This
past week I had the privilege to speak about our Academy to students at
The Ohio State University and the Southern College of Optometry. While I
have had the honor of teaching optometry students throughout my
professional career, it is always special to travel to other parts of
the country and have the opportunity to speak with optometry students.
They are inquisitive, bright, articulate, excited about the profession
they have chosen and passionate about the future of our profession. I
attempted to enlighten them to the values and benefits of Academy
Fellowship to their personal and professional lives as optometrists,
clinical educators, career academics, or vision scientists.
Many students join our Academy as student members. Some schools have
developed Academy Student Chapters to promote student membership and the
values of life-long learning promoted by Academy Fellows. Increasing
numbers of student members participate at a higher level and attend our
annual meeting. During the annual meeting, student members have the
opportunity to achieve Student Fellowship by attending a broad range of
programs including lectures, Section and SIG symposia, the awards
program, and the business meeting. Yes, we even had to enlarge the room
for our business meeting to meet this enthusiasm of our future
colleagues.
While my fellow board members and I continue our
tradition of visiting each school and college of optometry every other
year, the day to day work of making students aware of the benefits of
student membership and facilitating the transition of student members to
candidate members is accomplished by our Faculty-Student Liaison
Committee under the leadership of Dr. Etty Bitton. She and her committee
members ensure that the next generation of optometrists understand the
benefits and importance of Academy Fellowship. We are most grateful for
the service of these dedicated Academy volunteers.
Dr. Etty Bitton, Committee Chair, University of Montreal
Dr. Richard Trevino, RSO
Dr. Robert Dister, UCBSO
Dr. Mayra Rullan, IAUPR
Dr. Susan Kovacich, IU
Dr. Aurora Denial, NECO
Dr. Andrew Gurwood, SALUS
Dr. Mary Flynn Roberts, ICO
Dr. Gregory Nixon, OSU
Dr. Tammy Than, UAB
Dr. Raymond Maeda, WESTERN
Dr. Jennifer Bulmann, UMSL
Dr. Lee Eunice Myung, SCCO
Dr. Latricia Pack, NSUCO
Dr. David Berntsen, UH
Dr. Kathryn Richdale, SUNY
Dr. Andrew McLeod, MCPHS
Dr. Daniel Arnett Taylor, SCO
Dr. Matthew Lampa, PUCO
Dr. Julie Rodman, NOVA
Dr. Kristine Dalton, WATERLOO
Dr. Amy Dinardo, MCO-FSU
Dr. Kaila Osmotherly, Arizona
