American Optometric Student Association (AOSA)
James Deom AOSA
National President
This month James Deom, '14OD was installed as the 2013-2014 national president of the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA). Mr. Deom was elected by the AOSA Board of Trustees, which is comprised of two students from each school/college of optometry.
The national AOSA president is responsible for coordinating the national liaison program at all North American Schools of optometry and serves as a board member of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. Mr. Deom is the sixth AOSA president from PCO.
After his installation, Mr. Deom said, "Among my personal goals for the year, I would like to increase the general awareness of optometric education and the services that optometry provides to the public by inspiring the over 6,000 optometry students at all of the schools and colleges of optometry to share their experiences with their friends, neighbors, and acquaintances."
He also spoke of the need for legislative awareness to continue to be a primary focus "as we build on the landmark participation and financial support headlined by students at last year's Congressional Advocacy Conference." Mr. Deom believes that "a strong and unified student voice will transition into a stronger more unified profession," adding that "this will continue to be our underlying purpose in all that we do this year." He is pictured above in Haiti with a young patient from a 2012 VOSH (Volunteers in Optometric Service to Humanity) humanitarian trip.
03.2013
First Annual AOSA
Wormington Run
by James Deom ’14OD
The first annual Wormington 5K Run took place on January 28 at the beautiful Alverthorpe Park in Abington PA. The run was presented by the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) and was sponsored by Gulden Ophthalmics, Hoya, and Keeler Instruments.
Through the generous support of our sponsors and the funds raised through entry fees, AOSA was able to make a generous donation to the Fox Chase Cancer Center and to fund several lectures for their upcoming lecture series for optometry students.
More than 60 students came out on a beautiful, unseasonably warm day to run and walk together in hopes of being awarded the coveted prize: a one of a kind, silver edition Wormington Card, which was produced through a special request from Tom Cockley, president of Gulden Ophthalmics.
The winners of this inaugural race were:
First Place Overall Male: Greg Wiefel
First Place Overall Female: Kelly Babcock
First Place 1st Year OD Student: Van Huynh '15OD
First Place 2nd Year OD Student: Erica Tow '14OD
First Place 3rd Year OD Student: David Kong '13OD
Cutest Baby: Miles Clark
Best Mother- Son Duo: Dr. Melissa Vitek, Alex Vitek
First Place Faculty: Dr. Andy Gurwood
First Place Walker: Dr. Charles Wormington
The primary organizers of the run were OSA Trustees: James Deom '14 and Jennifer Turano '15. A huge thank you goes out to all of the volunteers who made the run possible: Kelly Babcock, who designed the shirts; Hieu Huynh '15OD, who designed the medals; Agnes Kim '14OD, Constance Berryman '14OD, Taylor Babcock '14OD, and Angelica Delgado '14OD, who were instrumental not only in procuring food donations for the day of the run, but in race day logistics. We would not have had such a successful run if it were not for these individuals.
Lastly, and certainly not least, AOSA would like to thank Dr. Wormington for allowing us to have this run in his name!
January, 2012
The AOSA is a totally independent national optometric student organization whose policies and activities are determined by its membership. There is a chapter at every optometry school and college in the U.S.A. as well as the University of Waterloo, Canada and the University of Montreal, Canada. The AOSA puts you in touch with 5,149 other optometry students and is your direct connection to the AOA, which represents over 30,000 optometrists.
Each chapter shapes the national policies of the AOSA through their local AOSA Trustee. The AOSA Trustee is a voting member of the PCO Student Council. At PCO, a Trustee-Elect serves to assist the Trustee prior to their role as a Trustee. The Student Activity Fee pays for AOSA membership dues of $20. Advantages of membership include receiving AOSA publications, yearly "membership benefits," and discounts on AOSA activities.
Because the AOSA is an informative, responsive communications program, every member receives the "American Optometric Student Foresight." The "Foresight" is a way to be informed about many issues that are occurring in optometry. In addition, every student at PCO is invited to become a student member of the American Optometric Association (AOA), and receives the monthly "Journal of the American Optometric Association," "Optometric Management," "Optometric Economics," and the bimonthly "American Optometric Association Newsletter."
The AOSA is the voice of optometry students directed to the policy-making bodies of national optometric organizations. Active communication is maintained with such groups as the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, the Optometric Extension Program Foundation, the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, the International Association of Boards, the AOA Political Action Committee, the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and the National Optometric Association. The AOSA is working to improve optometric education and health care for all people. AOSA has active communication and shares programs with all of the major student health professions' associations, in addition to those of the American Public Health Association and the National Health Council.
The mission statement of the American Optometric Association:
To promote and advance the professional education and ideals of optometry students, to support and strengthen its members on a national and local level, and to ensure measures necessary for meeting the future needs of the association and profession.
The national AOSA Congress is held annually at one of the optometry schools or colleges usually in January, The AOA Congress is usually held in late June.
In this stage of evolution in optometry, an individual practitioner needs the services of a professional association. The best way for you to be heard is to get involved, and the sooner the better.
To reach this student organization: AOSA@salus.edu
For More Information Contact:
- Trustee: Sheridon Gove, ’12OD
- Trustee-elect: Rachel Nadeau, ’13OD
- AOA Political Action Committee Delegate: Sherelle McCoy, '11OD
- For more information: AOSA@salus.edu