President's Message

Dear Members,
 

Happy June from the San Diego County Optometric Society!
 

As summer begins, I wanted to share a special personal update — my family welcomed a new baby boy over Memorial Day weekend! It has been an exciting and joyful time, and I am incredibly grateful for the support and kindness from our SDCOS community.
 

We also want to thank everyone who participated in the Strides for Sight event in May hosted by the San Diego Center for the Blind. The event was a tremendous success, with 32 attendees representing our society. We were proud to host a wonderful booth featuring educational resources and information about low vision services, and together the event raised an impressive $45,000 in support of the organization’s mission. Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, and helped make such a meaningful impact in our community.
 

Looking ahead, we are excited for our upcoming OD Mixer on June 23rd featuring a fun Game Show Night! This will be a great opportunity to connect with fellow optometrists, meet industry vendors, and enjoy an evening of networking and laughter. We hope to see many of you there.
 

Additionally, please save the date for our next Continuing Education event on July 16th. More details and event flyers will be coming soon.
 

Thank you for your continued involvement and support of the San Diego Optometric Society. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and continuing to grow together as a community.

Warm regards,

Sloan Rajadhyksha OD, FAAO, FCOVD

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Volunteer Outreach

The VSP Eyes of Hope Mobile Clinic recently returned to San Diego County in partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education to provide free vision exams and eyewear to underserved students throughout multiple school districts. District nurse Elly Kobetsky identified those students needing help and coordinated the logistics with the VSP team.

Several SDCOS volunteer optometrists participated at clinic sites in San Marcos, National City, East San Diego, and El Cajon. Drs. Doug Osborne, Jeff Hall, Bob Grazian, and Eric White joined Dr. Bob Meisel in evaluating nearly 120 students ranging in age from 8–19 years old, with only a handful not requiring a prescription.

VSP volunteers lead by Esther Normoyle assisted with pre-testing and frame selection. Most glasses were fabricated on-site and dispensed shortly after the exams, while more complex prescriptions were completed at the VSP lab for later delivery.

Many of the students had gone extended periods without glasses, and some had never previously received an eye exam or eyewear. Providing clear and comfortable vision helps give these students the opportunity to succeed both now and in the future.

For future volunteer opportunities, contact Dr. Bob Meisel at rmeisel47@gmail.com or (619) 818-3031

Volunteer Opportunity: LOVC | VVSD Stand Down 2026

The Lions Optometric Vision Clinic (LOVC) is seeking volunteer optometrists for the 2026 Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD) Stand Down, San Diego's largest annual event serving homeless and at-risk veterans.
 

Saturday, July 18, 2026
The LOVC will operate its eye clinic at the APT4 Music Building beginning at 8:00 a.m. and continuing through 5:00 p.m.

In previous years, the clinic has provided eye exams for more than 90 veterans in a single day. To meet this need again, LOVC plans to operate three exam lanes and is seeking at least six volunteer optometrists to provide comprehensive eye examinations.

This is a meaningful opportunity to help veterans who may otherwise have limited access to eye care and eyewear services. 

Interested in volunteering? Conact Helen Quintanilla lionhelenq@gmail.com or Douglas Wahl douglas@sdlovc.org

Please consider volunteering or sharing this opportunity with colleagues.

For additional information about VVSD Stand Down, visit www.vvsd.net

OD Relations Liaison Message

Please contact Dr. Lucia Millet, OD, Society Optometrist Relations Liaison at sdcos@gmail.com to be put on an official list for the following:

• Fill-in/part-time work
• Full-time work
• Purchase/partner in/sell a practice

This service is offered free of charge to SDCOS members. 

Upcoming CE Meeting (Save the date!)

• Location: WestPAC Headquarters: 5280 Carroll Canyon Rd Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92121
• July 16th - 2 hr CE - Featuring Priscilla Chang, OD, FAAO.   Topic: Myopia Control

SDCOS OD Mixer: Game Show Night!

Join us for an exciting evening of networking, teamwork, and fun at the SDCOS OD Mixer: Game Show Night! Test your skills in an immersive game show experience while connecting with colleagues from across San Diego County. Whether you're a longtime member or new to SDCOS, this is a great opportunity to build relationships and enjoy a memorable night out.

