Advocacy and Outreach Committee
Description
Under the direction of the Board of Trustees, the Advocacy and Outreach Committee (AOC) develops and implements activities that influence research policy and funding decisions globally; increases members’ interest and ability to educate the public and policymakers about the importance of vision research; increases public awareness of ARVO and vision research; and establishes ARVO as a trusted source of information. In addition, the AOC assists ARVO in responding to scientific content of policy discussions relating to research guidelines worldwide. The Committee consists of a mix of MDs and PhDs and should also have strong international representation, including at least two Members-in-Training.
Activities
- Works with ARVO staff to review and recommend policies impacting eye and vision research funding internationally.
- Works with ARVO staff to respond to issues in science and vision-research related policy areas and science funding, where advice of experts is requested from legislative or regulatory offices in the U.S. and other countries.
- Works with ARVO staff to develop initiatives and activities to support members’ capacity to educate and inform external audiences and advocate on behalf of vision research.
- Works with ARVO staff on U.S. and international press and media activities related to science and vision research topics.
- Reviews and selects Science Communication Training Fellowship participants
- Reviews and selects honorees for Advocacy Awards—Achievements in Eye and Vision Advocacy Award and Emerging Advocate Award
- Sponsors Annual Meeting workshops and reviews publications.
- Provides a committee report to the Board of Trustees at its regular meetings.
Resources
Meetings
The Committee as a whole meets during the ARVO Annual Meeting and conducts business via ARVOConnect, e-mail and, if needed, by conference call during the year. Sub-committees meet at least once during the year via conference call or more as projects dictate.
How to Apply: The 2024 application period will open Dec. 2
To be considered for membership on the Committee, please submit an online application consisting of an application statement, plus detail of past ARVO service and/or experience. It is recommended that individuals:
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- Invest time in their application
- Make sure their member information is updated and accurate in ARVOConnect
The ARVO President-elect will make appointments in February/March for the term beginning in May 2025.
Roster
Chair
Whitney Stuard Sambhariya, MD, PhD
Section: Cornea
Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute
Baltimore , Md.
Term: 05/17/2022 - 05/31/2026
Member
Vishal Jhanji, MD, FRCS, FRCOphth
Section: Cornea
The University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh , Pa.
Term: 04/27/2023 - 05/07/2026
Member
Jodhbir Mehta, MD, PhD, FRCS (Ed)
Section: Cornea
Singapore Eye Research Institute
, Singapore
Term: 04/27/2023 - 05/07/2026
Member
Rajalekshmy Shyam, PhD
Section: Cornea
Indiana University
Bloomington , Indiana
Term: 054/27/2023 - 05/07/2026
Member
Gustavo Gameiro, MD
Section: Eye Movements/Strabismus/Amblyopia/Neuro-ophthalmology
EPM - UNIFESP
Londrina Parana , Brazil
Term: 05/09/2024 - 05/06/2027
Member
Itika Garg, MD
Section: Retina
Tulane University School of Medicine
Metairie , La.
Term: 05/09/2024 - 05/06/2027
Member
Gail M. Seigel, PhD, FARVO
Section: Retinal Cell Biology
University at Buffalo
Buffalo , N.Y.
Term: 05/09/2024 - 05/06/2027
Member
Mervyn George Thomas, BSc, PhD
Section: Eye Movements/Strabismus/Amblyopia/Neuro-ophthalmology
University of Leicester
Leicester , England
Term: 05/09/2024 - 05/06/2027
Mahmoud KhalafAllah, MD, MSc
Section: Glaucoma
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Vestavia Hills , Ala.
Term: 5/8/2025 - 5/31/2028
Elise Ma, MD, PhD
Section: Cornea
UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute
Los Angeles , Calif.
Term: 5/8/2025 - 5/31/2028
Rohan Singh, MD
Section: Cornea
Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School
Boston , Mass.
Term: 5/8/2025 - 5/31/2028
Trustee Liaison
C. Ross Ethier, PhD, FARVO
Section: Glaucoma
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta , Ga.
Term: 05/18/2023 - 05/04/2028
Ex Officio
Sophie Xiaohui Deng, MD, PhD, FARVO
Section: Cornea
Stein Eye Institute, UCLA
Los Angeles , Calif.
Term: 05/05/2021 - 05/08/2026
Executive Vice President
J. Mark Petrash, PhD, FARVO
Section: Lens
University of Colorado
Boulder , Colo.
Term: 05/20/2022 - 05/31/2027
Ex Officio
Iris M. Rush, CAE
ARVO
Executive Director
Staff Liaison
Salewa Akintilo, MSGH
Asst. Director, Science Communications
ARVO