The AOS, and some AOA State Affiliates who share the same concerns as the AOS, have been busy preparing resolutions to be heard at the AOA Congress in Salt Lake City in a few days. At the AOA Congress there will be open business meetings where discussion, debate, and voting by all the delegates present from all the states determine the future direction of the AOA. In large part, this occurs through the resolution process. Attached is the advance copy of all of the resolutions to be heard.
There are several resolutions being presented which we at the AOS, and many other concerned optometrists, feel in particular deserve your serious consideration and input:
RESOLUTION F: MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE VOTING. Many feel the AOA no longer represents the majority view of practicing optometrists. This resolution attempts to begin to address this concern. AOS SUPPORTS THIS RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION G: WITHDRAWAL OF SUPPORT FOR THE ABO. The AOA has a long-standing policy of NOT endorsing or supporting outside entities and commercial interests like the ABO. The AOA needs to respect its own prior resolutions and to listen to the majority of optometrists who are NOT in favor of board certification of optometrists or the ABO program. AOS STRONGLY SUPPORTS THIS RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION K: WORK FORCE STUDY. Many, if not most, optometrists feel that the profession is over-crowded and the proliferation of new schools of optometry is bad for the profession. This resolution asks the AOA to study manpower needs in optometry. AOS SUPPORTS THIS RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION B: OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM. The expansion of scope of practice is allowing optometrists to do more and more. The four year program of clinical and didactic training is necessary to properly prepare today's students. Some are proposing a 3-year optometric program. This resolution opposes that idea. AOS SUPPORTS THIS RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION E: NBEO CLINICAL SKILLS EXAM TESTING SITE. A single testing site located on the East coast puts an undue burden on students that must travel a great distance especially from the West coast. A second testing center in the West just makes sense. AOS SUPPORTS THIS RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION I: ELIGIBILITY FOR ACTIVE CANDIDATE STATUS FOR BOARD CERTIFICATION. An optometrist's experience does not diminish over time, it only grows. The sun-setting (expiration) of points for past experience and for completing a residency is an attempt to front load the acceptance of ABO Board Certification and force people into the ABO before there is any apparent need. As a voluntary program, an optometrist's timeline for participation in ABO Board Certification should be at his or her discretion and not coerced by a penalty for waiting to participate. AOS STRONGLY SUPPORTS THIS RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION M: Amendments to the Initial Requirements for Certification by the American Board of Optometry. This resolution instructs the AOA representatives to the ABO Board to seek changes for initial certification basically removing the ABO certification examination. AOS SUPPORTS THIS RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION L: Maintenance of Licensure: This resolution by the AOA Trustees, while appearing to (reasonably) oppose attempts to add new MOC-like requirements to license renewal such as periodic retesting, is actually designed to be statement of support for the ABO's MOC ("lifelong learning") process and a recommendation that all optometrists participate in it. AOS OPPOSES THIS RESOLUTION.
Optometry has never been so divided and faced so many challenges. Your state association's officers and delegates will collectively determine which resolutions to support and which to oppose, and will vote on the resolutions at the AOA HOD. We ask you, this week, to email or contact every one of your state leaders and delegates and express your support for Resolutions F, G, K, B, E, I, and M as well as your opposition to Resolution L. Ask that they support these attempts to help our profession move forward together and end the divisiveness. Regardless of what the leadership thinks or where the leadership stands in your state, they need to know your views on Resolutions F, G, K, B, E, I, M and L. Specifically, be sure to contact those who will be there to vote, the President, and President Elect. This must be done before June 12th. Remember to specify the resolutions as F, G, K, B, E, I, M,and L.
Many of you are not AOA members. It does not matter. Contact the state association leadership in your state anyway. Fortunately or unfortunately, the decisions of the AOA will have an impact on your practices and those of all optometrists. Your views need to be heard. If you have any questions, please drop any of us a line. With your help and support the AOS can make a difference in changing the way things are done for the benefit of all OD’s.
To find the state association leaders in your state go to www.aoa.org/x4892.xml, click on AOA & affiliates near the top left, then click on your state and your state association website will come up. Then find and click on "About [letter abbreviation of your state association, example COA]." A drop down box will appear. Click on Leadership and the state leaders names and often contact information will come up. If not, search the website for the leadership info or call the state association office to express your views or get the contact info.
For question or comments please contact the AOS at info@optometricsociety.org.
| File | Description | File size | Last modified |
|---|---|---|---|
 Proposed Resolutions_AOA 114th Congress.pdf | 244 Kb | 06/08/11 12:21 |
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