AAO welcomes 128th president, Jane C. Edmond, MD, to 2024 term
Dr Edmond has also served as president of the American Association for Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and an oral examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology
January marks the start of a one-year term for Jane C. Edmond, MD, as the 128th president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Edmond's term began the first week of January and will continue throughout 2024, according to an AAO news release.1
Edmond, who specialises in both paediatric and neuro-ophthalmology, brings a range of experiences to the position, currently serving as the inaugural chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School, director of the Mitchel and Shannon Wong Eye Institute, and vice dean of professional practice. She was elected to leadership by the Academy’s community of 32,000 ophthalmologists.
According to an AAO statement,2 Edmond’s priorities include addressing physician and staff shortages and protecting patient safety at a time when nonphysicians are trying to expand their scope of practice into eye surgery.
In the AAO news release, Edmond noted the ophthalmology community finds itself in a critical place: a growing senior population and limited expansion of residency programs point towards a potential shortage of ophthalmologists over the next decade.
“This comes at a time when declining reimbursements, pre-authorisation requirements and an overall staffing shortage make our jobs as physicians even more challenging,” Edmond said in the AAO news release. “However, there’s also so much passion and drive in the ophthalmology community, and we have lobbied hard for the safety of our patients these past several years. Together, I believe we can build upon this momentum and make an even greater push for serving our patients, educating our members and inspiring future generations of ophthalmologists.”
According to the AAO news release, Edmond oversaw the construction of two ophthalmology clinics, staff hiring and the successful launch of a new ophthalmology residency program during her tenure at the University of Texas Dell Medical School.
During her career, Edmond has held several key positions, including president of the American Association for Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), director of Subspecialty Day in Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, trustee-at-large on the Academy Board of Trustees and an oral examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology.1
Edmond received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
