Explore our resources and materials.
Access our training resources and materials.
Access our gender training resources.
WLEH is committed to advancing gender equity in eye health through education and capacity-building.
As part of our Training and Capacity Building for Gender Equality workstream, we offer specialized gender and eye health courses on Cybersight, designed to equip eye health professionals with the knowledge to integrate gender-sensitive approaches into their practice.
The courses cover key topics such as gender mainstreaming in ophthalmology, and strategies for fostering inclusive healthcare environments.
Stay tuned as we prepare to launch our Gender and Eye Health virtual course in English in 2025!
Access our Gender Course in Spanish on Cybersight!
Stay informed with our latest coffee hours events and webinars.
To promote continuous professional development and community engagement, WLEH offers interactive Coffee Hours that foster connection and collaboration among women leaders in eye health.
Support our mission by joining our initiatives.
Women remain underrepresented in leadership roles across the eye health space, facing systemic barriers to advancement.
WLEH is working to change this by providing professional development grants, mentorship, and leadership training to support women at every stage of their careers.
By joining our initiatives, you can connect with like-minded professionals, access key opportunities, and be part of a movement driving gender equity in eye health.
Together, we can build a future where women lead, innovate, and transform eye care systems worldwide."
Learn more about our Professional Development Grant
Resources and downloads
Explore a collection of WLEH materials designed to promote gender equity in eye health.
Download flyers, posters, and educational resources to raise awareness, highlight WLEH initiatives, and engage your network in advancing women’s leadership.
These materials support efforts to create more inclusive and equitable eye care systems by amplifying the voices of women in the eye care field.
WLEH hosted an in-person High Tea Event at APAO 2025, on April 3. The session was about "Uplifting Women in Eye Health: Advancing Leadership, Skills, and High-Quality Care".
DownloadWLEH hosted an in-person coffee hour at Envision Summit 2025, held from 14 to 17 February in Puerto Rico. Our session was about "Trailblazers: Women Modeling Leadership in Eye Health".
DownloadWLEH launched the call for applications for the Professional Development Grant 2025 on December 2024. Download it here and apply!
DownloadWLEH hosted a virtual coffee hour on "Alternative Career Choices in the Ophthalmic Space", held on the Zoom platform on December 11th, 2024.
DownloadWLEH hosted an in-person coffee hour at the 128th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2024, held from 18 to 21 October, in Chicago, United States.
DownloadWLEH hosted an in-person coffee hour at the 39th World Ophthalmology Congress 2024, held from 16 to 19 August, in Vancouver, Canada.
DownloadWLEH hosted an in-person coffee hour at the World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) on August 17th, 2024, in Vancouver, Canada. Powerful testimonials were collected during this event, entitled Making Global Connections and Strengthening our Networks”.
DownloadWLEH hosted an in-person coffee hour at the Third Global Ophthalmology Summit 2024, held in Portland, United States.
DownloadWLEH hosted an in-person coffee hour at the Global Ophthalmology Summit (GOS) on August 10th, 2024, in Portland, USA. Powerful testimonials were collected during this event, entitled “Gender Considerations for Working In Global Eye Health”.
DownloadWLEH hosted an in-person coffee hour at the African Ophthalmology Council on July 28th, 2024, in Rwanda. Powerful testimonials were collected during this event, entitled “Standing Strong, Sharing Space and Shaping Solutions”.
DownloadWLEH hosted an in-person coffee hour at IAPB InSight Live Mexico City in June 2024, held in Mexico. Powerful testimonials were collected during this event, entitled "Gender Equity at a Crossroads, Moving Forward or Falling Behind".
DownloadWLEH hosted an in-person coffee hour at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) on April 6th, 2024, in Boston, United States. Powerful testimonials were collected during this event, entitled "Empowering Through Simulation".
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Contact us for more information about WLEH opportunities and resources.
Write to us at wleh@orbis.org.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Professional Development Grants
The professional development grant recognizes and encourages women’s leadership potential.
Priority will be given to women seeking to strengthen leadership skills and create an impact in ophthalmic spaces.
Criteria include:
-Women pursuing careers or education in the field of eye health at all levels.
-Demonstrated interest in participating in one of the eligible global ophthalmology conferences.
-Has an accepted abstract or poster and/or is invited as a panelist for a conference approved event.
-Has valid Visa to enable entry into Conference’s Host Country.
Key deadlines are laid out on the official call for applications for the professional development grant.
Click here for the 2025 Grant application process.
For applying to the WLEH professional development grant, you need to access this link, and fill out the form before the established deadlines.
Please remember that before applying, you need to have an accepted abstract or poster, or be invited as a panelist to participate in an eye health or gender-focused conference.
The award can only be used for expenses related to participating in the said conference, including but not limited to air fares, accommodation, conference registration, visa, meals, and transportation.
No, if you miss a deadline, your application will not be considered for the current call for applications.
Recipients are selected based on review of received applications within the established deadline, by a joint committee comprised of WLEH leadership and advisory committee.
The commitment, accomplishments and narrative responses play an important role as they show how you are planning to use all the new skills you acquire out of our conference participations.
Recipients will receive the grants directly, and they will need to organize and directly pay the cost of the roundtrip airfare to/from the Recipient’s home to the intended conference, as well as accommodations for the duration of the intended conference.
The recipient will commit to attend and participate in the entire duration of the selected conference. The award can only be used for expenses related to participating in the said conference.
Recipient will organize and directly pay the cost of the roundtrip airfare to/from the Recipient’s home to the intended conference, as well as accommodations for the duration of the intended conference.
