An Open Letter from a Non-AOS Member Hot

You know what AOS members think, but this isn’t just an AOS problem. Here is what one non-AOS member recently wrote on ODWire. With Dr. Klein’s permission, we are reprinting it here, because it is important for everyone to know that there are many ODs out there, not just AOS members, that find the ABO appalling.

Here is the letter:

 Diplomatic disaster

 THANK YOU PAUL FARKAS AND KEN MYERS: YOUR WELL WRITTEN, KNOWLEDGEABLE, CLEARLY EXPRESSED EXPLANATIONS OF THE INITIATION, EVOLUTION AND CURRENT RESULTS OF THIS travesty BC and "DIPLOMATIC DISASTER EVENT" IN OPTOMETRY IS APPRECIATED. PLEASE CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION, WAKE UP THE MASSES!

I have been following this "diplomatic disaster" since its inception. I have been strongly against BC in the form it was presented from the start, and am quite disturbed by the entire travesty, but it is here unless legally stopped. I am INCENSED by the title of DIPLOMATE given to the passing test takers. That's put me over the edge!! Test takers-That is all they are!!!! I believe there should be such an uproar in the profession over this inappropriate usage of title-this has just angered me more. This is making our profession into a joke-not elevating it!!!!!!!!

Why is there not more uproar?? Optometry is so beat-up by so many affronts to our profession -commercialism, internet, insurance programs, etc. so many issues we, in the trenches of practice, are faced with from both within and external to us, that the day-to-day survival mode of operation is of primary concern to most. It takes precious time to react that most do not have!!!

Thank you Ken Myers, because this is NOT A REAL BOARD CERTIFICATION in the manner and matter that it is in other health professions-as you say it puts us out as a fringe profession and I believe is destructive and divisive to Optometry. WHERE ARE MORE LEADERS?? We are such a self-destructive profession!!!! WE DID THIS FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES??? Bull...t!! No company has approached me! Shame on Academy members who supported this - how has this helped our profession?

Like you, Paul Farkas, I believed the prestigious title of DIPLOMATE was reserved for those who did demonstrate an advanced level of academic knowledge and clinical decision making in a limited subject as was represented by the excellence demanded by the AAO. This group DID represent the clinical and knowledge- based- best. The "creme of the crop".

I do not know what are the current requirements for Fellowship of the Academy. 25 years ago, the academic and clinical requirements for this first step of Advanced Knowledge Recognition in a limited subject area, as judged by the "creme of the profession", was difficult: hands-on-experience, study, publishing, case-writing, and verbal "firing squad" inquiry by peers in a more focused topic of study to just attain Fellowship! To attain Diplomate status was even more involved, more difficult, and had more demands- one was forced to prove advanced knowledge and /or or clinical skills, in a focused subject matter, and the title bestowed was recognized by our profession and other professions, by industry, by academia, and even the educated public.

The title Diplomate was reserved for the extremely special - and it was recognized and reserved for those who have been the "creme of the profession" and others sought out the expertise of the Diplomate. Internationally, Diplomate has always been reserved for "above and beyond the call of duty, above and beyond the usual level of skill" some sort of expertise demonstrated by more involved activities-by PROCESS OF ADVANCED STUDY AND PERFORMANCE in a focused subject. As Ken Meyers says, this Board Certification and Diplomate title does not represent the special qualities and processes it does represent in other professions. Why the hell are we always different & in conflict with ourselves!!???

This Optometric title of "Diplomate of the Board" - given for passing a written exam of general knowledge that PROVES NOTHING is a divisive title, falsely representing anything special except extra studying for a test-it does not make the person an expert in the field, or anything better than the rest of us.

The title DIPLOMATE GIVES THE FALSE IMPRESSION TO THE PUBLIC AND ANY OTHERS IGNORANT OF ITS true content, that the holder of the title is anything special-they are not!!!! THIS TITLE IS LIKE MISLEADING ADVERTISING and should not be allowed to be used. Legally why can't this be stopped????

Even though the new Board can not say its members are superior , aren't they implying that superiority exists just by the fact that they can use the title of Diplomate because of its usual meaning???? Aren't there "Standards of general usage and meaning" for words and it can be agreed that Diplomate has always meant "something special" so this usage is a FARSE AND INSULTING TO THE REST OF US". I RESENT IT!!!!

OUR PROFESSION SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWING THIS MISLEADING title to be used. WHERE ARE THE LEADERS??? HOW HAS THIS MADE ANYTHING BETTER??? I believe if this travesty of Board Certification will remain amongst us, if one takes the test, the only thing one should be able to say is "I passed the test. PERIOD! and good for you!!!


SORRY for the rant, BUT I AM ANGRY AND I'VE HAD ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!
Jil Klein, O.D., F.A.AO. I am in private practice, but I've taught in academia, industry, nationally and internationally.