Optometry, and indeed all health professions, have entered a major period of disruption. It began with the onset of electronic health records, which doctors across all disciplines still struggle to integrate into their practices. It continues with advancing technology that collects clinical data (I am including images in my definition of clinical data) much more […]
At this year’s American Optometric Association Annual Meeting in Denver, your Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) was everywhere. The list of ASCO groups that met in Denver is impressive: the Chief Academic Officers, the Student Affairs Officers, the Board of Directors, the Interprofessional Education Committee, our corporate partners, the Government Affairs Committee, […]
It is a busy time of year for an academician. There are capstones, year-end meetings, doctoral hoodings, and commencements, in addition to the normal activities related to the end of every semester. With all that going on, it can be difficult to remember that those graduates are the manifestation of our efforts and the reason […]
It is my honor and privilege to be named President of ASCO at our Annual Meeting in Washington, DC this past June. Because we educate people to enter an independent, doctoral-level health-care profession, our member institutions often face multiple challenges. It seems too many people, including me, feel we are at very important crossroads that […]
“Integrate what you believe in every area of your life. Take your heart to work and ask the most and best of everybody else, too.” –Meryl Streep I had an interesting experience recently. Some of you may know that my hobby is quilting. I was with some friends constructing a block where lining up […]
As I sat down to write this column, it had been a bit of a month — the election, the American Academy of Optometry meeting, the football game against that team up north, the tragedy on The Ohio State campus the week before. Mary Oliver is an Ohio poet whose words often resonate with me. […]
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships” — Michael Jordan ASCO has embarked on a strategic planning process — the first in more than a decade — to define its goals and help construct its most important initiatives over the next three to five years. Two of the strategic objectives emerging from the […]
As shared in this issue, ASCO is engaged in a comprehensive strategic planning process for the first time in more than a decade. Strategic planning is always a complex and challenging endeavor, but it is an absolutely essential component for the long-term success of any organization. As we’re all aware, health care is in the […]
There is no escaping the fact that an optometric education is a challenging endeavor. To succeed, optometry students must work hard to master the knowledge and skill necessary to become a Doctor of Optometry. But beyond the very demanding curriculum, optometry students and educators are faced with another formidable challenge that never goes away: the […]
I am delighted and honored to be serving again as president of ASCO, an organization that has meant so much to me and plays such a vital role in our profession. This is a particularly exciting time for ASCO as we go through a major transition and approach the celebration of an important milestone. I […]
