PHOENIX—Vision Source hosted a record attendance group of member doctors, staff and vendors at its national meeting, The Vision Source Exchange, held here last month from April 29 to May 2 at the Phoenix Convention Center. The theme of the 2015 Vision Source Exchange was Connection, Passion, Purpose.

An assembly of 3,000 Vision Source doctors, staff and vendors made it the largest meeting in the 24-year history of The Vision Source Exchange. With 100,000 square feet of exhibition space and nearly 200 exhibitors, Vision Source members and staff saw and tested new products and innovative technologies. Many attended up to eight hours of complimentary CE courses.

A featured exhibit at The Exchange is the new and exclusive Vision Source program, The Optical Dream. Nearly 2,000 practices have registered to date for the Dream, according to Dr. Walt West, vice president of practice management and creator of the program, which provides on-line training and incentives for optical staff to learn techniques to increase patient satisfaction and optical revenue. The second trimester of the Optical Dream program launched in mid-May; additional training focal points include annual supplies of contact lenses, backup eyewear and plano sunwear.

In addition to keynote speakers including Robert X. Fogarty, a photographer and founder of Dear World, and Frank Caliendo, a comedian and actor, the general session audience listened to a group update from Vision Source founder, Glenn Ellisor, OD, and from Jim Greenwood, president and CEO, who shared his views about the future of integrated health care and the role that the group is forging for Vision Source doctors to work, to date, with more than 100 accountable care and health care organizations around the country, with more announcements on the way.

“We are very excited about the record-breaking turnout at The Exchange,” said Greenwood.

Members of the Vision Source executive team (l to r) Glenn Ellisor, OD, founder and executive chairman; Derrick Artis, OD, executive VP, operations; Jim Greenwood, president/CEO; and Bryan Pinciaro, senior VP/chief marketing officer. The Vision Source Exchange exhibit hall featured 200 exhibitors at the Phoenix event.

Jim Greenwood shared the progress of the organization with attendees. A record crowd attended the Exchange general sessions.

The opening night reception featured camels and a Moroccan theme. Some 2,000 practices and counting have registered for The Optical Dream program.

At the exhibit hall, attendees checked out new virtual try on technologies, new practice systems and instrument technologies as well as the latest in frame and spectacle lens collections.