(PRESS RELEASE) ORLANDO, FL – Academy 2018 San Antonio, held November 7-10, was the 97th annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry. It was the largest meeting in the Academy’s history with a total of 7,948 registrants (a 3% increase over 2017), including 4,625 optometrists and vision scientists and 1,168 students. Attendees engaged in high-quality continuing education sessions, experienced new products and technologies in the exhibit hall, and learned the latest in vision research that is advancing the profession.
The Plenary Session was titled “Today’s Research, Tomorrow’s Practice: The Future of Health Care Delivery.” Drs. Ezekiel Emanuel, Gordon Guyatt, and Anthony Cavallerano covered trends affecting the future of providing patient care.
The third joint educational program of the American Academy of Optometry and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, “Imaging Structure and Function in the Eye,” took place in San Antonio, and was also presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting in October. Moderators Drs. Austin Roorda and Joel Schuman were joined by Drs. Christopher Leung, Donald Miller, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Adrian Glasser, Stacey Choi, and Jay Duker. The speakers each provided an update on the anterior segment, retinal and glaucoma applications of ocular imaging and their clinical implications. This collaboration represents a continued effort by the two Academy organizations to work together to better prepare and support their members in delivering the highest quality eye care.
A highlight of the meeting was the confirmation of 303 new Fellows – the largest class of new Fellows in the Academy’s history. Fellows of the Academy must complete a candidacy process that includes submitting written work demonstrating their skills as an optometrist or vision scientist, and sitting for an oral exam at the annual meeting of the Academy. It is estimated that 10% of practicing optometrists in the United States are Fellows of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO). Optometrists, scientists, educators, librarians, administrators and editors are eligible to become Fellows of the Academy and earn the right to use “FAAO” after their name.
In addition, an impressive record 17 individuals were awarded Diplomate status by Sections of the American Academy of Optometry. Diplomates are Fellows of the Academy who wish to demonstrate their skill in a specific area. Currently eight Sections offer Diplomate programs: Anterior Segment; Binocular Vision, Perception and Pediatric Optometry; Comprehensive Eye Care; Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies; Glaucoma; Low Vision; Optometric Education; and Public Health & Environmental Vision.
The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF), the Academy’s foundation supporting research and education, would like to thank registrants, sponsors, donors, awardees, and volunteers for making Academy 2018 San Antonio another huge success. The meeting resulted in nearly $200,000 in donations and new pledges. Approximately 200 supporters attended the Foundation’s Celebration Luncheon. Special thanks go to the seven individuals and couples who joined the Presidents Circle or moved up a level during the meeting by making pledges or donations of $10,000 or more. Because of their commitment, the AAOF Circle of Giving, which includes President’s Circle, now has more than 185 members. Additionally, the AAOF would like to thank the Alcon Foundation for their donation in the amount of $25,000, triggered by participants who shot a total of 2,020 digital baskets in the exhibit hall as part of the Hoop it Up 20/20 Challenge.
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In addition, Dr. Barbara Caffery of Toronto, Canada was inducted as President of the American Academy of Optometry on Saturday, November 10 at the Fellowship Banquet. She will serve her 2019 and 2020 term alongside the following board members: Dr. Timothy McMahon (President-Elect), Dr. Susan Cotter (Secretary-Treasurer), Dr. Joseph Shovlin (Immediate Past-President), Dr. Jenny Coyle, Dr. Andrew Mick, Dr. Carl Spear, and Dr. Jeff Walline.
