ASCRS News: ASCRS Foundation update
Spring 2026
Get involved with the ASCRS Foundation at the ASCRS Annual Meeting, with award presentations, sessions, and other networking opportunities.
Join the ASCRS Foundation at Party for a Purpose
The ASCRS ASOA Party for a Purpose is back again during the Annual Meeting. The event will take place on Friday, April 10, from 8:00–11:00 p.m. at the Westin DC Downtown Hotel.
Get ready to light up the night as we kick off a star-spangled celebration honoring the USA’s 250th birthday. Join fellow ASCRS and ASOA attendees for an evening filled with high-energy performances, iconic Americana moments, and plenty of red, white, and blue spirit, all while raising funds to support sight-restoring care provided through the ASCRS Foundation. Cheer on the teams competing in the dance competition and for monetary donations and enjoy musical performances taking you on an American road trip. Come as you are or show off your patriotic flair—think bold stripes, sparkly stars, vintage Americana, or your best modern-day USA-themed party look.
All ASCRS, ASOA, industry/exhibitor attendees, and their guests are welcome (bring your Annual Meeting registration badge for entry; attendees of Party for a Purpose must be 21 or older). The ASCRS Foundation would like to thank Alcon for its generous match donation of $35,000.
Don’t miss the ASCRS Foundation Symposium
This year’s ASCRS Foundation Symposium, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Vision and Carl Zeiss Meditec, will take place on Saturday, April 11 from 8:30–9:30 a.m.
The session will provide an overview of domestic humanitarian needs in ophthalmic care, focusing on the Operation Sight cataract surgery program. The symposium will cover several key objectives, including understanding domestic humanitarian needs in ophthalmology, mobilization and collaboration strategies, and program implementation and sustainability.
This symposium will also include the presentation of the Operation Sight Volunteer of the Year Award.
Announcing the ASCRS Foundation’s Resident Excellence Award winners
ASCRS was founded by young, enterprising ophthalmologists, and the ASCRS Foundation’s Resident Excellence Awards carry on and honor that tradition. Each year, the ASCRS Foundation makes 10 awards to enable ophthalmology residents exhibiting exemplary performance to attend the ASCRS Annual Meeting. The categories for consideration include research, patient care, leadership, and education.
This year’s winners are Joshua Ong, MD, Whitney Sambhariya, MD, PhD, Ali Salimi, MD, MSc, Cody Lo, MD, Dennis Akrobetu, MD, Hazem Mousa, MD, Ayush Parikh, MD, Ailin (Irene) Song, MD, MHSc, Victoria Wang, MD, and Junsang Cho, MD.
This year, the Resident Excellence Award program is generously sponsored by BVI.
Announcing the ASCRS Foundation’s Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant recipients
The ASCRS Foundation is excited to announce the recipients of the 2026 Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant. This year’s winners are Helen Song, MD, James Tian, MD, Sheena Song, DO, and Sheetal Pundir, MD, PhD.
The Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant was created to inspire young eye surgeons to become involved with global eyecare on a long-term basis. The grant affords the opportunity to participate in healthcare systems, including teaching institutions and community programs, in developing countries.
Working with the ASCRS Foundation and its international partners, recipients will develop a customized international volunteer plan that provides the opportunity for a young eye surgeon to learn first-hand the intricacies behind global eyecare efforts.
Make a donation to the ASCRS Foundation and Operation Sight
In addition to participating in onsite opportunities and events at the ASCRS Annual Meeting, consider a donation to the ASCRS Foundation. With your support, we can help provide critical care to U.S. residents who are uninsured or under-insured—offering them the chance for a better life, free from the limitations of vision loss.
Your donation, no matter the size, makes a world of difference. Whether you give today or choose to include ASCRS in your donor-advised fund (DAF) or planned giving, your generosity directly helps those who need it most.
Make a tax-deductible donation today and give the gift of sight—an enduring gift that will transform lives for years to come. We appreciate your continued support.
