Women in Ophthalmology

There are nearly 24,000 ophthalmologists in the United States, with 500 physicians newly entering the ophthalmology field each year and approximately half of those being women. Although women now represent approximately half of all ophthalmologists, gender disparities remain when it comes to certain subspecialties (e.g., surgical retina), leadership roles (e.g., department chairs), industry involvement (e.g., consultancy and advisory board positions), and even academic publications. There has been a recently heightened interest in female representation in this field which has manifested in several ways (e.g., conferences geared towards women in ophthalmology, non-peer-reviewed publications about women in ophthalmology, and mentorship programs specifically for women). This book is the first of its kind in procuring and disseminating information--pertaining to both career and life--in an organized, concrete, and enduring way.