Speakers
The wait is over—discover our full lineup of speakers for the Spring Meeting, ‘Tell Me Your Secrets!’ on May 9, 2026.
Keynote speakers Dr. Jeffrey Pettey, CEO and Chairman Moran Eye Center, University of Utah and Dr. Michael Abramoff, MD, PhD, Univeristy of Iowa will be joined by over 50 incredible leaders in ophthalmology!
Keynote Speakers
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Keynote Speakers *
Tell Me Your Secrets:
The Smithsonian of Ophthalmology
Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah
Chief Executive Officer, John A. Moran Eye Center
Chief of Ophthalmology, Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Dr. Jeffrey Pettey, MD, MBA
An internationally recognized leader in academic ophthalmology and global eye care, he was awarded the 2017 Artemis Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology for his commitment to improving access to care for underserved populations. He founded Operation Sight, the Moran Eye Center’s local surgical outreach program, and his global work focuses on developing sustainable training programs to address avoidable blindness. His academic interests include surgical education, health care delivery in resource-limited settings, and improving cataract surgery outcomes.
In 2023, Dr. Pettey was awarded the prestigious RWO Humanisn in Ophthalmology in recognition of his incredible accomplishments in caring for underserved populations as a young ophthalmologist.
Dr. Michael Abramoff, MD, PhD
Robert C. Watzke, MD Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Physician–Scientist, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Physician–Scientist, Iowa City VA Health Care System Founder and Executive Chairman, Digital Diagnostics
Michael Abramoff is an internationally recognized physician-scientist at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, where he serves as a professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and also teaches the application of artificial intelligence in medicine through the College of Engineering. He is the founder and Executive Chairman of Digital Diagnostics, the first company to receive FDA clearance for an autonomous AI system capable of diagnosing diabetic retinopathy in primary care settings.
Over the past two decades, his research has focused on developing AI-based tools to improve the diagnosis and management of retinal diseases and diabetic complications. His work has been continuously supported by major research funding agencies and has resulted in more than 300 peer-reviewed publications with over 42,000 citations, as well as 20 issued patents. In addition to his research and clinical work, he has mentored numerous trainees and remains committed to advancing AI-driven innovations to improve healthcare for patients beyond ophthalmology.
