Advocacy and Outreach Committee

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.

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.

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.

To be considered for membership on the Committee, please submit an online application (from Dec. 8, 2025 - Jan. 16, 2026) consisting of an application statement, plus details 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 will make appointments in February/March for the term beginning in May 2026.

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 - 05/07/2027

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

Member
Mahmoud KhalafAllah, MD, MSc

Section: Glaucoma
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Vestavia Hills, Ala.
Term: 5/8/2025 - 5/31/2028

Member
Elise Ma, MD, PhD

Section: Cornea
UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute
Los Angeles, Calif.
Term: 5/8/2025 - 5/31/2028

Member
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

ARVO, Asst. Director, Science Communications