Optometric Retina Society - Join Us - Membership Information

To Become a Fellow Member:

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Founded 2003

The Optometric Retina Society (ORS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the advancement of vitreoretinal knowledge for clinicians, ophthalmic educators and students. Here, through interactions, collegial discussion and the dissemination of educational materials and ideas, individuals sharing the interest of study in this arena may find resources which better their abilities to educate others and improve abilities to serve the welfare of patients, the scientific community and their profession.

Classes of membership:

Fellow member
Honorary member
Resident/Student member

The Optometric Retina Society invites qualified individuals to inquire regarding Membership.
1. Fellow Membership: Fellows of the ORS shall be recognized as leaders in the subject area of vitreoretinal disease. They shall be considered by their peers to be experts in teaching as well as participants in research, patient care and community service in the area of vitreoretinal care. They hold the right and privilege of being able to pay dues, vote and hold office.
  1. Applicants for Fellow Membership shall be considered through the actions of The Optometric Retina Society Membership Committee, its President, its Board of Directors and its voting body to have attained the highest level of documented professional accomplishment toward the advancement of the science or practice of the vitreoretinal subspecialty (syndromic diseases involving the retina or posterior segment, diseases of the pars plana, vitreous, retina, retinal pigment epithelium, Bruch’s membrane, choroid and optic nerve.
    1. Fellow Membership Clinical candidates shall be graduates of an accredited college of optometry or medical school, have a license to practice optometry or be board certified to practice ophthalmology; to the highest level of practice allowable by the state-of-residence, in good standing.
    2. Fellow Membership candidates shall have satisfactorily graduated from an accredited residency program or hold a documentable reputation of excellence in the scientific or clinical categories of vitreoretinal disease through letters of proposal, recommendation, appointments to institutions and appointments to colleges or participation in clinical practices.
    3. Fellow Membership Scientific candidates shall have documented index medicus published works demonstrating outstanding contributions toward the study and or remedy of vitreoretinal disease.
  2. Minimum credentials
    1. The Fellow Membership candidate shall demonstrate completion of at least five years of active clinical practice or the completion of a post graduate credential with publication of the candidate’s work.
    2. The Fellow Membership candidate shall be a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry OR equivalent national organization OR demonstrate participation in professional leadership within the ophthalmic community.
    3. The Fellow Membership candidate shall have completed any (1) of these scholarly contributions in the subject area of vitreoretinal disease.
      1. First author of two publications or one thesis in a peer-reviewed journal involving research in which the candidate was actively participating.
      2. First author of two relevant scholarly works relating to diseases of the retina or vitreous in a peer-reviewed journal.
      3. Authorship of published chapter(s) in a textbook or a textbook relating to diseases of the vitreous or retina.
      4. Second author of two published contributions to the peer-reviewed literature on the subject of vitreoretinal disease.
      5. First or second author of no less than 4 clinical or scientific posters presented at major meetings.
    4. Clinical candidates must be actively practicing clinicians who by reputation and recognition by their peers (in writing) have exceptional expertise in the area of vitreoretinal disease. These candidates shall have maintained licensure to practice direct patient care and are in good standing.
2. Honorary Membership: An individual of outstanding caliber, not eligible for another category of membership, may be elected to Honorary Membership by the Board of Directors as provided in these Bylaws. Honorary Membership is reserved for accomplished individuals and may be granted only through proposal to the ORS Membership Committee, in writing, by no less than 2 advocates in the ORS holding membership in good standing. The successful Honorary Membership candidate shall receive ratification only via unanimous acceptance of the Membership Committee, approval of the President and support of 2/3 of the voting ORS body. This category of membership is not intended as a means to circumvent the requirements for Fellow Membership, but is rather bestowed as an honor to select individuals. An Honorary Member shall not pay dues, not pay the application fee, shall not pay meeting registration, shall not have the right to vote, nor have the right to hold office
  1. Honorary Membership shall be open to optometrists, ophthalmologists and scientists who have made exceptional contributions to the understanding or management of diseases of the vitreous and retina.
3. Resident/Student Membership: Membership in the Optometric Retinal Society shall be open to residents in accredited colleges of optometry or ophthalmology programs and students in accredited colleges of optometry. Resident/Student members may not hold office or vote.
  1. Resident/Student Membership shall be obtained by completing the membership application activating normal ORS Membership Committee and ORS ratification proceedings and procedures.
Application
1. Application for Fellow Membership or Student/Resident Membership is made by electronic submission only of the appropriate ORS Membership application along with the candidate’s completed folder of required materials and a letter of intent to A. Gurwood, O.D., F.A.A.O., Diplomate, Professor, Salus University, Chair, ORS Membership Committee: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
  1. Fellow Membership materials may include all or some of the following
    1. A curriculum vitae (required).
    2. A copy of the candidate’s Undergraduate Diploma and Professional Diploma (required).
    3. A copy of the candidate’s current active licensure (required).
    4. A copy of the certificate of completion from the candidate’s residency training program (if residency completed).
    5. Documentation of membership/participation/leadership in the American Academy of Optometry or similar professional or scientific organization (required).
    6. Documentation satisfying the membership requirements (required)
      1. The Fellow Membership candidate shall demonstrate completion of at least five years of active clinical practice or the attainment of a post graduate credential with publication of the candidate’s work (required).
      2. The Fellow Membership candidate shall have completed a minimum of any one (1) of these scholarly contributions in the subject area of vitreoretinal disease (required).
        
        First author of two publications or one thesis in a peer-reviewed journal involving research in which the candidate was actively participating.
        
        First author of two relevant scholarly works relating to diseases of the retina or vitreous in a peer-reviewed journal.
        
        Authorship of published chapter(s) in a textbook or a textbook relating to diseases of the vitreous or retina.
        
        Second author of two published contributions to the peer-reviewed literature on the subject of vitreoretinal disease. Note: Any publications submitted to the committee for consideration that are not yet in print (that have been accepted for publication) should be appropriately recognized by the journal in which they will appear (appropriate note from the Editor on official letterhead required).
        
        First or second author of no less than 4 clinical or scientific posters presented at major meetings.
      3. Clinical candidates must be actively practicing clinicians who by reputation and recognition by their peers (in writing) have exceptional expertise in the area of vitreoretinal disease. These candidates shall have maintained licensure to practice direct patient care and are in good standing (required).
    7. Two letters of reference from ORS Fellow Members (in good standing) with personal knowledge of the candidate’s reputation, clinical activities and good character (required).
Determination
1. Ballot results for election to all memberships are announced at the ORS business meeting with applicants notified by postal and Email.

Thank you for your interest in the ORS. We look forward to your participation in the advancement of the education and science of vitreoretinal disease.

Andrew S. Gurwood, O.D., F.A.A.,O., Diplomate
Professor, Salus University
Chair, Optometric Retina Society Membership Committee

To Become a Fellow Member:

Classes of membership:

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