Associate Professor Dr Ashish Agar has been appointed President of the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO), Australia’s peak medico-political ophthalmic body. A/Prof Agar has been an active member of the ASO since 2009, including the last three years as Vice-President.
A glaucoma consultant and surgeon at the Prince of Wales and Sydney Eye Hospitals, and a partner at Marsden Eye Specialists, A/Prof Agar was Fellowship trained in Oxford and has been awarded a PhD in his field. He maintains his commitment to education via teaching undergraduate medical students, registrar training and specialist education, including in overseas aid programs. He is engaged in research in basic sciences, medical education, Indigenous health and new technologies, with an academic appointment at the University of New South Wales as a Conjoint Associate Professor in Ophthalmology.
Originally from regional NSW, A/Prof Agar remains committed to ensuring equitable access to eye health care, regardless of geography or wealth
Originally from regional NSW, A/Prof Agar remains committed to ensuring equitable access to eye health care, regardless of geography or wealth. He is currently Director of Ophthalmology at Broken Hill Hospital, a Medical Director of the Outback Eye Service based at Prince of Wales Hospital, Co-Chair and NSW lead of the Indigenous and Remote Eye Health Service (IRIS) program, a member of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology (RANZCO) NSW branch committee and Chair of the RANZCO Indigenous committee.
During his tenure A/Prof Agar hopes to continue the ASO’s commitment to ensuring the independence of the profession. This includes countering moves to managed care and increasing awareness amongst medicine in general, and governments in particular, of the importance of ophthalmology as an essential component of an effective health service, especially in the public sector. Rural and remote practitioners and Indigenous Health will also be key areas of focus, and the COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted concerns about doctor safety in the workplace which he will pay special attention to.
Following his appointment at the recent ASO annual general meeting, A/Prof Agar acknowledged the very substantial leadership and support of Dr Peter Sumich as the outgoing ASO President following three strong years of success and growth at the helm of the ASO.
“Under Peter’s guidance the ASO has continued to become increasingly influential in the healthcare landscape. He is an invaluable resource and I am delighted he has agreed to remain on the ASO Board in the role of Vice President,” he said.
