Dr. Sohail Hasan Attends OLAG and Federal Secretariat Meetings in Washington, DC 2025
On Friday, January 24, and Saturday, January 25, 2025, Dr. Sohail Hasan, MD, PhD, FACS, FASRS, FRCSC, Chair and Associate Secretary of OPHTHPAC, represented Illinois Retina Associates and Retina Consultants of America at two pivotal gatherings in Washington, D.C.: the Ophthalmic Leadership Advocacy Group (OLAG) meeting and the Federal Secretariat meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
Ophthalmic Leadership Advocacy Group (OLAG) Meeting
On Friday, January 24, Dr. Hasan participated in the OLAG meeting, a cornerstone event hosted by the AAO at the start of each year. The OLAG meeting brings together leaders in ophthalmology to discuss pressing federal issues, set advocacy priorities, and examine legislative changes affecting ophthalmology practices and patient care. Attendees included representatives from ophthalmic subspecialty societies, AAO leadership, and other experts in the field. Dr. Hasan contributed his expertise to discussions on advocacy priorities for the year ahead and the impact of legislative changes like updates to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
Federal Secretariat Meeting
On Saturday, January 25, Dr. Hasan attended the Federal Secretariat meeting of the AAO. This important gathering of AAO leadership focuses on strategizing federal policies affecting ophthalmologists and their patients. Topics of discussion included legislative updates, reimbursement policies, and regulations impacting eye care practices nationwide. As a leader in ophthalmic advocacy, Dr. Hasan actively participated in these critical conversations that shape the future of ophthalmology.
Dr. Hasan’s attendance at these meetings underscores his dedication to advocating for the profession and ensuring that ophthalmologists and their patients have a voice in Washington. His leadership at both the OLAG and Federal Secretariat meetings reflects Illinois Retina Associates' and Retina Consultants of America’s commitment to advancing the field of ophthalmology through advocacy and policy engagement.
Photos from the meetings are shared below. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to lead the charge in ophthalmic advocacy!
Photo 1: Dr. Sohail Hasan at the OLAG meeting with esteemed colleagues. Seated from left to right: Dr. Sohail Hasan, Dr. JoAnn Giaconi (AAO Secretary for Communications), Dr. George Williams (AAO Senior Secretary for Advocacy), Dr. Stephen McLeod (AAO CEO), and Dr. Michael Repka (AAO President).
Photo 2: Dr. Sohail Hasan addressing attendees from the lecture podium at the Secretariat for Federal Affairs conference in Washington, D.C.
Photo 3: From left to right: Dr. Stephen McLeod (AAO CEO), Dr. Michael Repka (AAO President), Dr. Christopher J. Rapuano (AAO President-Elect), and Dr. Sohail Hasan at the Federal Secretariat meeting.