2018 New Diplomates
Anterior Segment
- Anne Mika Moy, Berkeley, California
Binocular Vision, Perception and Pediatric Optometry
- Jameel Rizwana Hussaindeen, St. Thomas Mount Chennai, India
Comprehensive Eye Care
- Bisant Labib, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Stephanie A. Klemencic, Wheaton, Illinois
- Danielle L. Weiler, Tucson, Arizona
- Tina R. Porzukowiak, Auburn, New Hampshire
Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies
- Daniel G. Fuller, Germantown, Tennessee
- Melanie J. Frogozo, San Antonio, Texas
- Julie DeKinder, Saint Louis, Missouri
Low Vision
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- Hendrik Peter Derksen, Arnhem, Netherlands
- Greg R. Hopkins II, Columbus, Ohio
- Gay Tokumaru (posthumously)
- Matt S. Valdes, San Antonio, Texas
Optometric Education
- Daniel Arnett Taylor, Big Rapids, Michigan
- Raymond H. Chu, Fullerton, California
Public Health and Environmental Vision
- Ruth Hyatt, Ormond Beach, Florida
- Hector C. Santiago, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
New Fellows Class of 2018
- Batoul Fayez Abuharb, Houston, Texas
- Stephanie M. Aguilar, San Antonio, Texas
- Joseph Bryan Ahlborn, Harker Heights, Texas
- Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo, Kumasi, Ghana
- Denise D. Alexopoulos, Chicago, Illinois
- Joseph J. Allen, Maple Grove, Minnesota
- Peter M. Allen, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Muhammed S. Alluwimi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Kingsley Osemwegie Alohan, Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria
- Thomas Andrea, Salem, Massachusetts
- Reuben A. Arunasalem, San Antonio, Texas
- Bita Asghari, Needham, Massachusetts
- Bright Senyo Ashimatey, Los Angeles, California
- Siavash Assar, San Jose, California
- Javeria Azhar, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
- Vanessa Bachir, Montreal, Canada
- Adam Wesley Baird, Bowling Green, Kentucky
- Morgan A. Baker, West Bloomfield, Michigan
- Jill M. Bakota, Spring Lake, North Carolina
- Lisa Beard, Shepherdstown, West Virginia
- Matthew Nicholas Beard, Shepherdstown, West Virginia
- Jessica M. Beauregard, Sunnyvale, California
- Lindsey Behrendt, Omaha, Nebraska
- Monica Bentley, San Antonio, Texas
- Amitabha Sankar Bhakta, West Palm Beach, Florida
- Robert C. Binkley, Granger, Indiana
- Sondra Black, Toronto, Canada
- Jenna Blechman, New York, New York
- Mary Botelho, Staten Island, New York
- Daniel Brigham, Dublin, Georgia
- Cerina Buchanan, Baltimore, Maryland
- Emily Bucher, Seattle, Washington
- Laura L. Capelle, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Kelsey A. Carriere, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Nicholas A. Castellano, Ballwin, Missouri
- Steven Chang, Los Angeles, California
- Kenny Chen, Fresh Meadows, New York
- Taylor Chesnut, Johnston, Iowa
- April G. Chiu, Portland, Oregon
- Dorothy Chou, Berkeley, California
- Alexander Chow, Bellevue, Washington
- Joanna Chu, Bayside, New York
- Sharon Chua, Singapore, Singapore
- Ashley Greenawalt Chung, Santa Clara, California
- Cameron Waters Clinard, Bath, North Carolina
- W. Reid Cluff, Henderson, Nevada
- Jeffrey James Connor, Temecula, California
- Cheryl Conovaloff, San Jose, California
- Joseph S. Conrad, Howell, Michigan
- Luisa Holguin Colorado, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Andrea N. Cotler, New York, New York
- Halie Cottrill, Memphis, Tennessee
- Emily Crane, New York, New York
- Allison Cronin, San Antonio, Texas
