapter, short story or significant work.

Here’s today’s list:

1. Ted Talk – Jim Yong Kim: Doesn’t everyone deserve a chance at a good life? “Aspirations are rising as never before across the world, thanks in large part to smartphones and the internet — will they be met with opportunity or frustration? Former President of the World Bank Group Jim Yong Kim shares how the institution is working to improve the health and financial futures of people in the poorest countries by boosting investment and de-risking development.” (ted.com).

This is a spectacular talk. 22 minutes which includes a brief Q&A. Have a box of tissues handy. And prepare to be inspired.

2. Cataract Surgery – Uday Devgan MD – Equanimity under Duress. Well done. Dr. Devgan writes, “When Sir William Osler left the University of Pennsylvania’s Medical School (the first one in the USA, started in 1765) to begin his tenure at Johns Hopkins in 1889, he gave a speech entitled “Aequanimitas” which explained the principle of keeping calm and collected, equanimity, when a difficult situation is encountered. This was adapted by a great American surgeon, LeSalle Leffall, Jr, MD as “equanimity under duress” and this quickly spread to medical schools across the USA.”

3. Journal – D’Amico DJ. Observations on Ophthalmic Care and Surgery for Very Important People. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online August 20, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.2971.

Dr. D’Amico states, “If unrecognized and unaddressed, these influences can concatenate and result in substandard, chaotic, and even dangerous care. ”

Worth a read. Though, remember, every patient is a VIP.

4. Book Chapter – Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass: Sparknotes, Wikipedia, and Gutenberg. Books 15.

Welcome to my daily learning journal. My daily goal is to watch one Ted Talk and one cataract surgery. I also plan to read one journal article and read/listen to a book chapter, short story or significant work.

Here’s today’s list:

1. Ted Talk – Liene Ozoliņa – Why do we blame individuals for economic crises? “In 2008, the global financial crisis decimated Latvia. As unemployment skyrocketed, the government slashed public funding and raised taxes, while providing relief to the wealthy and large businesses — all without backlash or protest from struggling citizens. Sociologist Liene Ozoliņa examines how Latvian officials convinced their people to accept responsibility for the country’s failing economy — and highlights the rise of similar social policies upholding inequality worldwide.” (ted.com).

This was a featured new talk.

2. Cataract Surgery – Uday Devgan MD – Surgeon returns after a 3 month hiatus. Great hands and great case.

3. Journal Malhotra A, Seifert K, Fisayo AA. Rare Case of Bilateral Orbital Masses. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2019;137(9):1074–1075. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.1053

4. Book Chapter – Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass: Sparknotes, Wikipedia, and Gutenberg. Books 13-14.

Welcome to my daily learning journal. My daily goal is to watch one Ted Talk and one cataract surgery. I also plan to read one journal article and read/listen to a book chapter, short story or significant work.

Here’s today’s list:

1. Ted Talk – Chrystia Freeland: The rise of the new global super-rich. “Technology is advancing in leaps and bounds — and so is economic inequality, says writer Chrystia Freeland. In an impassioned talk, she charts the rise of a new class of plutocrats (those who are extremely powerful because they are extremely wealthy), and suggests that globalization and new technology are actually fueling, rather than closing, the global income gap. Freeland lays out three problems with plutocracy … and one glimmer of hope.” (ted.com).

This was a trending talk.

2A. Cataract Surgery – Richard Mackool MD – Episode 15: Fluidics, Fluidics, Fluidics. Dr. Mackool states, “In this issue I discuss and demonstrate the synergism of high IOP and high vacuum settings during phacoemulsification.”

2B. Rising Stars in Ophthalmology – Episode 2 – Speaker Ashley Brissette,MD, Celebrity Panelists :  Kendall Donaldson, Priya Narang and Uday Devgan. Congrats to Ashley Brissette, MD. Good episode.

3A. Journal – Intense Pulsed Light for Meibomian Gland Disease: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Edward J. Wladis, Vinay K. Aakalu, Jill A. Foster, Suzanne K. Freitag, Rachel K. Sobel, Jeremiah P. Tao, Michael T. Yen. Ophthalmology, September 2020. Vol. 127, Issue 9, p1227–1233.

