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In the last episode, we began a conversation with with Dr. Benjeil Edghill about his journey to ophthalmology and how he established a thriving practice in his hometown of NYC. In this episode we talk about his practice, his experiences being a black ophthalmologist, what motivates him, and what it will take to move us forward as a specialty to increase diversity in our ranks.

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Dr. Benjeil Edghill is a Brooklyn native, a glaucoma specialist, and an advocate for minoritized groups. He’s not only a skilled surgeon practicing in New York City but also a leader in advocating for better care for minority communities and supporting the next generation of URiM physicians through his work with and leadership in the NMA ophthalmology section.

His story is an example of what can happen at the intersection of ability, opportunity, mentorship, allyship, and representation, all of which propelled him into a successful career as an ophthalmologist and a national leader for diversity and patient advocacy in our specialty.

Dr. Benjeil Edghill

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In the last episode series, we heard from the directors of two pathway programs that are recruiting, supporting, and promoting young minority students in their efforts to pursue careers in the field of ophthalmology; the NMA Ophthalmology Section's Rabb Venable Excellence In Research Pathways to Success Program, and the AAO/AUPO's Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring Program.

In this episode, we’ll hear from the proverbial fruits of their labor; three, newly minted physicians who participated in these programs, Drs. Tiffani Spaulding, Diego Dominguez, and Alissa Belzie. We’ll hear about the impact these programs have have had on them, and how their experiences have shaped the trajectory of their careers and influenced their plans for the future.

These three young physicians embody the goals of each pathway program and why the need to increase diversity in ophthalmology is so important.

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In the last episode, we began conversations with Drs. Dolly Ann Padovani Claudio, O’Rese Knight, and Lisa Kelly about the work they’re doing as the directors of the Rabb Venable excellence in research program’s Pathways to Success Program and the AUPO/AAO Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring Program.

In this episode, we continue our conversations about these program’s efforts, including more on the DEI backlash and how to address the the social and legal climate that threatens to undermine the gains that have been made to improve diversity in the field of ophthalmology.

At the end of our conversations, I ask my guests what they see as the way forward and the future plans for they have for their programs to continue the good hard work of increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of ophthalmology.

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The recruitment and mentoring of URiM medical students to ophthalmology is paramount for addressing the dearth of URiM specialists in our field and the impact that it’s had on health care disparities from lack of access and representation for decades.

Today we being a series of episodes addressing this subject matter again in light of the now apparently gale force winds that the backlash against DEI has become. For this series I have brought back Drs. Dolly Ann Padovani-Claudio and O’Rese Knight to give us an update on the Pathways to success program.

I also had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Lisa Kelly, who is the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring Program which is a partnership between the AAO and AUPO developed to increase diversity in ophthalmology by helping URiM students become competitive ophthalmology residency applicants.These individuals are on the forefront of the efforts being made to diversify ophthalmology. I think that they paint an accurate picture of the current landscape of DEI in ophthalmology and the attitude and approach to take as we face the challenges and ideologies being mounted and employed against its implementation. Their dedication and resolve is inspiring and I believe that from our conversations you’ll get a sense of is needed to secure the best for patient care and our specialty moving forward.

Dolly Ann Padovani Claudio, MD, PhD

O'Rese Knight, MD

Lisa Kelly, MD, MS

Rabb Venable Program

Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring Program

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Dr. Kristen Nwanyanwu is a retina specialist and an associate professor of ophthalmology at Yale University and is at the forefront of health disparity research in ophthalmology. She is also an entrepreneur and is the founder of Eyeful, an ophthalmology related business she founded, and leads as the CEO. During the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in San Francisco last November, she hosted an Eyeful sponsored event called Ophthalmology Famous. I was fortunate to attend this event in person and was so impressed by the content and passion of the speakers, that this podcast episode is a re-broadcast of that event to bring it to a wider audience. What is Ophthalmology Famous? Tune in to find out!

Dr. Kristen Nwaynanwu

Eyeful

Stuart Abelson

Dr. Audina "Nina" Berrocal

Bindu Mane

Dr. Basil Williams

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This episode of SFSE is the last in our series of rebroadcasted episodes on the history of AA in medicine and ophthalmology for Black history month and features my conversation with ophthalmologist, Dr. Clifton Peay. Dr Peay is an ophthalmologist practicing in Richmond Virginia specializing in glaucoma, refractive, cataract, laser, and anterior segment surgery. He has served on the Board of the National Medical Association’s ophthalmology section and as the Chair of the Roman Barnes Society of Ophthalmology and has a wealth of knowledge regarding the history of AA in ophthalmology. We learn this history as he shares his story and experiences with us.

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As we continue through black history month we are continuing our rebroadcast of the series of episodes addressing the history of the AA experience in medicine and ophthalmology that was first published last year. This first episode is of my conversation with Dr. Lenworth Johnson, a Neuro-ophthalmologist and the author of the book Breaking the Color Line in Medicine, African Americans in Ophthalmology.

Breaking the Color Line in Medicine, African Americans in Ophthalmology