About Us

AECOS is a truly progressive organization that fosters communication and cooperation between leading anterior segment surgeons, ophthalmic industry executives, select venture capitalists, and technology entrepreneurs. Originally established in 2011 as a congress of American thought leaders, the Society expanded in 2012 to become The American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery®. In 2013, the Society formalized its expansion by creating an American Executive Committee and a European Executive Committee – each chartered to drive the mission and vision of AECOS. Today, this prestigious Society remains dedicated to advancing vision care and improving patients’ quality of life through Innovation, Education and Advocacy.

As a non-profit 501(c)(6) ophthalmic Society, AECOS in its first year initiated sponsorship of an important FDA investigational study focused on corneal cross-linking. AECOS also participated with industry and CMS in the development of guidance on Laser Refractive Cataract Surgery. These guidelines that were published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in November 2012. As a Society, AECOS is an advocate for quality patient care, and serves as an active member of the FDA/CDRH Network of Experts.

AECOS is a member of the American Refractive Surgery Council, an organization that harnesses the country’s leading clinical and technology expertise and develops educational and informative programs and content for consumers considering their vision correction options.

AECOS Management Team

Trudy Larkins
Executive Director
Heather Heenan
Director, Membership and Meeting Services
Kimberly Capaldi
Senior Manager, Meetings and Web Initiatives

AECOS American Executive Committee

Kendall Donaldson, MD
President
Robert Weinstock, MD
President-Elect
Robert Maloney, MD
Immediate Past COB
Laurent Attias
Andy Chang
Andy Corley
Advisor
Warren Foust
Ron Kurtz, MD
Rajesh Rajpal, MD
Brent Saunders
Julie Schallhorn, MD
Neda Shamie, MD
William Trattler, MD
Advisor
George Waring IV, MD
Advisor
Gary Wörtz, MD
Roger Zaldivar, MD

Board of Directors

William Wiley, MD
Chairman
David Cox
Francesco Carones
Sheraz Daya, MD
Steven J. Dell, MD
Kendall Donaldson, MD
Adam Krafczek, Esq
William Link, PhD
Erik Mertens, MD
Stephen G. Slade, MD
Robert Weinstock, MD

AECOS European Executive Committee

Sheraz Daya, MD
President
Francesco Carones, MD
President-Elect
Erik Mertens, MD
Immediate Past President
Jorge L Alio, MD
Jan Bonel
Luc Bonnefoy
Arthur Cummings, MD
Raphael Ervinckx
Damien Gatinel, MD
Aylin Kilic, MD
Seba Leoni
Samuel Levinger, MD
Dirk Muehlhoff
Dan Reinstein, MD
Radhika Rampat, MD
Andrea Russo, MD
Stefanie Schmickler, MD
Suphi Taneri, MD

Emeritus

Lucio Buratto, MD
John Marshall, PhD
Tobias Neuhann, MD
Rolf Schwind