- Nicole Sangani Cumella, New York, New York
- Brad Thomas Cunningham, Fort Eustis, Virginia
- Jeffery T. Curry, Alachua, Florida
- Avani Dave, Mississauga, Canada
- Matthew L. Decker, Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Dirck DeKeyser, Overland Park, Kansas
- Sean P. Dempsey, Saint Cloud, Minnesota
- Maria Rachel Denietolis, Bridgewater, Massachusetts
- Lisa M. Dok, Mill Creek, Washington
- Katherine D. Dronka, Sealy, Texas
- Eva Duchnowski, Bethpage, New York
- Kim S. Duong, Birmingham, Alabama
- Ikechi Caius Duru, Kingstown, St. Vincent and The Grenadines
- Amanda S. Duty, Shalimar, Florida
- David Edmunds, Chicago, Illinois
- Tybee Eleff, Flushing, New York
- Leah Ellenberg, Great Neck, New York
- Candace Marie Ellis, Naples, Florida
- Emily Eng, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Elizabeth Escobedo, Phoenix, Arizona
- Karisa Jean Etter, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Noelda Karen Fernandes, Scarborough, Canada
- Lauren Anne Feroli, Campbell Hall, New York
- Veronica M. Ferris-Metzger, Birmingham, Alabama
- Sarah Galt, Houston, Texas
- Janet Garza, Houston, Texas
- Jeremy Gerritsen, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Alex Gibberman, Loveland, Ohio
- Nina Glauch, East Lansing, Michigan
- Celia R Gong, Brisbane, California
- Jill Gottehrer, Boston, Massachusetts
- Lauren Ashley Grainger, Dacula, Georgia
- Katherine Green, Davie, Florida
- Nicholas Green, Irmo, South Carolina
- Carly J. Grondin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Kelsey Deitz Guth, Williamsburg, Virginia
- Mark S. Hakim, Oak Park, Michigan
- Meghann Hamidiani, Denver, North Carolina
- Mengli Han, Worcester, Massachusetts
- Sulman Hans, Sterling Heights, Michigan
- Brooke Morris Harkness, Portland, Oregon
- Marni M. Harris, Chicago, Illinois
- Pinar Haytac, Davie, Florida
- Genna D. Higbee, Chicago, Illinois
- Sara Hitchman, Beachwood, Ohio
- Catherine M. Hogan, Ooltewah, Tennessee
- Katherine M. Hogan, Cincinnati, Ohio
- J. Mark Hooton, Mineola, Texas
- Alexandra Horne, Gorham, New Hampshire
- Robert D. Houghteling, Kingsland, Georgia
- Lindsay B. Howse, Park City, Utah
- Sarah E. Huff, Glendale, Arizona
- Janice Hui, Markham, Canada
- Adrian Nichole Hulbert, Vacaville, California
- Sara Hyatt, San Antonio, Texas
- Alexander F. Hynes, Mississauga, Canada
- Jonathan J. Jacesko, Groton, Connecticut
- Maria C. Jen, Berkeley, California
- Stephanie Jian, Nashville, Tennessee
- Petra Jo, Columbia, South Carolina
- Jaclyn Johnson, Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Susan L. Johnson, Los Angeles, California
- Kelsey Lynn Jordan, Lebanon, New Hampshire
- Joseph Edward Kane, Jr., Waltham, Massachusetts
- Ashley Katsikos, San Francisco, California
- Mary Kelinske, Houston, Texas
- Michael William Kerekgyarto, Anacortes, Washington
- Nareh Keshishyan, Long Island City, New York
- Protiva Khan, New York, New York
- Jewearly S. Kho, University Place, Washington
- Philip Kim, Hollywood, Florida
- Alicia Elizabeth Kinch, Chicago, Illinois
- Nicole Marie Klein, Platteville, Wisconsin
- Steven R. Klein, Raeford, North Carolina
- Piana Krymskaya, Lakewood, Ohio
- Doan Trang Huynh Kwak, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Zoe Lacroix, Bath, Canada
- Julie Lafreniere, Leawood, Kansas
- Jessica Amanda Lam, Memphis, Tennessee
- Colleen McIntyre Largent, Westfield, Indiana
- Joanne Chih-Ann Lee, Ottawa, Canada
- Michelle C. Lee, Chicago, Illinois
- Rachel B. Lee, Des Plaines, Illinois
- Annie C. Lee Kim, Alhambra, California
- Laura Leis, San Francisco, California
- Suzzane Li, Tucson, Arizona
- Millie Mei Liu, Orange, California
- Kristine Loo, Elon, North Carolina
- Katelyn Lucas, Brownsburg, Indiana
- Jeanie C. Lucy, Willowbrook, Illinois
- Paul D. Luong, Saint Louis, Missouri
- Karin Rose Lypka, Davie, Florida
- Jonathan Jay Lytle, Galloway, Ohio
- Ann M. MacDonald, Millington, Tennessee
- Kelsey Etheredge Mach, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Christie Mackenzie, Hunt Valley, Maryland
- Megan Claire Mannen, Saint Helens, Oregon
- Pamela Martin, Denver, Colorado
- Simin Masoudi, Sydney, Australia
- Ancil S. Mathew, Missouri City, Texas
- Jeffrey Mattson, Spokane, Washington
- Lauren May, Rossville, Tennessee
- Esmeralda Carrillo McClean, San Diego, California
- Darah L. McDaniel-Chandler, Memphis, Tennessee
- Megan L. Meyer, Chicago, Illinois
- Calista Siobhan Ming, Manhattan Beach, California
- Kasie J. Mix, Roseville, Minnesota
- Ayda Moaven Shahidi, Mississauga, Canada
- Karen Eula Molina, Berkeley, California
- Rebecca Moran, New York, New York
- Hunter Morgan, New York, New York
- Chrisoula Morris, Columbus, Ohio
- Azinda Morrow, Brooklyn, New York
- Sarah R. Munther, Cleveland, Ohio
- Marc Musto, Rapid City, South Dakota
- Manbir Nagra, London, United Kingdom
- Sandra A. Nassar, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Christine Wing Wah Ng, San Jose, California
- Ryan T. Ngo, New York, New York
- Natalie Nguyen, Hillsborough, New Jersey
- Nathania C. Nhouyvanisvong, Bellevue, Washington
- Ashley Elizabeth Nickell, Modesto, California
- Alisa Nola, San Antonio, Texas
- Kerri Norris, Kennewick, Washington
- Clement I. Nwadozi, Mt Pleasant, Michigan
- Brett O’Connor, Jacksonville, Florida
- Jaclyn G. Oliver, Akron, Ohio
- Chibueze Elechi Onyelucheya, Basseterre, St. Kitts/Nevis
- Mark Ortiz, Columbus, Ohio
- Raelyn Anne Michelle Ottenbreit, San Antonio, Texas
- Desiree V. Owen, Riverwoods, Illinois
- Janki H. Parikh, Old Bridge, New Jersey
- Reed Breckenridge Parker, Knoxville, Tennessee
- Anisha K. Patel, Orlando, Florida
- Haina Patel, Medina, Ohio
- Harshil R. Patel, Morristown, New Jersey
- Forum Patel, Hillsborough, New Jersey
- Pratik Patel, New York, New York
- Bethany A. Peebles, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Alyssa Perlman-Hensen, Lexington, South Carolina
- Marcella E. Pipitone, Cleveland, Ohio
- Stephanie Pisano, Bexley, Ohio
- Amanda Polacco, Yonkers, New York
- Samantha Lynn Polster, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Cameron K. Postnikoff, Irondale, Alabama
- Winston Blair Posvar, Columbus, Ohio
- Clinton Roger Prestwich, Meridian, Idaho
- D’Laine Pulliam, Hurst, Texas
- Leigh Purvis, Johns Island, South Carolina
- Sloan Rajadhyksha, New York, New York
- Jennifer Ramey, Lewiston, Idaho
- Kirsti K. Ramirez, San Antonio, Texas
- Monica V. Ramirez, El Paso, Texas
- Samantha J. Rao, Cheshire, Connecticut
- Ayeswarya Ravikumar, Manvel, Texas
- Jennifer Reilly, Stoughton, Massachusetts
- Markus Ritzmann, Taegerwilen, Switzerland
- Brenna Robertson, Fairchild AFB, Washington
- Becky L. Rock, Highland, Illinois
- Kimberly L. Rock, Hilliard, Ohio
- Joshua James Rogers, Macedonia, Ohio
- Bryan Michael Rogoff, Baltimore, Maryland
- Rebecca Rojas, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Jamie Rosenberg, Jackson, New Jersey
- Tracy E. Rossi, Bethpage, New York
- Sean Patrick Rowan, Tucson, Arizona
- Grace M. Salone, Georgetown, Texas
- Vanessa Saltzgaber, Omaha, Nebraska
