Dori's 20/20 Tour

“And the earth shook in fear when I arrived in Washington, D.C. to visit with Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.”

Okay, perhaps that’s a little bit of a stretch, but it is true to a certain extent.

Last month, AOA staff and I were granted some time with Ms. Sebelius to talk about the pediatric vision benefit that has yet to be defined inside of health care reform.  A meeting at a time when she is not granting many meetings showed the importance of AOA and a topic that could potentially help millions of children in the United States – eye exams for kids.  A basic premise of life… it is much easier to learn when one can see well.

I also had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Alexa Posny, assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.  She was one of our keynote speakers at the
School Readiness summit last April.  This was a great meeting to touch base with her, and talk about early intervention for kids to detect vision problems that could affect learning.

Now, back to the part about the earth shaking in fear.

I experienced my very first earthquake that same day.  For my California friends who are laughing, I realize a 5.-something quake is no big deal for you, but it did seem to create
some fear in Washington, D.C.  I was on a plane at the gate when the earthquake hit.
I wondered if high winds caused the plane to rock like it did, but really wasn’t sure what happened.  The humor was not lost by the pilot who came over the airwaves saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, we have some good news and some bad.  The good news is we’re ready to push back.  The bad news is the rocking you just felt was an earthquake and the tower was swaying so much that everyone vacated the tower.  We’re not going anywhere until someone gets back up in the tower to give us directions.”

From DC I traveled to Charlotte, NC — where the impending hurricane was supposed to land — for the AOA Ophthalmic Council™ meeting.  The Ophthalmic Council, which was formed in 1998, addresses key issues affecting the vision care community, and is
comprised of a cross-section within the ophthalmic community. Its purpose is to
create an informational forum for the leaders of the ophthalmic industry and the AOA to communicate their respective ideas and concerns and to enhance and advance the ophthalmic industry to better serve the patient/consumer.

We had a productive meeting, but ultimately decided to cancel the AOA Board meeting that followed it.  Charlotte is a hub, and there were concerns we would be stuck for a few
days because of disrupted air travel.

The rest of this last month has been made up of conference calls in an attempt to address concerns that would have normally been handled at our board meeting.  I’ve been gearing
up to travel to several meetings this fall and I started up my school tour to visit the remaining 11 universities.   I had three stops in the month of September.
I wish I could take all of you on these stops with me as I have learned so much.  I’m teaching them and they’re teaching me.

So, the 200+ e-mails in a day.  The hours spent on the phone discussing
issues where I’m trying to build a consensus.   The juggling of running two practices, doing payroll for the staff (yes, I still do that), trying to get everything ready for attestation of Meaningful Use of EHR, celebrating birthday week in our home (boys with birthdays six days apart), and starting up the second half of my school tour – it’s all worth it
– especially when I get phone calls from members thanking me for being an
advocate for optometry.  A colleague called me last week purely for the purpose of thanking me for what I’m doing on behalf of AOA.  Thank you for that pep talk!  I needed it.

It’s for the love of our profession.  I love being an Optometrist.  My best friend/husband is an Optometrist and I have a son who told Wayne Brady this past June he wanted to be an
Optometrist.

So earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, issues affecting the future of Optometry – bring it on!  Personally I like a good snowstorm now and then.  I do live in North Dakota, after
all.

Four hours with students!  Two hours spent with an incredible group of present and future leaders (shown in the picture) followed by two full hours with an auditorium full of students.  It’s really hard to NOT be passionate about our profession when you spend a day with a passionate group of people.

Over coffee I asked this small group a question:  “If you could tell all the Presidents and Pres-Elects and ED’s of the state affiliates one thing, what would you tell them?”  They brought up several items.  1.  They want an easier way to transition their membership.  They want a single website where they can update their information during graduation.  2. They want states to come to their school and talk to them.  3.  They want each state to give a couple of travel grants to students from their state in order to get more students to Congressional Conference.  4. They want to get state newsletters and be a student member of their home state at little to no cost.  Sometimes they want to join multiple and fees add up.

I have a few pages of notes from day at SCO so it was a busy day of ideas.  Keep ‘em coming folks!

They Saved a Spot for Me!

Last week I had a unique school visit experience.  I had just about every 1-3 year student at Michigan College of Optometry AND several faculty AND the entire Michigan Optometric Assn board at my “Lessons for Optometry” session.  I estimate there were about 150 people in the room that evening.  As a result I was able to incorporate some comments for faculty and board members in to my talk.  Loved the questions I got as well.  Truthfully that’s my favorite part – the questions I get afterwards.  And guess what – there were students from North Dakota too!

