An optometrist in Louisiana since 1977, Dr.Miller payed his dues as an AOA member fighting for therapeutics privileges alongside other Louisiana optometrists. That's why, when he first became aware of the AOA's new push for board certification, he was a little surprised.
I'm what many younger O.D.s might consider a dinosaur. Deciding in high school that I would pursue optometry instead of music, I attended Southeastern Louisiana University and took all the optometry prerequisites that S.C.O. in Memphis (the only school I applied to) required. After completing my courses in 5 semesters, I applied one year, was accepted and graduated in 1977. I didn't take the N.B.E.O. exam, because LA didn't require it and had their own exam and practicals. (Yep! No 4 years of college, no N.B.E.O......a real dinosaur!) I worked part-time right after graduation in a group practice while setting up and establishing the dream of my own private practice. I also worked in other part-time venues.....a department store optical, a Texas State Optical commercial practice, and did fill-in work for other O.D.s....all the while trying to build my hometown practice. Like many other O.D.s embarking upon this course, it was (and is) a struggle.
Louisiana had only just received legislative authority for optometric use of DPAs (diagnostics) right before I graduated S.C.O. in 1977 and was "gearing up" for therapeutics. In my early years, I was a member of the AOA and state association and was active in our legislative efforts. Both an Louisiana senator and Louisiana legislator were in my high school graduating class, and I worked on them pretty heavily during our fight in Baton Rouge. But I quickly became disillusioned with the political games and the "good-ole boy" and "excuse to get out of the house" society meetings. When we finally were "legislated" the right to use therapeutics, I spent several weekends out of the practice and my life to attend the newly required (most of which had already been learned at school) courses and tests to become TPA certified. And I have continued every year to take the extra continuing education hours required to maintain that certification and practice full-scope optometry. Think about the late 1970s.......soft contact lenses were just being marketed.......none of the 1st line glaucoma meds we routinely prescribe now were even available. NSAIDS? Punctal plugs? IOLs? Refractive surgery? So MANY things weren't available or weren't learned in school, yet the majority of optometrists....including myself.....keep up with advances and learning......through C.E., "wet" labs, etc., etc. Never content being a "refractionist" only O.D., I continued to push myself to stay ahead of the game.
In the early 2000s, I was hired (part-time) by Stephen Brint, M.D., the first surgeon in the U.S. to perform LASIK surgery. I saw pre-op and post-op LASIK surgery patients, and was lucky enough to be involved in cutting-edge research with the new lasers, tracking software, custom ablations, conductive keratoplasty, etc, etc., etc. I've probably seen more refractive surgery patients than most any other O.D. in LA.
That's why, when I first became aware of the AOA's new push for board certification, I was a little surprised. Surely, the optometric profession had sent a clear message in 1999 that this was a foolish and needless pursuit. I contacted our state association and expressed my concern. After all, I thought, I'd been there when asked to help in our state's optometric efforts. They had called on ME whenever a politician needed donations, letters needed to be written, etc., etc., etc. Surely, the state and national association......which claims to represent ALL optometrists......would take my concerns seriously. The response I received from our state executive director was totally and unnecessarily rude, sarcastic and dismissive. I was infuriated. It was around that time I heard on ODWire.org about The Association of Concerned Optometrists (later to be called the American Optometric Society). I joined immediately! As a founding member, I have been vocal and active in the state in spreading information about what is happening and why. I know how easy it is to become so involved in your own life and [deleted] practice as to be unaware of the things happening in optometry - and how EASY it is for apathy to set in. I volunteered to become the liaison in LA, and as a result of my efforts, I was honored to be asked to join the membership committee. I attended the inaugural meeting and seminar in San Diego and the latest meeting in Tampa and have enjoyed the wonderful, passionate men and women from across the country who are the AOS.
Even though I have a small practice, with just two full-time employees, I'm as busy as I want to be. Optometry has afforded me the opportunity and means to pursue my many other interests. I'm still an avid musician. I have played several different musical instruments......sax, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, guitar, harmonica and keyboards.....but my passion for many years has been singing in and arranging music for barbershop quartets. We've performed throughout the south and placed 2nd in a division contest in one of the toughest districts in the Barbershop Harmony Society. I was in the "headliner" quartet in a Mobile, AL Chapter show. I'm now in a Senior Division Contest Champion Quartet and have sung for Saint's games (WHO DAT?!??!?), a Sugar Bowl, and have made numerous appearances singing the National Anthem at New Orleans Hornet's, New Orleans Zephyr's and Tulane baseball and basketball games. We recently showed up at a book signing for Hoda Kotb and presented her with roses and sang to her. The short video-clip was shown on the "Today Show". When I first graduated from optometry school, and wanted to become active in the community, I auditioned for (and landed) a part in "The Sound of Music." That same season, I auditioned for "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown," and was fortunate enough to be cast in the title role. I won a "Genie Award" (Slidell Little Theater's "Oscar" equivalent) for my portrayal of Charlie Brown.....but.....more importantly.......that's where and when I met my wonderful wife, Tammy, who is now my office manager). I appeared in numerous musicals as a performer and also was an assistant director and director for many more. My wife and I scuba-dive, but she drew the line at skydiving! I have hundreds and hundreds of jumps and even done a few demo jumps at beaches and air shows. I've flown sailplanes and ultra-lights, but am now more "grounded" building and flying radio-control airplanes. I enjoy growing habanero, cayenne, jalapeno and tobasco peppers in my garden and make, bottle and sell my own hot sauces and wing sauces. I love to make home-brewed beer and have also been making home-made wine. My wife and I live alone with our three cats, while our one son, aged 27, lives 40 minutes away and works as a police officer. When we're not exhausted from long days at the office, we enjoy our boat and fishing and riding my motorcycle. Not too bad a life for a "dinosaur", but..........
