Eyecelerator @ AAO 2026

Registration and breakfast

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Welcome and Overview of Eyecelerator ​

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• Stephen D. McLeod, MD, CEO, American Academy of Ophthalmology 

• Allen C. Ho, MD, Retina Program Director

• Gil Kliman, MD, Program Director
   

​​Moderators: Gil Kliman, MD and Jim Mazzo

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Speakers: 

• Kristen Harmon Ingenito, CEO, Marketscope

• Jim Birchenough, MD, Chairman & Global Co-Head, Barclays Biopharmaceutical Investment Banking

• Garrett Hamontree, MBA, Partner & CFO, Visionary Ventures

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​Panel: 

• Laurent Attias, SVP Corporate Strategy & BDL & MA, Alcon

• Jim Birchenough, MD, Chairman & Global Co-Head, Barclays Biopharmaceutical Investment Banking

• Robert Davis, SVP & General Counsel, Glaukos

• Doug Faunce, Executive Director, AbbVie

• Garrett Hamontree, MBA, Partner & CFO, Visionary Ventures

• Kristen Harmon Ingenito, CEO, Marketscope

• Sara Siddiqi, VP, Business Development & Corporate Strategy, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals

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​Moderators: Kendall Donaldson, MD, MS and Raj Rajpal, MD

Panel: 

• David F. Chang, MD, Altos Eye Physicians

• Damien Gatinel, MD, PhD, Head of Anterior Segment & Refractive Surgery, Rothschild Foundation

• Cathleen McCabe, MD, Strategic Medical Advisor, Bausch + Lomb

• Jod Mehta, MBBS, PhD, FRCOphth, Professor, Singapore National Eye Centre

• Aziz Mottiwala, President & CEO, RxSight

​Moderators: Stephen D. McLeod, MD; Robert Avery, MD; Allen C. Ho, MD

Presentation of the Eyecelerator Innovation Award ​​​

Networking Break 
 

​Moderators: Aleksandra Rachitskaya, MD and Rachel Huckfeldt, MD, PhD

Panel: 

• Anthony P. Adamis, Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Officer, EyeBio, a Merck Company

• Frank Brodie, MD, MBA, Medical Director for Vision & PRIMA, Science

• Samuel B. Barone, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Nanoscope Therapeutics

• Daniela Ferrara, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Topcon

• Erin Kimbrel, PhD, Head of Cell & Gene Therapy, Astellas Pharma

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The Shark Tank-style competition features pitches from three early-stage ophthalmology innovators, with judges and the audience deciding who will take home cash prizes worth $45,000.

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Moderators: Vance Thompson, MD and Julie Schallhorn, MD, MS​

​​Judges: ​

• Laurent Attias, SVP, Corporate Strategy, BD&L and M&A, Alcon

• Jim Mazzo, Senior Advisor, Patient Square Capital

• Erin Powers, President, Surgical Vision, North America, Johnson & Johnson

• Andrew Stewart, President, Global Pharmaceuticals & International Consumer, Bausch + Lomb

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​​Finalists: (Stay tuned for annoucement)

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Enjoy a bite to eat with your colleagues.
 

Forty-six companies present innovative new treatments, products, and services. Four breakout rooms will operate simultaneously for each segment. 

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Anterior Segment - Room: 243-245

Glaucoma Digital -  Rooms: 338-339 

Retina Drug Delivery & New Targets - Rooms: 252-254

Retina Biologics, Diagnostics, & AI - Rooms: 255-257

Networking Break 

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​Moderators: Kuldev Singh, MD, MPH and Rachel Huckfeldt, MD, PhD

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Panel:

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• William M. Boyd, MD, Director, FDA Ophthalmology Division

• Michelle Tarver, MD, PhD, Director, Center for Devices and Radiological Health

• Ekaterini Tsilou, MD, Medical Officer & Clinical Reviewer, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research

Moderators: Robert Avery, MD; Allen C. Ho, MD

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Panel:

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• Pravin Dugel, MD, President & CEO, Ocular Therapeutix

• Tomas Navratil, Chief Development Officer, Glaukos

• Wiley Chambers, MD, Ocular Advisors

• Magda Michna, PhD, Chief Clinical, Regulatory & Medical Affairs Officer, STAAR Surgical

• Brent Saunders, CEO, Bausch + Lomb

The program committee wraps the day with the People's Choice recognition of best presenting company by segment.

Enjoy refreshments and connect!

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