Diversity in Retina Leadership

Wills Eye Ophthalmologist-in-Chief Julia A. Haller, MD, and her team have been tireless in their pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in retina, particularly within research, authorship, and editorial positions. Here, Adrienne W. Scott, MD, and Steve Sanislo, MD, discuss with Dr. Haller the state of affairs in retina and just how far we have come—and how much is left to do.

Click to read the article on Retina Today.

AT A GLANCE

• The 2015 editorial in JAMA Ophthalmology, Cherchez la Femme, written by Julia A. Haller, MD, was the first of its kind in a high-impact, peer-reviewed journal.
• Dr. Haller’s research shows that, between 2015 and 2019, there was a definite increase in the number of women editorialists.
• One study found that women were significantly underrepresented in terms of engagement with industry, and when women were involved, they were paid less.
• Research on corporate board diversity found that, boards with more women were more successful and delivered more shareholder return.
• There’s a lack of specificity and granularity in research databases, and there’s room for important work on diversity, equity, and inclusion in retina.