After reading the information on this page, please complete our online application (see below) for membership to the Optometric Glaucoma Society. Nominations for election to membership are made through this electronic application and supported by two (2) Optometric Glaucoma Society members. Election to membership is made by the affirmative vote by ballot of a majority of the members after the Membership and Executive Committees have reviewed the nomination and have determined eligibility. Yearly dues are $100.
The application is electronic, but we may require additional documentation to support your application.
Requested documentation
Please include the following information with your application:
- Current curriculum vitae
- Personal statement on the nature and extent of your activities in glaucoma
- Short statement, less than 100 words in length, explaining why you would like to become a member
The following information is helpful to document your contributions in research, teaching, service and patient care:
- Research – evidence of research achievements include list of publications, grant support, presentations at scholarly meetings and conferences, appointment to editorial boards of professional journals, participation in invited seminars, service on national scientific advisory boards, election to office of national scientific organizations, and awards for research achievements. Each of these is discussed in turn below
- Publications – while a minimum of two publications is felt necessary to meet the requirements for membership, the quality of publications is far more important than the quantity. Considerations in judging quality include the opinion of experts in the relevant field, reputation of journal in which the papers appeared, and whether or not the journals are refereed. Publications not yet in print, but that have been accepted should be appropriately documented
- Support for research – the receipt of external funds for the purpose of conducting research provides evidence of research capabilities
- Presentations at scholarly meetings and conferences
- Appointment to editorial boards of professional journals. Service on editorial boards of professional journals or as a peer reviewer of manuscripts provides evidence of the candidate’s stature within his/her discipline.
- Invited seminars. A list of research seminars given by the candidate at other institutions provides additional evidence of research stature
- Service on national scientific advisory boards
- Election to office of national professional organizations
- Awards for research achievements
Teaching
Documentation of teaching achievement includes:
- Teaching responsibilities – a list of the candidates’ specific teaching responsibilities provides valuable information about the candidate’s commitment to teaching.
- Awards for teaching excellence – awards received by the candidate for excellence in teaching are a measure of candidate’s teaching ability.
- Continuing education – if the candidate has participated in the design or delivery of continuing optometric education programs, a list of such programs and the candidate’s role should be submitted.
Patient Care and Related Activities
In assessing the candidate’s involvement in and level of responsibility for patient care, letters from Department Chairs as well as from peers in the local community or elsewhere, faculty members, previous residents and others provide evidence of the candidate’s qualifications. Again, these letters should be sent electronically to Mark Dunbar. Indicators of excellence in clinical affairs include:
- Publication of case reports and similar articles
- Development of new devices, procedures, treatments, etc.
- Membership on advisory committees of and consultantships to hospitals, educational, clinical and other similar institutions
- Programs of national, state, or local optometric societies or professional organizations which the candidate organized or in which he/she has participated
- Organization of and participation in community health education projects
- Appointment or election to editorial boards of clinical journals or to offices in local, regional, or national medical societies
Service
Significant contributions in the form of service are important in the candidate’s application. Evidence of such service includes the following:
- Administration of a clinic, clinical site, hospital unit, etc.
- Direction of special departmental or interdepartmental training or research programs
- Service as a class or student advisor
- Member of a department or university governing body
- Member of a division, department, or university committee
- Representative of a department or university to outside agencies
- Chairperson of course committees
It is important that your application is complete and contains each of the indicated pieces of information.
Thank you for your interest in the Optometric Glaucoma Society. We hope these explanations will ease the application process. If you have any further questions or difficulties in completing this application or if additional information is needed, please contact Kellie Robertson Rogers at optometricglaucoma@gmail.com.