The Optometry’s Meeting conference is set for June 24-26 in Denver.
The American Optometric Association’s board of trustees voted to relocate the event from Anaheim, CA, due to “the evolving public health situation and individual states’ reopening guidance,” according to an announcement from the organization. The dates have not changed.
Optometry’s Meeting will be held at the Colorado Convention Center.
“It’s finally time that we come together, convening our optometry community and leaders for Optometry’s Meeting 2021 to celebrate the incredible resilience and compassion demonstrated by our members, as well as look forward and plan for an even brighter future,” says William T. Reynolds, OD, AOA president. “Let me be the first to assure you that the AOA is taking the appropriate steps to ensure we can do this with the utmost health and safety in mind.”
The event’s registration and housing portals will become available in early April, according to the announcement. Click here to pre-register.
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More from the announcement:
Overcoming
As Optometry’s Meeting eagerly welcomes back friends and colleagues to help chart the profession’s future, the AOA and AOSA recognize that COVID-19 is still a perpetual reality and we must all do our part to ensure health and safety. Mindful of the latest recommendations and guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Optometry’s Meeting will employ extra health and safety precautions in addition to abiding by all public health requirements mandated by state and local authorities.
In addition to facility cleaning protocols that exceed state and local requirements, Optometry’s Meeting will adhere to recommendations on face coverings, social distancing and a hands-free approach where possible. As proper hand hygiene remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of pathogens and infections, hand sanitizing stations will be positioned throughout the event space and self-scanning of badges will be possible via free-standing detectors.
Safety remains the utmost priority at Optometry’s Meeting, and the AOA and AOSA will ensure the appropriate steps are taken to allow the profession to safely gather once again.
Advancing
Optometry’s Meeting truly distinguishes itself from other industry or trade conferences as the place where optometry’s leaders convene to advance the profession forward—be it the AOA’s House of Delegates and the emphasis on professional advocacy, or the progressive, industry-leading CE and professional development that serves to prepare doctors, staff and students for full-scope, contemporary practice. This year’s meeting is no less esteemed.
Incorporating the AOA volunteers’ annual work meeting, known as Leaders Summit, into the conference schedule is a first for Optometry’s Meeting, but it reinforces the valuable input and direction that members provide in orienting the AOA to best support the profession. This alignment of leading volunteers and subject matter experts, concurrent to AOA’s House of Delegates, ensures a meeting-of-the-minds atmosphere where optometry—and what it takes to move the profession forward—remains foremost.
Reinforcing that aim is the high-quality and intentional CE and professional development selection at Optometry’s Meeting. Consider a range of doctor, paraoptometric or integrated educational opportunities for 2021 that span myopia management or systemic diseases to more advanced surgical procedures courses that prepare practices for the scope of tomorrow. Likewise, choose from more topical discussions, including COVID-19 and ocular implications, optometry’s role in population health, or diversity and inclusion in optometry. While attendees can expect the same exceptional level of education at Optometry’s Meeting 2021, new this year is how attendees may choose to engage it.
To offer a worry-free experience, a hybrid version of select education and professional development courses will be available for those seeking to attend Optometry’s Meeting virtually. Offered both in-person and via live broadcast, hybrid education grants the flexibility to tune in and learn from the comfort of your home or practice. Such is the case, this combination of in-person and virtual learning continues to drive modernization of the AOA’s year-round educational opportunities.
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