Dr. Pierce

Newly elected AOA President Samuel D. Pierce seeks to broaden optometric scope of practice throughout the country, he says.

“For there to be a future profession, it must continue to evolve and change, and this means the expansion of procedures available to an O.D. to offer to their patients,” he explains. “And so, what I want to do is to make sure the AOA is standing ready to assist states in any way possible to accomplish expanded scope of practice.”

Dr. Pierce is passionate about this because he says he has experienced, firsthand, the “frustration” of being unable to practice to the fullest extent of his skill set.

“There was a time early in my practice when I couldn’t perform corneal foreign body removal or lacrimal dilation and punctal plugs because it was illegal, even though I was educated and trained to perform the procedures,” he explains.

To accomplish his goal of national optometric scope of practice expansion, Dr. Pierce says the AOA will be building a specific advocacy team comprised of several AOA members who will work with individual state optometric associations to evaluate their current scope of practice and the steps they need to take to expand it.

“This group will assess the state associations’ grassroots structure, PAC donations and relationships with key decision makers, such as governors, lieutenant governors and key legislative committee members, to help them prepare politically and legislatively to address scope expansion,” he explains.

Dr. Pierce adds that individual optometrists throughout the United States can increase the likelihood of success of his agenda by supporting their state PACs, staying abreast of and active in the political processes of their states and evaluating their current patients, as one or more may know a key decision-maker and, thus, make an impression regarding the importance of optometric care. ■