Eyeworld

JUN 2012

EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

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June 2012 Marguerite continued from page 77 Dr. McDonald and attendees at OWL reception Source: Convention Photo by Jeff Orlando careers. And we are pleased to have numerous male members ('HOWLs' and 'FOWLs' are the husbands and friends of OWLs); their membership signifies that they wish to promote the careers of women in ophthal- mology." During her OWL acceptance speech, Dr. McDonald said the group "has meant a great deal to me from its very inception; talk about an idea whose time had come! Personally speaking, I have met many new friends through OWL, amazing members from whom I have gained knowledge and inspiration." Recalling the very first OWL meeting and reception, Dr. McDonald said that they were sur- prised to see the "hundreds" of women in attendance, drawn in by the concept and the panel discus- sion: a frank question-and-answer with members of OWL's executive committee and advisory board on the issues women in the field face. "It got pretty personal," Dr. McDonald recalled. "But we all agreed that even if our answers were a bit revealing, we needed to be truthful about the obstacles and hurdles we had faced and were, in some cases, still facing. It was at that meeting the 'OWLtini' was born." Since those first days almost a decade ago, OWL has been known for its Monday night gatherings at several major conferences through- out the year, including ASCRS, ESCRS, and AAO; featured speakers have addressed such varied topics as how to dress for the office based on body type, driving professional de- velopment through mentoring, or how to select wine when hosting events. "Women wear so many hats— wife, mother, teacher, coworker— that we don't get the time to hang out, schmooze, and network," Dr. McDonald said. "But spending a couple of hours at a major meeting socializing with other women in similar situations? I am continually amazed at the stories I hear about the ingenuity, drive, and focus of the women in our industry, who have balanced their home and work lives to become successful in both." Personally, Dr. McDonald said the one event that eclipsed all others was her wedding to Stephen D. Klyce, Ph.D., adjunct professor of ophthalmology, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York. "That remains the happiest day of my life, as well as all the days since," she said. The Lindstrom Family Founda- tion sponsored the Visionary Woman Award, and during Dr. McDonald's introduction, Jaci Lindstrom commended Dr. McDonald for her "trailblazing part- nerships with industry that paved the way for other women to serve in this capacity." Noting Dr. McDonald has "advocated, taught, mentored, and trained" numerous women in the early phases of their careers, Ms. Lindstrom said Dr. McDonald had achieved it all "with integrity, intelligence, respect for others, and humor." The award was created to honor "extraordinary nominees who have worked to advance women in eye care," according to OWL. "As our inaugural winner, Marguerite McDonald exemplifies what the award was created to cele- brate," said Jan Beiting, OWL presi- dent. "She has long been someone that I personally turn to for advice, and as a founding member of our first advisory board, she was instru- mental in helping OWL take flight." EW Contact information Beiting: jan@wordsmithconsulting.com Lindstrom: lindstro@rconnect.com McDonald: margueritemcdmd@aol.com

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