09/05/2024

Members Announce Candidacies for 2025 OOA Board of Directors  

The Ohio Optometric Association will hold an election for positions on its board of directors during the annual Congress business meeting slated for Friday, October 25, 2024 in conjunction with the EastWest Eye Conference in Columbus, OH. Elections will decide open positions for 2025 President-Elect, 2025 Secretary-Treasurer and four, two-year Trustee seats. This is the first year in many that we will have a contested election; please plan to attend and vote for your 2025 leadership! Members may submit their bids for open positions through Friday, October 18, 2024 by emailing their nomination statement to info@ooa.org.  

 

Dr. William Kegerize Announces His Bid for Trustee  

With great enthusiasm, I would like to announce my candidacy for the position of Trustee of the Ohio Optometric Association Board of Directors. I have observed this board do many great things over the years and feel my time is now. We are on the verge of some monumental accomplishments that I would love to help see through. I feel the scope expansion bill is an “all hands-on deck” project that will elevate Ohio’s appeal to new graduates. We desperately need to level the playing field for current optometrists competing with neighboring states that have already had the expanded scope for many years. I am ready and willing to help see this through.  

If elected, I will serve my state with the best of my abilities, experience and time. I feel I would work very well with the current board and have already served on other committees/boards with a few of these current members. Outside of scope expansion, I feel I have been a champion of children’s vision advocacy my entire career. I typically screen hundreds of preschool and kindergarten students every year and provide elementary education and services whenever asked. 

Personally, I reside with my wife and my four daughters. We are very active in sports, coaching, church, community service and cheering on our Ohio State Buckeyes. 

It’s an honor to even be nominated to serve my profession and I thank you for my consideration.

 

Dr. Hannah Davidson Announces Her Bid for Trustee 

I am excited to announce my candidacy for Trustee for the OOA Board of Directors. I have been interested in serving on the board since my time as the President of the Ohio State chapter of the AOSA in 2017-2018. 

I have served as a committee member for the OOA Young OD Committee since 2019 and have served as the committee chair for the past two years. In order to better develop my leadership skills, I have participated in the AOA’s Leadership Institute 1.0 and 2.0. These workshops gave me the leadership skills I need to serve as a competent and confident member of the board. 

We are so lucky in Ohio to have such a strong OOA and AOA connection. I hope that I can help keep our state strong by pushing forward with new legislation and continuing to inspire the next generation to be involved with organized optometry. Thank you for your consideration! 

 

Dr. Katherine Fisher Announces Her Bid for Re-Election as Trustee 

It is my pleasure and a privilege to announce my candidacy for another 2-year term for the position of Trustee of the Ohio Optometric Association. The last two years serving on the board have further strengthened my passion for optometry and the OOA.  

I continue to serve as Vice President of the Ohio Optometric Foundation and am a member of the OOA Children’s Committee. I practice in Springboro, Ohio and have a special interest in pediatric care and binocular vision. 

As we work towards expanding the scope in Ohio, we must continue to advocate for our field, and I want to be on the front line. 

I have seen the benefits the OOA has provided for Ohio ODs. There is so much to share about our great profession and many legislators and patients are still uninformed on our education and ability. I have actively been working with state legislators as a key OD. I regularly reach out to legislators to talk about important issues affecting optometry in Ohio. I also use every patient interaction as an opportunity to share that optometrists are the primary eye care professionals and an integral element within health care. 

I am passionate about optometry and the Ohio Optometric Association. I have a strong foundation and am honored to be considered again as a candidate for the position of Trustee of the Ohio Optometric Association. 

 

Dr. Katie Greiner Announces Her Bid for Re-Election as Trustee  

I am excited to run for Trustee of the Ohio Optometric Association for a 2-year term. With one year in the Trustee role under my belt, I feel like I have just gotten my feet wet with what I think I can do for Ohio Optometry. It was an invigorating year working towards many important initiatives such as Children's Vision and scope expansion.  

I am hopeful we can further modernize optometry in Ohio and the future graduates that want to practice in this great state. I am passionate about third party payors not making decisions for us and for our patients (especially on medically necessary contact lenses) and have enjoyed serving as the Board liaison to the Young OD Committee to keep our new ODs engaged. 

I am grateful for those that volunteer their time for this organization and for the patients we get to help because of it. I look forward to continuing this journey!    

 

Dr. Greg Nixon Announces His Bid for Re-Election as Trustee  

It is a distinct privilege to announce my candidacy for another 2-year term as a Trustee of the Ohio Optometric Association. The OOA has been a valued part of my optometric life for 28 years, but none more valuable than the last four years serving as a trustee. Throughout that time, I have gained a broader appreciation for the dedication of our member volunteers who work so hard on behalf of this great profession. I’m gratified to educate colleagues, patients, and legislators on the knowledge, ability, and impact of optometrists on influencing the lives of Ohioans. The modernization of our profession can further expand the reach of our efforts and provide patients the access they need for services. 

As the Associate Dean for Clinical Services at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, educating the future leaders of optometry is my passion. Education has been and always will be the cornerstone of our profession. It is our robust, cutting-edge education that imparts the newest information and advancing skills that allows us to care for patients. But we must convey the depth and breadth of our education with the legislators that govern our profession in order to practice to the full extent of our training. I am also a fierce advocate for my patients, both in and outside the exam room. As a profession, we need to advocate for a healthcare environment where medical decisions made in the best interest of the patient are recognized and supported by third party payors, not questioned and rejected.  

If given the opportunity to continue in the role of Trustee of the Ohio Optometric Association, I will advocate for our profession to be recognized for the strength of our education, the extent of our abilities, and the compassionate care that we provide our patients. Through these efforts, I hope to advance the visual welfare of all Ohioans.  

 

Dr. Jennifer Vincent Announces Her Bid for Secretary-Treasurer  

I am very excited to announce my candidacy for the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the Ohio Optometric Association. After serving as Trustee for the last 6 years, I am ready to enter into this executive role and I welcome the new directives. This position is going to be very crucial as we continue to push to modernize the scope of optometry, and I will strive to keep us responsible as an organization and I'm looking forward to entering in to this new chapter on the board.  

I plan to continue my roles in membership and advocacy for our organization. Both will prove to be very important over the next couple of years as we grow our organization and our scope of practice. As the chair for the membership development committee for the AOA, I see first-hand how these legislative wins can help the profession as a whole and the impact we as optometrists have in today's healthcare delivery and patient care. We still have a long way to go but the future is promising! 

I have enjoyed every moment of my time on the board thus far and I look forward to continuing. Thank you for your support.  

 

Dr. San-San Cooley Announces Her Bid for President-Elect  

It is with great enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility that I announce my candidacy for President-Elect of the Ohio Optometric Association. I have been privileged to serve on the Board for a time, and my experiences have deepened my commitment to advancing optometry and ensuring that we continue to provide exceptional care to our patients. 

Our profession is at a critical juncture. As we face challenges—whether they be legislative, technological, or related to patient care—our collective strength, vision, and leadership are more important than ever. I believe in the power of this association to lead the way forward, advocating and enhancing our profession in all modes of practice, and protecting the vital role that optometry plays in healthcare. 

Throughout my career, I have always been guided by a commitment to service, innovation, and collaboration. I pledge to bring these values to the forefront, working to represent our members’ interests and to build upon the strong foundation laid by our current and past leaders.  

I ask for your support, not just for me as a candidate, but for the future of our profession. Together, we can build a brighter future for optometry in Ohio. 

Thank you for your trust and dedication to our shared mission. I look forward to the opportunity to serve as your next President-Elect.