American Optometric Association plans full slate of events for meeting

Key Points

Washington, DC-The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center here will be the venue for the 112th annual American Optometric Association (AOA) Congress and the 39th annual American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) Conference from Wednesday, June 24, to Saturday, June 27.

In addition to the main combined meeting, gatherings of other professional organizations are scheduled as well as numerous continuing education (CE) courses, poster presentations, and exhibitions.

CE curriculum

• Wednesday: A 2-hour panel presentation, "Redefining Quality of Vision: New Technologies Influencing Vision Care," is set for 3 to 5 p.m. Panelists will discuss technology and trends in cataract and refractive surgery.

• Thursday: A panel of optometrists will discuss major success stories and accomplishments from 10 a.m. to noon. "Optimizing Visual Performance: Changing the Quality of Lives, One Day at a Time" will immediately follow the opening general session.

From 1 to 3 p.m., four lecturers will discuss "Ocular Surface Disease: Covering the Bases." This course will review controversial symptoms related to ocular surface diseases such as dry eye, contact lens intolerance, blepharitis, and ocular rosacea.

• Friday: From 8 to 10 a.m., optometrists in clinical practice will discuss "Evidence-Based Medicine and What it Means to the Practicing Optometrist."

• Complete Refractive Solution Theater: This course, to be presented in the exhibit hall, will describe new technologies in cataract and refractive surgery. The theater will offer 8 hours of CE from Thursday to Saturday.

• AOA interactive poster session: Posters will be displayed in the exhibit hall on Friday and Saturday. CE credits can be earned only on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., when presenters will be at the posters.

Conference highlights

On Wednesday, the first AOA Congressional Advocacy Conference, "Optometry Takes Capitol Hill," will begin at 8 a.m. with a trip to the U.S. Capitol.

"Congress is considering America's most far-reaching health-care overhaul ever," said Peter Kehoe, OD, president of AOA, in a statement on the organization's Web site. "For optometry to be listened to and heeded at this critical moment, we must take our pro-access, pro-patient message directly to our representatives in the U.S. Capitol. Please join me and hundreds of concerned ODs and students at the first-ever Capitol Hill rally in support of our profession."

A new course planned for Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. is an FDA update course titled "Medical Devices, Refractive Surgery, and Contact Lens Solutions: What's New at the FDA and Standards Organizations?"

Also on Wednesday, the opening reception will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The opening general session will take place Thursday from 8 to 9:30 a.m. The keynote speaker will be Bob Woodruff, the former co-anchor and Peabody Award-winning journalist from ABC's "World News Tonight."

In the New in Practice Series, world-class lecturers will cover a range of practice management topics for new-to-practice optometrists and clinicians preparing to change practice settings. Among the lectures:

• "Staff Management and Training," given by Chad Fleming, OD, from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday. A $15 fee includes lunch.

• "Starting from Scratch-Leasing, Building Out, and Equipping a New Practice" is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday. Keith Davis, OD, and David Way, OD, will discuss how to open an optometric practice in this challenging economy. There is a $10 registration fee.