Diversity Panel Discussion Features LEO, NOA, and AAOS

Diversity Panel Discussion Features LEO, NOA, and AAOS

Optometrists and optometry students must understand how diversity influences care and affects outcomes to achieve everyone's optimum vision and eye health. Patients and healthcare providers are more likely today to encounter a wide cross-cultural array of clinically relevant needs, attitudes, customs, values, beliefs, and fears that decode experiences.

A preponderance of scientific evidence supports the importance of increasing racial and ethnic diversity among healthcare professionals. This evidence demonstrates that greater diversity among health professionals is associated with improved access to care for racial and ethnic minority patients, greater patient choice and satisfaction, better patient–provider communication, and better educational experiences for all.

On September 20, 2024, a panel discussion was held at Vision Expo West in Las Vegas, NV, featuring:

• Glenda Aleman-Moheeputh, OD, Board Member, Latinos en Optometry (LEO)
• Edward Lawrence Jones, OD, H.I.S. Past President, National Optometric Association (NOA)
• Linda Shi, OD, President, Asian American Optometric Society (AAOS)

The panel was proudly supported by Johnson & Johnson and moderated by Charissa Lee, OD, Head of Professional Affairs at Johnson & Johnson.

You can view the panel discussion in its entirety here.