THEY’RE NOT THE OSCARS BUT …

They’re not the Oscars. They’re our Academy Awards, our beloved American Academy of Optometry Awards, and they have created magical moments over the years.

In this 2011 award nomination season, I want to highlight one such magical moment. In the mid-1990s, before Thom Freddo, Don Korb or Chris Johnson chaired the Awards Committee, the awards ceremony was pretty open-ended. Acceptance speeches could be a bit expansive, and we had no orchestral music to gracefully interrupt the awardees with their personal theme music.

In 1995 in New Orleans, Joseph S. Nupuf, OD, FAAO, was awarded Life Fellowship in the Academy. He was deeply honored, took the podium, and proceeded to describe the history of contact lenses in the 20th century from his up-close-and-personal vantage point. Those in attendance may remember his chronology. It was long. Those who had drunk too much coffee that morning shifted uncomfortably in their seats. The young Fellows there who couldn’t fathom the innovation of sclera lenses in the 1940s might even have yawned. A doubleback in the progress of the story from 1960 to 1945 elicited a quiet groan from the audience. Yet Dr. Nupuf’s pride and stature were evident, and as his colorful, vividly sketched life story came to its conclusion, Dr. Ben Nerenberg led a rousing standing ovation. The moment was magic and memorable.

Last week I Googled Dr. Nupuf and discovered that he passed in 2009 at the age of 97. His online obituary from Canton, Ohio described him as an “ageless” contact lens pioneer and cited his American Academy of Optometry Life Fellowship award as a significant point of pride.

Future awards programs are only as magical as the awardees who are recognized. The award nominators are the unsung heroes of the awards program. The Awards Committee owes them a huge debt of gratitude annually.

Chris Johnson, PhD, FAAO, wrote last month about the nomination process, “In the past few years, we have had outstanding candidates for the awards, and we would like to see this continue. It would be a very pleasant problem for the Awards Committee members if we have a large number of candidates with exceptional track records and accomplishments to choose from.

A couple of quick reminders: (1) If a candidate has been nominated in the past couple of years but has not been selected, they can still be re-nominated. A new set of letters of support and nomination can be generated, or the previous letters can be used. However, please let us know which option you are selecting so that we can make sure to have a complete and up-to-date package for them. A prior letter can be amended to include new accomplishments. (2) Be sure to identify the specific major accomplishments of the nominee in the opening paragraph so that the Awards Committee will be apprised of their primary contributions at the earliest time.”

Head to the Awards webpage to remind yourself about the awards and their criteria. Be our hero. Help make the magic moments for Academy 2011 Boston.
[To Top]

"TELL ME ABOUT THAT DIPLOMATE PROGRAM AGAIN”

Many of you know that the American Academy of Optometry amended its bylaws at the Business Meeting in Orlando in 2009 to allow for the creation of Special Interest Groups to help Fellows find an intellectual “home” within the larger family that is the Academy. Of course, the Academy has always housed intellectual homes in the guise of its Sections. The eight Sections are Binocular Vision, Perception, and Pediatrics; Cornea, Contact Lenses, and Refractive Technologies; Disease; Low Vision; Optometric Education; Primary Care; Public Health & Environmental Optometry; and Vision Science, and they all host Diplomate programs.

Making the decision to start down the path towards becoming a Diplomate in your favorite optometric area might seem like a big decision, and there are lots of reasons not to do it. “It’s hard.” “It’s not my cup of tea.” “What if I don’t succeed?” “I just don’t have the time.” Those are all valid reasons not to pursue many things in life. So what’s the up side? Why do crazy people—the Fellow in the practice down the street, people who lecture at meetings nationally and internationally, optometrists and vision scientists employed by the ophthalmic industry and by our academic institutions—head down the Diplomate road?

Here’s what I heard when I asked the Section and Diplomate Award Chairs that same question.

“This year the Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses, and Refractive Technologies was pleased to welcome three new Diplomates. The process is daunting, and most candidates have to work very hard to get through it. One of this year’s new Diplomates came to me after passing the Oral Examination and said that, as difficult as it was at times, it was the greatest accomplishment of their professional career. Further, they felt that the Academy was most collegial organization around."
–Doug Benoit, OD, Chair, Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses, and Refractive Technologies.

and …

“This year a candidate in the Low Vision Diplomate Program was so dedicated that, even after having just returned from her honeymoon with pneumonia and mononucleosis, she traveled 3,000 miles to San Francisco and emerged from her hotel sickbed to take (and ace) the required Ocular Disease Examination. When asked about her persistence, she admitted ‘It wasn't easy to tackle this year, but anything worth doing is rarely easy. I made a commitment to go through the Diplomate process for many reasons: professional growth, to become a better teacher for my students, and, ultimately, to provide better care for my patients. And, as my friends will tell you, when I am on a mission, there is little that can throw me off course.'”
–Roanne Flom, OD, FAAO, Diplomate Chair, Low Vision Section
So, come on. Stretch. Devote some of your time to a life experience improving your ocular disease knowledge; reflecting on your experiences as an educator; excelling in pediatrics. You will get back even more than the considerable amount you give. I think I might even look into the Public Health Diplomate program!

