New body underscores Academy’s international commitment to educational mission

SAN FRANCISCO – The American Academy of Ophthalmology announced today the selection of Ronald Smith, M.D., to head the Academy’s Secretariat for Global Alliances. The newly created Secretariat will provide physician leadership in guiding the Academy’s international programs, including the development and management of program activities and services. The Academy’s secretariats play an important role in program planning, providing recommendations to the board on the relative priority of major programs within the Academy. 

“The Academy is committed to providing educational opportunities to our 7,000 international members and to ophthalmologists around the world,” said H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., M.D., executive vice president of the Academy. “The Global Education Secretariat will help us to meet the needs of ophthalmologists internationally and provide important leadership for our growing number of international programs.”

International interests at the Academy had previously been represented by a Task Force. The creation of the new Secretariat means that Global Alliances will have representation on the Academy’s Committee of Secretaries, enabling the group to more easily interact and coordinate with other secretariats. The secretariat will be composed of ophthalmologists from both the United States and internationally.

“I am honored to be part of the Academy’s international efforts,” said Dr. Smith. “By creating this secretariat, the Academy has taken an important step in elevating the interests of ophthalmologists internationally. We envision that, with time, the Secretariat will develop a group of regional advisors who can provide guidance about the educational needs of specific countries.”