ASCO Board of Directors Convened in Orlando for Fall Meeting

ASCO’s public awareness campaign, Optometry Gives Me Life, continues to be in the forefront of the Board’s agenda. Funding the campaign for the schools and colleges of optometry through a special dues assessment, as well as receiving and seeking financial support by corporate contributors, will continue. Since the launch of the campaign in March, the metrics are very strong. The halfway point of the 2019-2020 application cycle is approaching, and the trend is slightly higher than this time last year. Per OptomCAS, as of October 31, there are 1,157 verified applicants who have submitted 5,323 applications – 4.6 applications per applicant.

Other Board actions of note are:

• Approval of two associate editors for ASCO’s journal, Optometric Education, Drs. Jamie Althoff (NOVA) and Keisha Elder (UABSO)
• Update and recommendations of next steps from our Futures Summit -- Opening Our Eyes: The Future of Optometric Education
• Discussion about ASCO’s role in supporting state associations’ efforts to expand scope of practice
• Motions passed to recommend ACOE develop and recognize “advance competencies” with regards to residency titles and matching as part of the ASCO-AAO sub-specialization initiative
• Roundups from the recent ASCO Summer Institute for Faculty Development and Future Faculty Program
• Updates from ASCO Committees and Special Interest Groups
• Approval of the fiscal year 2019 audit and the selection of an investment advisor

ASCO regularly collaborates to many other organizations, and some of these organizations shared their latest news with the ASCO Board. Representatives from NBEO (Drs. Jill Bryant and Brianne Hobbs) discussed the progress of the Part III exam revision, allowing for feedback from ASCO. NAEVR/AEVR’s executive director, James Jorkasky, showcased their new website and shared updates from Capitol Hill and NIH/NEI around funding for eye and vision science research.

The Board welcomed Dr. Efrain Castellanos, president of the Latin American Association of Optics and Optometry (ALDOO), who addressed recent ALDOO activities. Mr. Peter Scott, the new executive director of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), gave his first official presentation to the ASCO Board and offered updates on the AAO’s strategic plan and how AAO and ASCO could partner in the future. Lastly, Mr. Vernon Dela Cruz from VSP Global shared updates from VSP Global, and the ASCO Board expressed its gratitude to them for their support in the Optometry Gives Me Life campaign.

The Board of Directors will next meet in March in Atlanta. Stay tuned for more information in upcoming issues of Eye on Education.