For more information about Section Diplomate programs, please visit the Sections’ area on the Academy website located under the “Sections” tab.
[To Top]

SPINE-TINGLERS

 

 

By now, you’ve all heard about the record-breaking Annual Meeting figures from San Francisco; 212 new Fellows, more than 5,800 registrants, 48,079 hours of continuing education credit, and rumor that it was the biggest single optometric meeting ever staged. What those numbers don’t tell you, however, is about the little spine-tingling moments that occurred throughout the meeting. Here’s what I heard and observed.

A large room was packed with scientists and clinicians (identifiable because they were laughing at Tom Norton’s oldest jokes) as they hung on Jane Gwiazda’s every word during her first public presentation of the COMET 2 results. The heroic work, completed through the auspices of the ophthalmology-optometry joint venture, the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigators Group, showed a modest (0.25 D) difference in myopia progression in low myopes with high accommodative lag and near esophoria when corrected with progressive addition lenses.

Gil Pierce from Ohio told me that his nearly best moment at the meeting was a hallway conversation with a former student. The student related how compromised she felt in her current position where she was being discouraged from engaging in public health education of her patients about their general health problems. He assured her that she was living up to her training and to the Academy’s pursuit of excellence in persisting and continuing to teach her patients about their diabetes and hypertension.

At the AOF luncheon, Don Korb praised Kelly Nichols’s recent work as the chair of the International Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Work Group for the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society. He said her work made him proud to be an optometrist, as he pledged $25,000 to the AOF to support work in dry eye. The room swelled with pride.

Joan Stelmack was disappointed that she couldn’t get into the standing room only session presented by Thom Freddo, “Understanding the Clinical Significance of Common Retinal Lesions,” but that means that many attendees were treated to Thom’s world class teaching. Better luck next year, Joan!

Steve Eyler, co-chair of the Merton C. Flom Leadership InSight Program, introduced each leadership training session with the vision, “The Academy. Leadership is taught and expected here.”

The Optometric Glaucoma Society premiered Joe Lovett’s film, “Going Blind” on November 15 to an appreciative crowd of researchers and clinicians dedicated to helping the very patients portrayed in the film.

Kovin Naidoo simply stunned the record-breaking Awards Program crowd with his description of his anti-apartheid activities in South Africa and challenged the assembly to help him and Brien Holden with the modest sacrifice of the many to help stamp out preventable blindness worldwide. At the same event, watching the impeccably well-spoken and brilliant Prentice Medal awardee, Earl Smith, tear up when he acknowledged the influence and support of the Academy was a spine-tingler of the first order.

Plan right now to attend Academy 2011 Boston (October 12-15) and every Annual Meeting thereafter. The Academy: it’s where optometry’s best spine-tingling moments happen.

[To Top]

HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACADEMY 2009 ORLANDO

I have to admit that I am still on a high after last month’s annual meeting in Orlando. There are many people to thank for its success. First of all, there are over two hundred Fellows who serve in the volunteer structure of the organization on various committees who all help develop various parts of the annual meeting program. Second, we need to thank our section leaders who developed so many intriguing and cutting-edge symposia. Third, our Executive Director, Lois Schoenbrun, and her phenomenal staff most definitely deserve our accolades. Fourth, we are so appreciative to our many corporate supporters and exhibitors, and certainly we want to thank the over 4,500 attendees that made this the third largest meeting in Academy history.

The work of everyone collectively created a highly energetic meeting with an outstanding education program. Perhaps this was a great meeting because most of us were all housed under one roof. Perhaps this was a great meeting because our Lectures and Workshops Committee and our Scientific Program Committee were able to blend the latest of scientific discoveries with traditional CE. Perhaps it was the combined OGS/AAO meeting Wednesday morning that exposed our attendees to world-renowned speakers they could only hear at an Academy meeting. Perhaps it was the stimulating Plenary Session with Mike May and Ione Fine; they captivated the audience with Mike’s philosophy of life and Ione’s explanation of what it took for Mike to learn to see after so many years of sight deprivation. Perhaps it was the prestigious Awards program, or the terrific exhibit hall, or the alumni receptions. Or perhaps, it was all of these things and much more.

If you missed this meeting, I can only tell you that you missed one of our very best. For those who were there, I hope you are looking forward to San Francisco next year as much as I am, and for those who weren’t, just take a look at the section symposia created for this year that you missed:

• Binocular Vision, Perception and Pediatric Optometry – The section held a standing room only event with the highlight being from Jonathan Holmes of Mayo Clinic who showed that patients who had IXT varied in their manifestation of their strabismus across the day in an individually-specific manner. The program provided new research data and was clinically applicable.  

