AOA Officer Profiles

Dori M. Carlson, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Dori M. Carlson, O.D., was first elected to the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees in June 2004, re-elected in 2006, and ascended to the presidency at the 114^th Annual AOA Congress and 41^st Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry's Meeting® in June 2011.

In addition to her responsibilities as President, Dr. Carlson serves as chair of the Agenda and Executive Committees and is a member of the Personnel Committee. Dr. Carlson serves as board liaison to the Universidad InterAmericana and to various regional optometric councils and organizations.

Prior to her election to the Board, Dr. Carlson was the first female president of the North Dakota Optometric Association. She served as chair of North Dakota's Managed Care Committee, Hospital Privileges Committee and Mentoring Committee. She also served as chair of the AOA Information and Member Services Group, chair of the Membership Development Committee and was a member of the Communications Technology Project Team.

She continues to serve on the North Dakota Blue Cross Blue Shield Advisory Committee and is a long-standing member of the North Dakota Legislative Committee. She is a trained consultant for the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.

Dr. Carlson is a graduate of the Pacific University College of Optometry. She then completed a residency at the American Lake and Seattle VA Hospitals. In 1994, she was honored as the North Dakota Young Optometrist of the Year and as the Optometrist of the Year in 2003. She and her husband, Dr. Mark Helgeson, have offices in Park River and Grafton, North Dakota.

Ronald L. Hopping, O.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.O.

Ronald L. Hopping, O.D., M.P.H., was elected to the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees in June 2005, re-elected in June 2008, and elected President-Elect at the 114^th Annual AOA Congress and 41^st Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry's Meeting® in June 2011.

 In addition to his responsibilities as President-Elect, Dr. Hopping is a member of the AOA Executive, Investment, Agenda and Personnel Committees.  His board liaison assignments include the Meetings Center and affiliate associations in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon.  Dr. Hopping is also the liaison for the Armed Forces Optometric Society, Southern California College of Optometry and Western University of Health Science College of Optometry.

Prior to his election to the Board, Dr. Hopping served as chair of the AOA Information and Member Services Group and also of the AOA Communications Group Advisory Committee. He has served on the Healthy Eyes Healthy People Oversight Committee. He is a charter member of the AOA Contact Lens and Cornea Section and the Sports Vision Section. He is an InfantSEE® provider and a contributor to the AOA PAC at the Visionary level.  He has served as a full-time faculty member with the rank of Assistant Professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry. Dr. Hopping served as President of the Texas Optometric Association in 1996.

 Dr. Hopping is a graduate of the Southern California College of Optometry. He received his Masters in Public Health from the University of Texas in 1982. He has received President's Awards for Outstanding Service from ten different state presidents and was recognized as the Texas Optometrist of the Year in 2002. Dr. Hopping received the Outstanding Faculty Award at the University of Houston College of Optometry. Dr. Hopping is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and is recognized as a Diplomate in Cornea and Contact Lenses. Additionally, he is recognized as a Distinguished Practitioner by the National Academies of Practice in Optometry.

 Dr. Hopping is in full-time, independent practice with his spouse, Desiree Hopping, O.D., and two associates in the Clear Lake area of Houston, Texas.

Mitchell T. Munson, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Mitchell T. Munson, O.D. was elected to the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees in June 2006, re-elected in June 2009 and elected Vice President at the 114^th Annual AOA Congress & 41st Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry's Meeting® June 2011.

In addition to his duties as Vice President, Dr. Munson is Speaker of the House Pro Tem, serves as chair of the Investment Committee, is a member of the Executive Committee and is the liaison to the Third Party Center.  Dr. Munson's liaison assignments also include the affiliate associations in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, as well as Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry and Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry.

Prior to his election to the Board, Dr. Munson spent 10 years in the AOA volunteer structure serving on the AOA New Technologies Committee, Statutory Scope Committee and the AOA Political Action Committee where he served as chair from 2003-2004.

In 1992, he was elected to the Colorado Optometric Association (COA) Board of Trustees and elected president in 1995.  The COA named him Young Optometrist of the Year in 1993 and Optometrist of the Year in 1996. He was presented with COA's Distinguished Service Award in 2001.

Dr. Munson is a past president of the Southwest Council of Optometry and a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry.

A 1986 graduate of the Southern California College of Optometry, Dr. Munson has a group practice in Highlands Ranch, CO, with his wife and classmate, Dr. Susan Brunnett.

David A. Cockrell, O.D., F.A.A.O.

David A. Cockrell, O.D., was elected to the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees in June 2005 and re-elected in June 2008, and elected Secretary-Treasurer at the 114^th Annual AOA Congress & 41^st Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry's Meeting® in June 2011.

In addition to his duties as Secretary-Treasurer, Dr. Cockrell is the chair of both the Finance and Constitution & Bylaws Committees, a member of the Executive and Investment Committees, and is the liaison to the Membership Group. His liaison assignments also include the affiliate associations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as the University of Houston College of Optometry and the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry.

Prior to his election to the Board, Dr. Cockrell served as chair of the AOA State Government Relations Center, as well as AOA Primary Care and Patient Management, Statutory SCOPE, and Nominating and Resolutions committees.  He has also served on the AOA Federal Government Relations Center.

Dr. Cockrell is a graduate of the Southern College of Optometry. He is a past president of the Southwest Council of Optometry.  In Oklahoma, he served as chair of the Congress Committee as well as the State and Federal Legislative Committees.  He is a past President of the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians and a former Oklahoma Optometrist of the Year.  He has also served on the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners in Optometry since 1997.

 Dr. Cockrell practices in Stillwater, OK, with his wife, Cherry B. Cockrell, O.D., Jeff D. Miller, O.D., partner and John M. Millirons, O.D., associate.

Joe E. Ellis, O.D.

Joe E. Ellis, O.D., was first elected to the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees in 2001, re-elected in 2004, and ascended to the presidency in June 2010 and now serves as Immediate Past President.

In addition to his responsibilities as Immediate Past President, Dr. Ellis serves as Speaker of the House, chair of the AOA Personnel Committee, and is a member of the AOA Agenda and Executive Committees. He is also the board liaison to the AOA Industry Relations Center and to the affiliate associations in Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as Pacific University College of Optometry and the University of California Berkeley College of Optometry.

Prior to his election to the Board, Dr. Ellis held a variety of volunteer appointments within the American Optometric Association. Most recently, he served as chair of the AOA's State Health Care Legislation Committee.

Dr. Ellis served on the Board of the Kentucky Optometric Association from 1990-96 and as president in 1994-95.

In 1992, he was named Kentucky Young Optometrist of the Year; and in 1995, his colleagues honored him as Kentucky Optometrist of the Year. He has also received three President's Awards from the Kentucky Optometric Association.

Dr. Ellis was very instrumental in his efforts and relationship with Governor Paul Patton and the Kentucky General Assembly to help pass the first school entrance level eye examination in the United States in 2000.

Dr. Ellis' area of special interest is in the area of advocacy, especially as it pertains to patients' access to optometric care. He has been active in legislative and government relations at the state and national levels. Dr. Ellis was instrumental in the passage of numerous legislative efforts in Kentucky relating to access issues.

Dr. Ellis is a graduate of the Southern College of Optometry and is in private practice in Benton, KY. He is a member and past president of the Benton Lions Club and past chairman of the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce.