(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK, NY — The SUNY College of Optometry National Optometric Student Association (NOSA) took top honors at the National Optometric Association (NOA) Conference held in Philadelphia, PA July 11 – 14, 2024. SUNY Optometry was awarded NOSA Chapter of the Year, and three students were recognized with NOSA Executive Board Scholarships: Melinda Morvai, Taylor Greaves and Christine “Chin-Yen” Chou. Ms. Greaves was also elected as the NOSA National Vice-President.
“Becoming the NOSA Vice President means I have the opportunity to advocate for minority populations in optometry schools and in the communities in which we serve,” noted the newly elected Ms. Greaves. “During my term, I hope to increase the number of black and brown students in optometry through the Diversifying Optometry Initiative. This is a joint mission between NOSA and American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) to increase awareness of the optometric profession for high school and college students from underrepresented backgrounds.”
SUNY Optometry’s Dr. Joy Harewood, director of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging, was named NOA Optometrist of the Year. NOA was created in 1969 when 25 African American optometrists gathered in Richmond, Virginia. The meeting was called by Dr. C. Clayton Powell of Atlanta, Georgia and Dr. John L. Howlette of Richmond, Virginia. The purpose of their gathering was to establish a nationally recognized optometric organization comprised of black doctors. The mission statement of this organization is, “Advancing the Visual Health of Minority Populations,” and continues to be the largest optometric association representing minority providers in The United States.
Founded in 1979, the purpose of NOSA is to stimulate and encourage highly professional, intellectual, and social relationships with members of optometric programs as well as other health care professional student organizations. These members are students of accredited schools and colleges of optometry and serve as an extension of the NOA to deliver quality care and service to the community. There are 21 active NOSA Chapters throughout the country.
This marks the third time that the NOSA Chapter at SUNY College of Optometry has been named NOSA Chapter of the Year.
