NEW YORK—Women In Optometry (WO) has added six new members to its advisory board for 2018. “We are so honored that these ODs have chosen to be a part of the advisory team. Their input is important in helping us keep up with the issues and trends in optometry,” said WO professional co-editor April Jasper, OD, FAAO. She shares that role with Katie Gilbert-Spear, OD, MPH, who said, “The diversity of their experiences makes Women In Optometry more robust.”

These six ODs will serve a two-year term on the board: Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, of Sacramento, California; Nhung Brandenburg, OD, FAAO, Dipl., of Atlanta, Georgia; Tonyatta Hairston, OD, of Jackson, Mississippi; Barbara Horn, OD, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Mary Anne Murphy, OD, of Broomfield, Colorado; and Carey Patrick, OD, of Allen, Texas.

They join existing board members Mario Gutierrez, OD, FAAO, of San Antonio, Texas; Dawn Kaplan, OD, of Chicago, Illinois; Kelly Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO, of Birmingham, Alabama; Maria Sampalis, OD, of Warwick, Rhode Island; Bridgitte Shen Lee, OD, of Houston Texas; and optometry school student Melissa Zaleski of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The editorial board includes representation from ODs from a wide range of career settings and with specialized interests ranging from direct patient care, academia, leadership and more. Six board members completed their term at the end of 2017: Dori Carlson, OD, FAAO; Lauretta Justin, OD; Priti Patel, OD; Tamara Petrosyan, OD; Tonya Reynoldson, OD; and Jennifer Ong, OD. “These board members were so generous with their time, expertise and valuable stories. We all learned from them,” said Marjolijn Bijlefeld, WO managing editor.