Dr. Terri Young is the Peter A. Duehr Endowed Professor and chairwoman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Dr. Young also serves in the university’s Departments of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics and has adjunct appointments at Duke University and the Singapore Eye Research Institute. She is a pediatric ophthalmologist and clinician-scientist with expertise in ophthalmic genetics and genomics in the areas of refractive error, ocular development and childhood glaucoma. Dr. Young has directed a basic science research laboratory in gene hunting of ophthalmic diseases for 25 years and has authored over 220 peer-reviewed scientific publications, as well as multiple book chapters, articles, reviews and media materials.
Dr. Young’s research interests have garnered national/international acclaim, as well as several collaborative initiatives. She has multiple service years to the National Eye Institute as a member of its Board of Scientific Counselors and multiple permanent member cycles of its study sections and on other National Institutes of Health study sections. She serves on the editorial boards of the journals Experimental Eye Research and Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science.
Dr. Young has participated significantly in service to the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and was appointed a Gold Fellow in 2015. Dr. Young served as chair of both the ARVO Diversity Issues and the Women in Eye and Vision Research committees. She served on the programming committees of the ARVO cross-sectional genetics and the biochemistry and molecular biology sections for which she chaired. Dr. Young now serves on the ARVO Foundation Board of Trustees.
Dr. Young has dedicated her expertise and energy to several of our subspecialty organizations. She has served as the chair of the research committee of the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS); program committee chair for the Academy’s pediatric ophthalmology section; and treasurer of Women in Ophthalmology Inc. She recently completed an appointment as chair of an Academy Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force to assess and change organizational membership demographics. Dr. Young currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology, chairing its Boot Camp for New Chairs Workshop and the Compensation Survey and Bylaws Committees.
Dr. Young has been granted Senior Honor Awards from the AAPOS and Academy. She is a nominated and inducted fellow of the American Ophthalmological Society, the Philadelphia College of Physicians and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Dr. Young has used her voice in the many organizations and institutions she serves to make changes that encourage greater collaboration and learning. She has demonstrated a deep commitment to advocating for and nurturing the next generation of ophthalmology and vision science leaders.
It is through Dr. Young’s recommendation that I was asked to join the Academy’s Young Ophthalmology Committee 25 years ago. This was my first Academy leadership position, and I am delighted to acknowledge Dr. Young’s early role in my career. I am especially pleased to introduce her as my 2021 president’s guest of honor.