Eye Center Gains Input from All Stakeholders During Strategic Retreat

In June, the team from UMass Memorial Eye Center held a half-day strategic retreat to discuss the future trajectory of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Teams from the UMass Memorial eye clinic, UMass Chan Medical School, along with special guests from leadership, and Marketing and Communications, joined in thoughtful conversation about the future tactics and direction of the department.

“As I virtually ‘flew’ from one breakout room to another, I felt incredible pride, pleasure and gratitude to be able to observe the high quality of our people, our Eye Team,” shared Shlomit Schaal, MD, PhD, MHCM, President of UMass Memorial Medical Group and Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. “It was heartwarming for me to witness all of you: your personal involvement, your deep thoughtfulness and your strong commitment to the future of our department.”

The event kicked off with presentations by Michael Gustafson, MD, MBA, President, UMass Memorial Medical Center, and Eric Dickson, MD, MPH, MHCM, President and CEO, UMass Memorial Health, before moving onto breakout sessions where groups went into deep discussion on a few areas of focus, including the areas of: Clinical, Research, Education and Community Outreach.

Prior to the retreat, all team members were asked to complete a questionnaire to provide feedback on their perceived strengths and weakness of each area of focus, and choose an area of interest to participate in. From that information, breakout room leaders created a feedback summary to drive the discussions.

Moving forward, leaders will finalize the strategy recommendations from each breakout group, which will be compiled and used to develop the department’s overall strategy for the next five years, focusing on those four main missions.

“The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has undergone a monumental transformation over the past five years,” said Dr. Schaal. “With the expert, dedicated, wonderful team we have in place, I have no doubt that our next five years will be equally, if not more, successful! Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do to make UMass Memorial Eye Center the amazing place it is today!”

Shlomit Schaal, MD, PhD, MHCM, President of UMass Memorial Medical Group and Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Eric Dickson, MD, MPH, MHCM, President and CEO, UMass Memorial Health

Michael Gustafson, MD, MBA, President, UMass Memorial Medical Center

Katherine Ribeiro and Haijiang Lin, M.D., Ph.D.