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: The 2023 applications period closed on Jan. 11

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 made appointments in February/March for the term beginning in May 2024.

Roster

Chair

Preeti Subramanian, PhD

Section: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
BrightFocus Foundation
Clarksburg , Md.
Term: 05/07/2021 - 05/31/2025

Chair-elect

Ye Sun, MD, PHD

Section: Retinal Cell Biology
Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Boston , Mass.
Term: 05/18/2022 - 05/31/2025

Member

Jaya Gnana-Prakasam, PhD

Section: Retina
Saint Louis University
St. Louis , Missouri
Term: 05/18/2022 - 05/31/2025

Member

Elisabetta Pilotto, MD

Section: Retina
University of Padova- Department of Neuroscience
Padova , Italy
Term: 05/18/2022 - 05/31/2025

Member

Muhammad Abdulrazik, MD, PhD, FARVO

Section: Physiology/Pharmacology
East-Jerusalem Eye Research Initiative
, Palestine
Term: 05/18/2022 - 05/31/2025

Member

Zhengping Hu, MD

Section: Retinal Cell Biology
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Boston , Mass.
Term: 05/18/2022 - 05/31/2025

Member

Swati Agarwal-Sinha, MD, FASRS

Section: Retina
University of Washington
Seattle , Wash.
Term: 04/27/2023 - 05/31/2026

Member

Livia Carvalho, PhD

Section: Retina
University of Western Australia / Lions Eye Inst.
Perth , Australia
Term: 04/27/2023 - 05/31/2026

Member

Inderjeet Kaur, PhD

Section: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
LV Prasad Eye Institute
Hyderabad , Australia
Term: 04/27/2023 - 05/31/2026

Member

Ameenat Lola Solebo, PhD, FRCOphth

Section: Clinical/Epidemiologic Research
Institute Child Health, UCL
London , U.K.
Term: 04/27/2023 - 05/31/2026

Member

Amir Reza Hajrasouliha, MD

Section: Retina
Indiana University School of Medicine
Carmel , Ind.
Term: 05/09/2024 - 05/31/2027

Member

Karen Allison, MD

Section: Glaucoma
University of Rochester
Hewlett , N.Y.
Term: 05/09/2024 - 05/31/2027

Member

Zohreh Hosseinzadeh, PD

Section: Retina
Radboud University Medical Center
Leipzig , Netherlands
Term: 05/09/2024 - 05/31/2027

Member

Meghan Berkenstock, MD

Section: Immunology/Microbiology
Wilmer Eye Institute
Bel Air , Md.
Term: 06/18/2024 - 05/31/2027

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

SriniVas R. Sadda, MD, FARVO

Section: Retina
Doheny Eye Institute
Pasadena , Calif.
Term: 05/05/2024 - 05/08/2025

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

Co-Staff Committee Liaison

Clarissa Portillo

ARVO
Finance Coordinator

Co-Staff Committee Liaison

Jenniffer Scherhaufer

ARVO
Asst. Director, Communications