Partnership
We are lucky to have many allies who seek to join our goal of creating a more inclusive field. The Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring program is a partnership between the Academy and Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology that serves to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in ophthalmology by connecting underrepresented students with mentorship, career planning, networking opportunities and educational resources. Several of our group members participate as mentors.
Survival Guide for Applying to Ophthalmology Residency
Applying to residency is no easy task and can be even more daunting when worrying about whether your identity will be a big asterisk when committees are reviewing your application. Access the collective wisdom of those who have traversed this path so that your experience is a little bit easier in the LGBTQ+ Community’s Medical Student Handbook: A Survival Guide for Applying to Ophthalmology Residency.
Advocacy

The Academy has several task forces on addressing disparities. These include the Task Force on Organizational Diversity and Inclusion and the Task Force on Disparities in Eye Care.
Reach out to lgbtq@aao.org for specific questions.
With pride,
The Academy LGBTQ+ Community Leaders
Alexander Khammar, MD – Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin
Andrew Duong – Resident, University of Southern California
César Briceño, MD – Oculoplastic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania
David Ramirez, MD – Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Northwestern University
Jessica Weinstein, MD – Vitreoretinal Surgery, University of Kentucky
Michael Puente, MD – Pediatric Ophthalmology, University of Colorado
Peter Quiros, MD – Neuro-ophthalmology, UCLA
Valerie Biousse, MD – Neuro-ophthalmology, Emory University
Vivienne S. Hau, MD, PhD - Retina, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine