Membership Benefits

Membership in the American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery (AECOS) includes many distinguished benefits as well as responsibilities:

• Participation in a prestigious society dedicated to advancing vision care and improving patients’ quality of life through innovation, education and advocacy
• Experience a unique collaboration between leading anterior segment surgeons, ophthalmic industry executives, select venture capitalists and technology entrepreneurs
• Membership in an organization that provides a unique, interactive forum in which to present ideas and opportunities for collaboration on technology development, advocacy and clinical studies
• Engage in political advocacy to effect change for the benefit of patients as well as health care providers
• Eligible to participate in AECOS sponsored clinical studies
• Eligible to participate with AECOS in the FDA/CDRH Network of Experts
• Access to a members only, password protected website where ideas on technology, technique and unique surgical cases may be openly discussed in a secure environment
• Opportunity to post educational videos to share among the AECOS membership
• Opportunities to participate in a variety of charitable initiatives open to AECOS Members
• The opportunity to accelerate innovation in technology and technique as part of a small, highly effective group of visionaries

Membership Criteria

All proposed new members shall be recommended by two current voting and/or participating members and shall be approved by the Membership Committee with final approval by the Board of Directors. The Membership Committees, established by the Board of Directors in both Europe and the United States, shall attest to the completeness of the application and to the fulfillment of membership requirements. All participating members shall pay dues and fees as established by the Board of Directors. The Board, in its discretion, may waive any of the qualifications for membership. A voting and/or participating member may also be removed from membership by the Board of Directors should any of the following occur:

• Failure to timely remit dues or pay any other fees established by the Board;
• Failure to maintain good standing in the medical profession (Physician members);
• No longer actively involved in the ophthalmic field (Non-Physician members);
• A felony conviction.
• Any member who allows annual membership dues to lapse for more than 2 years shall be removed from membership with a requirement to re-apply as a condition of reinstatement.

AECOS American Membership Committee

• Neda Shamie, MD (Chairperson) – Los Angeles, California
• Damien Goldberg, MD – Torrance, California
• Yari Mitchell – Irvine, California
• George O. Waring, IV, MD – Charleston, South Carolina
• Elizabeth Yeu, MD – Norfolk, Virginia

AECOS European Membership Committee

• Allon Barsam, MD, London – United Kingdom
• Mike Holzer, MD – Weinheim, Germany

AECOS Membership Criteria – Physicians

All proposed AECOS Physician Members shall be (a) recommended by two current Members; (b) licensed to practice medicine in at least one of the United States, Canada, Latin/South America, Europe or the Middle East; (c) contributed significantly to the field of ophthalmology or visual sciences as determined by the Board; and (d) meets at least one of the following criteria:

• Published 2 peer reviewed papers in the last 5 years
• Published 4 non-peer reviewed papers in the last 5 years
• Published 2 textbook chapters in the last 5 years
• Presented 4 lectures at major national meetings in the last 5 years
• Have participated in 2 major clinical trials in the last 5 years

AECOS Membership Criteria – Non-Physician

All proposed AECOS Non-physician Members shall be recommended by two current Members and must meet all three of the following criteria:

• Contributed significantly to the field of ophthalmology or visual sciences as determined by the Board
• Has been engaged in bringing innovation to the field of ophthalmology and visual sciences as determined by the Board
• Holds a Vice President or higher position of a company actively engaged in bringing innovation to the field of ophthalmology and visual sciences as determined by the Board
• The AECOS Non-Physician Membership consists of non-physician industry representatives who are employed by either a commercial or non-commercial entity in the ophthalmic sector.

AECOS Non-Commercial Industry Members

• Provide research, business consulting or investment related services to the ophthalmic sector
• Are not actively engaged in the sale of ophthalmic products
• May attend AECOS Meetings (registration fee required)

AECOS Commercial Industry Members

• Are employed by a commercial entity actively engaged in the sale of ophthalmic products
• Are required to support AECOS meetings and educational programs by securing sponsorships from their respective employers. Such companies are frequently known to have exhibited commercially available ophthalmic products, drugs, devices or equipment at major congresses
• AECOS Commercial Industry Members may attend AECOS Meetings for which their respective company has not agreed to sponsor, however a registration fee of $6,000 will be required

Questions related to Industry Member meeting attendance and the determination of registration fees shall be presented to and ultimately decided by the AECOS Executive Director.