What a year!

 As I write my final President’s editorial, House Bill 2561, the Scope of Practice bill, sits on the Governor’s desk. By the time you read this column, he will have passed it or rejected it. All indications are that he will sign and pass this Modernization of the Optometric Practice Act. Through the incredible work by our Legislative Affairs Committee (LAC), lobby staff, executive director, and keypersons, we have finally passed both the House and the Senate and reached the Governor’s desk for his signature. I would be remiss to not recognize our LAC Chair, Dr. Bob Bittel. Bob and I joined the Committee close to 20 years ago. We worked with many dedicated committee members over those years whose goal was to play offense and pass legislation to advance our profession. Unfortunately, we often found ourselves playing defense and protecting our profession from harmful legislation like the “definition of ophthalmic surgery” our opponents have repeatedly introduced. We learned a lot through those years, cultivated relationships with legislators and gained respect as an organization. With Dr. Bittel’s leadership, countless hours of strategizing, difficult compromises and a pandemic that threatened to derail our efforts, we were successful in getting through both houses with one day to spare. Now we wait for the Governor.

I’d like to thank and recognize all the other committees that make up the POA. The word “unprecedented” is getting kind of old by now but they all faced challenges they never expected. All the committees adapted to the new “normal” and continued to function albeit in a totally different manner. We are a much stronger organization as a result of this pandemic.

The POA Board of Directors had many tough decisions to make this year: providing a forgiveness of two months dues, cancelling the in-person Spring Congress and House of Delegates, approving funds to purchase a platform to provide online CE for our members, planning and then having to cancel the fall meeting at Seven Springs, and modifying our bylaws to allow for a fall House of Delegates to elect our 2021 Board of Directors and approve the 2021 budget. 

The POA staff has been incredible through all of this. Their dedication to our profession is unparalleled. They participated in countless Zoom calls, many in the evening and often on a weekend when they should have been off duty. They found new ways to support the Board and the membership. I can’t thank them enough for their support this year.

Finally, I’d like to thank all of you for the opportunity to serve as President of the POA. It’s certainly not the year I expected. It’s been challenging and frustrating. I’ve had to make decisions to issues that had no clear answers. When I began my professional career, I couldn’t prescribe an antibiotic or bill Medicare. I owned a visual field instrument but couldn’t treat glaucoma. We are now the primary providers of eyecare due to the hard work of the leaders before me. I joined the Board of Directors because I felt the need to “give back” to a profession that had given so much to me over the years. I hope I have accomplished this and challenge all of you to do the same.

God bless and stay safe,

David Evans, O.D.

POA President