David Cockrell, OD
WASHINGTON—The Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (APS) has announced David A. Cockrell, OD, as its new chairman. Dr. Cockrell, a practicing optometrist in Stillwater, Okla., succeeds Deanna Alexander, O.D., whose term as chairwoman concluded at the end of 2020. “Under the leadership of inaugural chairwoman Deanna Alexander, OD, the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety quickly established itself as the leader in advocating for policy that safeguards the millions of contact lens-wearing patients across the U.S.,” said Dr. Cockrell.

“I’m eager to begin working on priority initiatives that strengthen the doctor-patient relationship, enhance contact lens prescription verification methods to protect patients and modernize the means by which patients are informed of their rights.”

Dr. Cockrell has a long history of advocating for patient safety. He is a past president of the American Optometric Association, American Board of Optometry, Oklahoma State Board of Optometric Examiners and the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians.

He has been recognized for a lifetime of service and advocacy on behalf of patients by being inducted into the American Optometric Association www.aoa.org National Hall of Fame, receiving the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians Distinguished Service Award and being named the Optometrist of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians.

Dr. David A. Cockrell and his wife, Cherry Cockrell, OD, own and operate Cockrell Eyecare Center in Stillwater, Okla., where he is active in the Stillwater Rotary Club, Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, the Stillwater Public Education Foundation and the Stillwater Medical Foundation.

Dr. Cockrell completed his Bachelor’s degree in Zoology at Oklahoma State University and received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry.