For educators
As an optometric educator, you are responsible for shaping the future of the profession by teaching and being mentors. The AOA is here to support your dedication to optometry.
AOA Faculty & Student Membership Liaisons
Mentorship – Connection – Advocacy
Did you know that nearly every school and college of optometry has an AOA Faculty and Student Membership Liaison available to support you and your students? Their mission is to strengthen the connection between schools and colleges of optometry and the AOA by acting as ambassadors for the next generation of optometrists, to increase awareness of the AOA as the advocate for organized optometry and to promote membership and participation of faculty, residents, and students within the organization and its affiliates.
Get acquainted with your 2021 AOA Faculty & Student Membership Liaison.
Classroom tools
Whether you're looking for non-clinical business basics or ways to help your students learn more about the "business side" of optometry, we've got you covered. Here you'll find classroom tools designed to help your students be successful after graduation—and beyond.
- Order your complimentary set of business cards, sponsored.
Visit AOAExcel® and discover practice management resources, including:
- Optometry's Career Center business opportunities.
- Practice financing and insurance.
- HIPAA compliance education.
- Retirement savings solutions.
- Credit card processing technology.
Residency resources
The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) provides accreditation and residency resources, including
- Professional Optometric Degree Programs.
- Optometric Residency Programs.
- Optometric Technician Programs.
- Student Achievement Data.
AOA+ Leadership Society
The AOA+ Leadership Society is a program for students who want to build leadership skills, advance their careers through networking, personal and professional development, and gain specialized education outside of the classroom. Students participate in the AOA+ Leadership Society in-person during Optometry’s Meeting®, although a virtual option was offered during 2020 and a hybrid option is being considered for the future.
Encourage your students to participate and add this achievement to their resume! Participation is allowed during each year of optometric education, and the requirements change yearly. Recipients of the AOA+ Leadership Society award receive national recognition, a certificate of completion and lapel pin.
Check out your school’s recipients
If you have any suggestions for new classroom tool content development or additional resources that would be helpful to you, please contact Danette Miller.Coordinator of Student and New Doctor Services.
Constant presence: Alliance builds reputation for patient safety advocacy
Founded five years ago, the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (HCAPS) is making good on its mission to advocate for patient safety and protect the fundamental doctor-patient relationship. The alliance’s advocacy will be recognized with the AOA’s Apollo Award during a ceremony at the 2023 Optometry’s Meeting® June 21-24.
What defines the value of care we provide?
Health and vision plans have not adapted and grown with the care we deliver but hold back optometry’s momentum.
How to speak the universal language of care
How to create a bilingual and culturally sensitive practice, why it matters to patients and how it can set you apart from the competition.