Diversity Initiatives Committee
Description
The Diversity Initiatives Committee monitors the issues facing ARVO members of minority groups, women and those with special needs. It also develops initiatives to address these concerns and recommends ways for ARVO to respond.
Activities
- Suggest names of ARVO women and minorities to the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) for possible appointments to Study Sections when requested.
- Increase organizational sensitivity to the concerns and needs of minority/women investigators and their leadership roles within ARVO.
- Identify successful models for the introduction of potential minority/women investigators into the biomedical research arena.
- Serve as a clearinghouse for information on opportunities, programs and resources specifically aimed at minority/women investigators.
- Work with the Members-in-Training Committee (MIT) and the Global Members Committee to identify possible mentors and role models for fledgling minority/women investigators.
- Identify corporate sponsors for programs to increase minority/women's participation in biomedical research.
- Support ARVO educational and membership initiatives, including outreach to schools and expansion of mentoring for junior minority/women scientists.
- Sponsor ARVO Annual Meeting workshops on issues of minority/women vision scientists.
- Report to the Board of Trustees at its regular meetings.
Meetings
The committee meets during the Annual Meeting and conducts business via ARVOConnect, email and conference call during the year.
How to Apply: The 2023 applications period closed on Jan. 11
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:
- Invest time in their application
- Make sure their member information is updated and accurate in ARVOConnect
The ARVO President-elect made appointments in February/March for the term beginning in May 2024.
Roster
Chair
Preeti Subramanian, PhD
Section: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
BrightFocus Foundation
Clarksburg , Md.
Term: 05/07/2021 - 05/31/2025
Member
Jaya Gnana-Prakasam, PhD
Section: Retina
Saint Louis University
St. Louis , Missouri
Term: 05/18/2022 - 05/31/2025
Member
Elisabetta Pilotto, MD
Section: Retina
University of Padova- Department of Neuroscience
Padova , Italy
Term: 05/18/2022 - 05/31/2025
Member
Muhammad Abdulrazik, MD, PhD, FARVO
Section: Physiology/Pharmacology
East-Jerusalem Eye Research Initiative
, Palestine
Term: 05/18/2022 - 05/31/2025
Member
Zhengping Hu, MD
Section: Retinal Cell Biology
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Boston , Mass.
Term: 05/18/2022 - 05/31/2025
Member
Ye Sun, MD, PHD
Section: Retinal Cell Biology
Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Boston , Mass.
Term: 05/18/2022 - 05/31/2025
Member
Swati Agarwal-Sinha, MD, FASRS
Section: Retina
University of Washington
Seattle , Wash.
Term: 04/27/2023 - 05/31/2026
Member
Livia Carvalho, PhD
Section: Retina
University of Western Australia / Lions Eye Inst.
Perth , Australia
Term: 04/27/2023 - 05/31/2026
Member
Inderjeet Kaur, PhD
Section: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
LV Prasad Eye Institute
Hyderabad , Australia
Term: 04/27/2023 - 05/31/2026
Member
Ameenat Lola Solebo, PhD, FRCOphth
Section: Clinical/Epidemiologic Research
Institute Child Health, UCL
London , U.K.
Term: 04/27/2023 - 05/31/2026
Member
Amir Reza Hajrasouliha, MD
Section: Retina
Indiana University School of Medicine
Carmel , Ind.
Term: 05/09/2024 - 05/31/2027
Member
Karen Allison, MD
Section: Glaucoma
University of Rochester
Hewlett , N.Y.
Term: 05/09/2024 - 05/31/2027
Member
Zohreh Hosseinzadeh, PD
Section: Retina
Radboud University Medical Center
Leipzig , Netherlands
Term: 05/09/2024 - 05/31/2027
Member
Meghan Berkenstock, MD
Section: Immunology/Microbiology
Wilmer Eye Institute
Bel Air , Md.
Term: 06/18/2024 - 05/31/2027
Trustee Liaison, Ex Officio
Sophie Deng, MD, PhD, FARVO
Section: Cornea
Stein Eye Institute, UCLA
Los Angeles , Calif.
Term: 05/07/2021 - 05/06/2026
Trustee Liaison, Ex Officio
Frank Lovicu, PhD, FARVO
Section: Lens
University of Sydney
Sydney , Australia
Term: 05/07/2021 - 05/06/2026
Ex Officio
SriniVas R. Sadda, MD, FARVO
Section: Retina
Doheny Eye Institute
Pasadena , Calif.
Term: 05/05/2024 - 05/08/2025
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
Co-Staff Committee Liaison
Clarissa Portillo
ARVO
Finance Coordinator
Co-Staff Committee Liaison
Jenniffer Scherhaufer
ARVO
Asst. Director, Communications