To Become a Fellow Member:

Classes of membership:

• Fellow Member
• Resident / Student Member
• Fellow Emeritus

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 must have graduated from an accredited residency program, or hold a documentable reputation of excellence in scientific or clinical areas of retinal 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 vote and hold office and must pay dues of $150 dollars every two years.

Fellow Membership Clinical Candidates must be graduates of an accredited college of optometry or an accredited medical school, have an active license in good standing to practice optometry or ophthalmology and be actively engaged in clinical practice.

Fellow Membership Scientific Candidates must have documented index medicus / PubMed published works demonstrating outstanding contributions toward the study and or remedy of vitreoretinal disease, and must be actively involved in vitreoretinal basic science or research.

Fellow Membership Minimum Credentials: minimum Fellow membership credentials are listed below.

• The Fellow Membership candidate shall demonstrate completion of at least five years of active clinical practice, or, in the case of scientific candidates, the completion of a post-graduate credential with the publication of the candidate’s work.
• The Fellow Membership candidate shall be a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry.
• The Fellow Membership candidate needs at least 100 points in total, with all accomplishments coming in the subject area of vitreoretinal disease. The candidate must complete at least one accomplishment in Category A, while the rest of the accomplishments may come from either Category A or Category B.

Category A: 

• First author of a publication:
  • In one (1) peer-reviewed journal with index medicus / PubMed listing
  • OR first author of four (4) publications of relevant works in a journal not listed in index medicus / PubMed
  • OR one (1) publication of one thesis involving research in which the candidate was actively participating

50 points each

• Second author of one (1) publication in a peer-reviewed journal with index medicus / PubMed listing
  • 25 points each
• Authorship of one (1) retinal textbook or a published chapter(s) in a retinal textbook
  • 75 points
• Ten (10) or more retina lectures at ARVO, AAO, or an equivalent international conference
  • 50 points
• Five (5) or more years as Professor of a main posterior segment course at an ACOE accredited School of Optometry
  • 50 points
• Principal Investigator for one (1) major research-related clinical study
  • 50 points

Category B:

• First author of one (1) clinical or scientific poster or paper presented at national meetings including ARVO, AAO and AOA
  • 25 points for each poster
• Second author of one (1) clinical or scientific poster or paper presented at national meetings including ARVO, AAO and AOA
  • 15 points for each poster
• Second author of one (1) publication of relevant works in a journal not listed in index medicus / PubMed
  • 15 points each
• First author of one (1) clinical or scientific poster presented at regional meetings including, SECO, Vision Expo, East/West, and Heart of America
  • 10 points each (limit of 2 total)
• Second author of one (1) clinical or scientific poster presented at regional meetings including, SECO, Vision Expo, East/West, and Heart of America
  • 5 points each (limit of 2 total)
• First author of one (1) AAO Resident’s Day poster/paper
  • 10 points (limit of 1 total)
• One (1) lecture at a national meeting (ARVO, AAO, AOA). (Cannot duplicate points from Category A)
  • 5 points each
• One (1) lecture at a regional meeting (SECO, Vision Expo, East/West, Heart of America)
  • 2.5 points
• One (1) lecture at a State Optometry Conference
  • 2.5 points (limit of 2 total)
• Professor at an ACOE accredited optometry school who teaches a posterior segment course or is a Service Chief of a retinal service
  • 20 points each separate course/service per year. (Cannot duplicate points from Category A, limit two years total)
• Principal Investigator for one (1) minor research-related clinical study
  • 25 points
• Member of an Advisory Board for a retina-related company
  • 15 points (limit of 2 total)
• Working at a retinal disease site
  • 5 points per completed one (1) year (5 years maximum credit)

2. Resident/Student Membership: Membership in the Optometric Retina 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 and do not pay dues. Resident/Student Membership may be obtained by completing the membership application and including a letter of intent/interest, thus activating the normal ORS membership application review process

3. Fellow Emeritus Membership: Any Fellow in good standing may, upon retirement from active optometric or medical practice, be considered for appointment as a Fellow Emeritus. Such an appointment requires a majority vote of approval from the current active Fellows.  Fellows Emeritus may not hold an officer position, may not vote and are not required to pay dues.

Application

Application for Fellow Membership or Resident / Student Membership is made by electronic submission of the appropriate ORS Membership application and membership points grid (see below), along with the candidate’s completed folder of required materials and a letter of intent to the ORS secretary at: optometric.retina.society-at-gmail.com.

Fellow Membership materials must include all of the following

1. A curriculum vitae and a letter of interest/intent (required)
2. A copy of the candidate’s 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 applicable)
5. Documentation of Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry (required)
6. Any additional documentation beyond the curriculum vitae needed to satisfy the membership requirements outlined above (required)
7. Two letters of recommendation from individuals with personal knowledge of the candidate’s skills and abilities, at least one of which must be from a current ORS Fellow in good standing
8. A completed membership application and membership points grid: membership application (PDF) | ORS Point Matrix (Excel)

Determination

All applications for Fellow Membership and Resident/Student Membership must be approved by the Membership Committee, the President, and a majority vote of all current Fellows in good standing. Applicants will be notified via e-mail regarding the status of their application after the above process has been completed.

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.

Download Application (PDF) | ORS Point Matrix (Excel)