AOA, ASCO, ARBO, NBEO form communications committee

Four optometric organizations announced Friday that a recently formed communications committee met to facilitate an understanding of common issues and strategize on possible solutions.

According to a press release from the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), the Inter-Organizational Communications and Cooperation Committee was formed by the American Optometric Association (AOA), Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO), ASCO and National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) last summer to exchange ideas, enhance relationships and better service the optometry community. Three members from each organization serve on the IOCCC.

“These gatherings are more for understanding and dialog on vital optometry issues of the day, not the typical agenda packed with action items,” the release stated. “The desire is to come to a common understanding of issues seen through the different stakeholders’ lens and possible strategies to find synergistic solutions.”

The press release outlined issues the group discussed: multi-organizational board membership; financial, strategic and organizational structures and alliances; maintenance of licensure; accreditation of continuing education; and board certification and maintenance of certification.

“While this was the IOCCCs’ first face-to-face meeting on issues that warrant considerable additional dialog, it was the unanimous consensus that this was a very productive first step to help facilitate the organizations’ goals to better serve their representative stakeholders,” the release said.

The group plans to meet again this summer, following the annual meetings for ARBO, ASCO and AOA.