Sight For Sore Eyes

In the last episode, we began the first of a series of conversations, speaking with the foot soldiers so to speak of the AAOs Task Force on Disparities in Visual Health and Eye Care .  In this episode, I begin a conversation with Drs. Jessica Randolph, Basil Williams, and Kristen Nwanyanwu. Dr. Randolph is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Virg...

Today we begin a series of conversations speaking with the foot soldiers, so to speak, of the AAOs Task Force on Disparities in Visual Health and Eye Care . These individuals were on the front lines of health equity research in ophthalmology before making their important contributions to the task force's work and have unique perspectives on their participation in the work done and the lessons...

In the last episode we were introduced to the founders of the AAOs DEI Taskforces Drs. Tamara Fountain, Paul Lee, and David Parke.  We learned about the origins of the taskforce on Disparities in Visual Health and Eye Care, which was charged with reporting on how social determinants of health impact the ophthalmic care our patients receive, and why its commissioning and the work that was done is s...

In this episode I speak with Drs. Tamara Fountain, Paul Lee, and David Parke about their foundational roles in the development of the AAOs Taskforce on Disparities in Visual Health and Eye Care, which produced a seminal compendium of articles and commentaries that are arguably the most comprehensive analysis of the factors underlying the disparities of patient care delivery to marginalized communi...

In this episode, I speak with Jane Aguirre, the Vice President of Membership and Global Alliances for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Over her distinguished 42-year career with the Academy, she has held several positions and led numerous important initiatives and programs. Despite her numerous accomplishments and accolades with and from the academy over her career, however, perhaps her most...

What is the power of a story? By seeing and hearing the lived experiences of others in places that we want to be, we can place ourselves in their shoes, making what may be just a dream to us now a tangible and achievable reality. In this Episode of SFSE we bring you  stories of established and training URiM Ophthalmologists, residents, fellows, and students who express what it was like for them to...

In this episode, I speak with residency program directors, the individuals charged with shaping the experience that ophthalmology trainees receive during, residency,  a formative period of their lives and careers. They have the tremendous responsibility of developing, overseeing, and managing ophthalmology residency training programs.  My guests today are Drs. Fasika Woreta, Stacy Pineles, and Jef...

This episode is a conversation with Drs. Dolly Ann Padovani Claudio and O'Rese Knight who are the co-directors of the NMA’s Rabb Venable excellence in research program which has historically been the most successful program helping URiM students match into the field of ophthalmology. Additionally, Dr. Padovani Claudio is a member of the executive board of the AAO and AUPOs minority ophthalmol...

In this episode of Sight for Sore Eyes we'll see that Ophthalmology is the least diverse field of medicine when it comes to residency training and speak to Dr. Parisa Emami, the author of the study that brought this information to light.  Dr. Parisa Emami-Naeini:  https://physicians.ucdavis.edu/medicalcenter/details/42670/parisa-emami-naeini-ophthalmology-uveitis-vitreoretinal_surgery-sacrame...

This episode of Sight for Sore Eyes  is the second of the two-part series exploring the history of the AA experience in medicine and ophthalmology and how it is intimately intertwined with US history. Dr. Clifton Peay. Dr Peay is an ophthalmologist practicing in Richmond Virginia specializing in glaucoma, refractive, cataract, laser, and anterior segment surgery. He has a wealth of knowledge and e...

This episode of Sight for Sore Eyes  is the first of a two-part series exploring the history of the AA experience in medicine and ophthalmology and how it is intimately intertwined with US history. In this episode I speak with Dr. Johnson, who is a professor of ophthalmology at Brown University. He is Deputy Chief of Ophthalmology and Section Chief of Neuro-ophthalmology at Rhode Island Hospital....

In the next episode of Sight for Sore Eyes, we’ll begin a series on the history of AA in medicine and ophthalmology. Before delving into this topic, however, it is important to gain perspective on the history of AA in America by revisiting the legacy of slavery and segregation and their repercussions. You cannot understand the current state of the black community, race relations, the perceptions a...

The field of ophthalmology has a dearth of minority representation in the ranks of its providers. To put things in perspective, minorities currently make up almost 40% of the US population but only 6.6 % of practicing Ophthalmologists in the US and 6 to 7 % of Ophthalmology residents. This lack of representation has an affect on the recruitment of minorities to our specialty and on patient care. I...