New AOA president shares plans for optometry summit

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Wesley E. Pittman, OD, of Mexia, Texas, who was sworn in as president of the American Optometric Association here at the AOA Congress Saturday, shared plans for a summit by which “all the stakeholders” will assess the future of optometry. “Not since the Georgetown Summit in 1992 to 1994 has optometry looked at long-term planning for the profession,” Dr. Pittman said in his inaugural remarks.

Board members C. Thomas Crooks III, OD, of Birmingham and Kevin L. Alexander, OD, PhD, of Big Rapids, Mich., will chair a committee to plan “Optometry’s Summit – Tomorrow’s Vision.”

At a press conference on Friday, Dr. Pittman said the summit will look at the educational components of optometry to ensure that optometry students are being prepared educationally for the future. Summit participants will look at new technology, relationships with industry, economics of industry and how it affects the profession and legal and legislative issues. A master plan will be presented at the AOA Congress next year in Dallas, Dr. Pittman said.

In his presidential address, Dr. Pittman recalled the profession’s legislative battles over the past few months: the failed attack on Oklahoma’s broad scope of practice, the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s ban on optometrists’ attendance at their educational conference and the very recent failure of the amendment to SB 2400 that would have specified the procedures optometrists can and cannot perform in VA settings. “Our profession has been under attack nonstop,” he said. “While the SB 2400 amendment was not considered, let’s not be naïve about this. The AAO is desperate for a legislative victory. They will pull out all the stops. We must have a strong grass roots effort. When you’re back at home and the call is made, step forward and take action. Our patients’ welfare is above all else. I will not lose sight of that.”

Dr. Pittman also said that the three goals of his presidency include: building on membership; the “Healthy Eyes Healthy People” initiative, which aligns with the goals of Healthy People 2010; and a commitment to strengthening relationships with affiliates. After a decline over a number of years, in January the AOA showed true positive growth in membership, he said. “Our challenge for this year will be to continue to strive to meet the common needs and expectations for all our members, which will continue to expand the value of our membership,” he said.

Dr. Pittman also added that through the partnership with Johnson & Johnson, the InfantSee program “will undoubtedly be the largest and most visible AOA program that’s ever been undertaken.” At the Friday press conference he said the immediate goal was to sign up 1,000 doctors at this year’s AOA Congress.

Outgoing president Victor J. Connors, OD, of Middleton, Wis., also said at Friday’s press conference that optometry plans to pursue expansion of scope of practice. “We believe the practice of optometry is an autonomous health are profession,” he said. “When you are a health care profession there should not be a limit on where the profession is going. All aspects -- technology, health care treatments -- will continue to change. It’s a lifelong learning experience. We are applying ourselves continuously. We stand on our record of public safety.”

At the closing of the House of Delegates meeting on Saturday, former AOA President John A. McCall Jr., OD, of Crockett, Texas, installed the 2004-2005 AOA Board of Trustees: Dr. Pittman as president; Richard L. Wallingford, OD, Rockwood, Maine, as president-elect; Dr. Crooks as vice president; Dr. Alexander as secretary-treasurer; J. Wayne Buck, OD, Crossett, Ark., as a re-elected trustee; Joe E. Ellis, OD, Benton, Ky., as a re-elected trustee; Dori M. Carlson, OD, Park River, N.D., as a new trustee; Randolph E. Brooks, OD, Ledgewood, N.J., as trustee; Peter H. Kehoe, OD, Galesburg, Ill., as trustee; Carol D. Record, OD, Charlottesville, Va., as trustee; and Dr. Connors as immediate past president.