2013 Optometry's Meeting: Proud to be a Pennsylvanian!

by Marianne Boltz, O.D., F.A.A.O.

POA President-Elect

There are some moments in life that you know, even as they are happening, will be memorable…moments that you will look back upon with pride and smile! Just such a moment of relief and joy occurred on Saturday, June 29 in the San Diego Convention Center at approximately 2:00 pm when my long-time friend and former fellow POA Board colleague, Dr. Greg Caldwell, was elected to the AOA Board of Trustees.

Although Dr. Caldwell’s election to an AOA Trustee position was the most significant event for the Pennsylvania delegation, it was just one of several moments and events throughout Optometry’s Meeting that would make any optometrist “proud to be a Pennsylvanian”!

President’s Council

Dr. Bob Owens, Dr. Charles Stuckey and I represented Pennsylvania at President’s Council. This meeting is typically attended by the president, president-elect and executive director of each state affiliate, which allows the AOA to disseminate important information to us. More importantly, President's Council gives us a chance to learn about what issues other states are facing with open discussion. We heard legislative updates from several state. Jon Hymes, our AOA lobbyist from the Washington, D.C., office, spoke about ACA implementation. Dr. Stephen Montaquila, chair of the Third Party Executive Committee, also spoke about accountable care organizations and how optometrists can be prepared for future participation in them. Finally, there was a panel discussion with four industry and two AOA representatives discussing corporate compliance and the Physician Sunshine Act. The Physician Sunshine Act is a federal law that is similar to PhRMA guidelines, but is mandatory and involves healthcare compliance of federal and state fraud and abuse laws that prevent off-label promotion and kick-backs. In a nutshell, these are guidelines that associations will have to follow in order to get financial support for continuing education and meeting sponsorships.   

Optometry’s Meeting Opening General Session

As is tradition, the opening ceremony typically begins with the presentation of several AOA awards, including. Our own Dr. Tom Lewis was honored with the AOA 2013 Distinguished Service Award for his significant contributions to the profession of optometry. Dr. Lewis retired as president of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in May and was inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame in 2012. POA honored Dr. Lewis in 2012 with the H. Ward Ewalt, O.D., Meritorious Service Award.

Everyone in attendance also very much enjoyed the guest speaker, J.R. Martinez. He is the Iraq-veteran who was significantly injured during an IED attack. The positive attitude he learned from his mother gave him the perseverance to bounce back. He is best known for his role on the soap opera All My Children playing an injured soldier and being the top winner of TV show Dancing with the Stars. He is now a motivational speaker. 

The House of Delegates

From the beginning of the HOD on Thursday, we had reason to be proud of our fellow Pennsylvanians. Immediately after the pomp and circumstance of the opening flag ceremony (where each state affiliate president walks into the room waving his or her state flag to patriotic music), Rear Admiral Michael Mittelman led the pledge of allegiance. For those who may not already know, Dr. Mittelman is the new president of Salus University. Later that morning during Good & Welfare, Dr. Owens introduced a resolution in honor of POA member Dr. Irving Bennett from the American Optometric Association and Optometry Cares® – The AOA Foundation. This resolution recognized Dr. Bennett’s numerous contributions to the profession of optometry; namely establishing the Ophthalmic Council, being the first chairman of the AOA Industry Relations Committee, his instrumental work in establishing today’s Optometry Cares® - The AOA Foundation, creating the OptiFair (now known as Vision Expo) as well as having been named “Optometrist of the Year” by the AOA, receiving the “Distinguished Service Award” from the AOA, and being inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame. Dr. Bennett practiced in Beaver Falls, PA, for 62 years before retiring to Florida.

On Saturday morning, our pride continued with POA member and PCO student (and northeastern PA native) James Deom, who is the current AOSA president. Immediately after the report of President Dr. Ronald Hopping, James gave an excellent speech, one for which he received a standing ovation. Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University was also well-represented by many students in attendance.   

Presidential Reception

The culmination of Optometry’s Meeting was the Presidential Reception, which began in a San Diego Convention Center ballroom where current and incoming AOA Board members were introduced. This was immediately followed by an evening of celebration, refreshments and music under the stars on the USS Midway sponsored by Hoya. What a way to spend a Saturday night! It’s not every day you get to stroll on the top deck of one of America’s longest-serving aircraft carriers, watching the sunset and later the twinkling lights of San Diego’s skyline.  

The celebration was a fitting tribute to not only the 2013-2014 AOA Board of Trustees, but to every member of the American Optometric Association (present or not). No matter how many battles we face daily in our practices and campaigns we pursue on a state or national level, we, like the USS Midway, will persevere!

Photo: POA member and PCO student Jimmy Deom, AOSA President, addresses the AOA House of Delegates.