Program

All times shown are Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Session recordings will be available to registrants through March 3

Wednesday, Feb. 1

9 – 10:30am
Welcome from ARVO President & Opening Keynote ― #FailForward: It is a way of life.
Failing forward (in a nutshell) means to use the failure, adversity, and the hard times we will inevitably go through in our lives to learn lessons, grow thicker skin, and help others. Jacob Brown will share his experiences with failure and explain how those lessons helped him achieve his goals. 

• Welcome and Conference Overview
• Keynote Presentation: #FailForward: It is a way of life ― Jacob Brown

10:40 – 11:30am
Lightning talks: Preparing for career success 
Success in eye and vision science requires careful planning and thoughtful exploration. You must ask yourself key questions.  How can I contribute to the  field? What do I want to achieve for myself? How do I develop a network of supporters? How do I document my accomplishments? You will leave this session with strategies to discover answers that are right for you.

• Finding a research niche ― Jacque L. Duncan, MD, FARVO
• Planning your career: From self-assessment to achieving your goals ― Aparna Lakkaraju, PhD
• Documenting your accomplishments: General tips for writing a CV ― Andrew J. Feola, PhD
• Developing a support system: Sponsors, mentors, and informal connections ― Neena Haider, PhD, FARVO

11:40am - 12:40pm
The clinician-scientist: An international perspective
The path from clinical observation to research project to translatable research findings is shaped by the systems in which the clinician-scientist practices and conducts research. This session will explore the clinician-scientist experience in the U.S., Europe, India and Asia. 

• Being a clinician-scientist in the U.S. ― Joseph L. Demer, MD, PhD, FARVO
• Being a clinician-scientist in Europe ― Francesco Bandello, MD, FEBO
• Being a clinician-scientist in India ― Taraprasad Das MD, FRCS, DSc
• Being a clinician-scientist in Asia ― Gemmy Chui Ming Cheung, FRCOphth

11:40am - 12:40pm
Overseeing your first lab
What should you expect during the transition to a Principal Investigator (PI) role? In addition to designing, conducting and analyzing quality research projects, you must also know how to obtain and manage funding, staff and resources. You may also need to obtain a faculty position. Attendees will leave this session with expert guidance to address these new responsibilities. 

• Mentoring up: How to get the most out of your mentors ― Vinay Kumar Aakalu, MD, MPH
• Pathway to independence: Elements of successful grant applications ― Ian A. Sigal, PhD
• Make the right move: Obtain and negotiate a faculty position ― Raji Shyam, PhD
• Staff your laboratory: Recruiting and resource management ― Robert F. Mullins, PhD

11:40am - 12:40pm
Connecting with Industry
Are you considering leaving your current position for one in industry or have a research idea that requires collaboration with Industry? These changes will likely involve adjusting to new work cultures that require different skills to be successful. Attend this session to gain insight into industry’s perspective and goals for research.

• How to find job opportunities within industry ― Kendra Hileman, PhD 
• Switching from academia to industry ― Jessica V. Jasien, PhD, FAAO
• Customizing your CV for Industry ― Jeremy M. Sivak, PhD
• Preparing yourself for industry collaborations: Understanding industry goals ― Alex Hui, OD, PhD, FAAO

11:40am - 12:40pm
Careers focused outside the clinic and the lab
Advancing research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders requires the participation of people and systems outside the clinic and basic laboratory. There is a need for public health professionals, advocacy groups, science communicators and more. Come to this session to learn about opportunities to participate in, support and advocate for eye and vision science. 

• See yourself in a public health career ― Van C. Lansingh, MD, MBA, PhD, FARVO
• Working at a Research Foundation ― Preeti Subramanian, PhD
• Advocacy meets policy ― Dan Ignaszewski 
• Working for a regulatory agency ― Brad Cunningham, MSE, PGC-AIML, RAC

12:50 - 1:50pm
Sessions with an expert
Sessions with an expert are informal discussion sessions led by the expert host. Attendees drive the conversation via Q&A. These sessions are not recorded. 

