INTREPID
In August 2024, The National Medical Association Ophthalmology section (NMA-OS) and AUPO jointly launched INTREPID: INvesting, TRaining, Equipping and Promoting Individuals for Distinction in Ophthalmology. The INTREPID program is a year-long, seminar-based program that provides faculty members a tailored professional development opportunity to learn foundational knowledge and skills that will enable them to achieve career goals and grow as leaders in academic medicine and ophthalmology research.
The competitive nomination process opens in January with participants selected in February. The program starts with a two-day interactive in-person session held during the NMA Ophthalmology annual meeting in the summer. Following the summer session, the program continues throughout the year with virtual sessions, and additional in-person meetings at the AAO and AUPO Annual Meetings. A key feature that distinguishes this program is the integration of a career coach as well as a coach in cultural resilience in academia.
- July 18–20, 2025 – NMA Annual Meeting – INTREPID Kickoff (Chicago, IL)
- October 19, 2025 – AAO Annual Meeting (Chicago, IL)
- February 4-6, 2026 – AUPO Annual Meeting (San Diego, CA)
- February 4, 2026 – Welcome Dinner at AUPO 2026 with NMA Board, Planning Committee & Cohort
- February 5, 2026, 1:15–2:30 PM – Session at AUPO 2026: Building Developmental Networks & Mentor Maps
- February 5, 2026, 5:00– 6:00 PM – Joint INTREPID + WPO + ALDP Reception at AUPO 2026
INTREPID Webinar Series (Virtual)
Wednesdays, 75 minutes, 8:30–9:45 PM ET– Sept 3, 2025 – Metrics for Cultural Resilience and Navigations Skills (CRANS) & Education with Angela Byars-Winston, MD, PhD
– Dec 3, 2025 – Pathways to Promotion for Faculty with Eydie Miller-Ellis, MD; Andreas Lauer, MD
– Mar 4, 2026 – Research in Academia with Sayoko Moroi, MD, PhD – Grants & Philanthropy and James Chodosh, MD, MPH – Clinical/Education/Publishing Value
– Feb 2026 – AUPO Network Mapping Follow-Up with Rukhsana Mirza, MD; Misha Syed, MD, MEHP
– May 6, 2026 – Promoting Wellness in Academia with Lynn Gordon, MD, PhD
- Individual Coaching – Three one‑on‑one coaching sessions with Professional Coach Rena Harper of Lorre Consulting & Advising
Eligibility: Participants must be ophthalmologists or vision scientists with an appointment at an Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology (AUPO) member academic ophthalmology training department. The participant should be an instructor, assistant, or associate professor. This includes faculty members on any professional track such as tenure, clinician/educator, or clinical tracks.
Commitment: Accepted participants should be able to commit to full attendance of all sessions.
Class Size: The estimated annual class size for the program is 6 participants.
The INTREPID Planning Committee will review completed applications submitted in January. Selected participants will be notified in late February. Participants not selected one year may reapply the following year.
The INTREPID program will subsidize travel, accommodations, and registration up to $2000 for each in-person session for selected participants.
Applicants must submit statement of interest, curriculum vitae and complete the online application form.