Women Leaders in Eye Health - WLEH

06/18/2026

Today, WLEH hosted a special Virtual Coffee Hour from the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital in Arequipa, Peru!

Bringing together nurses and eye health professionals from across Peru, the conversation explored the vital role of nursing leadership in vision care through the lenses of education, practice, and collaboration.

Participants discussed the skills that can strengthen eye care teams, from clinical expertise to leadership and mentorship, while also reflecting on some of the challenges nurses face, including limited recognition, workforce shortages, and access to professional development opportunities.

Most importantly, the session highlighted the power of women supporting women and learning from one another to build more inclusive eye health systems.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible speakers, moderator, and everyone who joined the conversation today!

06/10/2026

One of the absolute highlights for our WLEH team at was the chance to reconnect with Juania and Fatima, two of our amazing 2025 Professional Development Grant awardees!

​Seeing how much they have grown is the ultimate validation of our mission. After gaining international exposure thanks to the WLEH grant last year, they are now attending this global conference on their own means, representing their respective institutions with full confidence. We will be following their next steps very closely!

​The inspiration didn't stop there! We also caught up with Yamille, our incredible Women Circle facilitator who is doing wonders leading the Haiti circle chapter, and cheered on Stella, another brilliant Women Circle facilitator! Stella led a major roundtable on scaling up eREC frameworks and was even featured on the conference's "Every Story Counts" exhibition wall!

​From grants to circles, the WLEH community is proving that when women lead, the future of eye health shifts!

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06/05/2026

Join our virtual panel to explore the vital role of nursing in building strong, collaborative eye care teams!

​Our incredible speakers, Dr. Patricia Chirinos, Lic. Sofía Salazar, Dr. Ana Gutierrez, Dr. Myriam Céspedes, Lic. Pilar Niño, and Mg. Luz Valdivia will be broadcasting live from the Rodríguez Ballón International Airport in Arequipa, Peru. You can tune in completely online to hear their personal insights on clinical practice, education, leadership, and community work.

​This Spanish-language webinar is a dedicated digital space for nursing professionals to connect and grow.

​Thursday 18, June
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Peru Time

Learn more and register here:
https://www.wleh.org/events/virtual-coffee-hour-2026

📍 Online Event (Broadcasting from Arequipa, Peru)

06/03/2026

From ideas to impact: Introducing the Women Leaders in Eye Health Innovation Hub! 🚀👀

This powerful new initiative is designed to support women leaders in eye health to turn bold ideas into action.

Part of the Women Leaders in Eye Health - WLEH Accelerator Track for grant opportunities, the Innovation Hub provides funding and support to help women design and deliver innovative solutions — from mentorship and training to research and service delivery.

The goal is simple: strengthen leadership, advance gender equity, and drive lasting change in eye health.

Have an idea that can make a difference? 💜

🔗 Learn more at wleh.org

A big thank you to all those helping advance gender equity in eye care.

05/28/2026

Representation is a powerful driver for leadership development.

Through a WLEH Professional Development Grant, Dr. Asmaa Zidan, MD, MPH attended the Meeting and the Cornea and Eye Banking Forum in , where she presented her research and engaged with leaders in the field.

One of the most impactful moments of her experience came during our session, where connection and community reinforced the importance of supporting women in leadership spaces.

“Standing in a room full of accomplished female ophthalmologists who openly welcome, encourage, and invest in the next generation felt like discovering the support system I never had, but always needed.” - Dr Zidan

Her story reflects the ripple effect WLEH seeks to foster: empowering women leaders through mentorship and professional development to strengthen eye health systems worldwide!

Stay tuned for upcoming fellowship opportunities and check out our innovation grants here: https://www.wleh.org/grants

05/22/2026

Innovation Hub Grants. Now Open!

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Women Leaders in Eye Health Innovation Hub, part of our broader Accelerator Track for Grant opportunities!

The Innovation Hub supports bold, innovation-driven ideas led by women in eye health, designed to strengthen leadership, drive institutional change, and advance more equitable and sustainable eye health systems.

Through this initiative, selected applicants may receive seed funding and tailored support to bring innovative concepts to life, including mentorship initiatives, clinical innovations, research, and system-strengthening approaches.

We will directly contact the shortlisted and selected applicants.

Applications are open on a rolling basis through December, allowing candidates to submit at any time. However, we strongly encourage interested candidates to apply early and share this opportunity within their networks.

Learn more and apply here: https://www.wleh.org/grants

05/21/2026

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Wanjiku (Ciku) Mathenge’s well-deserved recognition in The Ophthalmologist Power List 2026, a powerful moment for leadership, representation, and excellence in global eye health. Dr. Ciku is also a valued member of our WLEH community of speakers.

At WLEH, we remain committed to uplifting women across the ophthalmic space through transformative leadership and strong global connections, ensuring women not only participate, but lead and shape the future of eye care.

Dr. Mathenge’s achievement reflects the impact of women leaders who are strengthening systems and advancing more inclusive and accessible eye care for all.

As we celebrate this milestone, we are also reminded of the importance of continuing to amplify women’s voices and accelerate progress toward gender equality in eye health leadership worldwide.

Congratulations, Dr. Mathenge, and thank you for leading the way!

Learn more:

Drivers of Change: The Ophthalmologist Power List 2026 Welcome to our celebration of the most inspirational and influential leaders in ophthalmology Power List Welcome to the Power List – our annual celebration of the world’s leading ophthalmologists!Our 2026 Power List showcases those ophthalmo...

05/18/2026

“Integrity and passion are required to make a change.”

Last year at InSight Live , former WLEH awardee Fatima Zehra connected with women leaders from across the global eye health community through a WLEH Professional Development Grant.

Reflecting on her experience, she shared:
“I think WLEH is doing a fabulous job empowering women in need of leadership development. I will pass this knowledge further.”

Her journey is a reminder of the power of connection, mentorship, and women uplifting women.

As we look ahead to InSight Live , WLEH is excited to continue engaging with our incredible community of women in eye health.

Stay tuned as more professional development opportunities are coming soon!

05/11/2026

Women make up much of the global health workforce, yet they remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making spaces.

In a recent interview with Capital Ethiopia, Dr. Tsion Terefe explores why strengthening women’s leadership is essential to building more equitable, resilient, and community-centered health systems.

As a Gender Champion at Orbis International , Tsion supports the implementation of gender-focused activities in Ethiopia, advancing efforts that help ensure women are not only represented in health systems, but empowered to shape them.

Her perspective reflects the mission of Women Leaders in Eye Health: fostering leadership, mentorship, and inclusive systems that create lasting impact in eye health and beyond.

Read the full article : https://capitalethiopia.com/2026/04/26/country-ownership-begins-with-womens-leadership/

Stay tuned for more WLEH stories and opportunities!