
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, podcast, or significant work.
Here’s today’s list:

1. Ted Talk – Priya Parker: 3 steps to turn everyday get-togethers into transformative gatherings. “Why do some gatherings take off and others don’t? Author Priya Parker shares three easy steps to turn your parties, dinners, meetings and holidays into meaningful, transformative gatherings.” (ted.com)
Parker states, “The way we gather matters because how we gather is how we live.” I look forward to applying of these pearls post-COVID.

2. Cataract Surgery – Uday Devgan MD – You don’t always need rings or iris hooks. Dr. Devgan states, “For a case like this, there is no need for a pupil expansion ring or iris hooks. These devices can be helpful in cases of very small pupils, but in a case like this where the pupil is more reasonable, we can do the complete cataract surgery without them. This case is particularly challenging because the patient is 90 years old (and we have discussed nonagenarians before) and he takes Flomax (tamsulosin) which leads to IFIS / floppy iris syndrome.”
I love watching Dr. Devgan handle these cases with ease. I also love the Malyugin Ring!

3. Redistribution of metabolic resources through astrocyte networks mitigates neurodegenerative stress. Melissa L. Cooper, Silvia Pasini, Wendi S. Lambert, Karis B. D’Alessandro, Vincent Yao, Michael L. Risner, David J. Calkins. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Aug 2020, 117 (31) 18810-18821; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2009425117
This article is highlighted in the EyeNet (October 2020) News in Review, Astrocytes Try to Rescue Fellow Eye’s Optic Nerve.

4. Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic. (1989). “Habit 7: Sharpen The Saw.”
I attended an EMR user meeting a few years ago. An inspirational speaker shared a Covey video on the concepts of Big Rocks, which you can view on YouTube here. This is a favorite video which led me to find Covey’s vintage book on the family book shelf!