• Low Vision – The section held two symposia during the meeting. The first symposium, “Visual Field Loss in Low Vision: Measurement, Clinical Implications & Interventions” began with Ronald Schuchard discussing the difficulties in measuring fields in individuals with unstable fixation and Kia Eldred informing attendees of the field loss and visual neglect found in patients with traumatic brain injury. Susan Leat and Alex Bowers described how visual field loss leads to alterations in mobility and driving performance. The symposia ended with Eli Peli speaking about his research concerning visual field expansion devices. The section also held its first evening symposium, “Nyctalopia: Finally Hope!” and it was certainly appropriate for the time slot. Low Vision Diplomate Chair John Musick explained how to clinically differentiate night vision problems commonly seen by the primary care OD from more serious conditions causing true night blindness. Diplomate Vice-Chair Roanne Flom discussed the latest in low vision technologies in the management of patients suffering from nyctalopia. Byron Lam, Director of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s Center for Hereditary Eye Disease, gave a presentation on advances in the treatment of retinal degenerations including gene therapy, retinal artificial implants, and cell based therapies (neurotrophic factors, stem cell) and nutritional supplementations.

• Optometric Education – This section presented a symposium on “The Challenging Student: Common Challenges and the Role of the Faculty” that was designed to give educators an overview of common mental health and learning disorders with an emphasis on attention deficit disorder. Myles Cooley gave a presentation on the overview of common mental health conditions and learning disabilities. Elizabeth Heiney presented on the challenges associated with ADHD and David Damari presented on the Americans with Disabilities Act and its implications for optometric education. The symposium focused on the role of the faculty and the impact on optometric education.

• Primary Care – The section symposium, “Evidence Based Medicine – Applications for Early Diagnosis and Treatment,” was presented by Diana Shechtman, W. Lee Ball, Jr., Andrew Gurwood, and Marc Myers to a full room of interested attendees.

Next year promises to be even better; so please put it on your schedule now: Academy 2010 San Francisco – November 17-20. You won’t want to miss another great meeting!
[To Top]

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Academy 2010 San Francisco is less than two weeks away. I sincerely hope you are going to be there. San Francisco is a terrific city, and Moscone Center West is a great venue for the meeting.

For the scientists that will attend the meeting, both the Scientific Program Committee, chaired by Ruth Manny, OD, PhD, FAAO, and the Research Committee, chaired by Lyndon Jones, PhD, FCOptom, FAAO, have worked tirelessly to provide a program rich in papers, posters, and symposia. Please don’t miss the AAO/ARVO Symposium: Normal and Abnormal Ocular and Visual Development, sponsored by the Vision Science Section, and the Monroe J. Hirsch Research Symposium: Ocular Genetics: From Laboratory to Clinical Practice and Back Again.

The Lectures and Workshops Committee, chaired by Tammy Than, MS, OD, FAAO, has worked diligently to provide you with a multitude of traditional CE lectures. Many of the lectures are being given by first time presenters, and there are more one-hour presentations available to give you ample opportunity to get education on a host of specialty interests. Handouts are already available on our Personal Program Planner.

You also don’t want to overlook the opportunities made available by our various section symposia:

• Management of Refractive Error in Children (Binocular Vision, Perception & Pediatric Optometry)
• Collagen Crosslinking and New Treatments for Keratoconus (Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies)
• The Lawrence G. Gray Neuro-ophthalmic Disorders (Disease)
• The Disease Section evening symposium
• Congenital Achromatopsias: Genetics, Psychophysical Testing, and Clinical Intervention (Low Vision)
• Scholarship: A Practical Guide to Enhance Faculty Success (Optometric Education)
• Primary Care Section/Ocular Nutrition Society Joint Symposium
• Vision 2020: Assessing the Past and Planning for the Future (Public Health & Environmental Optometry)

If you are a clinician, and if you haven’t taken the time to sit in on any of the scientific program offerings mentioned above, you are missing learning opportunities on new discoveries that may soon evolve into novel treatment modalities for your patients.

In addition, we are calling all private practice Fellows:
The Academy is moving forward with the formation of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and one such group needs your support and help. The “Fellows Doing Research” (FDR) SIG will be created at the upcoming Academy meeting. Barbara Caffery, OD, PhD, FAAO, is working towards identifying a group of private practitioners to perform clinical research in their practices. Fellows of the Academy represent the best in eye care and we believe that we are ideally suited to gathering data that will further the clinical understanding of common eye diseases.

Please join Fellows Doing Research (FDR) on Thursday November 18, 2010 from 3:30 to 4:30pm in the Intercontinental Ballroom B at the Intercontinental Hotel to review the organization and vision of this SIG, and to discuss some of the clinical questions that we are interested in researching. After the meeting, Fellows who are interested can sign up (we require 25 signatures) to be a part of this new innovative group.

