Carlson was elected to the AOA Board of Trustees in 2004, re-elected in 2006 and became president in June 2011

performance on National Board Examinations, expanded the clinic program to include an electronic health care record system and additional patient care clinics in communities surrounding the college, and provided Award (2001), Illinois Optometrist of the Year (2007), and OSU Optometry Distinguished Alumnus Award (2011

support of services provided at both the college and its community partners to meet the vision and eye care The grant will also support an evaluation study of the impact of vision care on student learning. “Another important new initiative is to increase community awareness of the importance of vision care and the availability of this care, regardless of ability to pay, at the Illinois Eye Institute.” Since 2011, the foundation has funded ICO at the level of $100,000 or more per year, in support of ICO

The clinic at Princeton Elementary School on the city’s South Side was established in January 2011 as part of Chicago Vision Outreach, a program that provides charitable eye health and vision care to Chicago It is the first known model in the nation to deliver eye care services year-round to an urban school ICO students provide much of the clinical care under the supervision of experienced optometrists, and Previously undiagnosed glaucoma was found in two cases.

members all around me inspired me: they practiced optometry, they participated in high-level medical cases (ICO sees some of the rarest and most difficult cases of any optometry school), and they were able to I am inspired to see students leaning into the options that modern technology is offering us.

corporation will be honored for excellence and leadership in education, philanthropy, research and patient care Wisconsin, which contracts vision care to HMO’s and IPA’s.  He is the president and owner of Bright Eyes Family Vision Care, in Tampa, Florida, as well as a leading Messner is the vice president for patient care services at ICO and executive director of the Illinois selected as the Key Legislative Person of the Year award in 2006 and the Optometrist of the Year award in 2011

In total, there were 542 total attendees, including 422 students, 32 panelists, 7 moderators, 9 exhibitors

I’m moderately myopic, and I vividly remember my optometrist fitting me for contact lenses so that I We were able to provide comprehensive eye care and new eyeglasses to people who were struggling financially