TO READ | Open for Submissions: NIH Prize for Enhancing Gender Diversity in Academia

US academic institutions can now apply for a prize that will award universities that have helped close gender gaps in academia. The prize, offered by the National Institutes of Health, is an effort to address systemic barriers that women face in academia. Up to 10 universities can apply to win as much as $50,000 in prizes. These institutions must provide measurable data to show that the steps they implemented improved gender diversity and equity at their respective institutions, including career advancement of underrepresented faculty.

TO WATCH | A Day in the Life: Sila Bal, MD, MPH

Practicing sunrise meditations, spending long hours at work, and enjoying outdoor hobbies when her call schedule allows, Sila Bal, MD, MPH, shares a glimpse into her life as an ophthalmology resident at Mass Eye & Ear.

TO FOLLOW | Medicare Proposed Rule Could Reduce Payments for Ophthalmic Surgery by 6%

CMS’ proposed annual Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program rule could reduce payments to nearly all surgical specialties, including by up to 6% for ophthalmology. The cuts, set to take place January 1, 2021, affirm and, in some cases, increase the cuts CMS announced last year. The AAO is working with the Surgical Care Coalition, a group of 12 medical associations representing more than 150,000 US surgeons, to urge Congress to fix this problem. “CMS is asking the specialty that took the economic brunt of the pandemic and took massive code decreases this year to also take the brunt of planned pay cuts in 2021. There is no way that these pay cuts won’t affect Medicare patients’ access to timely surgical care,” David Glasser, MD, Secretary for Federal Affairs of the AAO, said in a statement from the Academy.

TO WATCH & LISTEN | Honestly Bilal: Behind the Scenes

In a behind-the-scenes video of his Super Sunday, Bilal Ahmed conducts six interviews for his podcast program Honestly Bilal. Watch as he touches base with two medical students, a resident, and three all-star attendings for his show, the purpose of which, he says, is to build a community and to connect medical students interested in ophthalmology, residents training in ophthalmology, and current ophthalmologists in the field today. Honestly Bilal is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.