• Lab Management: Advice for the inexperienced ― Steven J. Fliesler, PhD, FARVO
• Commercialization: How and when to get started ― Kapil Bharti, PhD

2 - 3pm
Résumé review - SOLD OUT

Thursday, Feb. 2

8 - 9am
Résumé review - SOLD OUT

9:10 - 10:10am
Keynote: A career journey in eye and vision science
Internationally recognized scientist, Patricia A. D’Amore, PhD, MBA, FARVO shares insights from her distinguished career.

• A career journey in eye and vision science ― Patricia A. D’Amore, PhD, MBA, FARVO

10:20 - 11:10am
Lightning talks: Addressing challenges
All researchers encounter challenges at various points in their careers. These challenges could be in the form of research setbacks, conflicting priorities or personalities, or some unpredicted event. Planning is key to overcoming these challenges. Attend this session to learn about balancing priorities and managing conflicts. 

• How to react to a major setback in your research? ― Professor Stephanie Watson, OAM Bsc(Med), MBBS, PhD, FRANZCO*
• Should I give up my research project? ― Kirsten J. Lampi, MS, PhD
• Managing conflicts ― Claude F. Burgoyne, MD, FARVO
• Balancing clinical and research duties ― Richard J. Blanch, BSc, MBChB, PhD

*Due to time zone issues, Dr. Watson will not be able to join the live session. Her presentation will be pre-recorded.

11:20am – 12:20pm
Science communication skills
Researchers must be able to effectively communicate their science to a variety of audiences including colleagues, funders, journal editors and reviewers, policymakers, and the public. Each audience needs to hear the message in a way that speaks to their interests and level of scientific understanding. Attendees will leave this session with practical advice for tailoring their message to fit the audience.

• Science communication: What is it and why is it important? ― Bryan William Jones, PhD
• Simplify your science ― Juliet Moncaster, PhD
• Presenting a poster ― Jarrod Harman, PhD
• Giving an oral presentation ― Eric B. Papas, PhD*

*Due to time zone issues, Dr. Papas will not be able to join the live session. His presentation will be pre-recorded.

11:20am – 12:20pm
International careers: Advice for success
A famous singer-songwriter asked, "Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?" In our increasingly global world, the answer is more often "No.” But moving around the globe isn't simple. It involves navigating new cultures and new rules. The presenters in this session will share their lessons learned from developing and nurturing international careers and collaborations. 

• Case Study: Navigating the U.S. Visa system: The experience of a researcher from China ― Mengxi Shen, MD, PhD
• Transitioning across countries: Maintaining connections and finding resources ― Livia Carvalho, PhD
• Globalization of research: Joining or creating an international collaboration ― Darlene A. Dartt, PhD, FARVO

11:20am – 12:20pm
Teaching your first course
Designing and delivering effective instruction incorporates adult learning principles and engages and empowers learners. It gets better with practice and mentorship. Attend this session to learn and ask questions about writing a teaching philosophy statement, building a course, bringing creativity into the classroom and managing student relationships. 

• Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement ― Alecia K. Gross, PhD, FARVO
• Building your first course ― Isabelle Jalbert, OD, PhD, MPH*
• Managing student relationships ― Maureen A. McCall, PhD, FARVO

**Due to time zone issues, Dr. Jalbert will not be able to join the live session. Her presentation will be pre-recorded.

12:30 – 1:30pm
Sessions with an expert
Sessions with an expert are informal discussion sessions led by the expert host. Attendees drive the conversation via Q&A. These sessions are not recorded.

• Simplifying collaborations and consortiums ― Petr Y. Baranov, MD, PhD
• Overcoming setbacks when starting a research career ― Amandio A Rocha-Sousa, MD, PhD
• Applying for grants: A practical guide ― Tiziana Cogliati, PhD

1:40 – 2pm
Closing Panel
The conference organizers will summarize key concepts and themes from the conference. Attendees will leave with ideas to apply what was learned.