- Waziha Samin, Irving, Texas
- Ellen T. Sanders, Lexington, Kentucky
- May Sanguanlosit, Glendale, California
- Michael Santos, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
- Lea Sawicki, Macedonia, Ohio
- Diane N. Sayah, Montreal, Canada
- Austin L. Schipper, Rice Lake, Wisconsin
- Katherine Schmidt, Centennial, Colorado
- Rachel Alexandria Schreiber, Longmont, Colorado
- Sari Rachel Schwartz, Memphis, Tennessee
- Alexandra Scovill, San Diego, California
- Jenna Sembrat, Rockville, Maryland
- Avni Ajay Shah, San Diego, California
- Vidhi Shah, Fremont, California
- Angela Shahbazian, San Francisco, California
- Julie Shalhoub, Memphis, Tennessee
- Andrea Christine Shank, East Lansing, Michigan
- Kelli Y. Shaon, Columbia, Missouri
- Erin Sherman, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania
- Justin Sherman, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania
- Neha P. Sheth, Manhasset, New York
- Rina K. Sheth, Elgin, Illinois
- Linda Shi, Portland, Oregon
- Hannah Shinoda, Beaverton, Oregon
- Delaram Shirazian, New York, New York
- Megan K. Shirey, Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Lor Sildiryan, Toronto, Canada
- Charlene Singh, Long Beach, California
- Soney Siriphone, Brooklyn, New York
- Kelsea Vance Skidmore, Greenville, Texas
- Stephanie M. Sloan, Dubuque, Iowa
- Nancy Catherine Sorrell, Granbury, Texas
- Kevin Sorya, Hammond, Louisiana
- Lauren Soukup, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Jared W. Staats, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Andrew Steele, Louisville, Kentucky
- Jeffrey Adam Sterling, Greenville, North Carolina
- Jenae Stiles, Waynesville, Missouri
- Kassy Swanson, Rapid City, South Dakota
- Emmylou M. Swartz, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Abby Tang, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Noah Maxwell Tannen, Trenton, New Jersey
- Rachel Tanner, Greer, South Carolina
- Holly Ternus, Omaha, Nebraska
- Alicia Loren Thibodeaux, Gallup, New Mexico
- Matthew C. Tholl, APO, Armed Forces
- Sony Thomas, Des Plaines, Illinois
- Emy Katherine Thompson, Clarksville, Tennessee
- Amanda Mariah Thurmes, Saint Michael, Minnesota
- Erin S. Tomiyama, Rancho Santa Margarita, California
- Amanda M. Tompkins, Memphis, Tennessee
- Angelina Anh Tran, Houston, Texas
- Nguyen Tran, Pasadena, California
- Alan Tsai, Morganville, New Jersey
- Barbara Katarzyna Tylka, Hickory Hills, Illinois
- Pavanjeet Ubhi, Vaughan, Canada
- Amanda Umlandt, Grundy, Virginia
- Sierra Unruh, Minot, North Dakota
- Melissa Valdellon, Berkeley, California
- Jennifer Vicente, Kearny, New Jersey
- Michelle Jenn Vickers, Prince Albert, Canada
- Kristen M. Vincent, Dewey Beach, Delaware
- Kelly Voltz, San Francisco, California
- Betty Wang, Orlando, Florida
- Steven Weifenbach, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Kathryn Werner, Long Island City, New York
- Jing Zeng Wickenburg, Bellevue, Washington
- Emily Katrina Wiecek, Boston, Massachusetts
- Leah Wiedemann, Saint Louis, Missouri
- Denise Thomas Wilcox, Doylestown, Pennsylvania
- Casey John Wilgenbusch, Raeford, North Carolina
- Meagan G. Williams, Memphis, Tennessee
- Alexandra Williamson, Commerce Township, Michigan
- Kristin S. Wilson, Northfield, Minnesota
- Rebecca Wong, Toronto, Canada
- Meng-Hua Wu, San Francisco, California
- Ziwei Wu, Concord, New Hampshire
- Nayuta Yoshioka, Kensington, Australia
- Carol Yu, Hollywood, Florida
- Cathy Yuen, Rochester, New York
- Amy Zhang, Herndon, Virginia
