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ARVO mentorship opportunities

 

One of the many benefits of ARVO membership is the variety of programs supporting professional development that the Association offers, particularly for early-career scientists. A great example is ARVO's mentorship programs ― pivotal resources that can significantly influence your career advancement and enhance your networking skills as an emerging scientist seeking to elevate and thrive in your field.

 

NEW: Underrepresented Groups Leadership Program

A new ARVO initiative, the Underrepresented Groups Leadership Program (UGLP) is designed to support junior faculty and members-in-training (MIT) from underrepresented backgrounds by providing mentorship and resources to enhance your leadership skills within the field. The interactive curriculum features monthly webinars covering essential topics for leadership advancement, starting with a session on the significance of diversity within ophthalmology and visual sciences.

 

  • Applications open: Aug. 1 - Sept. 30
  • Program duration: One year (January – December)
  • Learn more about UGLP mentee eligibility

 

“Highly recommend applying to ARVO’s leadership or mentorship programs as they help you to understand and be aware of the different career options we have in ophthalmology and vision research...I am very excited that ARVO created the new Underrepresented Groups Leadership program aiming for a different audience with the best components of other ARVO’s leadership and mentorship programs.”

— Maria Cabrera-Aguas, PhD, MBBS, MIPH (MIT Committee and UGLP Task Force member)

Women’s Leadership Development Program

Developed for emerging women leaders within ARVO, the Women's Leadership Development Program (WLDP) pairs participants with mentors (of any gender) who focus on developing your leadership skills, facilitating opportunities and networking within the Association. A highly collaborative learning experience, participants meet monthly with their mentor over the course of a year. The program also features virtual guest speaker sessions every month with prominent leaders in the field who tackle empowering issues such as finding your strengths, maximizing your productivity, self-confidence and more.

 

  • Applications open: Sept. 1 - Oct. 1
  • Program duration: One year (May – April)
  • Learn more about WLDP mentee eligibility

 

"The Women's Leadership Development Program has been instrumental in my career development. The topics covered are really important and helpful when starting a new lab. The 1:1 mentoring is invaluable. It is often really helpful to get an outside perspective on situations from someone who is not involved. I highly encourage young female scientists and clinician-scientists to participate."

— Mary C. Whitman, MD, PhD (WLDP mentor)

Early Career Mentorship Program

Previously known as the Global Mentorship Program (GMP), the Early Career Mentorship Program (ECMP) is open to ARVO members worldwide. The program supports the career interests of junior researchers, pairing participants with senior-level ARVO members who offer invaluable insight and guidance for your professional development plus engagement with ARVO.

 

  • Applications open: April 1 - June 1
  • Program duration: Six months (July – December)
  • Learn more about ECMP mentee eligibility

 

“The GMP program provided me not only with a wonderful mentor and role model, but also an excellent sounding board and a valuable connection. I am deeply grateful to ARVO for facilitating this mentorship through GMP and enriching my professional journey.”

— Michelle Grunin, PhD (past GMP mentee)

If you have questions about any of the above programs, please contact mentorship@arvo.org