YoungMD Connect Event at AAO

Friday, October 17, 2025 | 5:00–8:45 PM ET
Rosen Plaza Hotel | 9700 International Dr. | Orlando, FL

Friday, October 17, 2025
5:00–8:45 PM ET
Rosen Plaza Hotel
9700 International Dr.
Orlando, FL

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Join your peers for one of the year’s biggest events for young & aspiring ophthalmologists: the YMDC Event at AAO! Designed for emerging leaders in ophthalmology (medical students, residents, fellows, and newly practicing ophthalmologists), the YMDC Event at AAO offers small-group mentoring sessions with thought leaders, followed by next-level networking opportunities, all while enjoying bites and beverages at the beautiful Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando. Spaces are limited and will fill up quickly—register today!

AGENDA

5:00–5:45 PM Registration & Networking with Exhibitors
5:45–6:05 PM Welcome From YoungMD Connect
6:05–6:15 PM Industry Panel with Visionary Partners: AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson
6:20–7:05 PM Mentoring Sessions
7:15–8:45 PM Networking Reception

MENTOR FACULTY

Mentor faculty to be announced soon!

  • Usiwoma Abugo, MD

    Usiwoma Abugo, MD

    Oculoplastics specialist at Katzen Eye Group in Maryland
  • Sarah Avila, MD

    Sarah Avila, MD

    ASOPRS oculofacial plastic surgeon at Sarah Avila MD in Miami
  • Sahar Bedrood, MD, PhD

    Sahar Bedrood, MD, PhD

    Glaucoma & cataract specialist at Advanced Vision Care in Los Angeles
  • Maura Di Nicola, MD

    Maura Di Nicola, MD

    Vitreoretinal surgeon, ocular oncology specialist, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami
  • Vikram Durairaj, MD

    Vikram Durairaj, MD

    Oculoplastics surgeon at TOC Eye and Face and Professor of Ophthalmology at the Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin
  • Sharon Fekrat, MD

    Sharon Fekrat, MD

    Vitreoretinal surgeon and Professor of Ophthalmology at Duke Eye Center in Durham, North Carolina
  • Joseph Gira, MD

    Joseph Gira, MD

    Refractive cataract surgery specialist at Ophthalmology Consultants in St. Louis
  • Shivani Kamat, MD

    Shivani Kamat, MD

    Glaucoma & anterior segment disease specialist at UT Southwestern in Dallas
  • Cathleen McCabe, MD

    Cathleen McCabe, MD

    Refractive cataract surgeon at The Eye Associates in Sarasota, Florida, and Chief Medical Editor of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today
  • Jacquelyn O'Banion, MD

    Jacquelyn O'Banion, MD

    Comprehensive ophthalmologist with a focus on cataract surgery and Director of the Global Ophthalmology Program at Emory University in Atlanta
  • Julius Oatts, MD, MHS

    Julius Oatts, MD, MHS

    Pediatric ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
  • Emily Schehlein, MD

    Emily Schehlein, MD

    Glaucoma and cataract specialist at Brighton Vision Center in Brighton, Michigan
  • Jayanth Sridhar, MD

    Jayanth Sridhar, MD

    Vitreoretinal surgeon and Chief of Ophthalmology at Olive View Medical Center in Los Angeles
  • Katherine Talcott, MD

    Katherine Talcott, MD

    Vitreoretinal surgeon and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute in Cleveland
  • Vance Thompson, MD, FACS

    Vance Thompson, MD, FACS

    Founder and cataract and refractive surgery specialist, Vance Thompson Vision, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
  • William B. Trattler, MD

    William B. Trattler, MD

    Refractive, cornea, and cataract surgeon at the Center For Excellence In Eye Care in Miami
  • William F. Wiley, MD

    William F. Wiley, MD

    Cataract and refractive surgeon at Cleveland Eye Clinic in Ohio and Chief Medical Editor of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today
  • Rupa Wong, MD

    Rupa Wong, MD

    Pediatric ophthalmologist and Managing Partner at Honolulu Eye Clinic on Oahu, Hawaii
  • Lawrence Woodard, MD

    Lawrence Woodard, MD

    Cataract surgery specialist and Medical Director of Omni Eye Services of Atlanta
SEE MORE +
 

Registration