‘A banner year’: Women leaders established in ophthalmology

Women in the ophthalmology world should set career goals, seek out mentors to help them achieve those goals, and take advantage of networking and training opportunities in order to advance female leadership in the field, according to Lisa Nijm, MD, JD, an Illinois-based ophthalmologist member on the Women in Ophthalmology board of directors who also chaired the WIO annual meeting this year.“It’s certainly been a banner year for women leaders in ophthalmology,” she said, mentioning female leaders of WIO, American Glaucoma Society, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and American Academy of Ophthalmology. “But our work has just begun.” The percentage of women department chairs, full professors, researchers, speakers and practice owners has not yet caught up to the number of women entering the field, which is something female ophthalmologists can work to improve.