Residency Forum

Residency Forum

Date TBD
Boston, MA | Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center

EARLY REGISTRATION

Why Attend the Residency Forum?

Please note: Information on this page pertains to the 2026 Residency Forum and is available for reference. 2027 information will be available soon.

Calling all 2024-2025 or 2025-2026 optometry residents! The AOA invites you to take part in the third annual Residency Forum, June 19, at Optometry's Meeting in Phoenix.

Here is your opportunity to present a unique clinical case that you've been involved with during your residency, engaging with colleagues and peers in a national spotlight. Our Residency Forum provides you with national exposure to connect with fellow residents, clinicians and academics.

Submission deadline is March 20. All abstracts must be submitted electronically by the deadline. Use the link above to submit your abstract or continue scrolling for additional details about this program.

What's in it for you?

• Top 10 residency cases featured. Selected presenters will participate in a live, interactive sessions during Optometry's Meeting with 10 minutes dedicated to each case presentation.
• Complimentary meeting registration. Enjoy free access to Optometry's Meeting if you're chosen to present!

Selection Criteria & Requirements

Authors will be notified by early April via email if their case has been accepted. Acceptance will be based on the following criteria:

All abstracts must meet the following requirements:

• Primary authors must be a member of the AOA to be an Optometry’s Meeting case presenter.
• The complete abstract must be submitted online by March 20, 2026.
• A primary author may only submit one case total; any cases exceeding this amount will not be considered.
• The abstract submission must be complete; otherwise the entry will be exempt from consideration.
• The information conveyed must be of a sufficient general interest to the eye care community.
• The abstract must be clear, concise and well-written.
• The abstract must contain sufficient detail for evaluation.

Please keep in mind that your submission and case report must include the following:

1. Begin each case report with a 35-word case summary, describing the unique aspects of the case.
2. In the submissionf orm, you'll find separate text boxes for the following fields (please keep your responses concise; the full submission should be no more than two pages in length):
   1. Case History:
      • Patient demographics
      • Chief complaint
      • Ocular and medical history
      • Medications
      • Other pertinent information
   2. Pertinent Findings:
      • Clinical findings (ocular and systemic)
      • Ancillary testing
      • Laboratory or radiology studies
      • Other relevant observations
   3. Differential Diagnosis:
      • Primary/leading possibilities
      • Other potential diagnosis
   4. Diagnosis Discussion:
      • Elaborate on the condition
      • Explain unique features
      • Provide rationale
   5. Treatment/Management Discussion:
      • Discuss treatment and management
      • Explain treatment rationale
      • Describe treatment response
   6. Conclusion
      • Provide key takeaways or clinical pearls
   7. Bibliography
      • Follow Optometry and Vision Science guidelines for citing
      • Use reliable, current and primary sources, referencing landmark studies or novel literature

Additional Specifications

Authors will be given presentation creation and upload instructions upon acceptance. Examples of completed presentations will be provided at that time.

Important Dates

March 20 | Submission Deadline

April 2026 | Notification of Acceptance

June 17-20 | Optometry's Meeting

June 19 | Residency Forum

What's the Difference? Residency Forum versus Poster Session

• Residency Forum. Provides a platform exclusively for optometry residents (2024-25 and 2025-26) to present unique clinical cases they directly handled during their residency year.
• Poster Sessions. Open to clinicians, students and faculty to showcase a variety of unique clinical cases or optometric research. These sessions cover broader topics and research, not limited to residency work.

For additional information or to submit your abstract, contact omeducation@aoa.org.