Host an Ophthalmologist Program
Host an Ophthalmologist assists ophthalmologists from low- and lower-middle-income countries to attend the Academy’s annual meeting, where they learn new skills and techniques. The information is then shared with colleagues upon their return home.
Hosts are Academy members, ophthalmic organizations, foundations and the ophthalmic industry.
Rotary Club Host Project
Rotary guests examine each other with Reliance's XOMA
System.
Rotary guests speak with representatives from Wexler
Surgical.
The Rotary Club Host Project is a collaborative effort between the Academy and individual Rotary clubs to provide educational opportunities. Every fall carefully selected ophthalmologists from low- and lower-middle-income nations are brought to the United States for two weeks. The program begins in the community of the sponsoring Rotary club and concludes at the Academy's annual meeting.
The program lives on long after a participant's visit to the United States. Not only do they continue to share information and skills with their colleagues at home, but they also nurture the professional and personal relationships established during their stay.
"I would like to thank the Academy, Rotary, Dr. Raju, Dr. Baxter, Dr. Larry Schwab and the Eye Foundation of America for the wonderful opportunity of being part of the Rotary Club Host Project 2022. It was a life-changing experience that has for sure made me a better ophthalmologist. I also got to make lifelong friends in this program with the other participants. I am trying my best to also help them in their future training opportunities." Dr. Karan Bhatia, India
With the close of 2022, we reflect on the Rotary Club Host Project’s 23rd year of hosting guests from around the world! We are ever thankful to our hosts. We have helped host 146 guests from 66 countries.
We are also grateful for the additional support provided by the International Retinal Research Foundation in memory of their founder, Alston Callahan, MD, FACS.
Apply
If you are interested in participating in the program as a guest, we invite you to fill out an application.
Contact
If you are interested in hosting an international guest through either project or learning more, contact outreach@aao.org.