The Opening Session will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19.
The program includes a celebration of Academy Award winners, including the Laureate Recognition Award, addresses by Academy leadership, and transferring the gavel to the Academy President Elect.
Jasmine H. Francis, MD will deliver the 81st Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture.
Dr. Francis is a clinician-scientist who specializes in ophthalmic oncology. She is currently Associate Professor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).
Her research focuses on intraocular tumors, particularly the pediatric cancer retinoblastoma, in which she has published studies leading to changes in standard treatment. Since joining MSKCC, she has contributed to the development of ophthalmic artery chemosurgery (OAC). This advance, now used in over 45 countries, is the latest step in the evolution of retinoblastoma from a lethal disease to one that can be treated while retaining the eye structure and visual potential.
Dr. Francis has contributed to advances in the treatment and understanding of the main contributor to OAC treatment failure. She has also published influential studies in uveal melanoma and the genetics of benign melanocytic lesions. Dr. Francis continues her scientific discoveries, alongside her clinical work, through research evaluating genomic profiling of circulating cell-free tumor DNA in uveal melanoma, other intraocular tumors and retinoblastoma.