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Dr. Andrew Melson– AAO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (LDP) XXVI, CLASS OF 2025 GRADUATES
Dr. Andrew Melson Graduates from AAO Leadership Development Program
Dr. Andrew Melson being recognized by AAO LDP Director Chris Albanis, MD, Sidney K. Gicheru, MD, AAO Associate Secretary for State Affairs and LDP alumnus and Dan Briceland, MD, AAO Medical Director for State Affairs and Past President
On Sunday, October 19, during the Society Presidents’ Recognition and Awards Session held in conjunction with AAO 2025 in Orlando, FL, Dr. Andrew Melson was recognized for completing the Academy’s Leadership Development Program XXVI, Class of 2025. Selected from a competitive pool of nominees representing state, subspecialty, and specialized interest societies, the class also included two international participants nominated by the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology and the Canadian Ophthalmological Society.
In January 2025, Dr. Andrew Melson took part in a 2 ½ day interactive session in San Francisco focused on a wide variety of leadership and association management topics. The program included joint sessions with the European Society of Ophthalmology’s Leadership Development Program – with participants from across Europe nominated by their national and specialty societies. Highlights included a reception at the Academy’s Truhlsen-Marmor Museum of the Eye and a visit to the headquarter offices to hear from the 2025 Academy President Michael X. Repka, MD, MBA and CEO Stephen McLeod, MD on key priorities and future challenges for the Academy.
In April, Dr. Andrew Melson attended the Mid-Year Forum 2025 in Washington D.C. where he met with Members of Congress and their staff to discuss issues important to the medical profession as part of Congressional Advocacy Day. During a dedicated LDP session, Dr. Andrew Melson and his LDP colleagues also heard from keynote speaker Abigail Chance, Professional Staff Member at the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee.
During the final LDP XXVI session in Orlando, Academy leadership discussed collaborative efforts and key priority issues for organized ophthalmology and encouraged Dr. Andrew Melson to apply his leadership skills.
Dr. Andrew Melson pictured with LDP classmates, Chris Albanis, MD – AAO Director, Leadership Development Program, Sidney K. Gicheru, MD, AAO Associate Secretary for State Affairs and LDP alumnus as well as Dan Briceland, MD, AAO Medical Director for State Affairs and Past President
Graduates of the AAO Leadership Development Program XXVI, Class of 2025
Nominating Society/Participant
- American Glaucoma Society - Natasha Nayak Kolomeyer, MD
- American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery - Cat Burkat, MD
- American Society of Ophthalmic Trauma - Grant A. Justin, MD
- American Society of Retina Specialists - Kristen M. Nwanyanwu, MD
- California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons - Angela N. Buffenn, MD, MPH
- Canadian Ophthalmological Society - Milad Modabber, MD
- Delaware Academy of Ophthalmology - Benjamin C. Chaon, MD
- Florida Society of Ophthalmology - Raquel Goldhardt, MD
- Georgia Society of Ophthalmology - Zachary Balest, MD
- Kansas Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons - Anne Wishna, MD
- Macula Society - Elliott H. Sohn, MD
- Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology - Awni Aburamadan, MBBCH
- Mississippi Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons - William M. Watkins, MD
- Missouri Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons - Steven Ross Cohen, MD
- National Medical Association, Ophthalmology Section - Basil Williams, MD
- New Mexico Academy of Ophthalmology - Rebecca S. Leenheer MD
- North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society - Andrew Melson, MD
- Utah Ophthalmology Society - Rachel Simpson, MD
- Washington DC Metropolitan Ophthalmological Society - Katrina C. Chin Loy, MD
- Women in Ophthalmology - Kimberly Mei Winges, MD
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