Empowerment and Opportunity Mentoring Program
Launched in June 2022, the Empowerment and Opportunity Mentoring Program is distinguished by its family-based approach to mentorship. Participants are organized into seven mentoring families, each consisting of four mentors and two to four mentees.
The program is designed to foster meaningful, long-term professional relationships that support mentees as they pursue careers as retina specialists. Mentees represent a wide range of racial, ethnic, and sexual identities. The program is also the first ophthalmology mentorship initiative to openly include LGBTQ+ trainees.
A traditional mentoring track is available for participants who prefer a one-on-one mentor-mentee relationship. These participants also have access to selected training materials from the family track, providing additional insight into the roles, responsibilities, and expectations associated with effective mentorship.
Many program sessions are open to all ASRS members, offering the broader retina community opportunities to learn from and engage with the program.
Program facilitators have included Debon Lewis, Dr. Tamara Fountain, Julio Alvarez, Dr. César Briceño, Dr. Taison Bell, Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, and Dr. Stephanie Jones Marioneaux.
Read testimonials from some of our mentees here and view a selection of the mentorship session recordings here!
Applications for the 2027 program will be made available in December 2026.
To learn more about ASRS's various mentorship programs and to decide which one is right for you, review our mentorship programs overview chart.
Upcoming Events
Empowerment & Opportunity Section Presents— DEI in Academic and Private Practice: Advocating for Change
Tuesday, September 29: 7: 30 PM-9:00 PM (CT)
This session will explore the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in shaping supportive training environments, strengthening professional collaboration, and improving patient care across both academic institutions and private practice settings.
Donate to the Foundation of ASRS to support this program (be sure to select "Empowerment and Opportunity Mentoring Program" from the Donation Category dropdown box). Your donation represents an investment in the next generation of underrepresented retina specialists at a critical point in their career development. Attending ASRS’s Annual Scientific Meeting allows ophthalmology residents from underrepresented groups to form invaluable professional relationships, learn about leading-edge developments and technology and add to the diversity of perspectives represented.
Thank you to the 2026 family-track and traditional-track mentors:
Alejandro Ochoa, MD, MPH
Alexis Warren, MD
Anh H. Nguyen, MD MS
Arnulfo Garza Reyes, MD
Basil K. Williams, MD
Camille V. Palma, MD, FASRS
Chase A. Ludwig, MD, MS
Christian A. Leal, MD
Christine I. Clavell, MD
Daniel S. Churgin, MD
David S. Chin Yee, MD, FASRS
Ella H. Leung, MD
George Sanchez, MD
Hong-Uyen Hua, MD
Hossein Nazari, MD, PhD
Jennifer Aye, DO, MS
Jennifer Lopez, MD
Jennifer O. Adeghate, MD, PhD
Jessica D. Randolph, MD, FASRS
Jordan D. Deaner, MD
Kisha D. Piggott, MD, PhD
Luis J. Haddock, MD
Merina Thomas, MD
Ogul E. Uner, MD
Roberto Diaz-Rohena, MD
Saif A. Hamdan, MD
Scott R. Shuldiner, MD
Shawn Charles Wilker, MD
Stuart J. McFarland, MD
Thamolwan Surakiatchanukul, MD
Valencia L. Potter, MD PhD
Vivienne S. Hau, MD, PhD