Newsletters

We’re so excited to host the San Diego Optometric Society’s first Continuing Education event! This is a big and exciting step for our organization, and we can’t wait to kick it off with all of you.

This event is a great chance to catch up with old friends, meet some new faces, and connect with colleagues across the industry. One of the best parts of our society is the sense of community, and events like this give us the perfect opportunity to learn together and strengthen those connections.

We’re heading into an exciting year filled with CE events, OD mixers, and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow San Diego optometrists. For my first president’s message, I wanted to share what being part of the San Diego Optometric Society has meant to me.

As crazy at it seems, 2025 is almost behind us.  What a year…and it ain’t over yet!  In February, the SDCOS launched its CE program and will conclude its CE series on Novemeber 20th with the final educational event of the year.  Not only did our society provide 15 hours of quality education, but we had some fun with our themed dinner events and elevated menus.

On Tuesday, September 30, nearly 600 Doctors of Optometry and Optometry students canvassed Capitol Hill, directly engaging in over 280 meetings with their Members of Congress and their staff. This massive advocacy presence delivered a united message across Optometry's top legislative priorities.

I hope everyone is having a great summer!  As we enter the latter part of the year, your SDCOS is hard at work serving its membership and community.

As a society leader, I receive updates from the COA that keep us informed and educated regarding the latest legislative events and issues impacting our profession. 

Last year, my wife Beverly and I had the privilege of attending a Catholic conference at the Vatican. At the end of the week, we were invited to a closing banquet, where we happened to be seated with Cardinal Robert Prevost. We enjoyed a warm and engaging dinner conversation with him and felt truly blessed by the encounter.

Last Friday I had the honor of teaming up with the VSP Mobile Eye Clinic and the San Diego Executive Lions Club to provide exams and glasses to several dozen underprivileged kids in the San Diego South Bay School District.  This ongoing project began last year under the leadership of our past president Eric White and was recognized by the California Optometric Association as the project of the year.

So, what do you do for a living?  How many times have we been asked this question?  In a world that seeks to label us by our occupation, how we answer this question can shed some light on how we view our chosen profession.

Optometry is a legislated profession”.  We’ve all heard this statement before, but do we really understand and appreciate what it means?   Are we aware of how laws and regulations at both the state and federal levels define our scope of practice, licensing requirements, and patient access to care?