This week we sit down with Dr. Grace Sun to learn about Women in Ophthalmology, the many ways students can contribute to this important organization, and valuable lessons about stepping outside of your comfort zone. Dr. Sun is the president of Women in Ophthalmology and an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College where she practices as a comprehensive ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon. She received her MD at Weill Cornell Medical College and completed her ophthalmology residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She served as the Program Director of Ophthalmology Residency at Weill Cornell Medicine for 10 years and currently serves as the Director of Ophthalmology Clinical Practice at Weill Cornell in Lower Manhattan. 

Time Stamps:

4:24- What is Women in Ophthalmology? What is their mission?

7:41 - Mastering the "nice 'no'”

10:00- The power of women in leadership and their ability to bring attention to structural issues preventing gender equity in ophthalmology 

11:02- How medical students/trainees can serve as allies to their female colleagues 

17:00- Why representation matters

18:00- What ways are medical students involved in WIO?

21:24- Dr. Sun’s advice on overcoming awkward conference encounters

26:35- Why are fewer women comfortable mentioning their partner’s application status during residency interviews, despite the SF Match offering no couples match option? 

Citation: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2022.07.026

29:30- Rethinking the residency training model as a potential solution for dealing with gender equity issues

32:05- Research as an advocacy tool and an investigative tool… we have to ask "why"

36:00- The importance of normalizing conversations about relationships and family planning 

39:43- Dr. Sun’s parting message on preserving female representation in ophthalmology and its impact on the field