First I would like to say THANK YOU and what an honor it is to be selected by the board of directors to be an AOS Featured Optometrist. I am just doing exactly what each Volunteer Liaison and member is doing, trying to help the AOS and our profession of optometry.
I am a 1972 graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry where I received my B.S. in optometry and Doctor of Optometry degrees. After graduation I returned home to suburban Detroit where I have been in practice for almost 40 years. In the “old days” when I graduated the only red top bottles that an optometrist was allowed to touch were bottles of Coca-Cola. The optometrist’s “job” was to examine eyes for glasses and contact lenses, and to recognize and refer all pathology. The changes that have gone on in the last 40 years are truly amazing.
I completed the DPA and TPA courses and continue to further my education and enhance my skills attending as many CEs and workshops as I am able to fit into my schedule. I speak to students at local schools about the eye and optometry as a career and I have also spoken to local groups at health care seminars. I have practiced in every mode of practice that our profession has to offer except for the military and academia. I have practiced as an associate in a small private office as well as part of three medical practices and became the first optometrist in a 70 doctor multi-specialty group. And like many others I have participated in the retail market as an “Independent Optometrist” with a sub lease. I think that most optometrists were hoping to be in a “Marcus Welby, MD” type setting. (You younger ODs will have to ask your much older colleagues, your parents or “Google” Marcus Welby MD). Circumstances often lead us down some unexpected highways. No matter where an OD is practicing I believe each and every OD tries to do the best he or she can for their patients, sometimes practicing within the limits and confines of their location. He or she may not be practicing to the full scope of optometry at times, however, I believe they are giving the best care that they are able to give and referring those patients that need additional care and services that the OD is unable to provide.
After the encouragement of my dear friend and colleague, Dr. Robert P. Rutstein, now a professor at UAB, I am a 25 year Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. In addition I was a 30 plus year member of the AOA and MOA including the time I was a student member of the MOA and served as president during my senior year at ICO.
What impresses me the most about the AOS is that it is open to all optometrists and each OD has a vote and a voice in our profession. Shortly after becoming an AOS Founding Member I applied to become a Volunteer Liaison. What a great experience this has been. It amazes me how the ideas openly flow through our group. There is always another member to share your ideas and plans and advice with. My goal as a Volunteer Liaison is to educate as many ODs and optometry students as I can about the AOS and the things that we feel need correcting in optometry that our national organization seems to have lost sight of. I find many ODs are still unaware of the AOA-ABO Board Certification scheme. Most are unaware that the AOA appears to be making a play to control CE for ODs and that the every-day OD has NO direct vote on matters affecting their practices. I also like the fact that in the AOS we are encouraged to present our ideas to the group. For example, I was able to propose expanding our AOS scholarship to the second and third year optometry students. After working the Academy booth in Boston with Dr. Pam Miller and Dr. Don Sipola, I was stunned to find out how many students were unaware of our AOS scholarship. I think by expanding our scholarship, more students as well as optometrists will become aware of what the AOS is all about.
I am married to Wendy, a wonderful lady, who works with me several days of the week. Tuesday, however, is reserved for Wendy’s knitting class. Wendy is a Registered Dietitian, Mom and GREAT FRIEND. I find it hard to believe just how much energy she has and how much she gets done each day. She is quite an inspiration.
My son Andy holds BS, MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Modeling and Mathematical Biology from M.I.T. and the University of Michigan. Andy is now researching leukemia drugs for one of the pharmaceutical companies. My two step daughters, Sarah and Rachel, are attending college and my step son, Michael, is in high school.
I have been a Cub Scout Leader and Cub Master and I have coached and umpired Little League baseball and for six years ran the local Little League Umpires program. The highlight of my umpiring career was officiating a game at Double Day Field in Cooperstown, New York home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. When we are not working we love to travel. Usually we take short, local trips sight seeing and from time to time we make donations to the local economy by visiting a local casino. I have a passion for classic automobiles from the 1950s and 1960s and have owned four that I would drive to local car shows and local restaurants. I can wax a car and put gas in the tank as well as anyone, however I am not in any way a mechanic or restorer of these cars. For you gear heads out there, the four cars that I owned were a 1963 Ford Thunderbird convertible, a 1968 Chevrolet Impala convertible, a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette coupe (not the 1963 split window) and a 1966 Pontiac GTO. Space is now at a premium with so many cars and drivers so I have sold the classic cars and I am spending more time trying to become better at photography. My camera and lenses take up far less space than the cars. If, however, the “perfect” classic car comes along I would seriously have to think about that.
I encourage all AOS Members and Volunteer Liaisons to get involved by educating our colleagues and helping the AOS in any way that you can. I know that your time and involvement will be greatly appreciated. It was a little scary the first few times I went to a local CE meeting and distributed AOS literature. I was not sure what kind of reception I would receive. I must say it has been VERY POSITIVE. Most ODs are grateful for what I am doing and for the information and education provided. A few pass by and say no thanks, but I have yet to receive any outward hostility or negativity. It has been great fun and a wonderful experience. The hardest part was learning to spell “liaison”.
Thank you again for this honor.
Leonard M. Stein, OD, FAAO
AOS Founding Member
AOS Volunteer Liaison - Michigan
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