Once Again, ASCO Meetings Go Virtual

Once Again, ASCO Meetings Go Virtual

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, ASCO held its fall meetings virtually. Originally scheduled for early October adjacent to the American Academy of Optometry’s meeting in Nashville, all ASCO board of directors meetings, as well as ancillary meetings, were held remotely.

Some highlights from these meetings were:

• The ASCO/NOA/AAO Joint Symposium on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion set an all-time record for attendance at any optometric program in the history of the American Academy of Optometry, virtually hosting 2,757 attendees. The event was generously sponsored by VSP Global.
  
  
• Dr. Sherrol Reynolds, President of the National Optometric Association, was a guest of ASCO’s board of directors and the NOA and ASCO are aligned that the issue of diversity, equity and inclusion must remain a priority in optometry and optometric education. The two groups will continue looking at ways to improve diversity within optometry as well as look to other groups to partner with on this very important topic.
  
  
• An update from the Applicant Development Task Force specifically on Optometry Gives Me Life first year results, as well as the toolkit and webinar to encourage OD practitioners to promote the profession to their communities.
  
  
• Corporate Contributor presentations from Johnson & Johnson and Walmart
  
  
• Approve committee, task force and special interest groups liaison appointments
  
  
• Committee reports from
  • The Audit Committee presented a clean audit, showing better than expected financial results for FY20, which ended on June 30.
  • Board of directors and the Student Affairs Committee approved the document, Best Practice Guidelines for Faculty/Health Professions Advisors Mentoring and Advising Pre-Optometry Students.
  • The Diversity & Cultural Competency Committee discussed ways on how to build on the success from the joint Symposium
  • The Government Affairs Committee discussed ways to respond to the increasing number of requests from state associations for information about the scope of optometric practice taught in schools and colleges.

• Mr. Jim Jorkasky, Executive Director of NAVER/AVER updated the board on the latest efforts to advocate for increased eye and vision research funding on Capitol Hill
  
  
• Joint meetings with the leadership of NBEO, ACOEO, AOA, ARBO and AAO

A separate “Town Hall” was held with ASCO and Corporate Contributors as a way for ASCO to formally thank all the sponsors for their ongoing and generous support now more than ever, as well as update them on ASCO’s Optometry Gives Me Life campaign and other initiatives. ASCO is grateful to Alcon, who announced its latest contribution to the OGML campaign now totals $100,000. Thank you Alcon!

The Town Hall was also an opportunity for the industry leaders to ask questions of the ASCO board on topics related to the needs of the schools, future plans regarding clinics/labs/and didactic learning, and any challenges they may be facing unrelated to the pandemic.

Discussions regarding the ongoing pandemic and how it affects ASCO’s schools and colleges are ongoing. Check upcoming articles in Eye on Education for the very latest news.