PORTLAND, Ore.—More than 1,000 optometrists and allied ophthalmic professionals attended the Great Western Council of Optometry’s 23rd annual GWCO Congress held Sept. 19-22 at the Oregon Convention Center and the Crowne Plaza here. The event consisted of continuing education courses and an exhibit hall with an old west, country fair theme. This was the first year that the GWCO partnered with KMK Educational Services to provide a board certification review course for optometrists preparing for board certification testing. It attracted over 120 attendees.

During a special ceremony, the GWCO welcomed its new president, Sue E. Lowe, OD, FCOVD, FAAO; the American Optometric Association’s president, Mitchell T. Munson, OD; and named David Wolf, OD, 2013 Optometrist of the Year. Social events included a welcome reception sponsored by Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute and the “Boots & ‘Stache Bash” celebrating GWCO’s new president, Sue E. Lowe, OD, FCOVD, FAAO.

The event’s keynote speaker was Jim Trunick, with more than 25 years of experience in the health care field and author of The Core of Leadership due out early next year. Other speakers included Mark Andre; Sharon Carter; Paul Chous, OD, FAAO; Raymond Chu, OD, MS, FAAO; Mark T. Dunbar, OD, FAAO; Stephen Farebrother; Steven Ferrucci, OD; Landon Jones, OD, FAAO; Derek J. Louie, OD; Carlo J. Pelino, OD, FAAO; Joseph J. Pizzimenti, OD, FAAO; Jack L. Schaeffer, OD, FAAO; Julie A. Schornack, OD; Peter G. Shaw-McMinn, OD; Kirk L. Smick, OD, FAAO; and Christopher S. Wolfe, OD.

GWCO Congress 2013 was supported through sponsorship and education grants by ABB Concise, Alcon, Allergan, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, Hoya, Marco, Northwest Eye Surgeons, Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute, the Oregon Optometric Physicians Association, Retina & Macula Specialists, UnitedHealthcare, The Vision Care Institute, Vistakon, VSP Global and Zeiss.