Candidate Qualifications
Academy fellows in good standing may be considered for positions on the Board of Trustees, with the exception of international trustee-at-large. Only international members or fellows and members who practice exclusively outside of the United States may be considered for appointment as an international trustee-at-large. Board nominees should be able to demonstrate experience in performing fiduciary duties at the non-profit level and making high-level budgetary, contractual or other executive decisions. Board nominees should be available to attend the five board meetings held annually.
The Academy's leaders should be knowledgeable, experienced and prepared to devote the time and energy required by a large organization in these challenging times. This work is both demanding and rewarding for those interested in helping to assure the Academy's success and responsiveness to members. With these characteristics in mind, assist the Nominating Committee by suggesting appropriate candidates for the following positions in 2025:
President-elect (to serve as president in 2026). As the president-elect automatically becomes president the following year, it is crucial that nominees be individuals who have had leadership experience within the Academy. They should also have demonstrated leadership qualities in clinical practice, in their own ophthalmic communities and in other medical or ophthalmological organizations.
Senior Secretary for Clinical Education (three-year term). Coordinates the programs and activities of the Academy’s education division including curriculum development, online education, lifelong learning and assessment, and educational publications.
(2) Trustees-at-large (four-year term). These individuals should be Academy fellows who are especially attuned to the needs and expectations of our members. In addition to demonstrating strong leadership potential, they should be able to represent and articulate the needs and concerns of members to the Academy board.
International Trustee-at-Large (three-year appointment). An Academy International Fellow or Member who practices exclusively outside of the United States and has a strong affinity for the Academy and broad experience and understanding of his or her region. This individual should be able to represent and articulate the perspective of international members to the Academy board. International trustees do not vote on Academy governance, rules or procedures.
Nomination Procedures
To nominate a candidate or yourself for an open position, submit a nomination form to the Nominating Committee at nominate@aao.org or by fax to: 415.561.8526 by Jan. 31. Academy bylaws also allow for nominations to be made without the Nominating Committee's participation by presenting a petition signed by at least fifty (50) voting fellows and members to the CEO's office no later than Aug. 20, 2024.
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee is a standing committee of the Board of Trustees that recommends nominations for elected board positions to the Board of Trustees. Per the Academy's bylaws, the committee consists of eight members and is chaired by the past president. The committee recommends a single candidate for each open elected position to the Board of Trustees for approval. Nominations for Council chair and vice chair are made through Council elections that are then sent to the Board of Trustees for approval.
The Academy nominating process has been carefully crafted to be inclusive, fair, and efficient. This process encourages a broad base of nominations from the entire Academy membership. The Nominating committee composition is delineated by the bylaws, and it considers a number of factors when screening potential candidates including: integrity, ophthalmology leadership ability, special expertise, past committee and leadership experience and performance, and knowledge and interest in the multitude of issues currently facing ophthalmology. In addition to nominations from the current year, the committee also reviews prior year nominations to ensure a wide range of potential candidates for each position. Following months of confidential deliberations, the committee presents final recommendations to the Board of Trustees for approval. This single candidate method avoids the loss of valuable future leaders as there are no public “losers” in the election. Often those considered, but not selected, for an open position one year, become the nominee of choice in a future year.
The members of the 2024 Nominating Committee are: Daniel J. Briceland, MD (chair); Ravi D. Goel, MD; Lisa D. Kelly, MD, MEd; Stephen D. McLeod, MD (ex-officio); Darby Miller, MD, MPH; Purnima S. Patel, MD; Peter Quiros, MD and George A. Williams, MD.
Announcement of Candidates
The official slate of candidates, recommended by the Nominating Committee and approved by the Board of Trustees, will be announced with notice of the annual business meeting in accordance with the Academy's bylaws.