Our Academy was founded in 1922, by insightful leaders who were not only dissatisfied with the commercial state of the profession at that time, but recognized that there was a need for a learned body to develop the science of optometry and to upgrade education. It was the extraordinary vision of the Academy forefathers who wanted to provide the profession with a scientific base. From those very beginnings, the Academy has been fortunate to be filled with talented individuals who have all been committed to the betterment of our profession and whose efforts have resulted in preservation of sight and protection of the visual welfare of the public. We are truly the only organization in optometry that has the unique ability to bring together the scientist and educators to present their outstanding discoveries, so they can be blended into the clinical care we provide our patients. It has been said by others that “knowledge is the enemy of disease,” and I am proud to be part of an organization that has provided the ammunition of knowledge in such abundant quantities to our profession. While we are all proud of our accomplishments, we cannot be content with what the Academy has done in the past. We must continue to raise the bar for the profession. Fortunately we have many wonderful individuals who share this vision as well.
It has also been stated that organizations like the Academy are generally easier to create than they are to sustain. That we have sustained didn’t happen by accident, it happened because of the skill and dedicated leadership of those volunteers, Executive Councils, and Presidents over the past 86 years. I am humbled by the realization that the future of the Academy will be influenced by the decisions that my fellow Board members and I make going forward, and that it won’t be long before our actions become a part of the Academy’s history as well. My personal challenge is to try to make the right decisions as we continue the Academy’s journey toward our new history. My promise to you is that I will do everything within my power to sustain the great tradition of this organization. I am surrounded by an extremely talented Board, passionate volunteers, and dedicated Academy staff, and I thank them and you for the support and confidence I have received.
For a complete version of this address, please see Dr. Mark Eger’s guest editorial in the November OVS issue.