I feel like I was on summer vacation.  I haven’t toured a school or written in this blog since last May when I visited UMSL.  That’s not to say I haven’t been busy … I just haven’t been in school mode.  I bought a new suit and I have a new suitcase so I’ve been getting ready though.  A little like ‘back to school’ shopping for my boys.  Tonight I’m packing that new suitcase since tomorrow I travel to Big Rapids, MI to visit with the students and faculty at Michigan College of Optometry.  I’m especially excited to see their new building.  I saw the old one so it will be fun to see the changes.  Nine schools toured and only eleven more to go.  Wish me luck!

I started my vist at UMSL on Thursday seeing this!  UMSL (Heart) DORI!  What a great welcome!  Thank you so much to the students who did this.  This was the start of an incredible day.  I had about 150 people in the audience to listen and ask questions.  The great surpirse was having all the 4th years attending as they were back on campus for graduation.  I think my favorite part was sharing my story about Dr. Wingert meeting my son.  I was waiting to get to UMSL to be able to share that story.

I was also asked to participate in the White Coat Ceremony for the 2nd years.  What a touching ceremony.  Dr. Bennett really made it personal for each student.   The day was topped off with spending a couple hours with the faculty.  An extremely dedicated group of folks that asked some great questions.  I wish every day was like this one!  Thank you!!!

Wouldyouliketoprepayforgasyoucanprepayforafulltankhalftankoraquartertank?  I had to have the “boy” at the car rental agency repeat that a couple of times last night.  I don’t think I’m terribly slow but I really didn’t realize you could make all of that in to one word!  I arrived here in St. Louis last night to visit UMSL today.  Stop #9 on my tour. 

But, back to the boy.  He was amazing.  He whipped through his questions so quickly that I just stood back and watched his lips move.  I found myself thinking …… I hope I don’t treat my patients this way!  I do sometimes joke about how I can push the ‘glaucoma button’ or the ‘dry eye button’ when explaining things to patients.  Things do get repetitive some days.  We all need to remember patients are people too and deserve ALL of our attention.  I know I will be thinking of this kid at the car rental agency on Monday when I get back to taking care of people in my clinic.

Last week we had a record number of students at the Congressional Conference in Washington, DC.  The students were so instrumental in our messaging on the Hill and what an incredibly dedicated group.  Great job!  I have one request – I want to see even MORE students next year.

As I sat in Chicago last Friday night a blizzard with 56 mph wind gusts was whipping its way through North Dakota – closing all the roads.  As quickly as it started it subsided to allow my flight to arrive early Saturday afternoon and officially bring me home.  The roads opened up just in time for my husband to be able to pick me up at the airport.  Dori’s March Madness – 8 plane flights, 4 hotels, 2 rental cars and 1 garmin in French.  Not bad!

As I’ve been on the tour students have asked me how I’m handling all of my responsibilities.  It’s with a large dose of passion and and some laughter doesn’t hurt either.  Last Thursday as I was traveling to ICO my youngest son called my husband to tell him he wasn’t feeling well and needed to come home from school.  With kids … you’re just never sure.  Mark was busy with patients so told him to walk home.  His teacher ended up driving him home and Ian suffered through a fever for the next couple of days.  Saturday was better and we were teasing Mark about being ‘Father of the Year’.  Sunday was a turn for the worse and resulted in an early morning visit to the ER on Monday and a late afternoon surgery.  Ian was proud to show his ‘shrimp shaped appendix” to all who would look at it. 

And so I’m home.  I was supposed to go to Vision Expo for AOA this week but instead will nurse Ian back to health and work on posting the great photos and stories I accumulated over the last couple of weeks.  I’ve also had a request from my son for cut out cookies with frosting.  I’ll add it to my list!

Day 10 – Arrived in Chicago today.  Dr. Vince Brandys picked me up at the airport and shuttled me around to the hotel and then out to meet with a group of students and newer practitioners for pizza.  We drove down Michigan Avenue.  I NEED to go shopping.  Seriously, I REALLY NEED to go shopping.  Shopping really isn’t my thing … but I live 6+ hours from any sort of decent shopping and I thought just maybe I’d get a chance on this trip.  No such luck.  But passing all my favorite stores tonight ………. It was downright painful.