SightLine
Agenda
SightLine 2026: How Ophthalmology Works with the Government
SightLine at ASCRS is back—with a focused, one-day program that brings ophthalmology’s business leaders together for real talk on the financial and regulatory forces shaping the specialty.
Meeting in 2026 in Washington, D.C., where federal decisions influence every part of the field, SightLine will explore how government and ophthalmology intersect to shape the future.
High-Level Agenda Details
When: Thursday, April 9, 2026, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET
Where: Westin Washington, DC Downtown
Why: To galvanize key leaders to strategize and ideate solutions for the most pressing issues facing the business of ophthalmology. To examine the state of financial health of the ophthalmic space and what steps need to be taken to improve the outlook for various stakeholders.
Thu
Apr 09, 2026
8:00–8:15 a.m.
Survey Results on Attitudes and Trends Among Commercial Ophthalmology Stakeholders
— Steve Speares, ASCRS
8:15–8:35 a.m.
Ophthalmology in the Healthcare Market
— Mike Connor, JP Morgan Chase & Co
8:35–9:05 a.m.
Scale, Shift, and Shareholder Value: How Ophthalmology Strategics Are Rewriting the Playbook
Moderator: Jim Mazzo, Neurotech
Panel: Mark Baum, Harrow; Julie Brewer, Alcon; Kelly Giuffrida, AbbVie; Brent Saunders, Bausch + Lomb
The discussion will examine how large ophthalmic companies are adapting amid maturing markets, capital discipline, reimbursement pressure, and rapid innovation, spanning portfolio strategy and capital allocation, growth and M&A realities, operating constraints, and the evolving role of strategics as ecosystem orchestrators.
“Join SightLine 2026 and attend the two executive viewpoint roundtable sessions, where leading ophthalmology executives share real-world scenarios and firsthand experiences on how they stayed resilient, adapted their strategies, and led their businesses through change. This isn’t theory. It’s what it takes to scale and succeed.” — Jim Mazzo, Neurotech
9:05–9:35 a.m.
WTH Is Going On at the FDA?!
Moderator: Robert Stanislaro, FTI Consulting
Panel: John Berdahl, MD; Kuldev Singh, MD, MPH; Barrett Thornhill, Forbes Tate Partners; Steve Usdin, BioCentury; Amanda Wiegrefe, ASCRS
10:05–10:35 a.m.
Stay or Go – The Medicare Crossroads for Practices
Moderator: Steven Dell, MD
10:35–11:45 a.m.
Winning Practice Challenge
Moderators: Vance Thompson, MD; Carrie Jacobs, COE
Judges: Debbie Davis, COE, Atwal Eye Care; Amy Jacobs, Sandbox Strategic; Bill Rabourn, Medical Consulting Gruop
Practice Presenters: Nicole Fram, MD; Eric Donnenfeld, MD; Blake Williamson, MD
The Winning Practice Challenge is a new feature at SightLine 2026. This session will look at several ophthalmic practices that are healthy and thriving in today’s environment. Practices will be evaluated for the clinical excellence and intelligent use of technology, patient experience and culture of care, operational excellence and practice health, team engagement and development, and strategic growth and community impact. Get ready to vote as an audience for the winner!
"Ophthalmology practices today are navigating a new reality with declining third-party reimbursement alongside rising expectations from patients, teams yearning for sound leadership, and rising technology costs. The exciting news is that many practices are not just surviving in this environment, they’re thriving. The Winning Practice Challenge will spotlight three remarkable practices that are redefining what success looks like in modern ophthalmology through clinical excellence, innovation, culture, and strategic growth. I’m thrilled to moderate this session with someone I have learned so much from, Carrie Jacobs, executive director of Chu Vision and past ASOA president, because it’s not about theory, it’s about learning from real practices that are showing us how to win in today’s era of medicine." —Vance Thompson, MD
12:50–1:25 p.m.
The Future of Medicare Under the Weight of $38 Trillion in Debt
Moderator: Mark Cribben, JD, ASCRS
Panel: Christiana Nulty, Health Policy Advisor, U.S. Senator John Thune; Amy Zhou, Senior Policy Advisor, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, MD; Austin Welter, Legislative Director, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD
Senior health care staff from key leaders in Congress share their unique perspective on challenges facing Medicare and the prospect for reform in this Congress and beyond. Gain invaluable insight into how actions in Congress impact your bottom line.
1:25–2:00 p.m.
Executive Viewpoint: Roundtable with Ophthalmic Executives
Moderator: Jim Mazzo, Neurotech
Panel: Joe Gilliam, Glaukos; Peter Menziuso, Johnson & Johnson; Warren Foust, STAAR Surgical; Ron Kurtz, RxSight
2:00–2:30 p.m.
The Patient Will See You Now: Who Controls The Future of Communication - Patients, Physicians, Regulators or Industry?
Moderator: Nancy Beesley, Consultant
Panel: Kerry Solomon, MD, Carolina Eyecare Physicians; Rob Heller, Heller Agency; Andrew Stewart, Bausch + Lomb; Imane Tarib, MD, Wilmer Eye Institute
