Welcome to
The Real World of Ophthalmology
Everything You Need to Succeed in Early Practice.
Created by Dr. Lisa M. Nijm
Welcome to Real World Ophthalmology, dedicated to helping young ophthalmologists succeed in early practice! RWO is where the world's foremost ophthalmology experts unite to illuminate your journey beyond training. Join us for engaging biannual virtual meetings, enlightening podcasts and captivating in-person events- all FREE and crafted by physicians who've walked your journey.
Next Virtual Event:
RWO Tell Me Your Secrets: Villains Edition!
RWO’s Signature Virtual Spring Meeting is almost here!
Saturday, April 12 | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM CT
"Tell Me Your Secrets" – Villains Edition
The villains saw how popular our Ophthalmic Superhero Faculty were in the fall, and now they’re making their move! Join us for an action-packed day of ophthalmology education with a unique twist—this time, we’re uncovering the biggest "villains" in ophthalmology — from clinical to business to professional development.
Featuring an all-star lineup of experts, including keynote speakers Dr. Jennifer Lim and Dr. David Lockington, this meeting will reveal the secrets of ophthalmic villains and arm you with the knowledge to defeat them.
Don't miss this exciting continuation of Real World Ophthalmology’s signature style of education—engaging, practical, and unforgettable.
🔥 Register now and prepare to take on the villains of ophthalmology!
Thank YOU to our 500+ incredible members who joined us at RWO After Dark!
We had a great time on the 33rd Floor of the W Hotel on Lakeshore!
Missed it? Don’t worry we have NEW Career Specific Virtual Programs available!
Sign up today so you don’t miss a thing!
Thank you for a Wonderful Year of RWO On the Road!
We concluded our year with incredible programs in Cincinnati and Lexington!
Thank you to UC Department of Ophthalmology and the Cincinnati Ophthalmology Society in Cincinnati, Ohio and
the Kentucky Eye Academy Physicians and Surgeons in Lexington, Kentucky for partnering with us!
Stay tuned to see where we go in 2025!
Want RWO to visit you? Let us know!
Did we mention it’s all FREE?!
And that’s not all! We host online events tailored to different aspects of your career needs throughout the year.
Our curated content addresses the concerns that matter to you most- from learning new clinical innovations to increasing your business acumen to enhancing your professional development— we are coming together to help you achieve earlier success in practice.
A Sincere Thank You to our keynote speakers, Dr. Mark J. Mannis and Dr. Andrew Lee for inspiring so many young ophthalmologists as our Keynote Speakers in the 7th Real World Ophthalmology Meeting, “Top Ten Things I Wish I Knew Sooner: Superhero Edition.” Access their incredible talks and all our world class speakers on the RWO Meeting Platform through December 31, 2024!
Past Keynote Speakers
RWO Hot Seat: “Ask Me Anything” with the CEO of the American Academy of Ophthalmology: Dr. Stephen McLeod
Past Keynote Speakers
RWO Fireside Chat with the Ultimate Researcher, Director of National Eye Institute: Dr. Micheal Chiang
We have all been where you are now. You can’t learn everything about the real world of ophthalmology in residency. As fellow physicians, we rely on each other to get through the real world challenges of being in practice. Real World Ophthalmology is here to help ease your way. From navigating the job hunt, mastering new technologies, understanding billing and coding, dealing with complications, avoiding burnout and more, we are here to share our knowledge on all and help make your journey easier.
I loved all the talks that reviewed core clinical ophthalmology, being able to hear from such a diverse and expert panel of speakers and moderators, and the ability to reconnect with mentors and colleagues through this virtual platform.
Attendee - Virtual Meeting, Spring 2023
The very relevant high yield topics, and the interaction with other participants and leaders. It was right mix of formality and informality to keep it engaging, and accessible. It's fun and very informative
Attendee - Virtual Meeting, Spring 2023
Real World Ophthalmology Podcast
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Subscribe to the RWO Podcast – your gateway to invaluable insights in the Real World of ophthalmology! In the first season, we hosted world-class leaders and experts in the field and talked about the most requested topics for Young Ophthalmologists! Our second season is in production and will be released soon!
Available on Apple Podcast, Castbox and Spotify.
Stay connected with us on social media!
Don’t miss out on the action! Connect with us on your favorite social media channel to experience a wealth of daily tips, pearls of wisdom, and the freshest updates from RWO!
The Real World Ophthalmology is an exciting educational resource created by Dr. Lisa M. Nijm and dedicated to helping young ophthalmologists succeed in early practice.
With curated content developed for real life questions, this bi-annual virtual meeting complemented by in person events provides young ophthalmologists with time sensitive, real world insight and pearls of wisdom to get a head start in their careers.