As a volunteer mentor for Ophthalmic Women Leaders (OWL), Dr. Cynthia Matossian is an expert not only her chosen field, but about shaping its future through leadership. No stranger to appearing in ophthalmologic publications, she’s now lending her life experiences in the form of contributing writer to a new book aimed at guiding other women in the profession through the unique challenges they face.

Women in Ophthalmology: A Comprehensive Guide for Career and Life is a 390-page collection of stories and compelling anecdotes contributed by female ophthalmology professionals for their colleagues. Dr. Matossian, who founded Matossian Eye Associates in 1987, is one of those contributing authors providing a lifetime of wisdom culled from her decades of balancing work and family, growing professionally and leading her own practice with the unique challenges women face.

With 500 physicians entering ophthalmology each year—approximately half of them are women—challenges remain when it comes to landing leadership roles, consultancies, publication opportunities and other career advancements. Women in Ophthalmology illuminates the path to these opportunities by shining a light on the women who’ve blazed those trails. While the book was compiled with women ophthalmologists in mind, men and women in any field can benefit from the insights of professionals who piloted their journeys in uniquely intelligent ways.

In addition to serving as a board member for several health facilities, Dr. Matossian has been recognized for excellence throughout her career, including: America’s Top Ophthalmologists by the Consumer Research Bureau; one of 300 Premier Surgeon Innovators in Refractive Cataract Surgery by Ocular Surgery News; named a Surgeon of Excellence by American Medical Optics for being on the leading edge of cataract technology; Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs in New Jersey; US News and World Report’s Top Docs; New Jersey’s Best 50 Women in Business; Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business; and Ophthalmic World Leaders Visionary Award, among many others.

Her private practice, Matossian Eye Associates, offers a complete range of preventive and corrective eye care, detection and treatment of eye diseases, and eye surgery using the most advanced technology available. Dr. Matossian is also one of the founders and co-owners of the Surgery Center of Central New Jersey, an ambulatory surgery center affiliated with the Wills Eye Hospital Network.

Women in Ophthalmology: A Comprehensive Guide for Career and Life” is available through Springer International Publishing.