3B. Inadvertent Intra-Lenticular Injection of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. Simar Rajan Singh, Savleen Kaur, Jagat Ram. Ophthalmology, September 2020, p1233.

4. Book Chapter – Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass: Sparknotes, Wikipedia, and Gutenberg. Books 12.

Welcome to my daily learning journal. My daily goal is to watch one Ted Talk and one cataract surgery. I also plan to read one journal article and read/listen to a book chapter, short story or significant work.

Here’s today’s list:

1. Ted Talk – Jenna McCarthy – What you don’t know about marriage – “In this funny, casual talk from TEDx, writer Jenna McCarthy shares surprising research on how marriages (especially happy marriages) really work. One tip: Do not try to win an Oscar for best actress.” (ted.com).

This was a trending talk. 6 million+ views and worth a watch.

2. Cataract Surgery – Uday Devgan MD – Complete Case: Retained Viscoelastic – “Retained viscoelastic after cataract surgery is the most common reason why there is an elevation of the intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in the immediate post-op period. This can last from between 1 day to 1 week after the cataract surgery and it is different from steroid-inducted pressure spikes which tend to happen 10 days to 2 weeks after surgery.”

3. Journal – Conrady CD, Demirci H, Wubben TJ. Retinal Whitening After Lung Transplant for Cystic Fibrosis. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2020;138(9):994–995. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.1306

4. Book Chapter – Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass: Sparknotes, Wikipedia, and Gutenberg. Books 11.

Welcome to my daily learning journal. My daily goal is to watch one Ted Talk and one cataract surgery. I also plan to read one journal article and read/listen to a book chapter, short story or significant work.

Here’s today’s list:

1. Ted Talk – Leah Garcés – A lesson in turning adversaries into allies. “When you’re on opposite sides of an issue, how do you broker peace with your adversaries and work together to solve a problem? Follow along as animal rights activist Leah Garcés recounts three lessons she learned in hatching an ambitious plan to end chicken factory farming with the last person she expected: a chicken farmer.” (ted.com).

2. Cataract Surgery – Uday Devgan MD – great learning resident cataract case. “This video emphasizes these critical teaching points about the basic steps of cataract surgery and it was performed by a resident who has only done about 20 prior cases. In the video, I guide this resident through every step of the surgery, with time taken to give helpful pointers.” Well done.

3. Journal – Sioufi K, Das S, Say EAT. A Case of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Inhibitor–Associated Retinopathy. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2020;138(9):1002–1004. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.2716

4. Book Chapter – Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass: Sparknotes, Wikipedia, and Gutenberg. Books 8-10.

Welcome to my daily learning journal. My daily goal is to watch one Ted Talk and one cataract surgery. I also plan to read one journal article and read/listen to a book chapter, short story or significant work.

Here’s today’s list:

1. Ted Talk – Neal Katyal – How to win an argument (at the US Supreme Court, or anywhere). “The secret to winning an argument isn’t grand rhetoric or elegant style, says US Supreme Court litigator Neal Katyal — it takes more than that. With stories of some of the most impactful cases he’s argued before the Court, Katyal shows why the key to crafting a persuasive and successful argument lies in human connection, empathy and faith in the power of your ideas. “The question is not how to win every argument,” he says. “It’s how to get back up when you do lose.” (ted.com).

Excellent talk and I love his final comment, “And I’ve come to realize that the hand I was holding was the hand of justice.”

I am again reminded of Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s speech on the Day of Affirmation in South Africa, which was memorialized by his brother Senator Edward Kennedy at RFK’s funeral. “Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of the events, and in the total of all these acts will be written the history of this generation.” (See “Day of Affirmation Address” via the JFK Library site here).

With thanks to Neal Katyal for helping to bend the arc of justice.

(And Neal, you may be interested in a Yale-Dartmouth treasure which I donated to the Yale Library here. This was an agreement between Eleazer Wheelock (Yale 1733), President of Dartmouth, and Mr. John Smith as Dartmouth’s first professor, 1777. Ravi D. Goel Collection on Yale (RU 1081). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library.)

2. Cataract Surgery – Uday Devgan MD Compilation video: Corneal Phaco Incisions. 14 minutes of high yield pearls.

3. Journal – Vu DM, Swaminathan SS. Progressive Vision Loss in a 62-Year-Old Woman. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online September 10, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.1746

4. Book Chapter – Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass: Sparknotes, Wikipedia, and Gutenberg. Book 7.

Welcome to my daily learning journal. My daily goal is to watch one Ted Talk and one cataract surgery. I also plan to read one journal article and read/listen to a book chapter, short story or significant work.

Here’s today’s list:

1. Ted Talk – Abraham Verghese: A doctor’s touch. “Modern medicine is in danger of losing a powerful, old-fashioned tool: human touch. Physician and writer Abraham Verghese describes our strange new world where patients are merely data points, and calls for a return to the traditional one-on-one physical exam.” (ted.com).

This is one of my favorite Ted Talks by physician and author Abraham Verghese MD.  He speaks about the doctor-patient relationship.  

A doctor’s human touch remains an essential element of the patient experience.  To touch, to comfort, diagnose, and heal. Covered by our PPE, we’ve created temporary barriers to closely perform examinations. 

Regarding PPE and COVID, I hope that “This too shall pass.” And I look forward to the return of the transformative ritual of the examination, which is essential to our mission of protecting sight and empowering lives.

2. Cataract Surgery – Uday Devgan MD – Is ophthalmology residency too difficult? Dr. Devgan writes, “In the video below, I will share with you the most important lesson that I learned when I was a medical student. That lesson has been instrumental to my success — I would not be here without it. Let me pass this pearl on to you so that you can achieve incredible success and happiness in your career!”

3. Journal -Kansal V, Dollin M. Acute and Painless Monocular Vision Loss in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Man. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2017;135(7):811–812. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.5679

4. Book Chapter – Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass: Sparknotes, Wikipedia, and Gutenberg. Book 6.

Welcome to my daily learning journal. My daily goal is to watch one Ted Talk and one cataract surgery. I also plan to read one journal article and read/listen to a book chapter, short story or significant work.

Here’s today’s list:

1. Ted Talk – Kevin Briggs: The bridge between suicide and life. “For many years Sergeant Kevin Briggs had a dark, unusual, at times strangely rewarding job: He patrolled the southern end of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, a popular site for suicide attempts. In a sobering, deeply personal talk Briggs shares stories from those he’s spoken — and listened — to standing on the edge of life. He gives a powerful piece of advice to those with loved ones who might be contemplating suicide.” (ted.com).

Sergeant Briggs has saved more than 200 lives. His compassion, emotional intelligence, and story telling make this a transformational talk. #WorldSuicidePreventionDay.

2. Cataract Surgery – Uday Devgan MD – Resident Cataract Case with Iris Hooks. Dr. Devgan writes, “For a small pupil case, using iris hooks is helpful to give better access during cataract surgery. This case is being performed by a resident and the technique is excellent. The insertion of these iris hooks is initially done in the square (4 corners) configuration and then a fifth hook is placed in the sub-incisional area to create a pentagon shape that looks like home plate in baseball. Another method has been described by master cataract professor Dr Tom Oetting which uses 4 hooks in a diamond configuration to retract the sub-incisional iris.” Great case. I am partial to the Malyugin Ring, which I think is among cataract surgery’s greatest innovations.

3. Journal – Zhang AY, Reddy AK. Bilateral Decreased Vision During Pregnancy. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2017;135(7):807–808. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.5453

4. Book Chapter – Pankaj Mishra – The Romantics: A Novel. Chapter 2. He mentions the poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

I can spend hours researching old photos and videos in black and white — particularly from India. I found a powerful poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, juxtaposed with videos from the 1947 Partition, on YouTube here.