More About CIP
The mission of the AOA Center for Independent Practice (CIP) is to fuel a passion for and create a foundational knowledge base to excel in the management of today’s independent practice of contemporary optometry. This center of excellence will help students and practitioners develop strong partnerships, optimize practice resources, create business strategy and utilize the fundamentals of professional practice advocacy.
Partners
The AOA thanks Southern College of Optometry, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry, The Ohio State University College of Optometry, University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry, and Western University College of Optometry for their visionary partnership and leadership in the CIP and independent practice of contemporary optometry.
The Southern College of Optometry and the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry have the highest rate of AOA membership among students who graduated from 2011-2021, and the five CIP partner schools have the highest rates of faculty membership in AOA among all schools and colleges of optometry.
CIP Steering Committee
- AOA Past President Robert C. Layman, O.D., Chair
- AOA President-elect Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., Vice Chair
- Southern College of Optometry President Lewis Reich, O.D., Ph.D.
- Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry Dean Nathan Lighthizer, O.D.
- The Ohio State University College of Optometry Associate Dean for Research Jeffrey Walline, O.D., Ph.D.
- University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry Dean Renee Reeder, O.D.
- Western University College of Optometry Founding Dean Elizabeth Hoppe, O.D., M.P.H., Dr.PH.
- Tara DeRose, O.D.
- Aaron McNulty, O.D.
- Erick Henderson, O.D.
- AOA CIP Executive Director Rodney Peele, J.D.