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Diabetes Awareness Month
The National Optometric Association along with our partners, the National Eye Health Education Program would like to remind you that optometry plays a pivotal role in the detection, reduction of visual impairment, management and education of diabetes.
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Charlotte Welcomes
NOA President
Reception and Continuing Education
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| Mrs. Consuela Randolph, Mr. Doug Martin and
Dr. A. Philip Aitsebaomo |
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Dr. Kimberly Mark Douglas, Dr. A. Philip Aitsebaomo, Mrs. Consuela Randolph
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The Professional Eye Care Association of America (PECAA) welcomed Dr. A. Philip Aitsebaomo, NOA President to a reception, November 5, 2015, to meet North Carolina Optometrists and students. Mr. Doug Martin, Director of Membership at PECAA presented a COPE Course titled, "Improving Your Practice Using Key Performance Indicators." The course was free to attendees.
In addition to networking with NOA doctors and NOSA students, Dr. Aitsebaomo was able to attend a new frame event hosted by Dr. Kimberly Mark Douglas, former NOA Board Secretary with Executive Director of NOA, Mrs. Consuela Randolph.
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Dr. Vicki L. Hughes Appointed to Berkeley Optometry Alumni Association Board
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| Dr. Michael Harris, President BOAA;
Dr. Vicki L. Hughes, NOA Past President,
Dr. John Flanagan, Dean |
Congratulations to NOA Member and former President, Dr. Vicki L. Hughes who was appointed Board member of the Berkeley Optometry Alumni Association (BOAA). A main concern of the board is to increase the applicant pool of underrepresented students, particularly Black Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans. Dr. John Flanagan, Dean of UC Berkeley School of Optometry along with the National Optometric Association and ASCO are collaborating to hire a full time executive to help recruit, balance, and increase the diversity of students in the Schools of Optometry on a national level.
Dr. Aitsebaomo, President and Dr. Larry Jones, Region V Director of the NOA, as well as Dr. Hughes and Dr. Flanagan, plan on a future meeting to plot strategies for a realistic outcome. A culturally diverse group of Optometrists can effectively serve our multi-cultural society and reduce racial disparities in visual health care.
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Choosing My Passion
SCO Student, Jessica Ward's Journey
Deciding to become an Optometrist was not an easy task for me and one road I did not think I was going to take. My original plan was to become a Podiatrist like my father. At age 19 while in college, I was hired at an Optometry practice. My love for the profession grew stronger every day with that experience. I still applied and was accepted to Podiatry school, even though a part of me knew that my heart was not fully vested. However, I was afraid of what my family would think if I changed my career path.
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Recruitment and Discussions in Chi-town
Region II Updates
Dr. Mark Orso, NOA Region II Trustee hosted a meeting and dinner for several NOA doctors, October 10, 2015 in Chicago, IL. Topics of discussion included:
recruitment, mentoring
and shadowing of underrepresented minority students, and creating a future poster representing the "Three Silent Killers" outreach program.
Dr. Greg Russell, of Marietta, GA, gave an update on new Bausch + Lomb products. Special thanks to Bausch + Lomb, represented by Mr. Henry Hackney for sponsoring the event. A big thank you to NOA Illinois State rep, Dr. Janet Wheeler for implementing this informative meeting.
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Insightful, Inspiring and Instructional
Dr. A. Philip Aitsebaomo, NOA President, Takes the Reins!
The National Optometric Association's board meeting recently held in Memphis, Tennessee was very insightful, inspiring and instructional. A few of the Doctors attending were experiencing their first visit to Memphis. Their tour included: Beal Street, home of the blues and bar-b-que, The Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, the Elvis Presley Mansion, to even the march of the ducks at the Peabody hotel; it was an eye-opening and a memorable lesson in history.
Our new president, Dr. Aitsebaomo held a team building/bonding painting event which was well received and fun. For twenty or so doctors and staff to paint a guitar showed how each person's perspective could be so unalike yet so similar!
A rush of creativity and enthusiasm carried us into the actual meeting the next day. Key issues were addressed such as fundraising, budgetary concerns, and developing effective communication skills. A couple of presentations on different topics-punctual plugs and financial literacy were very informative.
The Southern College of Optometry hosted a cocktail party to introduce NOSA students to NOA doctors in attendance. The students had a special chance to meet the founder of the organization, Dr. C. Clayton Powell. Four Black American faculty of the college were in attendance, the most number of Black American faculty of any College of Optometry in America! Their presence was a diversity milestone and a great accomplishment.
The Board meeting in Memphis was a great way for President Aitsebaomo to start his term of office and lead the National Optometric Association into new and diverse avenues of accomplishments and stature.
by Dr. Vicki L Hughes
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| Dr. C. Clayton Powell, NOA Founder,
Dr. A. Philip Aitsebaomo and SCO Faculty |
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| Southern College of Optometry NOSA students and NOA doctors networking and mingling
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NOA Doctors and Staff at bonding event
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Honoring Our NOA Veterans
The National Optometric Association would like to honor our NOA and all Veterans.
They deserve so many thanks and appreciation. Our freedom is due to their bravery.
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HOYA Establishes New Scholarships
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L-R, Mrs. Shirley Comer, Courtney Goode and Rosalyn Comer
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Hoya became the first NOA corporate sponsor to partner with the NOA to establish a scholarship benefiting NOSA students. The Hoya Vision Care Dr. Charles Comer Community Service Scholarship awards $1000 to active NOSA members of African American decent demonstrating excellence in service to the optometric community. This scholarship was named in honor of Dr. Charles Comer, one of NOA's past presidents, meeting planner, and an OD of the year recipient.
NOA presented the 2015 scholarship to Courtney Goode, NOSA student at PCO at Salus University.
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| Leonard Messner,
OD, FAAO |
Contemporary Issues in Optometry
Keynote Speaker for Convention 2016
NOA's 48th Annual Convention, in Chicago will be the place to be! The National Optometric Association's 48th Annual Convention theme is Contemporary Issues in Optometry. We are honored to have Leonard Messner, OD FAAO as the keynote lecturer for our convention, July 5-10, 2016.
Dr. Messner is the Vice President for Patient Care Services of the Illinois College of Optometry and serves as the Executive Director of the Illinois Eye Institute. With over 102,000 annual patient visits, the Illinois Eye Institute is the largest provider of eye care in the Chicago metropolitan region and is affiliated with the University of Chicago Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Advocate Health Systems and Mount Sinai Health Systems.
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Advocating for Optometry on Capitol Hill
Dr. Bunyon Goes to Washington
Dr. Lamont Bunyon, former Treasurer of the NOA and Dr. David Cocknell, Immediate Past President of the AOA were advocates for Optometry on Capital Hill recently. Dr. Bunyon represented the National Optometric Association as Public Advocacy Chairman. The discussion included the proposed changes to Fair Contact Lens Act, the interests of 1800 Contacts, and the importance of optometric legislative advocacy. In addition, Drs. Bunyon And Cocknell met with US Senator Boozeman (fellow Optometrist too!) Great work was accomplished.
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2016 Convention 
Save The Date
Mark your calendar for NOA'S 48TH Annual Convention
The Palmer House Hotel
July 5-10, 2016, Chicago, IL
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