The GOS Hackathon
The GOS Hackathon is the capstone experience of our summit—a high-energy, collaborative "think tank" where the brightest minds in eye care and public health converge. This isn’t just a brainstorming session; it is a healthy competition designed to crowd-source real-world solutions for the most pressing inequities in global eye health.
Join us in Detroit to hack the future of global eye care. Have a prompt for consideration? Email it to gos@aao.org.
How It Works
Attendees are organized into interdisciplinary teams, intentionally pairing seasoned global ophthalmology leaders with residents, medical students.
Over the course of the summit, teams will:
● Tackle the Challenge: Each team is assigned a "Case Study" based on a real-world scenario (past challenges have included designing financial proposals for new residency programs in Africa or creating cross-subsidy fee models for rural district hospitals).
● Innovate & Collaborate: Groups meet during dedicated "Hackathon Breaks" and lunch sessions to identify a specific gap, design a tech-enabled solution, and stress-test its sustainability and ethical impact.
● The Final Pitch: On the final day of the summit, the experience culminates in a live "Pitch Competition." Each team presents their solution to a panel of expert judges and their peers.
Why Participate?
The GOS Hackathon is more than a contest; it is a mentorship vehicle and a networking powerhouse.
● For Students & Residents: It offers an unparalleled opportunity to work side-by-side with experts in the field and have your ideas heard by the international community.
● For Professionals: It is a chance to apply your clinical and logistical expertise to new environments and to share your knowledge and experiences with the next generation of leaders.
● For the Mission: The winning "pitch" represents a potential blueprint for future global health interventions.
Get Inspired
See topics and winners from previous Hackathons:
