07/01/2026

Optometry’s Meeting Wrap-Up 2026

OOA members and optometry students gathered in sunny, HOT, Phoenix, AZ last month to attend Optometry’s Meeting, June 17-20, 2026. The event consisted of top-notch CE, leadership and networking opportunities, AOA’s annual business meeting, House of Delegates, and the expansive Eye Care Square exhibit hall. 

Exciting highlights from the meeting centered around activities related to House of Delegates (HOD), the AOA’s annual business meeting. The agenda for the three-day meeting included reports from various AOA committees and leadership, AOA initiatives such as Eye Deserve More, recognition of sponsors, the AOA Board of Trustees election, consideration of resolutions and bylaws amendments, and recognition of AOA award winners. AOA Excellencehonorees Amy Ngo (AOSA Student of the Year), Dr. Greg Nixon (AOA Optometric Educator of the Year), and Dr. Shane Foster (accepting the Apollo Award on behalf of iSee Ohio) each provided touching remarks as they accepted their awards. 

HOD participants voted on various amendments and resolutions as well as its 2026-2027 AOA Board of Trustees. Ohio’s own Dr. Terri Gossard was elected AOA President-Elect and Dr. Shane Foster was elected to a three-year term as AOA Trustee.  

2026-2027 AOA Board of Trustees: 
Officers 
President Teri K. Geist, O.D., of Nebraska  
President-elect Terri A. Gossard, O.D., M.S., of Ohio  
Vice President Curtis A. Ono, O.D., of Washington  
Secretary-Treasurer Paul M. Barney, O.D., of Alaska  
Immediate Past President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., of Colorado  
Trustees 
Amy A. Puerto, O.D., of Louisiana  
Shane A. Foster, O.D., of Ohio  
Steven P. Eiss, O.D., of Pennsylvania  
Marrie S. Read, O.D., M.B.A., of AFOS in Virginia 
Tad R. Kosanovich, O.D., of Florida 
Jon F. Pederson, O.D., of Colorado. 

Members can read more about the various approved resolutions and amendments at this link: Highlights from Optometry's Meeting® 2026 | AOA 

Aside from HOD, the Ohio delegation made sure to connect with students at its annual Student Reception, this year held at The Cornish Pasty. Check out OOA social media accounts for other OM-related posts you may have missed!  

All OOA members are encouraged to attend next year’s Optometry’s Meeting scheduled for June 16-19, 2027, in Boston, MA.