Introducing Your 2021–22 ASCRS Leadership
Each year there are leadership changes to the ASCRS Executive Committee and Clinical Committees that reinforce the society’s commitment to advancing leadership opportunities. One-year terms on the Executive Committee and regular rotation on Clinical Committees creates an atmosphere where new leadership is fostered and where the changing demographics of the field as a whole are reflected.
“The knowledgeable leaders who, with their breadth of experience, have seen a lot of change in ophthalmology balanced with the welcoming of new ideas, thoughts, and energy is a valuable asset to ASCRS. It’s one of the secrets that has made ASCRS sustainable,” said ASCRS Executive Director Steve Speares.
With that, ASCRS welcomes Richard Hoffman, MD, as its 2021–22 president. While this and other leadership changes would historically happen at the spring ASCRS Annual Meeting, we look forward to celebrating and acknowledging these accomplishments at the 2021 ASCRS Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, in July. Dr. Hoffman is from Eugene, Oregon, where he is in private practice. He has served as a column editor for EyeWorld, the ASCRS member publication; he was chairman of the ASCRS Cataract Clinical Committee; and in addition to serving on the ASCRS Executive Committee, he is a member of the ASCRS Research Council.
In addition to the newly appointed president, Douglas Rhee, MD, moves into the role of president-elect, Elizabeth Yeu, MD, treasurer, and Vance Thompson, MD, secretary.
There have been a few changes on ASCRS Clinical Committees as well. Marjan Farid, MD, is now chair of the Cornea Clinical Committee, Cathleen McCabe, MD, chair of the Refractive Surgery Clinical Committee, and Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, MD, chair of the Young Eye Surgeons Clinical Committee.
“Many of these changes reflect the changing face of ophthalmologists,” Mr. Speares said. “For example, ASCRS now has more women in leadership roles than ever before.”
“ASCRS has been and always will be a meritocracy. It’s solely reliant upon volunteer leaders who give their time and their talent. These are people who are willing to serve as mentors and share some of the pearls of wisdom and success that they have enjoyed. The rise within ASCRS leadership is based on the decisions these ophthalmologists made years ago as they sought to get involved in advancing ophthalmology.”
As we say hello to some new faces and as familiar faces move into new roles, ASCRS thanks those who have served the society in a leadership capacity and are now rotating out of committee positions, particularly Thomas Samuelson, MD, Nick Mamalis, MD, Francis Mah, MD, and Sumit “Sam” Garg, MD.
“Those volunteering in leadership roles within ASCRS are a voice for members and a voice for ophthalmology, serving as a conduit among the membership, government, payers, industry, and the public,” Mr. Speares said. “The society thanks all of these volunteers.”
ASCRS members interested in further engagement are encouraged to get involved. From submitting papers and videos or presenting at the ASCRS Annual Meeting (or any of ASCRS’ other meetings) to contributing to EyeWorld articles to volunteering with the ASCRS Foundation and more, there are a multitude of opportunities.
ASCRS and its leaders are here … for you.
ASCRS Executive Committee 2021–22
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Richard Hoffman, MD – President |
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Douglas Rhee, MD – Vice President/President-Elect |
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Elizabeth Yeu, MD – Treasurer |
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Vance Thompson, MD – Secretary |
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Terry Kim, MD – Immediate Past President |
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Nick Mamalis, MD – Past President |
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Edward Holland, MD – Chair, Program Director |
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Eric Donnenfeld, MD – Chief Medical Editor, EyeWorld |
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David Chang, MD – Foundation, International |
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Kerry Solomon, MD – Foundation, U.S. |
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Richard Lindstrom, MD – Member at Large |
ASCRS Committee Chairs
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John Berdahl, MD –Membership Committee |
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Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, MD – Young Eye Surgeons Clinical Committee |
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Leon W. Herndon, MD – Glaucoma Clinical Committee |
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Marjan Farid, MD – Corneal Clinical Committee |
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Kevin M. Miller, MD – Cataract Clinical Committee |
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Cathleen McCabe, MD – Refractive Surgery Clinical Committee |
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Christina Weng, MD – Retinal Clinical Committee |
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Parag D. Parekh, MD – Government Relations Committee |
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Edward J. Holland – ASCRS Hall of Fame Committee |
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Natalie Afshari, MD, FACS – Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Committee |
Cataract Clinical Subcommittee Chairs
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Kendall E. Donaldson, MD – Refractive Cataract Surgery Subcommittee |
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Jonathan B. Rubenstein, MD – Skills Transfer Subcommittee |
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Sumitra S. Khandelwal, MD – Challenging/Complicated Cataract Surgery Subcommittee |
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Robert J. Weinstock, MD – Instrumentation and IOLs Subcommittee |
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Warren E. Hill, MD – IOL Calculation Subcommittee |