Where eye care leaders go to grow: OWL's annual summit lands in Nashville July 30–31, 2026

What does it take to lead in eye care—and what will it take tomorrow? That question sits at the center of the Ophthalmic World Leaders (OWL) fifth annual Leadership Summit, set for July 30–31, 2026, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The 2-day program, themed “Leading Forward: Stories, Skills & the Future of Eyecare,” is designed for established and emerging leaders who want to build networks, sharpen skills, explore the future of eye care, and create lasting impact, according to OWL.

Program built around leadership development

The leadership summit opens Thursday afternoon with a welcome lunch and networking at 12:30 pm, followed by opening remarks and icebreakers at 2 pm. The program’s first keynote address will be delivered by John Sheppard, MD, MMSc, FACS, of Virginia Eye Consultants at 2:30 pm, with time allotted for Q&A. A panel discussion on leadership pathways—examining how leaders reached their current positions, what skills were required, and how leaders can prepare for anticipated future changes—follows at 3 pm.

At 4:15 pm on Day One, a session titled “The AI Advantage for Leaders: Practical Tools You Can Use Tomorrow” will offer a hands-on introduction to artificial intelligence for leaders rather than technologists. The session is described on OWL’s program page as experiential: Attendees will watch, understand, and apply AI tools. The first day concludes with a facilitated reflection and accountability partner introduction at 5:15 pm., a structured networking reception at 6:15 pm, and a hosted dinner at 7 pm.

Day Two begins Friday at 7 am with breakfast and intentional networking, followed by a recap session and a morning activity at 7:55 am titled “Leaders Need Also to Follow.” At 8:30 am, participants will select one of two 90-minute breakout sessions: a Presentation & Speaking Skills Workshop, focused on message organization, audience engagement, and delivery; or “Expanding Your Career Path: Position Your Skills for New Opportunities,” which addresses personal branding, experience translation, and career pivots, including clinicians seeking industry opportunities.

Following a mid-morning break, a 10:30 am session titled “Leading Up, Down, and Across” will address influence across organizational levels: leading up to senior leadership, leading down to develop and empower teams, and leading across with peers. At 11:15 am, a session on “Inclusion & Belonging: How Leaders Create Teams Where People Stay” will examine how everyday leadership behaviors shape inclusion and retention. The program closes at 11:50 am with group commitments and shared next steps, followed by a networking lunch at 12:15 pm.

The leadership summit concludes at 1 pm Friday with the Pat Morris Impact Session, a community-focused activity in which participants will pack Light and Vision STEAM kits for donation to Nashville-area school students. Departures are scheduled from 2:30 pm.

Faculty drawn from across the eye care ecosystem

Faculty for the 2026 leadership summit includes Renee Bovelle, MD, MS (EnVision Eye & Laser); Ryan Brown; Kristen Ingenito (Market Scope); J. Mori Johnson (Beacon Whitaker); DeAnna Kovach (Genentech); Rachel Krug (Eyes on Eyecare); Carla Mack, OD (Alcon); Erin Maltbie (ADK Advisors & Consulting); Cynthia Matossian, MD (Matossian Eye Associates); Drew Parks; John Sheppard, MD, MMSc, FACS (Virginia Eye Consultants); Pierre Simon (Glaucoma Associates of Texas); Christian Taylor (Sight Sciences); Rolando Toyos, MD (Toyos Clinic); and Jake Vander Zanden (McDermott + Bull).

An optional OWL Leadership Book Club is also available, offering a smaller-group discussion prior to the main meeting. Sessions will be led by Andrea Lee of Bausch + Lomb and Zaiba Malik, MD, of Medpace & EyeMD. Participants may indicate interest during the registration process.

The event is supported by platinum sponsor Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, and silver sponsor ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. OWL partner organizations include AbbVie, Alcon, Amgen, Johnson & Johnson, STAAR Surgical, and Zeiss. OWL notes on its event page that it accepts financial support from industry partners but creates promotional content independently, without input or development from those partners.

Venue, rates, and registration

Registration fees are $499 for OWL members, $650 for non-members, and $249 for sponsor guests with a code. All fees include meals during the leadership summit. A limited number of OWL grants are available for individuals without company financial support who may find registration fees or travel costs a barrier to attending; applications are accepted through the OWL website.

The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center is located at 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tennessee, approximately 15 minutes from downtown Nashville and convenient to Nashville International Airport. Group room rates begin at $259 per night plus applicable taxes and fees, and apply for the nights of July 29–31. Accommodations may be booked through a dedicated OWL group link.

For registration, grant applications, hotel reservations, and additional program details, visit https://owlsite.org/leadership-summit or contact Jennifer Muller at [email protected] or (631) 626-4151.