OMD Corner

From Eye Care of San Diego:

Physician Spotlight: Rachael Ann Allen, DO

This month, we're pleased to introduce Dr. Rachael Ann Allen, a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in cataract and refractive surgery. Dr. Allen performs advanced cataract surgery as well as LASIK, PRK, SMILE, and ICL procedures, seeing patients at Eye Care of San Diego and Pendleton Eye Center. Prior to joining private practice, she served as a Navy ophthalmologist and Department Chair of Ophthalmology at Camp Pendleton, where she performed cataract and refractive surgery, including procedures that helped military aviators meet the visual requirements necessary for flight, and helped train the next generation of ophthalmologists.

How has your military experience influenced your approach to patient care?
Working within a military healthcare system reinforced the importance of communication, consistency, and teamwork. Successful outcomes depend on everyone being aligned—from the referring provider to the surgeon to the postoperative care team.

What do you value most in co-management relationships with optometrists?
Clear communication and shared expectations. Optometrists know their patients well and play a critical role in identifying surgical candidates, educating patients, and managing postoperative care. My goal is to make the process as seamless as possible and ensure referring providers feel informed every step of the way.

What guides your approach to patient care?
"My approach to patient care is centered on precision, compassion, and trust. I strive to deliver the highest level of care tailored to each individual's needs. Helping people achieve their best possible vision is not just my profession—it's my passion."

SDCOS Board of Directors

SDCOS Member Spotlight: Dr. Samuel White

We’re excited to feature Dr. Sam White in this month’s Member Spotlight!

Dr. White practices in a private practice setting alongside his father, Dr. Eric White. HIs professional interests include myopia management, pediatric eye care and specialty contact lenses. He earned his degree from the New England College of Optometry in 2023 and is passionate about helping patients achieve their best vision.

His favorite aspect of optometry is the opportunity to help people. Whether providing routine vision care or addressing urgent care eye concerns, helping patients see better is something that continues to inspire and motivate him every day.

If he hadn't pursued optometry, Dr. White would have loved to earn a culinary degree and work as a chef, combining creativity and skill to craft memorable experiences through food.

He is currently reading the A Song of Ice and Fire series, the books that inspired the television series Game of Thrones, and says they have been fantastic.

Outside the office, Dr. White enjoys spending time with his family. He loves catching San Diego Padres games at Petco Park with his wife, Lauren, and their newborn son, Lawson. When he's not at the ballpark, you can often find him exploring local thrift stores and antique shops with his family.

His advice to his younger self: Don't stress so much about the future—enjoy the moment and soak up as much knowledge as possible from your mentors.

(Photo: Dr. White with his wife Lauren, son Lawson, and dog Frannie.) 📸

Protecting Your Most Valuable Asset: You

Brought to you by: Nichole Mayer & Will Hage

As optometrists, we spend our careers caring for our patients—but how often do we take time to protect ourselves and our practices? Our Platinum Sponsor, WestPac Wealth Partners, reminds us that disability, illness, or unexpected life events can have a significant impact on both personal and professional financial goals.

Whether you're paying down student loans, growing a practice, planning for retirement, or protecting your income, the WestPac team specializes in helping healthcare professionals create a comprehensive financial strategy. Learn more by connecting with Nichole Mayer and her team.


Nichole Mayer & Will Hage are Registered Representatives and Financial Advisors of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representatives of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. WestPac Wealth Partners LLC is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. Insurance products offered through WestPac Wealth Partners and Insurance Services, LLC, a DBA of WestPac Wealth Partners, LLC. | Mayer CA Insurance License #0F54659 | Hage CA Insurance License #0D97541 | 8900998.1 Exp. 04/28

Save the Date: 2026 NVISION San Diego Regional CE* Event

Mark your calendars for the 2026 San Diego Regional CE Event, hosted by NVISION Eye Centers on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the iconic Hotel del Coronado. This full-day program will feature 6 hours of continuing education, expert speakers, exhibits, networking opportunities, and breakfast and lunch in one of San Diego's most historic waterfront venues.

Scan the QR code or contact NVISION for registration details and event information.
*COPE approval is pending.