In 2005, disaster struck my little world in the form of Hurricane Katrina. Practicing just a few miles from Lake Pontchartrain, she deposited 2 1/2 feet of water and the most vile, disgusting, slippery mud imaginable in my office. She saw fit to drop 3 pine trees through the roof of our rental property, so I lost rental income for the 6 months or so that it took to rebuild our property. My wife (who, at the time worked for a cruise-only travel agency in New Orleans) was out of work for 6 months. My office was destroyed and I was out of work for 6 months. I spent almost 24/7 rebuilding the office myself, because reputable contractors were hard to find. Six months later, going through most of our savings, and one home-equity loan and two S.B.A. loans later, my dreams of an early retirement are all but vanished. We're still struggling under the added debt, but I refuse to give up. We plug along, doing the best we can and providing the best care we can. After all, the dinosaurs hung on till the end, right?
AOS Featured Optometrist: Please Meet an AOS Member and Louisiana Liaison, Dr. David Miller
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One cannot but admire Dr. Miller for his professional efforts as well as his no-professional skills.
When I was President of our National Optometric Association each province had its own regulatory board which decided on any addition to OD's scope of practice.
But to-day with some states (Oklahoma for example) allowing optometrists to use a scalpel and many states allowing optometrists to administer oral medication it is possible that the medical profession is concerned that future procedures may be performed without adequate training. Pennsylvania is a present example.
I would make no opinion until I read what the AOA and FAAO has to say. I believe their decisions will be wise and fruitful.
As for Dr. Miller's unfortunate hurricane disaster I can't understand why he would have been out of work for six months. When my office burned down I was refracting three days later in a new location. My insurance paid for my losses in total.
I will give a little help on this one. Three days after Katrina there was now power, no gas, and no ATM,s working. Three weeks later that was still true in many areas. It was not possible to send checks to effected people because they could not get to a post office (in many cases they did not have a home, mailbox, or phone). Insurance adjusters were living in cars and tents after 1 month-for how long after that I don't know. When the infrastructure takes that extensive of a hit it is not possible to relocate in short order. Many areas did not have places that could be relocated to, since the damage to buildings was so widespread. What structures that were present were often leaking and moldy. Even if you did, people were to preoccupied with daily survival needs to spend time trying to get to a non emergency medical visit. Even hospitals were closed, evacuated, or overflowing and had restricted access. Disasters by definition exceed our capacity to respond. All of the efforts were aimed at restoring infrastructure early on and not towards recovery of the local economy. In the more severely hit areas, it was not possible to even apply for a loan or file insurance claims for an extended period of time due to the logistics. No phone, no car (gas), no mail, living in a shelter or damaged structure. A local building destruction is usually not the result of widespread geographic infrastructure damage. Three days is still pretty darn good!
Tom, thanks for the kind words. I've got some peach wine going right now that should be wonderful. And my cayenne and tabasco peppers are looking good, too. Will be slaving over the stove with a new batch of hot sauce soon!
To Dr. Macpherson: I wouldn't wish the experience on anyone, but until you've lived through the disaster that was Katrina, you simply can't understand. We evacuated my elderly parents and ourselves and were gone for 9 days. My office was flooded, my parents house, my house and my rental property were all damaged. All of the city offices and services were non-existent. Almost every available contractor was not only working a dozen different projects, but many of THEM suffered catastrophic losses of their own property. The contractor who was working on my office was rarely there or making significant progress. I ultimately fired him and re-did my office myself....all the while attending to my rental house that had three pine trees through the roof, etc., etc., etc. I was demolishing and rebuilding 7/7 until I could no longer stand up. Insurance helped but not nearly enough. Compared to a lot of people, I was pretty lucky. But it was a real physical and emotional challenge.
I remember Dr. Miller from our years fighting for the TPA legislation. Thank you. As for my husband and myself, we have 7 state licenses. We took the N.B.E.O...TWICE ( early 80s and mid 90s) because it is only good for a few years. The gruelling process for each new license proved our compentency beyond question. To think another "certification" will be demanded is an insult!
You are NOT a dinosaur. We are NOT dinosaurs. You are doing a very brave thing opposing Board Certification in the form it is in now. Maybe later on, it might just change into something that represents our profession and our level of care and professionalism, but until that day, men and women like you are SO important to the profession we love so much. Wish I was still in Louisiana to try some of your peach wine!
your classmate,
brent
Do not like single anyone out but my last nerve was hit on The Dr.'s comments above on Katrina. If you are too ignorant to understand something then keep your mouth shut. Katrina was nothing like your isolated fire and while I am happy you got back up and running quickly, you could have never done that in Louisiana. There were NO buildings to move to that were unaffected. We were not allowed in to our area for three weeks to a month, there was no power, water,etc. Therefore, no insurance company to deliver your check. No contractors available. Know a little about what you are talking about or appear ignorant, as you do!
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