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The 2007 White Nights Congress hosted the largest audience ever. While expecting 900 attendees, leadership was thrilled to welcome almost 1200 participants from Russia, Belarus, Syria, Ukraine, Slovenia, Turkmenistan, Moldavia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Serbia, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Dagestan, Cyprus and China.

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White Nights Leadership Professor Yuri Astakhov (second from left) and Dr. Edward Cherney (far right) were pleased to welcome opening conference speakers Yury A. Scherbuk, MD, PhD, St. Petersburg Government Health Care Committee Chief (far left) and Professor Arkady Nesterov, (second from right) retired Chair of Russian Medical University, Moscow.

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Dr. Sharon Freedman of Duke University was one of the American Faculty. Joined on stage by Alla Lisochkina, M.D., Ph.D.
Associated Professor, Ophthalmology Department, I.P. Pavlov State Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia to translate, Dr. Freedman’s focus on pediatric ophthalmology was a rare opportunity for the participants. Her conference topics are listed below:

Sharon F. Freedman, M.D.
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics Glaucoma Service
Duke Medical Center, Durham NC, USA

  1. Amblyopia - update on recent clinical trials and current guidelines
  2. Pediatric Glaucoma Diagnostic and Medication Updates
  3. Retinopathy of Prematurity – update on clinic examination and guidelines for treatment
  4. Strabismus overview (types, general treatment guidelines)

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Dr. Mark Humanyan is being introduced during the conference opening on May 22, 2007. His lectures included

Mark Humayan, M.D.
Professor of Ophthalmology
Doheny Eye Institute, Keck Medical School, University of Southern Calif.

  1. Artificial Sight; results in patients with microelectronic retinal implants
  2. Surgical Therapies of Retinal Venous Occlusive Diseases
  3. Novel Surgical Instrumentation for Ophthalmic Surgery
  4. Novel oxygen camera for retinal imaging

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    Dr. Andrew Lee of Iowa University is joined by translator Alla Lisochkina, M.D., Ph.D.
    Associated Professor, Ophthalmology Department, I.P. Pavlov State Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia. The topics covered by Dr. Lee during the 2007 Congress included:

    Andy Lee, M.D.
    Professor of Ophthalmology
    Neurology and Neurosurgery Univ. Iowa

    1. Neuroimaging (MRI vs. CT) who to scan
    2. Five neuro-op diagnoses you cannot afford to miss
    3. Evaluation of the isolated optic atrophy
    4. Neuroprotection update for the clinician

    Plus Seminar on AION and temporal arteritis

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    Dr. William Culbertson of Bascom Palmer joined the 2007 American Faculty. Alla Lisochkina, M.D., Ph.D.
    Associated Professor, Ophthalmology Department, I.P. Pavlov State Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia joined Dr. Culbertson for translation to the audience. His topics:

    William Culbertson, M.D.
    Professor of Ophthalmology
    Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami

    1. Multifocal and aspheric IOLs
    2. Penetrating keratoplasty with the femtosecond laser
    3. Anterior lamellar keratoplasty
    4. Management of microbial keratititis

    Plus "Descemets’ Stripping Endotheial Keratoplasty - DSEK" Seminar

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    In addition to his lectures during White Nights, Dr. Edward Cherney consults with Dr. Alla Lisochkina and Dr Yuri Askakhov on test results on the retina.

    His topics included but are not limited to the following:
    Edward F. Cherney, M.D.
    Chair, GlazMed International Inc.
    Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University

    1. Angiogenesis update
    2. Lattice degeneration
    3. Medical treatments of vein occlusions

    Plus Angiogram Seminar

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    Professor Sergei Astakhov, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Ophthalmology Department, Medical Academy for Post-Graduate Training, St. Petersburg, Russia joins Professor Alevtina F. Brovkina, M.D., PhD; head of Russian Medical Academy for Postgraduate Training, Moscow and Vice President of the Inter-Regional Association of Ophthalmologists, Russia for the opening ceremonies of the 2007 White Nights Congress.

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    Dr. Ted Cherney, Chair of GlazMed International welcomes White Nights participant Colonel Ernest Boiko. Dr. Boiko is stationed with the army in St. Petersburg, serves as a vitriol retina surgeon and was sponsored by Dr. Cherney in 2005 for membership in the American Society of Retina Specialists.

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    Drs. Culbertson, Lee and Humanyan (l to r) work through pre-conference logistics with a university technician early Monday morning.

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    2007 White Nights Sponsors including Bausch & Lomb hosted informational booths through the four days with a brisk business from the attendees.

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    Lectures were not the only part of White Nights Congress. Much time was spent out of the lecture halls discussing improvements in health care in Russia and world wide. Dr. Cherney talks with Dr. Vitali Sokolov who manages the St. Petersburg City Clinic and Dr. Feodor Sadreschev who initiated the first ever multi-disciplinary diabetes clinic in Russia after a GlazMed fellowship in the USA. (see our media page for his story.)

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    Dr. Sergei Alpatov, a retina-vitreous surgeon from Irkustk Siberia joins Dr. Cherney after one of his lectures for follow-up questions. Dr. Apatov hosted the Cherneys during their brief visit to Irkustk in December of 2006. (see our website for more information on that journey)

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    Inter-Regional Association of Ophthalmologists (Ru) Chair Professor Evegny Egorov, M.D. PhD opened the faculty dinner with a warm welcome to the 2007 White Nights Faculty from the United States, Great Britain, France, Finland, Ireland and Russia. Professor Egorov is Chair of Russian Medical University.

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    Evgeny L. Akopov, M.D., Ph.D., Ophthalmologist, Ophthalmology Department, I.P. Pavlov State Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia was the 2007 White Night Congress manager.

