Bring the future of ophthalmology into focus™.
Eyecelerator advances eye care innovation by connecting mission-driven entrepreneurs, investors, physicians, and business leaders through next-generation business conferences.
Program Partners
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, it protects sight and empowers lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for patients and the public. The Academy innovates to advance the profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care. Through its EyeSmart® articles on AAO.org, the Academy provides the public with the most trusted information about eye health. For more information, visit aao.org.
ASCRS is the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, an international educational society with nearly 8,000 ophthalmic surgeons at every career stage. Its mission is to empower anterior segment surgeons to improve the vision, outcomes and quality of life for their patients through innovative approaches to education, advocacy and philanthropy. For more information, visit ascrs.org.
Eyecelerator Board
Stephen D. McLeod, MD
Chief Executive Officer, American Academy of Ophthalmology
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Dr. McLeod leads the world’s largest ophthalmology organization, with 32,000 members and offices in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. It is the principal source of educational materials and programs for ophthalmologists as well as the profession’s voice from Washington to the World Health Organization.
Dr. McLeod is professor and chair emeritus of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of California-San Francisco and a former editor-in-chief of the Academy’s Ophthalmology journal, the most-widely read scientific publication within the medical specialty. His clinical expertise is in cornea and external disease, including cataract and refractive surgery.
Steven Speares
Executive Director, ASCRS
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Steve is an accomplished ophthalmology executive and has led ASCRS since 2018. His expansive career has been squarely focused on ophthalmology, including serving as vice president, Europe and Middle East, with Glaukos, focusing on sales, operations, market access challenges and emerging technology. He also served in a variety of positions with Alcon, including marketing ad sales, personnel development, regulatory, education and training.
Gil Kliman, MD
Managing Partner, InterWest Partners
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Dr. Kliman is the co-founder and program director of Eyecelerator. Previously, he helped to launch the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit (OIS) where he was an advisor and founding co-chairman from 2009 to 2019.
As the managing partner of InterWest Partners, a $2B Silicon Valley venture capital firm, Gil leads healthcare investment strategy and has cultivated key investments in ophthalmology, digital health, and AI/robotics. Gil pioneered InterWest’s highly successful ophthalmology franchise as an early investor in Avedro, Glaukos, LenSx, and IntraLase – category-creating companies that became standard-of-care for eye surgery around the world. He also is a proven digital health investor, and was a founding investor in both Epocrates and Doximity, industry-leading mobile apps for physicians used by over 70% of ophthalmologists.
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A former practicing ophthalmologist, Dr. Kliman completed an ophthalmology residency at Wills Eye Institute and a retina fellowship at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary as a Heed fellow. He has a BA from Harvard University, an MD from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Stanford University.