Top 10 Mistakes YOs Make When Attending Conferences
- Atanas Bogoev M.D. and Maria Bogoeva
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Young ophthalmologists gain strong value from conferences. Learning new techniques, meeting experts, and building your training path. Residents and young specialists often miss many opportunities due to common mistakes when attending conferences. Let's try to identify and address them now.
Mistakes Young Ophthalmologists Make During Conferences
No planning
Arriving at a meeting without a plan wastes time. If it sounds like you, it's time to change that. The best tip? Review the program several days before the event and pick:
Sessions you'd like to attend (look at who is presenting and moderating the sessions)
People to meet (see where and when they are talking)
Labs to attend (based on your interest)
If you prefer to wing it, instead of thinking ahead, give planning a chance at the next ophthalmology conference. You'll soon realize, preparing for the event in advance will scale your experience.
Attending too many sessions
Many residents try to attend everything. In a small meeting, this may be possible, but on an international conference, this leads to complete chaos. Instead, focus on three important sessions per day. Pick topics matching your goals. Leave room for networking and skill sessions, of course.
Staying in the main hall and listening to the main program sessions only
The main session program is usually the most engaging one, with many difficult cases, key opinion leaders, and is very entertaining.
But you aren't supposed to go to conferences only for entertainment. It is important to know if what you are attending is bringing direct value to you and pushing you forward, or if you are just sitting and observing something that won't have any effect on your career. I would suggest that residents and young ophthalmologists stick to simple sessions that involve key takeaways for beginners, first steps, first surgeries, and how to deal with complications, rather than observing complex surgeries performed by the very best.
The idea is you should be learning about your next step in your development and not 10 steps ahead.
Not maximising the networking opportunities
You miss major value when you avoid people. Speak to faculty. Speak to residents. Speak to industry. Prepare short questions in advance to break the ice and get the most out of the networking session.
If you need tips on how to start the conversation, check out the icebreaker scripts for ophthalmology networking.
Ignoring dry and wet-labs
Lectures give knowledge. Dry and Wet labs build skill. Attend at least one lab per day. It doesn't need to be a paid one - there are many trainings available at the industry session. Book it early because many residents and young specialists will have this on their agenda as well. And very often, the spots for wetlab training at conferences are limited. You'll improve faster when attending labs than from slides alone.
Skipping the poster sessions
Posters are a straightforward way to learn fast, as you read short summaries of new data. When you have the chance, speak with poster authors. Ask them how their findings affect daily practice and take notes. This is a great way to connect, as people love to talk about their work. You can meet so many colleagues who are in your field of interest during the poster sessions.
No follow-up conversations
Many residents speak with experts during the congress, then stop. Letting an important contact go cold is a mistake you, as a young ophthalmologist, should avoid. Send a short message within 48 hours. Let them know your connection was meaningful to you. Include one specific question to keep the channel open.
Poor time management
Running from hall to hall increases stress. When in fact, better time management can improve your overall experience at the ophthalmology conference. Best-case scenario: leave buffer time between sessions. Use breaks to speak with presenters and peers.
Waiting for people to approach you
Conference halls are always busy. Most people don't see you unless you initiate contact. Be the one to take a step forward. Say hello. Use simple introductions. You have more in common with other attendees than you think - ophthalmologists are very warm, kind, and open to being approached and meeting new people.
Not taking notes
Even people with great memory can forget key points by the next day. That's because ophthalmology conferences are intensive events, where you meet tons of people and attend many sessions and lectures. The informational overload is inevitable. To keep up, write three short notes per session and record useful tips in your phone.
When it comes to new contacts, I recommend always adding a few notes to them with a direct call to action - for example, "message 1 week after the conference to ask about x". You know the feeling of having 10 business cards of people after the meeting and forgetting what you were talking about, because of the informational overload.
Review this list before every conference. Aim to make a system. Adopting these simple steps as a part of your conference routine will transform your learning and connections.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Atanas Bogoev, M.D., FEBO is a consultant ophthalmologist, eye surgeon, and co-founder of Ophthalmology24. Atanas has trained internationally, attending courses at Harvard Medical School, Oftalmo University, and completing observerships such as the GAASS program in Toronto. He combines surgical experience with a passion for education, translating surgical best practices and clinical learning into accessible resources.
Maria Bogoeva is a medical writer with over 11 years of experience in copywriting and content strategy. She’s the founder of Ophthalmology24, where she leads the creation of clear, practical, and medically accurate content for ophthalmologists and patients. Her mission: make ophthalmology education more accessible and engaging worldwide.