Our ability as Fellows to improve the quality of eye care for all patients is underutilized. This group is being organized to fill a need in the eye care community. All Fellows who are interested in close observation, detailed grading and recording and the joys of doing meaningful research should join us for this discussion. We need energy, ideas and dedication. Come and bring a friend.

I’m excited about this year’s annual meeting and hope you are as well.

See you in San Francisco!
[To Top]

PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE FOR ACADEMY 2010 SAN FRANCISCO

It’s hard to believe that we are so close to the annual meeting. We were only just together in Orlando! We are about six weeks out from the meeting and registration is 25% ahead of where we were at this time last year. This comes as no surprise as San Francisco always attracts more attendees. I can’t imagine that this meeting won’t recapture the title for the Academy’s largest meeting ever just like the last time we assembled in San Francisco.

Have you had an opportunity to look at the educational offerings available this year in San Francisco? You might have a hard time deciding which of the many courses you want to take. Use the Personal Program Planner to manage your schedule at the meeting.

Remember that our meeting is Wednesday through Saturday with fantastic courses each day. Academy 2010 San Francisco is All CE, All the Time®! You can earn CE at scientific papers and poster sessions, at the Plenary, at the Awards Program, at all symposia, and of course, from traditional CE lectures.

Be sure to stay for the Saturday courses -- you will learn a lot in the amazing educational opportunities offered. One of the most popular Grand Rounds presentations occurs at Residents Day; you can earn up to seven hours of CE if you attend this all day Saturday program that is filled with terrific case presentations and posters by current residents. I always learn something new and am impressed with the depth of knowledge these young doctors have to share.

In addition, eight hours of CE lectures are available on Saturday – you’ll be finished by 4:30 pm. The day is packed with outstanding speakers including Drs. Melton & Thomas, Fingeret, Cummings, Classé, DePaolis, Gailmard, Malloy, Myers & Gurwood, Richer, Shechtman and Szczotka-Flynn. You will hear never-before presented lectures on topics including New Horizons in Glaucoma, Congenital Achromatopsias, Clinical Grand Rounds, Ocular Emergencies, Pediatric Nystagmus, Practice Management, Glaucoma Surgery Update, OCT, Contact Lens Complications, and Ocular Motor Disorders.

Enjoy the fourth day of the meeting in San Francisco with top notch lectures, then grab a bite to eat and hurry back to class at 12:30 pm – these must-hear lectures will fill up fast! Book your flight home for Sunday and stick around for CE Saturday afternoon and the Annual President’s Banquet Saturday evening to celebrate the new Fellows and Diplomates – you won’t want to miss it!

I am really looking forward to once again renewing old friendships, and establishing new ones. I hope you are, as well.

[To Top]

HONORING ACADEMY HISTORY

As many of you know, the history of the Academy intrigues me. Those of you who share this interest will be delighted to know that your board has recently taken steps to honor one of the true stalwarts of the Academy. We were all saddened this year to lose Mert Flom, OD, PhD, FAAO. He has a prominent place in the history of this organization, and his passion for the Academy was only exceeded by his passion for the study of leadership. Today’s leadership programs are the fruit of Mert’s labor. Many of today’s optometry leaders have taken Mert’s courses, and many would acknowledge that their leadership style has been influenced by what they learned from these courses.

We are proud to announce that the Academy’s leadership courses will be known from now on as the Merton C. Flom Leadership InSight Program. We are fortunate to have two very capable leaders, Linda Casser, OD, FAAO, and Steven Eyler, OD, FAAO, who continue to build upon Mert’s leadership legacy. The Leadership InSight Program remains unsurpassed by any other found in optometry. There are lessons to be learned that will serve you well in any setting where leadership needs to be part of your skill set. This may include your own practice, a job setting, or in any organization, whether professional, civic or religious. Mert would tell you that leadership can be learned, and if you haven’t taken one of these courses, now is a good opportunity to do so. I would encourage you to register now before they are filled.

I would also like to highlight another annual meeting event based on history. As a matter of fact, the program is all about history of the Academy and optometry. I am referring to a program presented by another stalwart of the profession, Irving Bennett, OHS, OD, FAAO. Do you know about the Optometric Historical Society? It is an organization that meets to discuss the early days of the profession. Join the Reminisce-IN of the Optometric Historical Society on Friday, November 19 at Academy 2010 San Francisco immediately following the Annual Awards Ceremony. The theme of the meeting this year will be “The Ups and Downs of Optometry’s Relationships with Organized Medicine and with Organized Opthalmology.” If you plan to attend, please email Dr. Irv Bennett. I assure you that you will have an enjoyable time listening to early events that formed our profession.
[To Top]