President’s Message
A Legacy of Grit and Gratitude
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Kimberly M. Winges, MD
I have two boys. Science said it was a near 50% chance they would each be XY when I got pregnant, but the dominant forces in my life have always been women, and I was 100% freaked out about being a terrible “boy mom.” As it turns out, raising boys has been incredibly fun and a reminder that we lead most powerfully by example.
I grew up in the presence of strong women physicians, where necessity built resilience and ambition. My grandmother became part of a quietly radical movement of female surgeons in China in the 1940s, when the country’s men were largely away fighting World War II. When it ended, she emigrated to the United States with my grandfather and her newborn daughter—my mother—and rebuilt her life over the course of eight years in a brand-new country: she raised four children, taught herself English to sit for the American medical board exams, and became a beloved pediatrician. She was one of the first women and the first Chinese M.D. at her hospital, serving a predominantly Asian and Hispanic community. My mother, a pediatric ophthalmologist, spent her career in that same hospital, with “Popo” looking down at her from her portrait on the wall. She volunteered at local residency programs and took me with her to countless AAO meetings, where I learned that a career in medicine is more than a job in service to others—it is a true professional identity, fueled by a community of dedicated volunteers and teachers who also happen to be kind and fun. Inspired by a love of astronomy (NOT astrology!), I initially resisted a career in medicine, then ophthalmology, because I didn’t want to “just fall into” their legacy. Little did I know, I never stood a chance.
As the firstborn of my generation, these women shaped my aspirations long before I ever stepped into an operating room. They taught me that medicine is not only about mastery and grit, but also about creating opportunity where none existed before, because that is what the moment requires. It is about meeting the needs of underserved populations in unique ways—work that has defined my own career in neuro-ophthalmology and within an academic hospital setting at the Veterans Health Administration, even during its most turbulent times. It is about having courage to do the difficult, often unrecognized work it takes to make our world more just and equitable, and to pay those benefits forward to the careers of our trainees and our children.
As I sit down to write this message, I am deeply aware of the privilege and responsibility I hold as President of this thriving subspecialty society that celebrates and uplifts eye surgeons of all genders. This privilege cannot be taken for granted; rather, it has been earned through the labor, generosity, and vision of generations of women before us and around us, many of whom continue to passionately contribute to the Summer Symposia they created and shaped.
WIO in 2026 reflects this same spirit of courage and forward momentum. We are expanding professional development programs that equip ophthalmologists with the tools, confidence, and networks to lead. We are intentionally building pathways to direct impact in ophthalmology through our Clinical Trials Training Program, our Speakers Bureau, a new “VLOG” video blog (Steeped Insights—first episode just out!), and an upcoming new public speaking mastery course: Speak to Heal and Empower (SHE Said). We are also producing publications addressing topics related to gender in ophthalmology through our WIO Research and Knowledge Network (WORK). Leadership in our field does not come by serendipity—it is built by intentional networks of dedicated volunteers, representation at medical conferences, leverage of industry partnerships, and the legacy of scholarship. WIO is committed to growing and sustaining all these avenues.
We are also investing in the next generation. By engaging trainees in our WIO Mentorship Program, social media outreach, the Advocacy Ambassador program, targeted Summer Symposium content and scholarships, and the annual Scientific Abstract Competition, we are committed to providing opportunities for ALL aspiring ophthalmologists to help embody this new normal. Representation inspires aspiration. Active sponsorship, beyond mentorship, fuels empowerment.
As we look ahead, I am filled with optimism for what we will continue to build together. The momentum we carry is grounded in gratitude for the women pioneers who came before us and strengthened by the collective vision of those brilliant minds who stand beside us today—in my case, WIO’s exemplary Board of Directors and staff. My hope is that you will fully embrace the resources, relationships, and opportunities within WIO, to empower your own aspirations and lift others as you rise. Invite your friends, mentees, and colleagues to connect at our famed Summer Symposium in majestic Monterey, CA, August 20-23, 2026! Take advantage of the year-round offerings that membership affords. Volunteer your unique expertise on a WIO committee or become an Elite Member, helping us all grow and thrive in this professional community. Together, we are not just imagining a more inclusive future for ophthalmology, we are actively creating it: one conference room, clinic, operating suite, and at least for me, one “boy mom” household at a time, nurturing future colleagues who will inherit and embrace this legacy.In peace and friendship,
Kimberly M. Winges, MD
President, Women in Ophthalmology