Anthony Khawaja is a clinician scientist, who splits his time between patient care and research. He is an Honorary Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon specialising in glaucoma at Moorfields Eye Hospital, and Professor of Ophthalmology at University College London (UCL), where he leads a data science research group. Anthony undertook his medical training at the University of Cambridge and UCL, and fellowship training in ophthalmology and glaucoma at Moorfields Eye Hospital, as well as completing the Berkeley Fellowship at Harvard Medical School.
Getting involved with the College Informatics and Audit Sub-committee
It’s an exciting time to be involved in informatics and play a role in how the College best advises its members and sets strategy related to this fast-moving field. Informatics has become a very broad term, encompassing many aspects of patient care including digital technologies and electronic medical records, as well as how we code and share data, how we store images, and how we set standards to support good-quality audit and research.
During my time as committee chair we’ve continued a lot of the good work done under the excellent chairmanship of John Sparrow. This includes developing new national datasets, which specify how best to collect structured information across a host of conditions like strabismus, glaucoma surgery, refractive surgery and the well-known datasets supporting national audits in cataract and age-related macular degeneration.
I really enjoyed my time on the committee but have reached the end of my term. I believe effective leadership needs rotation and fresh energy so I’m excited for the next chair.
Subcommittee initiatives: Improving imaging processes and creating two-way communication flows
Our newer initiatives include revamping terminology coding for ophthalmology which was terribly behind the times and establishing a clinical reference group for ophthalmology with SNOMED International.
We’re seeking to make improvements regarding data standards for imaging equipment. The current process for sharing images between hospitals and platforms is extremely challenging and slow. Output files aren’t in a standardised or open format. In radiology, if you have a head scan in one department, it’s easy to share it with other hospital departments and throughout the country. There is an existing standard called DICOM, which is complicated and which hasn’t been well adhered to by ophthalmic imaging manufacturers.
We are working with NHS England and the College of Optometrists and have mapped out the steps needed so that eye imaging manufacturers can work towards better conformance to support patient care, ensuring more rapid detection and treatment for conditions that can lead to sight loss, like glaucoma, as well as making it far easier for audit and research.
Standardisation of imaging will be hugely beneficial in facilitating joined-up patient care, and tools like artificial intelligence can be a key component in identifying high-risk patients quickly.
Along with our other initiatives, it’s important we work well with key industry players. We established an industry liaison group for effective two-way communication between our committee and industry. They can hear our needs and provide insight with a broad range of expertise going beyond most ophthalmologists and College members.
If you would like to lead or join a College committee or subcommittee, take a look here at the opportunities currently available.