Women Ophthalmologists Worldwide grew from an idea shared by a small group of international women ophthalmologists in 2018. In October 2019 these women met with colleagues from around the world at a breakfast meeting during the Women Ophthalmologists Society of India’s meeting in Bangalore, and the vision of the network that was to become WOW was born. Since some countries already had their own established women’s ophthalmology networks whereas this was a new idea to others, they proposed the concept of an umbrella organisation that brings together sister organisations but also welcomes women ophthalmologists from any country. The founder ophthalmologists at that initial breakfast included:
- Dr Mohita Sharma, India
- Dr Femida Kherani, Canada
- Dr Swati Tomar, India
- Dr Ava Hossain, Bangladesh
- Dr Nuzhat Choudhary, Bangladesh
- Dr Erin Moore Shriver, USA
- Dr Indira Paudyal, Nepal
- Dr Maya Hada, India
- Dr Sara Tulis Wester, USA
- Dr Eli Pradhan Ranjitkar, Nepal
- Dr Aarti Nangia, India
Thereafter in July 2020 the network was formally launched and the executive committee was formed . The committee then worked on aims and objectives, mission statement and activities.
