WASHINGTON—The nation’s capital was an appropriate setting this week for the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) annual congress, as advocacy for the profession and patient care are both playing more important roles in the association’s day-to-day activities.

Indeed, the 2017 version of Optometry's Meeting kicked off with a rally on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol that was attended by more than 2,000 optometry students participating in the inaugural AOA+ session to show their support for the profession. AOA also used the occasion of the Capitol Hill rally to present awards to several of the profession’s key supporters in Congress.

"This city is a very important place for our profession," said outgoing AOA president Dr. Andrea Thau, OD, Wednesday night at the opening general session. “We kicked off our meeting with the groundbreaking AOA+: Emerging Leadership Experience, [which was] attended by more than 2,300 optometry students and new graduates,” she added.

AOA+, a new element of the AOA meeting, offers students a primer in professional advocacy, as well as providing an opportunity to meet with lawmakers, interact with the best up-and-coming young optometrists, and to learn career and life-building tips, according to AOA.

The program, which was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Vision, AOAExcel and Essilor, is expected to be held once every three years, according to the AOA website. It also will offer financial planning advice to support young optometrists.

The optometry honorees receiving awards at the opening session were:

• Optometrist of the Year, Paul Barney, OD, of Alaska
• Young Optometrist of the Year, Angelique Sawyer, OD, of New Hampshire
• Paraoptometric of the Year, Sally Greeley, CPOT, of Maine
• Optometric Educator of the Year, Elizabeth Steele, OD, of Alabama
• Distinguished Service Award, Dale Heaston, OD, of Washington
• Dr. W. David Sullings Jr. InfantSEE, Reena Patel, OD, of California

At the Capitol Hill rally, AOA presented awards to four legislators—Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.)—and also indicated the industry’s support for the Dental and Optometric Care Access Act, also known as the the DOC Access Act (HR 1606). As VMail reported, proponents of this legislation say it will improve quality and access to health care and “target health and vision plan abuses.”

At Wednesday evening’s opening general session, Peter Menziuso president, North America, at J&J Vision, spoke about how much the company values its partnership with the AOA, its members and optometrists practicing across the nation. “We are better together,” Menziuso said in his remarks, noting that both J&J Vision and ODs have patient care as part of their core values. He also identified the qualities that J&J Vision believes go into making great partnerships, including commitment, integrity and support, among others.

Dara Torres, a 12-time Olympic medalist, offered her thoughts on motivation during her opening-session keynote address, which was sponsored by J&J Vision. She ended her swimming career earlier this year at the age of 45 after failing in a bid to make a sixth U.S. Olympics team.

Torres cited her competitive spirit and ability to shut out the pressure as the keys to her swimming success. At the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, Torres became the oldest swimmer, at age 41, to compete in the Games, and she more than hold her own by taking home three silver medals.