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    Professor Alla Lisochkina, M.D., Ph.D.spent as much time off the stage as on the stage translating questions and text for the American faculty.

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    Dr. Yuri Astakhov and Dr. Edward Cherney during a faculty dinner on Wednesday evening thanked the visiting faculty and sponsor representatives for sharing in the success of the 2007 White Nights Congress.

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    Dr. Vitaly Sokolov acknowledges the first director of his institution; V.V. Lerche who was the personal ophthalmologist for the Czar’s family and also a hero in the war of 1812. Dr. Lerche with the help of Prince Galitzine helped to build this establishment as the first eye clinic in the world, (dating back to 1806 actual construction and 1824 for the organization itself), for the poor people in Russia. From 1930-1945, this was known as the Geershman Eye Institute and then it was known as the City Eye Hospital with 250 beds. In 1966 this became known more commonly as Hospital #2.

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    Ophthalmologists with the City Clinic in St. Petersburg address vision issues with a slit lamp exam with one of its younger patients.

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    The City Clinic sees more than 154,000 patients each year of which 35% are children. This photo was taken in very late afternoon, but an early morning at the clinic usually hosts standing room only for patients and their care givers.

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    Dr. Vitaly Sokolov shares with us samples of porcelain replacements. These have been made on the fifth floor of the clinic for many years, but that process is now being challenged for dwindling stream of available supplies. Dr. Sokolov has researched the available technology using plastics, but is hampered by lack of funds to buy the new equipment and train the technicians.

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    More than 50,000 children from St. Petersburg and surrounding areas come to the City Clinic annually.

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    Patients usually receive their first level of care from one of the area polyclinics and if there is difficulty with a case, they are referred to Hospital #2, where care is provided from ages 2 weeks through end of life. In St. Petersburg there are 114 polyclinics and 10000 of these are just for children. Children who have problem diagnoses, high myopia, trauma, or other disease processes are sent to Hospital #2 for free care.

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    Dr. Sokolov has been successful in bringing some new equipment and technology for his patients in the past year. Here the new HRT is being used to review a patient’s eyes.

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    This young patient is being tested for strabismus. He was a charming little boy who could not wait to tell his mother how excited he was with his visitors.

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    One of Dr. Sokolov’s successes for 2007 is the newly created pediatric clinic. Bright new rooms and a separate check-in system will welcome the clinic’s youngest patients. However just outside the entrance doors, the courtyard for the clinic still lies in disrepair. Funding to create a welcoming entrance for the children has not yet materialized, so for now this is what is seen. Dr. Sokolov hopes that an unused fountain (seen as the large concrete piece in the picture) in the courtyard center will once again create a fun atmosphere for his patients one day.

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    Dr. Sokolov joins an ophthalmologist using the clinic’s new ultrasound equipment for an exam.

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    Children seen by Dr. Sokolov’s staff are referred by polyclinics and often are the most severe cases of sight challenges. This young patient with severe visual loss is being checked for light perception.

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    Though not a highly technical approach, supervised young patients work with new lenses to improve their reading abilities.

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    The new clinic will offer sub-specialties within the children’s center including the diagnosis and treatment of R.O.P.(retinitis of prematurity), high myopia, trauma, tear duct problems, difficult refractions and strabismus problems. There will be special treatment for children with electrophysiology and this will be the first Consulting Center with this treatment in this region.

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    Dr. Edward Cherney consults on a challenging retina case with Dr. Alla Lisochkina and Dr. Yuri Astakov.

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    Dr. Nikita Dahl displays new equipment for surgery at I.P. Pavlov

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    Dr. Nikita Dahl, before surgery, in the new surgical spaces completed at I.P. Pavlov.

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    Unlike in the west, patients are often seen several in one room at Pavlov and in Russian clinics.

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    Dr. Yuri Astakhov has made very steady progress in upgrading equipment to improve services for patients at Pavlov. Here is a new microscope for micro-surgery.

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    Dr. Yuri Astakhov and Dr. Sergei Astakhov consult on the needs of a senior adult patient. Many Pavlov patients are from the large population of seniors who survived the siege of St. Petersburg during World War II.

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    Due in part to the rules of health insurance in Russia, one day ambulatory surgery has not yet become a reality. Consequently, much space is allocated for surgery recovery with a number of patients assigned to a room.

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    The medical system within Russia is based on referrals from polyclinic physicians who send the more severe cases to Pavlov. Dr. Astakhov and his staff have been able in the past few years to upgrade the outpatient waiting area facilities to ease the stress of awaiting additional examinations.

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    One of the few rooms at Vtorov House which holds any resemblance to the once spectacular home is the ballroom. Now under restoration, the ballroom will hold a performance stage for the children.

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    Dr. and Mrs. Cherney along with Dr. Yuri Astakhov meet with the school director who is pleased and surprised to meet one of the few surviving members of the Vtorov Family. Dr. Cherney: "I am not sure what was more overwhelming, listening to the children singing or walking the halls where my father ran as a young boy."

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    During a special tour of Siberia in December of 2006, Dr. and Mrs. Cherney are able to visit the family home of Ted’s father. Built in the nineteenth century, the Vtorov House is now a performing arts school for children.

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    Many homes in Irkustk are constructed from logs yet present elaborate trimwork around windows.

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    During Ted’s childhood, he was told stories of how the children would climb the turret in Vtorov House and watch the balls through the grillwork which still remains intact.

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    A few churches remain intact in Irkustk. This magnificent structure-- Church of Our Savior was built in 1680 and the frescoes on the exterior were created in 1840’s.

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