Women Professors of Ophthalmology

Career Networking Program 2024 - 2025
5:00 pm Pacific / 6:00 pm Mountain / 7:00 pm Central / 8:00 pm Eastern Time for 90-minutes

Sept 26, 2024 - Developmental Network Kick off (open to all full professor affiliates - meet WPO cohort 4 and learn about WPO-Net)
Oct 10, 2024 - Mentee presentations of developmental network maps (with prior cohorts)
Nov 21, 2024 - "Next steps" (with prior cohorts) 
Jan 16, 2025 - CV Review & Biosketches - Led by Christina Flaxel, MD and  Kim Winges, MD
Feb 27, 2025 - Leadership - Led by Sandra Masur PhD and Lynn Gordon MD, PhD 
April 17, 2025 - Research - Led by ME Hartnett, MD and Susan Culican, MD, PhD
May 22, 2025 - Reflections and Reciprocity Exercise

WPO Affiliate Events

Oct 18, 2024 - Reception at AAO Annual Meeting, Chicago - Hyatt Regency McCormick Place
Nov 7, 2024 - Webinar - Leading With Influence & How to Build Your Influence (open to all)
Jan 31, 2025 - Reception at AUPO Annual Meeting, Fort Lauderdale - Marriott Harbor Beach

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Mentee cohort on the completion of the WPO Mentoring Program:

• Jessica Chang, MD - University of Southern California
• Shu Feng, MD - University of Washington
• Shruthi Harish, MD - Wills Eye Hospital
• Eliesa Ing, MD - Oregon Health Sciences University
• Minjy Kang, MD, MA - Northwestern University
• Yin Allison Liu, MD, PhD - University of California, Davis
• Lilian Nguyen, MD - University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
• Sally Ong, MD - Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
• Shameema Sikder, MD - Johns Hopkins
• Nurhan Torun, MD - Harvard Medical School
• Melanie Truong-Le, DO - UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Qing Wang, MD, PhD - Columbia University
• Alexis Warren, MD - University of Chicago
• Amy Zhang, MD - University of Michigan

2022-2023 Mentee Cohort

• Tahira Scholle, MD - Baylor College of Medicine
• Christine Shieh, MD - Vanderbilt Eye Institute
• Mary Champion, MD - The University of Kansas Medical Center
• Annie Wishna, MD - University of Kansas
• Grace Sun, MD - Weill Cornell Med
• Sangeeta Khanna, MD - University of Michigan
• Mary Daly, MD - BUSM
• Merina Thomas, MD - OHSU Casey Eye Institute
• Amanda Henderson, MD - Wilmer/Johns Hopkins
• Afshan Nanji, MD, MPH - OHSU Casey Eye Institute

2021-2022 Mentee Cohort

• Jennifer Lindsey, MD - Vanderbilt
• Meghan Berkenstock, MD - Johns Hopkins
• Aakriti Shukla, MD - Columbia
• Jessica Randolph, MD - Virginia Commonwealth
• Nisha Chadha, MD - New York Eye & Ear Infirmary
• Ujwala Saboo, MD - University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
• Divya Srikumaran, MD - Johns Hopkins
• Lucy Shen, MD - Mass Eye and Ear
• Kim Winges, MD - Oregon Health & Sciences University

Episode 1: Welcome to the "WPO Journey into Academia" podcast series. In this inaugural episode, our WPO co-hosts, Thasarat and Cat, interviewed WPO co-founders Dr. Rukhsana Mirza and Dr. Misha Syed. Our guests shared their personal and professional journeys and how they collaborated to create WPO as a way to ensure that current and future colleagues could reach their highest potential in their academic careers, no matter the pathway or the phase of one’s journey.
Episode #1: Drs. Rukhsana Mirza and Misha Syed, Co-founders of WPO – Our Journey

Episode 2: Our WPO co-hosts, Thasarat and Cat, had the privilege of interviewing two distinguished women professors, Lynn K. Gordon, MD, PhD, and Sandra Kazahn Masur, PhD. Our guests shared their journeys, how they overcame the unique challenges they faced and the aspects they have enjoyed the most about being women in academia. As distinguished scientists, they also shared insightful strategies on how to establish successful and fulfilling research careers, while navigating work-life balance as a woman in a demanding profession. Enjoy our highlight video and/or watch the entire interview via the below link.
Episode #2: Drs. Lynn K. Gordon and Sandra Kazahn Masur Highlight Video
Episode #2: Drs. Lynn K. Gordon and Sandra Kazahn Masur Full Interview

Episode 3: Trailblazing Women in Ophthalmology: The Leadership Journeys of Drs. Jane Edmond and Tamara Fountain. Both guests have significantly impacted clinical practice and academia, breaking barriers and setting exemplary standards for medical education and leadership. In this episode, Dr. Edmond and Dr. Fountain share their unique academic journeys, the challenges they faced, and their motivations that kept them in academia despite the demanding roles.
Episode #3: Drs. Jane Edmond and Tamara Fountain

Episode 4: The Retina Research Balance with Dr. Carol L. Shields and Dr. Jennifer Lim. Delve into topics such as work-life balance, overcoming the imposter syndrome, and the importance of mentorship. 
Episode #4: Dr. Jennifer Lim and Dr. Carol Shields

Episode 5: The Chairs: How Women Are Shaping Future Leaders in Medicine with Dr. Kathryn Colby and Dr. Jacque Duncan. This conversation provides insights into the balance of personal motivation and professional growth, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and self-awareness in achieving success in academia and medical research.
Episode #5: Dr. Kathryn Colby and Dr. Jacque Duncan

Episode 6: The Firsts: Female Icons in Ophthalmology with Dr. Susan Day and Dr. Joan Miller. These pioneering women have paved the way for future generations through their exceptional careers in medical education and research, breaking barriers and creating new opportunities for women in the field.
Episode #6: Dr. Susan Day and Dr. Joan Miller

Episode 7:The Strategic Planners with Dr. Saras Ramanathan and Dr. Jennifer Thorne. Hear more about the importance of empathy in education, balancing academic and personal life, and the significance of long-term career planning by writing goals down to maintain focus.
Episode #7: Dr. Saras Ramanathan and Dr. Jennifer Thorne

Episode 8: The Inclusivity Advocates: Fostering Diversity in Academic Medicine with Dr. Gloria Fleming and Dr. Terri Young. This enlightening discussion emphasizes the importance of mentorship, resilience, and self-awareness in overcoming challenges and driving meaningful change to advocate for innovation in ophthalmology.
Episode #8: Dr. Gloria Fleming and Dr. Terri Young

Leading With Influence & How to Build Your Influencing Muscle - November 7, 2024

Webinar Recording Link



The Legacy Mindset: Leaving Your Profession Better than You Found It - October 18, 2023

My Journey to Chair: The Why, The How, and the What Next - October 20, 2022

CV Building and Our Journey in Academia: What We Wish We Had Known Along the Way - October 14, 2021

Leadership Development Resources for Women in Academic Biomedicine