The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Montefiore Einstein, recently welcomed a visiting Thailand Delegation including over 20 members from the College of Medicine, Rangsit University, the Ministry of Public Health and the Center of Medical Education, Rajavithi Hospital, Bangkok. The visit included a Grand Rounds presentation by Montefiore Retina Alumnus, Dr. Paisan Ruamviboonsuk, titled; From Code to Clinic - Deploying Artificial Intelligence for Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Thailand’s Nationwide Program. Dr. Ruamviboonsuk is a pioneer in the field, and a past recipient of the United Nations Public Service Award, APAO Distinguished Service Award, and most recently the Sasakawa Health Prize from the WHO. The AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology) recently appointed Dr. Ruamviboonsuk to the 2025 Board of Trustees as International Trustee-at-Large.

The visit featured student and resident conducted tours of Einstein and Montefiore, including visits to clinical learning facilities such as the Gottesman Clinical Skills Center and our own Center for Ophthalmic Innovation, Ronald M. Burde Surgical Simulation Laboratory.

The group conducted shared collaborative sessions with Einstein and Montefiore faculty and senior administration, including our Dean, on medical education, the transition to clinical medicine, along with a review of global ophthalmology and health and infectious disease research and community based initiatives at Einstein. The visit allowed us to demonstrate our educational leadership and set the stage for a variety of future collaborations with our new friends in Thailand.