Committee Volunteer Opportunities

Federal Affairs

Committee for Research, Regulatory and External Scientific Relations

Oversees issues relating to federal agencies with jurisdiction over public health and scientific issues. Assists in Academy policy development in these areas, including work with agencies such as NIH, FDA, CDC and others.

Requirements:

• Understanding of the work of federal public health and science agencies

Committee on Eye Banks

Responsible for overseeing the Academy's activities and policies relating to the nation's eye banks and cornea transplantation. Acts as facilitator between the Academy and the Eye Banks Association of America (EBAA).

Requirements:

• Expertise in cornea transplantation and eye banking 

Health Policy Committee

Oversees advocacy efforts in ophthalmology on behalf of the Academy, dealing with federal government and private payers in areas of coverage, reimbursement and other payment policies. Presents to American Medical Association panels on new ophthalmology codes and new payment values, and ensures appropriateness of current payments.

Requirements:

• Basic knowledge of Medicare payment and coverage policies related to ophthalmology as well as overall knowledge of coding
• Regular participation in discussions via email regarding issues and concerns related to reimbursement and coding issues, as well as new policy considerations

OPHTHPAC Committee

Oversees Academy's federal political action committee (PAC) and grassroots efforts on behalf of ophthalmology in Washington, DC. Responsible for outreach to ophthalmology colleagues to educate them about OPHTHPAC and congressional advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising and recruitment of congressional advocates.

Requirements:

• U.S. members only
• Must be OPHTHPAC donor

State Affairs

Committee for State Governmental Affairs

Assists state ophthalmological organizations in their efforts to affect the outcome of state legislation and regulation. 

Committee for State Organizational Development

Promotes the development of strong state ophthalmological societies to serve as advocates for ophthalmology at the state level.

Surgical Scope Fund Committee

Raises significant funds from Academy membership, state and subspecialty/specialized interest societies on annual basis in order to provide states resources to protect the practice of ophthalmology against optometric surgical scope initiatives that jeopardize quality of patient care.

Requirements:

• U.S. members only
• Must be Surgical Scope Fund contributor

Special Projects Committee

Develops new Annual Meeting programs and formats to complement the courses, symposia, papers, posters and videos submitted by members and societies.

Annual Meeting Program Committee

Reviews, selects, monitors and evaluates the instruction courses, Breakfast with the Experts, videos and scientific papers and posters each year for the Annual Meeting.

Skills Transfer Advisory Committee

Oversees the skills transfer courses at the Academy's Annual Meeting. Responsible for abstract review and selection, course development and monitoring/evaluation.

Subspecialty Day Advisory Committee

Oversees the development of the scientific programs of Subspecialty Day meetings, including program review and approval. Communicates with Planning Groups. Evaluates programs and recommends policies.

EyeWiki™ Editorial Board

Creates and reviews submitted material to an online Wiki where ophthalmologists, other physicians, patients and the public can view detailed content written by ophthalmologists covering the vast spectrum of eye disease, diagnosis and treatment.

Industry Training Task Force

Spearheads new program to provide clinical education to pharmaceutical sales representatives so that they can have more meaningful and efficient conversations with their ophthalmologist clients. 

Ophthalmic Knowledge

Basic and Clinical Science Course (BCSC) Committee, Sections 1-13

Each BCSC committee reviews book content annually for minor revisions, except during a major revision year. In a major revision year, committee members provide an in-depth review which includes: revising text, figures, tables and questions. Members could be asked to review other products such as Focal Points.

Requirements:

• During major revision cycle, members are required to attend one weekend meeting with the committee
• BCSC Sec. 1: Update on General Medicine
• BCSC Sec. 2: Fundamentals and Principals of Ophthalmology
• BCSC Sec. 3: Clinical Optics
• BCSC Sec. 4: Ophthalmic Pathology and Intraocular Tumors
• BCSC Sec. 5: Neuro-Ophthalmology
• BCSC Sec. 6: Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• BCSC Sec. 7: Orbit, Eyelids and Lacrimal System
• BCSC Sec. 8: External Disease and Cornea
• BCSC Sec. 9: Intraocular Inflammation and Uveitis
• BCSC Sec.10: Glaucoma
• BCSC Sec.11: Lens and Cataract
• BCSC Sec.12: Retina and Vitreous
• BCSC Sec.13: Refractive Surgery

Committee on Aging
Increases the amount and quality of geriatric education and expertise among ophthalmologists. Committee members produce Annual Meeting symposia and Breakfast with the Experts. 

Focal Points Editorial Review Board

Provides concise and current clinical articles that help ophthalmologists in general clinical practice to understand and apply the most effective and up-to-date information and techniques in diagnosis and treatment of ocular disease and disorders. Each Board member covers one practice emphasis area and is responsible for assigning and overseeing content for three to four 4,000-word manuscripts per year.

Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP®) Committee

Works in cooperation with the American Board of Ophthalmology to create an annual exam to assess the knowledge and performance of residents in approved US and Canadian ophthalmology programs. The OKAP exam is now also being administered internationally to interested programs.

Ophthalmology Liaisons Committee

Supports ophthalmic medical personnel by ensuring that they have access to the highest quality educational programs and products. Develops educational materials for residents, medical students and non-ophthalmic physicians, providing them with high-quality, up-to-date ophthalmic information that will enable them to provide appropriate eye care for the public.

Practicing Ophthalmologists Advisory Committee for Education

Reviews ongoing programs and provides advice from the perspective of the ophthalmologist in practice. Members review all sections of the BCSC, Focal Points modules, Preferred Practice Pattern® and other education programs.

Vision Rehabilitation Committee

Fosters the provision of comprehensive, high-quality care to patients requiring vision rehabilitation services. Members plan and coordinate Annual Meeting symposia and Breakfast with the Experts.

Committee for Resident Education

Oversees the Resident Hub and several textbooks, including Basic Principles of Ophthalmic Surgery and Basic Techniques of Ophthalmic Surgery. Supports and develops the Resident Hub as the best single centralized, web-based resource for the housing, development, testing, and dissemination of materials for ophthalmology resident education.

Requirements:

• Must either be a current resident, program director or former program director 

Online Education/E-Learning

Digital Media Committee

Develops educational DVDs and multiple series of surgical videos on the ONE Network. Reviews and approves online video content to maintain clinical accuracy and currency.

Ophthalmic News & Education Network (ONE®) Editorial Board

Oversees the news side of the ONE Network. Each Practice Emphasis Area has an editor and committee that review on a monthly basis the top ophthalmic journals in their subspecialty to provide guidance on which studies to highlight on the network (Editors' Choice), providing commentary when appropriate. In addition, committee members help acquire videos, produce podcasts, report from ophthalmic meetings, supply topics and authors for Current Insight articles and provide information on new drugs, technologies and procedures.

• ONE - Cataract
• ONE - Comprehensive
• ONE - Cornea
• ONE - Glaucoma
• ONE - Neuro-Ophthalmology
• ONE - Ocular Oncology/Pathology
• ONE - Oculoplastics
• ONE - Pediatric Ophthalmology/Strabismus
• ONE - Refractive Management
• ONE - Retina
• ONE - Uveitis

Online Education Committee

Develops CME courses and interactive cases and quizzes offered on the ONE Network. Also performs educational needs assessments and develops broader learning plans online.

   Quality of Care

Committee on Medical Information Technology

Sponsors a Working Group 9, which brings vendors and ophthalmologists together to discuss ways to coordinate the development of standards and activities related to digital imaging and communications.

Ophthalmic Technology Assessment Committee

Evaluates scientific literature regarding the safety and effectiveness of new and existing ophthalmic tests and procedures so that information about state-of-the-art ophthalmic technology is available to ophthalmologists, the private sector and the government, thus ensuring that appropriate eye care is provided to the public.

• OTAC - Cornea/Anterior Segment Panel
• OTAC - Glaucoma Panel
• OTAC - Oculoplastics and Orbit Panel
• OTAC - Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Panel
• OTAC - Refractive Management Panel
• OTAC - Retina/Vitreous Panel

Preferred Practice Pattern Committee (In 2014 Glaucoma only)

Identifies characteristics and components of quality eye care, commensurate with present knowledge and resources, through a series of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.

Committee on Public Health

Provides public health-oriented and research-based perspectives for the development of Academy positions on topical and time-sensitive clinical concerns. Oversees a research and training grant (GEMSSTAR) for early career ophthalmologists interested in clinical or health services research.

Committee for Practice Improvement

Develops educational activities that incorporate tools and a framework for changing practice and evaluating the changes they make. Examples of CME activities developed are Wrong Site/Wrong IOL and Building Best Practices for Informed Consent Performance Improvement CME Activities.

   Knowledge Base Development

Knowledge Base Panels

Develops a comprehensive and complete online clinical knowledge base that is considered important to providing quality patient care.

Requirements:

• Well-established knowledge of the subspecialty and/or at least 50% practice time devoted to the subspecialty
• Knowledge Base - Cataract/Anterior Segment Panel
• Knowledge Base - Cornea/External Disease Panel
• Knowledge Base - Glaucoma Panel
• Knowledge Base - Neuro-ophthalmology/Orbit Panel
• Knowledge Base - Oculoplastic/Orbit Panel
• Knowledge Base - Ophthalmic Pathology and Oncology Panel
• Knowledge Base - Pediatric Ophthalmology/Strabismus
• Knowledge Base - Refractive Management/Intervention Panel
• Knowledge Base - Retina/Vitreous Panel
• Knowledge Base - Uveitis Panel

Practicing Ophthalmologists' Curriculum (POC) Panel

Develops a comprehensive and complete online clinical knowledge base that is considered important to providing quality patient care. POC panels are responsible for content directed towards preparation for Maintenance of Certification examinations.

