World Council of Optometry announces new leaders

The World Council of Optometry announced during the WCO annual general meeting that Uduak Udom, OD, will be assuming the role of president of the organization, following Susan Cooper, OD, with a new 2-year term, according to a press release.

Scott Mundle, OD, was named president-elect, also a 2-year term.

Udom has worked as an independent practitioner in the past and has been recognized for her achievements within the field.

She has been awarded the UK Commonwealth Professional Fellowship, was appointed as the first president of Women Optometrists in Nigeria and as the first female president of the Nigerian Optometric Association and the African Council of Optometry.

Mundle practices in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is a former president of the Manitoba Association of Optometrists and the Canadian Association of Optometrists.

Udom spoke at the WCO meeting regarding the organization’s mission and her personal ambitions.

“The mission of WCO is to facilitate the enhancement and development of eye and vision care worldwide via education, humanitarian outreach and policy development. I want to state that this will be my reference point during the coming 2 years,” she said, according to the release.

“Interactions with colleagues during this congress has opened my eyes to how much we need to embark on advocacy and, because of this, my passion for advocacy training in the regions has heightened,” she continued. “This must be accomplished as soon as possible.”

Udom also said that she plans to focus on “the WCO’s collaboration plan with the World Health Organization for the next 3 years, which involves data collection, technical expertise, policy development, advocacy and supporting the development of sustainable optometric human resources through standardized optometric education.”

Mundle, as president-elect, said his main objective was to assist in the direction of WCO’s Strategic Plan through its implementation and to aid Udom in her vision for WCO.