The American Uveitis Society is proud to announce the nomination and acceptance of John Gonzales, MD, Professor at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation at the University of California, San Francisco, to the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Leadership Development Program (LDP).
Since 1999, the LDP has cultivated leaders across ophthalmology. Its nearly 500 graduates have gone on to serve on Academy committees, lead state and subspecialty societies, and shape the direction of the field, including several who have become Academy presidents.
Dr. Gonzales joins this distinguished program carrying a project on behalf of the AUS UVEA Task Force: a mobile-first, resident-facing educational portal designed to help the next generation of ophthalmologists experience uveitis as approachable, learnable, and rewarding. The portal addresses head-on the misconceptions that have made uveitis feel inaccessible, that it is too complex, too nonsurgical, too narrow, or not professionally viable, by giving residents practical tools they can use on call, structured learning to master core material on rotation, and a clear window into what a career in uveitis can look like and how to pursue fellowship.
The vision of the UVEA Task Force is not simply to build an app, but to change the story residents hear about uveitis, and to give them the tools, examples, and mentorship that make the new story feel true.
We congratulate Dr. Gonzales on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to the impact this work will have on the future of our field.
AAO LDP member Alexa Lu, MD (left) with John Gonzales, MD (center) and LDP mentor Eric Suhler, MD, MPH (right) at the Mid-Year Forum, April 2026.