The recipient will organize all necessary paperwork/letters of invitation to secure the appropriate international travel visa.
Recipient shall be responsible for securing travel and health insurance on their own.
The recipient is also expected to submit a summary report of her conference experience no later than two weeks post-conference. The summary report should be 1-2 pages highlighting conference participation, speaking engagements, and any other information relevant to the WLEH initiative.
By attending the said conference and/or submitting photos or materials, the recipient grants consent and permission for the WLEH to use pictures of the Recipient, and any other materials, for promotional purposes.
Yes, you can apply for a WLEH Professional Development Grant more than once. However, priority may be given to applicants who have not previously received a grant to ensure more women in eye health have access to this opportunity.
Each application is evaluated independently based on merit, impact, and alignment with WLEH’s mission. We encourage all eligible professionals to apply, regardless of past participation.
For more details on eligibility and selection criteria, please refer to the grant application guidelines.
Yes, the recipient is expected to submit a summary report of her conference experience no later than two weeks post-conference.
The summary report should be 1-2 pages highlighting conference participation, speaking engagements, and any other information relevant to the WLEH initiative.
Coffee Hours & Events
You do not need an official membership to participate in WLEH events. All women at all levels in eye health are considered part of our community by default and are welcome to join our programs, Coffee Hours, webinars, and networking opportunities.
WLEH Coffee Hours are in-person gatherings held at selected international conferences on eye health or gender equity. If you are attending one of these conferences, you will have access to our Coffee Hour sessions.
For virtual engagement, WLEH hosts webinars throughout the year, providing opportunities to connect, learn, and engage with women in eye health worldwide.
Upcoming Coffee Hours and Webinars are posted on our website, shared via email to our distribution list, and promoted across our social media channels, as well as those of Orbis International, Seva Foundation, and Women in Ophthalmology.
Stay informed, subscribe to our distribution list to receive updates!
WLEH Coffee Hours take place around the world at selected international eye health or gender-focused conferences. These sessions provide a unique opportunity to connect with peers, exchange insights, and engage in meaningful discussions on leadership, mentorship, and gender equity in eye health..
While there is no set frequency, WLEH generally hosts around five Coffee Hours per year at major international conferences and two webinars annually. Each session is designed to foster meaningful dialogue and support women in eye health.
Yes. We welcome topic suggestions for our Coffee Hours and Webinars.
If you have an idea, please reach out to wleh@orbis.org with the subject line "Topic Suggestion", for consideration.
WLEH Participation
There is no official membership required to be part of WLEH.
If you are a woman working in eye health, you belong to our community by default!
However, if you’d like to be more actively involved, we encourage you to:
- Join our distribution list to stay informed about upcoming opportunities, events, and initiatives.
- Contribute to our surveys and research studies that help shape gender equity in eye health.
- Follow our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) to engage with our community, access inspiring stories, and be part of important conversations on leadership, mentorship, and gender inclusion in ophthalmology.
Sign up and stay connected!
Yes! WLEH launches targeted mentorship programs designed to support women in eye health at different stages of their careers. These initiatives provide opportunities to receive guidance from experienced leaders and grow within a supportive network.
If you’re interested in becoming a mentor or mentee, you can send an unsolicited letter for consideration to be included in upcoming mentorship initiatives to wleh@orbis.org.
We also recommend staying tuned to our updates to learn when applications open.
Absolutely! WLEH welcomes students and early-career professionals who are passionate about gender equity and leadership in eye health.
You can:
- Join our distribution list here, to receive updates on mentorship opportunities, webinars, and networking events.
- Follow us on social media to stay connected, learn from inspiring women in the field, and engage with our community.
Start your journey with WLEH and connect with leaders!
Find us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
No, WLEH does not charge a fee to participate in our initiatives, including mentorship programs, webinars, and networking events.
However, some of our in-person Coffee Hours and leadership sessions take place at international conferences, which may have registration fees set by third-party conference organizers.
We encourage you to check the event details and, if applicable, explore funding or grant opportunities that may help cover participation costs.
Yes! Male allies are welcome and play a crucial role in advancing gender equality in eye health. Their insights and advocacy help create a more inclusive and equitable profession for all.
Men can participate by:
- Attending WLEH webinars and Coffee Hours.
- Engaging in mentorship and leadership discussions.
- Championing gender-inclusive policies within their workplaces.
We encourage all allies to stand with us in breaking barriers and fostering an environment where women in eye health can thrive.
Staying Connected
Stay connected with WLEH through multiple channels:
- Join our distribution list and subscribe to our newsletter to receive event invitations, mentorship opportunities, leadership resources and important announcements.
- Follow us on social media for real-time updates and community engagement.
In the long term, WLEH aims to develop an online platform to keep our community engaged and connected in one place.
Stay tuned for updates! Sign up here. Find us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Follow WLEH on social media to stay engaged and be part of the conversation:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wlehglobal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wlehglobal/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WLEHGlobal/
You can also find WLEH updates shared on our website www.wleh.org
There are two current ways to support WLEH’s work:
Partner with Us: If your organization aligns with our mission, reach out to explore collaboration opportunities. Contact us at wleh@orbis.org with the subject line "Partnership".
Engage as a Community Member: If you’re a woman in eye health, you can contribute by participating in our events, webinars, and Coffee Hours; taking part in our surveys and focus group discussions to help shape gender equity initiatives; and sharing WLEH resources to spread awareness in your professional networks.