Aleksandra V. Rachitskaya, MD
Hi, I'm Aleksandra Rachitskaya and I'm very excited to be here at the 14th annual VBS meeting. This is another successful meeting. It's been great to see all the new friends. And I'm also very excited to chat today with Dr. Yoshi Yonekawa, who is the incoming president for VBS. So, Yoshi, tell us about your vision for the next year.

Yoshihiro Yonekawa, MD
Yeah. So, first of all, it's great being here. It's been a phenomenal annual meeting. Each year we do this. We don't think we can get better, but we just get bigger, better each year, thanks to your leadership. And you've done so much for our society. And the list of things that Alexandra has done for the society, it's just too long to list in a quick video. But I think some major things that the society's accomplished this past year under your leadership, I think our international presence has really grown and we've been at so many other meetings, too. And so, I think our influence and spreading our core values in other regions of the world has been really seen under your leadership.

We have a new executive director, so that's like a new phase in our evolution as a society. And we have new committees. We're going to focus on advocacy and research also, in addition to all the educational offerings that we've been providing all year round and not just annual meeting.

Aleksandra V. Rachitskaya, MD
Well, thank you. Thank you for those kind comments. And I agree. It's actually really cool to see VBS grow. And the international presence and our interest going beyond just the annual meeting, and the webinars, and all the educational things that we've been doing for our membership. But then expanding into advocacy, for instance. So, what do you see for next year?

Yoshihiro Yonekawa, MD
I think my main thing is you've done such an amazing job. My role is not to mess things up.

Aleksandra V. Rachitskaya, MD
I don't think that's possible. I think you're going to take it to the next level.

Yoshihiro Yonekawa, MD
No. It's just like doubling down on our core values of being the society where we're the voice for the young retina specialists, while honoring our mentors and just providing the best education possible in our space. And then our new focuses will be advocacy and research also. And so, I think it's going to be a great year. And the annual meeting next year is going to be amazing, I bet.

Aleksandra V. Rachitskaya, MD
Yeah. And I think you hit something that's really... I think for people who don't know about VBS, how important that young trainee component is. We are the only subspecialty meeting where we have medical students come and then obviously, all the way up. So, I think that's such an essential part of what we do. So, the number of times I got asked about the next meeting already is fantastic. It just shows the interest. Anything you can share, any secrets about the meeting coming up?

Yoshihiro Yonekawa, MD
And so, the next meeting is going to be in Miami. That'll be our 15th annual meeting. And that's going to be April 1st in Miami. And so, we look forward to seeing everybody there.

Aleksandra V. Rachitskaya, MD
Well, April 1st is perfect. It's no joke. It's going to be no joke.

Yoshihiro Yonekawa, MD
No joke. It's going to be awesome.

Aleksandra V. Rachitskaya, MD
So, thank you, Yoshi. And I'm so excited to where VBS is going to go in your leadership.

Yoshihiro Yonekawa, MD
Thank you, Alexandra.

Aleksandra V. Rachitskaya, MD
Thank you.