PRACTICE TIP: Make new hires feel welcome
If you have a new hire at your practice, doing a few small things to make them feel welcome can make them feel more comfortable and motivated at your practice, writes Dr. Patricia Fulmer in her latest Staffing column. This can include giving them a small “welcome bag” with candy, a notebook, and pens; taking the whole team out to lunch the first week of employment, to introduce the new hire to the staff; and assigning a staff member as an “office buddy,” who the new employee can reach out to and lean on if they have questions or concerns. Read Dr. Fulmer’s article here for the rest of her advice.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
AOA and CooperVision announce Change Agents for The Myopia Collective
The American Optometric Association and CooperVision announced the inaugural cohort of Change Agents for The Myopia Collective at the Optometry’s Meeting convention in Nashville this week. The partnership aims to rally the optometry profession and its allies to shift the focus on myopia from correction to comprehensive treatment. Over sixty eye care professionals were appointed as Change Agents, with individuals from each U.S. state ensuring nationwide representation. A comprehensive list is available on The Myopia Collective’s website at AOA.org.
ASCO names 2024 Special Recognition Award recipients
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Special Recognition Awards. They include:
- ASCO Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Karla Zadnik
- Herbert Wertheim Award, Dr. Jorge Cuadros
- ASCO Ophthalmic Industry Leadership Award, Dr. Carl Hubbell Spear
- ASCO Rising Star Award, Dr. Jennifer Fisher
- ASCO Student Award in Clinical Ethics, Sam Wetzel, student at the University of Houston, College of Optometry
Learn more about the awards and their winners here.
Aurion Biotech CEO wins Entrepreneur of the Year, Mountain West Region
Aurion Biotech announced that its CEO, Greg Kunst, has been named winner of the Ernst & Young 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Mountain West Region, encompassing Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Greg Kunst was part of a group of 39 entrepreneurs selected as finalists by an independent panel of judges. The finalist candidates were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.
American Academy of Optometry accepting photos submissions for annual contest
The American Academy of Optometry Comprehensive Eye Care Section Ocular Photography Contest is accepting submissions through 11:45 p.m. on July 1. Optometrists may submit up to two entries per category: 1) anterior segment category, including lids, conjunctiva, cornea, contact lens, iris, lens, angle/gonioscopy, and digital color photo; and 2) posterior segment category, including vitreous, optic nerve, retina, color/red-free photo, fluorescein angiography/ICG, and fundus auto-fluorescence. The grand prize winner from each category will receive complimentary registration to Academy 2024, taking place Nov. 6 to 9 in Indianapolis. For full contest rules please visit the 2024 Ocular Photography Contest webpage.
CooperVision announces promotions
CooperVision has elevated two of its senior executives: Michele Andrews, OD, has been promoted to Vice President, Marketing and Professional Affairs, Americas, and Melissa Kiewe has been promoted to Vice President, Global Strategy and Planning.
Lombart Healthcare and Marco Healthcare combine to form Marco Lombart
Marco Healthcare and Lombart Healthcare, both business units of Advancing Eyecare which provide eye care equipment and products, will combine to form a new business named Marco Lombart. Marco Lombart will attend Vision Expo West from Sept. 18 to 21, to highlight new offerings, resources and special events about its equipment, products and services.
Prevent Blindness to host golf outing in conjunction with VEW
Prevent Blindness is holding its 16th annual Swing Fore Sight Golf Outing at Vision Expo West. The golf outing is set to take place on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the Bali Hai Golf Club in Las Vegas. Registration and breakfast begin at 6 a.m. PT, with a shotgun start at 7 a.m. PT. For more information, sponsorship information, and tickets click here.
Virtual Vision Health adds Color Sensitivity Tech Assist to Virtual Eye Device
Virtual Vision Health has released a new feature update for its Virtual Eye Device. The new integrated Color Sensitivity Tech Assist feature is intended to help technicians give real-time assistance and answer patient questions during color sensitivity tests.
Vyluma seeks to answer FDA queries for pediatric myopia treatment
Vyluma Inc. has received queries from the FDA following the CHAMP study, a multinational trial that enrolled 576 children with myopia, which demonstrated efficacy for Atropine Sulfate Ophthalmic Solution 0.01% consistent with published literature. In conversing with the FDA’s questions regarding the late-stage product candidate, the company said its encouraged and intends to move forward with a submission to address them in the third quarter of 2024.