ASSOCIATIONS

■ The AOA launched Paraoptemtretric Career Ladder, an optometric staff training tool, available to members at aoa.org/optometrists/membership.

■ ASCO has appointed David Heath, O.D., president and Dawn Mancuso, F.A.S.A.E., C.A.E., executive director.

COMPANY NEWS

■ Alcon has launched Air Optix Colors Education Salon, a training program for contact lens technicians. The free program is available at AirOptixColorsEducation.com.

■ Leica Microsystems has appointed Markus Lusser to president, succeeding Andries Peter Jan va den Broek. Mr. Lusser was vice president of Global Sales and Customer Support with Sciex. Both Sciex and Leica Microsystems are owned by Danaher Corp.

■ The Essilor Group and Essilor Vision Foundation supported the Healthy Athletes Opening Eyes Program and GenUIn: Special Olympics Social Impact Summit at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. Essilor also helped to provide exams and eyewear to more than 3,000 athletes at the games.

■ Transitions Optical Inc. offers a three-part web series “Estilo a Primera Vista” for Hispanics to highlight eyewear as an accessory and as a tool to improve vision.

■ VSP Global has appointed Kate Renwick-Espinosa, current VSP global chief marketing officer, president of VSP Vision Care, effective Oct. 1. Ms. Renwick-Espinosa replaces Jim McGrann, who will be transitioning to CEO of VSP Global.

■ Dennis Pardo, OD, M.P.H., F.A.A.O, has been named vice president of Medical and Professional Affairs for ZeaVision LLC, the parent company of the EyePromise line of ocular supplements.

OBITUARIES

■ George Rich, founder and president of Starline Optical Corp., at the age 83 due to Parkinson’s disease and aphasia.