Sadia Karim

Associated with optometric research, a person with F.A.A.O. after their name is a fellow of the Academy. This title recognizes excellence in optometric research. The goals of the AAO are to raise the standards of optometric practice, improve vision care, and to disseminate knowledge from research in vision science.

Tyler McDowell

AOA-PAC is concerned with the political arena and the effects of politics on optometry. Optometry is a legislated profession, thus falls under state and federal rules and regulations. AOA-PAC provides an overview of the importance of involvement in the political process. AOA-PAC raises voluntary funds from ODs across the country and supports candidates who sit on key committees affecting the profession.

What is AOA-PAC and what can it do for me? This is a common question students ask. The acronym stands for the American Optometric Association - Political Action Committee. This organization plays a tremendous role in how we can and will practice optometry down the road. Like many of you already know, politics play a major part in everything that goes on at every level of optometry. That is why AOA-PAC is so important to us. It supports the candidates that support us and fights for our practicing rights. As a student member it is very important to get involved now. Topics and issues being discussed today will affect us when we graduate.

Involvement in politics is a fact of life for the optometric profession as well as each individual optometrist. Taking on volunteer responsibilities helps to ensure that the best interests of patients and optometrists are properly considered by law-makers. Because of its long-standing commitment to optometry students, AOA-PAC is a familiar organization to many students. AOA-PAC organizes optometry on a voluntary basis by pulling together its resources to assist federal candidates who understand and support the legislative goals of better vision care programs.

Becoming a member of AOA-PAC is a great way to learn what laws affect optometry and to increase the control you have over your future. You are a part of the profession, and optometric organizations like AOA-PAC are our investment in our future as well as the future of optometry and patient care.

Reena Joseph

The Vision Care Section of the APHA recognizes the role of optometry in primary and vision care. In today's society with the changing role of primary health care, the relationship with this organization has increasing importance. The objective of APHA is to exercise leadership in protecting and promoting personal and environmental health. Optometry is involved in those issues of health related to improved eye and vision care through the Vision Care Section, one of 25 sections of APHA.

Ryan Odil

The low vision committee focuses on hands on experience with low vision devices and experiencing daily activities as a low vision patient.

Ines Fernández

The OM committee helps students register for the Meeting and plans the Essilor Student Bowl Theme!

Charlie Gamboa

NBEO is an independent non-profit corporation serving the profession of optometry as a testing agency. NBEO develops, administers, scores, and reports performance on a series of examinations designed to assess candidate competence to enter the unsupervised practice of optometry. The NBEO examinations are offered to the state boards to use at their discretion and as an alternative to undertaking the same tasks at the state level. The NBEO has a very focused mission, and is constantly researching better methods of assessment.

Christina Benevides

The CLCS serves as an informational and educational resource to members of the AOA, the public, and the media on contact lens and cornea care. The CLCS provides service to AOA members relative to new procedures, products and services in the field, and also provides ongoing liaison with government, manufacturers, organizations, and associations in the contact lens and cornea fieldt.