Understanding Viewpoints:
Evaluation of Applications and Applicants
(UVEA) Task Force
A pipeline initiative of the American Uveitis Society
About the Task Force
The UVEA Task Force is an AUS-led initiative building a resident-centered educational platform to grow interest in uveitis as a subspecialty. Our goal is simple: make uveitis feel practical, approachable, and career-viable for ophthalmology residents at every stage of training.
The Task Force is chaired by John Gonzales, MD of the Proctor Foundation, UCSF, with contributors from academic and community practices across the country.
Why It Matters
Uveitis fellowship match rates remain low, about 60% in the 2025 cycle. Resident surveys consistently identify three key deterrents:
- The belief that uveitis specialists don't operate
- The perception that uveitis is too complicated to learn
- Concerns about job market and compensation
Our mission is to correct these misconceptions through high-quality, accessible content and mentorship, not by lecturing residents, but by showing them what uveitis actually looks like in practice.
What We're Building
A mobile-first app, built on GlideApps, organized into three resident-facing domains:
- On Call Now: triage algorithms, SUN grading, work-up checklists, and red flags
- On Rotation: clinical frameworks, case galleries, imaging examples, and quizzes
- Considering Fellowship: day-in-the-life videos, surgical practice content, career paths, and mentor connections
Our first release is a 3-month beta focused on immediate utility for residents on call, with content expanding monthly thereafter.
How to Contribute
We welcome contributions from AUS members, fellows, residents, and medical students. Current needs include:
- Clinical content writers: algorithms, case write-ups, myth-busters
- Faculty reviewers: uveitis specialists able to commit ~2 hours per week
- Case images: deidentified OCT, FA, ICGA, or clinical photos (with appropriate consent)
- Day-in-the-life video subjects: academic, community, and hybrid practice specialists
- Mentors: for monthly group office hours and future 1:1 matching
Get Involved in Two Steps
1. Introduce yourself. Email Task Force Chair Dr. John Gonzales: john.gonzales@ucsf.edu
2. Submit your contribution. Upload content, images, or videos through our submission form: UVEA Task Force Submission Form →
All submissions follow a structured workflow: pre-built templates, tiered faculty review, and a strict no-PHI standard with required consent for any images or video.
Progress Update, May 2026
- Task Force assembled with content creators from UCSF, Wilmer, Emory, NEI, and other leading academic centers
- Content architecture and editorial workflow defined
- Initial themes and topics under development by editorial leads
- Outreach underway to Young MD Connect, the AAO Young Ophthalmologists committee, and Real World Ophthalmology for distribution partnerships
- Image and content warehouse workflow being finalized
- Target: beta app launch within 3 months
Questions?
Contact the UVEA Task Force chair, Dr. John Gonzales, at john.gonzales@ucsf.edu, or reach out through your AUS membership directory.