Anne L. Coleman

About Anne L. Coleman

The Fran and Ray Stark Foundation, Professor of Ophthalmology, David Geffen, School of Medicine at UCLA, Professor of Epidemiology, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA, Past President, American Academy of Ophthalmology, based in Los Angeles, California, USA

Why do you think it is important that we celebrate women in the field?

What a great opportunity to promote and honor women who have been fearless in their achievements and have worked hard to make changes and to improve our field! I also want to recognize all of the women who are not on the list but who have also been fearless in taking care of their patients and families, pushing themselves to be their best selves, and contributing to our profession and the community.

What can be done to make the field more diverse?

Diversity makes us stronger and wiser by bringing more voices and experiences into the field. To promote diversity, we need to make sure that individuals who do not look, think, or live like us feel welcomed, respected and empowered in the patient suites, operating rooms, lecture halls, lecterns, and board rooms.

Outside of work, what makes you happy?

Now that my daughter is no longer home and is away at medical school, I get my happiness outside of work through my morning “me-time” routine. Every morning before I get my day started, I sit in my hot tub for 10 minutes watching birds fly overhead, along with the beauty of an ever-changing sky.