Leadership in action during the 2025 AAO named lectures

At this year’s meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), many sessions will conclude with award lectures. Across all 4 days of the meeting, 18 presenters will deliver named lectures, including those that are part of the subspecialty days. For your easy reference, the Eye Care Network has compiled a chronological list of the named lectures, complete with titles and locations.^1-2

Friday

The Charles L. Schepens MD Lecture

Friday, 9:22 am

Session Title: Retina Subspecialty Day 1 (RET05)

Location: W415 VALENCIA

Lee M. Jampol, MD, will deliver the lecture “How to Describe New Diseases, the Same Skills Necessary to Become an Outstanding Clinician.”

American Glaucoma Society Subspecialty Day Lecture

Friday, 11:52 am

Session Title: GLA05

Location: W320 CHAPIN THEATER

David S. Friedman, MD, PhD, MPH, will deliver the lecture “Truly Personalized Glaucoma Care” before presentation of the award by Steven Gedde, MD.

Troutman Prize

Friday, 11:57 am

Session Title: Refractive Surgery Subspecialty Day (REF05)

Location: W224

Cristina Bovone, MD, will deliver the lecture, titled “Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty Using Dehydrated versus Standard Organ Culture-Stored Donor Corneas: Prospective Randomized Trial.”

Saturday

Jackson Memorial Lecture

Saturday, 9:46 am

Session Title: Opening Session (SYM06)

Location: W320 CHAPIN THEATER

Janey Lee Wiggs, MD, PhD, will deliver the lecture “Using Genetics for Glaucoma Screening and Risk Stratification,” coosponsored by the American Journal of Ophthalmology

Michael F. Marmor Lecture in Ophthalmology and the Arts

Saturday, 10:14 am

Session: SYM06

Location: W320 CHAPIN THEATER

Rachel Barton Pine, a violinist and founder of the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation, will deliver the lecture. She debuted with the Chicago Symphony at age 10 and has gained recognition for her work at a number of international competitions and festivals. The Rachel Barton Pine Foundation provides funding and resources for classical music education.

C. Stephen and Frances Foster Lecture on Uveitis and Immunology (SYM12)

Saturday, 11:30 am

Location: W311E

Nisha Acharya, MD, will deliver the lecture, titled “‘Bedside’ to ‘Bench’ and Back.”

Dr. Allan Jensen and Claire Jensen Lecture in Professionalism and Ethics

Saturday, 11:30 am

Session: SYM11

Location: W315

Kenneth W. Goodman, PhD, will deliver the lecture, titled “Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and the Future of Ophthalmology.”

Robert N. Shaffer Lecture

Saturday, 2:53 pm

Session Title: Are We Overtreating Patients with Early Glaucoma and Undertreating Patients with Advanced Disease? (SYM20)

Location: W320 CHAPIN THEATER

Donald L. Budenz, MD, MPH, will deliver the lecture “Glaucoma at the Center of the Earth,” in a session cosponsored by Prevent Blindness.

William F. Hoyt Lecture

Saturday, 2:57 pm

Session Title: Advances in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Latest Insights and Management Strategies (SYM18)

Location: W311E

Michael Wall, MD, will deliver the lecture, titled “What Have We Learned From the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial?” and cosponsored by the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS).

Sunday

Parker Heath Lecture

Sunday, 8:45 am

Session Title: Innovations in Ophthalmology and Global Health Policy: Shaping the Future of Global Eye Care (SYM29)

Location: W414CD

David H. Aizuss, MD, will deliver the lecture “AMA's Role in AI,” co-sponsored by the American Medical Association Ophthalmology Section Council (AMA).

Jones/Smolin Lecture

Sunday, 8:55 am

Session Title: Emerging Trends in Ocular Viral Infections and Associated Complications (SYM28)

Location: W311E

Carol L. Karp, MD, will deliver the lecture “Viral and Other Infectious Culprits of Conjunctival Tumors,” cosponsored by Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group (OMIG).

Castroviejo Lecture

Sunday, 10:38 am

Session title: Novel corneal treatments (SYM35)

Location: W311E

Kathryn A. Colby, MD, PhD, will deliver the lecture titled “Innovations in Ophthalmology: Advances in the Management of Endothelial Dysfunction,” cosponsored by the Cornea Society.

Ruedemann Lecture

Sunday, 12:19 pm

Session Title: Orbital Implant Management (SYM43)

Location: W414CD

Jorge Corona, MD, will deliver the lecture “Orbital Socket and Implant Management: Lessons Learned From Guatemala to Ukraine,” in a session cosponsored by the American Society of Ocularists (ASO).

Marshall M. Parks Lecture

Sunday, 12:23 pm

Session Title: Challenges in the Management of Vertical Strabismus (SYM41)

Location: W311E

Jane C. Edmond, MD, will deliver the lecture “High Pressure Situations: When Optic Discs Don’t Follow the Rules,” cosponsored by the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS).

Zimmerman Lecture

Sunday, 2:53 pm

Session Title: Surgical Considerations in Patients with Ocular Tumors (SYM47)

Location: W414CD

Paul Finger, MD, will deliver the lecture, titled “Discovery,” in a session cosponsored by the American Association of Ophthalmic Oncologists and Pathologists (AAOOP).

Charles D. Kelman Lecture

Sunday, 4:40 pm

Session Title: Spotlight on Cataract Complications: Cataract Surgical Crises - Managing the Eye and the Stress (SYM45)

Location: W320 CHAPIN THEATER

Awardee Graham D. Barrett, MBBCH, will deliver the lecture “Perfect Prediction—Are We There Yet?”

Monday

Whitney G. Sampson Lecture

Monday, 8:45 am

Session Title: Corneal Nerves in Health and Disease (SYM55)

Location: W414CD

Steven E. Wilson, MD, will deliver the lecture “Role of Corneal Nerves in Wound Healing and Disease,” in a session cosponsored by the Eye and Contact Lens Association (ECLA).

Wendell L. Hughes Lecture

Monday, 10:33 am

Session Title: The Next Level: Mastering New Techniques in Oculofacial Plastic Surgery (SYM62)

Location: W414CD

Frank A. Nesi, MD, will deliver the lecture “Prioritizing Anatomy and Knowledge of Surgical Techniques to Fuel Innovations,” cosponsored by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS).”

References

1. Named Lectures. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.aao.org/annual-meeting/program-highlights/named-lectures

2. AAO 2025 Meeting Guide. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://aao.apprisor.org/apsHome.cfm