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 – application period closed January 12
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 will make appointments in February/March for the term beginning in May 2022 (additional details will be announced at a later date).
Roster
Chair
Catherine A. Opere, PhD
Section: Physiology and Pharmacology
Creighton University
Omaha , Neb.
Term: 05/07/2021 - 04/27/2023
Member
Peter Lam, MD
Section: Cornea
LSU-Ochsner Shreveport
Houston , Texas
Term: 05/02/2019 - 05/05/2022
Member
Cesar Perez-Gonzalez, PhD
Section: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
National Eye Institute, NIH
Bethesda , Md.
Term: 05/02/2019 - 05/05/2022
Member
Shengnan Qiao, PhD
Section: Visual Neuroscience
Yale University
New Haven , Conn.
Term: 05/02/2019 - 05/05/2022
Member
Tasneem Sharma, PhD
Section: Glaucoma
University of North Texas Health Science Center
Fort Worth , Tex.
Term: 05/02/2019 - 05/05/2022
Member
Manju Subramanian, MD
Section: Retina
Boston University
Boston , Mass.
Term: 05/02/2019 - 05/05/2022
Member
Emiliano Teran, PhD
Section: Visual Psychophysics/Physiological Optics
Universidad Autonoma de Sinaloa
Mexico , Mexico
Term: 05/07/2020 - 04/27/2023
Member
Cintia de Paiva, MD, PhD
Section: Cornea
Baylor University College of Medicine
Houston , Tex.
Term: 05/07/2020 - 04/27/2023
Member
Maria Cabrera-Aguas, MBBS, MIPH
Section: Clinical/Epidemiologic Research
Save Sight Institute - University of Sydney
Sydney , Australia
Term: 05/07/2020 - 04/27/2023
Member
Deborah Awisi-Gyau
Section: Cornea
Indiana University
Bloomington , Ind.
Term: 05/07/2020 - 04/27/2023
Member
Goldis Malek, PhD, FARVO
Section: Retinal Cell Biology
Duke University - Ophthalmology Dept.
Durham , N.C.
Term: 05/07/2021 - 05/09/2024
Member
Darlene Miller, DHSc, MPH, MA
Section: Immunology/Microbiology
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine - Ophthalmology Dept.
Miami , Fla.
Term: 05/07/2021 - 05/09/2024
Member
Eisuke Shimizu, MD, PhD
Section: Cornea
Keio University School of Medicine - Dept. of Ophthalmology
Keio , Japan
Term: 05/07/2021 - 05/07/2024
Member
Preeti Subramanian, PhD
Section: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
BrightFocus Foundation
Clarksburg , Md.
Term: 05/07/2021 - 05/09/2024
NEI Liaison, Ex Officio
Neeraj Agarwal, PhD, FARVO
National Eye Institute/NIH
Bethesda , Md.
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
Stephen C. Pflugfelder, MD, FARVO
Section: Cornea
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston , Tex.
Term: 05/07/2021 - 05/05/2022
Ex Officio
Maureen G. Maguire, PhD, FARVO
Section: Clinical/Epidemiologic Research
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia , Penn.
Term: 05/07/2021 - 05/09/2022
Ex Officio
Justine R. Smith, FRANZCO, PhD, FARVO
Section: Immunology and Microbiology
Flinders University
Adelaide , South Australia
Term: 05/11/2017 - 05/05/2022
Ex Officio
Iris M. Rush, CAE
ARVO
Executive Director
Co-Staff Committee Liaison
Clarissa Portillo
ARVO
Finance Coordinator
Co-Staff Committee Liaison
Mia Williams
ARVO
Meetings Manager