Requirements:

• Must have time-limited certificate and be actively participating in Maintenance of Certification
• Well-established knowledge of the subspecialty and/or at least 50% practice time devoted to the subspecialty
• Comprehensive ophthalmology POC panel: primarily practicing comprehensive or general ophthalmology
• POCP - Cataract and Anterior Segment Panel
• POCP - Comprehensive Ophthalmology Panel
• POCP - Cornea/External Disease Panel
• POCP - Glaucoma Panel
• POCP - Neuro-Ophthalmology/Orbit Panel
• POCP - Oculoplastics/Orbit Panel
• POCP - Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Panel
• POCP - Refractive Management/Intervention Panel
• POCP - Retina Vitreous Panel
• POCP - Uveitis Panel

Communications Committee

Advises the Academy on issues related to public relations and broader public-facing activities and member communications strategy in mediums such as web, digital, media relations, etc.

Requirements:

• Expertise in public relations, promotion and communication strategies

Product Advisory Committee

Assists with the Academy's branding and marketing efforts with a particular focus on product marketing strategy.

Requirements:

• Demonstrated business acumen

Patient Education Committee

Provides input into the Academy's public-facing eye health information website and directly contributes to development and content review of patient-education products. Reviews large volume of content with rapid turnaround time.

EyeNet Editorial Board

Members identify story topics, serve as interviewees, host Q&A sessions with colleagues on topics of current interest and provide assistance to staff editors on an as-needed basis.

Requirements:

• Respond in timely manner to editors' requests
• Meet deadlines
• Strong written communication skills and excellent news judgment

Museum of Vision – Academy Archives Committee

Provides fair and impartial decision for the growth of the Museum of Vision's oral history, film, photograph and general archive collection.

Museum of Vision – Collections Committee

Provides fair and impartial decisions for the growth of the Museum of Vision's artifact and rare book collection.

Museum of Vision – Exhibitions and Educational Outreach Committee

Provides recommendations and editorial input for Museum of Vision educational programs, including exhibits, symposia and publications

Global Education and Outreach Committee

Works to advance ophthalmic education in the developing world. Offers physicians information required to ethically and effectively provide quality eye care in these countries.

Requirements:

• Knowledge of global ophthalmology

International Meetings Committee

Guides the Academy's participation and organization of educational programs at ophthalmology meetings outside the United States.

Requirements:

• Program participant in at least one meeting outside the United States per year. (The Academy does not underwrite travel expense.)

Global ONE® Advisory Board

Enhances the Academy's ONE® Network by reviewing, creating and soliciting regional content that reflects local ophthalmic practice. Keeps ONE Network relevant to practicing ophthalmologists worldwide. International members sought. 

ISRS Cataract Refractive Committee

Monitors advances in the field of cataract refractive surgery. Solicits content related to current topics identified as timely and important. Recommends communication vehicles to disseminate information to ISRS members.

ISRS Multimedia Library Editorial Board

Solicits and submits clinical content to the ISRS Multimedia Library. Recruits potential "Surgeons of the Month" to be recognized by ISRS.

Regional Advisors Committee

Provides guidance on educational resources needed, how they can be deployed effectively and how to best work with key ophthalmic organizations in their region/country. Identify opportunities for collaborative educational programs with ophthalmic organizations in the region/country. Major regions include: Pan America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa.

Requirements:

• AAO International Member
• Knowledge of a region of the world 

ISRS Executive Committee

Oversees the major functions of the ISRS. Facilitates the dissemination of innovative ideas and educational programs in refractive, cataract and lens-based surgery.

Requirements:

• Service on an ISRS committee

ISRS International Council

Works to increase ISRS membership, presence, value and offerings of the ISRS in the Council member's respective country and region.

ISRS International Meetings Committee

Determines ISRS's participation and oversees the organization of educational programs at ophthalmology meetings outside the United States.

Requirements:

• Program participant in at least one meeting outside the United States per year. (The ISRS does not underwrite travel expenses.)

ISRS Program Committee

Works to ensure that ISRS provides consistent and effective educational programs at Subspecialty Day and other educational meetings.

Rotary Committee

Identifies and partners with Rotary Clubs to select and host ophthalmologists from developing countries who visit the host ophthalmologist and attend the Annual Meeting.

Requirements: Member of a Rotary Club

Senior Ophthalmologist (SO) Committee

Addresses the interests and needs of active and retired ophthalmologists 60 years of age and over, communicating their concerns to Academy leadership and supporting their relationship and involvement in Academy activities.

Young Ophthalmologist (YO) Committee

Addresses the educational needs of younger or new-to-practice ophthalmologists, communicating their concerns to the Academy leadership and supporting their membership and involvement in Academy activities. The major focus of these efforts is directed towards residency, fellowship and the first five years of practice