In the span of just a few months, Terri Young, MD, MBA passed one national leadership baton and picked up another— placing her at the forefront of two of ophthalmology’s most influential organizations.
In early 2025, Dr. Young, chair of the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, began her term as president of the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO). AUPO is an organization of department chairs, residency program directors, medical student educators, and administrators from academic ophthalmology training and research programs. AUPO has over 900 members representing over 130 academic institutions in the United States and Canada.
Working closely with the board of trustees, Dr. Young helped guide the organization’s strategic direction, advance its mission, and oversee its annual meeting.
Her tenure was especially notable as AUPO marked its 60th anniversary.
Over the past 60 years, AUPO has expanded its membership and strengthened professional connections by providing networking opportunities for individuals at all stages of their careers. In collaboration with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, AUPO developed the VISION Mentoring Program, which aims to improve access to high-quality eye care by expanding the pipeline of future ophthalmologists.
“The program provides mentorship, career guidance, networking, and educational resources to medical students who demonstrate a strong commitment to improving access to high-quality eye care,” Dr. Young said.
AUPO has also launched the Women Professors of Ophthalmology program, which supports the advancement of women aspiring to become full professors and academic leaders. In addition, AUPO created INTREPID (Investing, Training, Equipping, and Promoting Individuals for Distinction in Ophthalmology), a program designed to foster professional development and leadership in ophthalmology.
Dr. Young served in this role through the February 2026 annual meeting.
Just weeks later, in May 2026, Dr. Young assumed the presidency of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), the largest eye and vision research organization in the world.
With nearly 12,000 members from more than 60 countries, ARVO convenes a global community of scientists, students, and allied professionals dedicated to advancing vision research. Its annual meeting is the premier forum for sharing discoveries and fostering collaboration. Through this work, ARVO drives progress in understanding the visual system and in preventing, treating, and curing vision disorders.
Dr. Young believes ARVO will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of eye and vision research by fostering global collaboration, advancing alternatives to animal testing, and helping researchers harness the potential of artificial intelligence.
“Vision science research has at its core the pursuit of knowledge that will cure or slow the progression of vision-related diseases and disorders across the globe,” Dr. Young said. “At this time, 40 percent of ARVO’s membership is international. Through our newly formed Regional Advisory Councils, we have the ability to better understand the global burden of eye disease while sharing innovative approaches to treatment and care.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Young expects vision research to focus increasingly on developing new methodologies that reduce reliance on animal testing. Emerging technologies such as stem cell-derived tissues and retinal organoids offer promising alternatives.
She also sees artificial intelligence as a transformative tool for the field. “We need to look at how we apply AI to real-world clinical circumstances, especially to improve clinical workflows and to digest and analyze increasingly large global data sets,” she said. “The ultimate goal is not only discovery, but providing patients with information that is personalized, impactful, and timely.”
For her ARVO presidency year, Dr. Young will serve as an international ambassador – sharing the news of membership category changes and professional development opportunities, encouraging early career membership, and stimulating greater collaborative engagement in the US, China, India, Finland, Peru and the Netherlands.
Dr. Young will serve as ARVO president through the close of the 2027 annual meeting.