I would like to formally invite you all to consider a unique opportunity during your time as an optometry student. This opportunity will allow you to gain an invaluable education in leadership as a National Liaison to one of the American Optometric Student Association’s Allied Organizations. As a National Liaison you will act as a conduit of information between the organization and the AOSA’s local liaison network. This information can then be shared with the more than 6,000 students that make up the body of AOSA members located at all of the colleges of optometry within the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
I challenge each and every one of you to think about what you want optometry to be like when you graduate. Do you want the body of optometrists to be well-educated about programs like InfantSee, comfortable with vision therapy techniques, able to reach out to local little league teams to provide sports vision evaluations, or even to be comfortable with assessing those with brain injuries? If the above abilities are what you envision for your future colleagues, stand up, step forward, and help take a leadership role in assuring that your fellow student-doctors are up to date and aware of all of the many opportunities that our allied organizations available to them.
I encourage you all to visit http://www.theaosa.org/x18896.xml for a list of the current National Liaisons (NL). I also would suggest that you reach out to the current NL and ask them about their duties and experience. I have had the pleasure and honor of serving this past year as a NL and it has provided me countless opportunities to network, and even a few job offers!
Above all else, an NL applicant should be passionate and excited about their organization of choice. I urge you all to have a vision and work hard to attain it. The future of this profession is ours – let’s assure that it is a bright one!
An application including a one-page letter of intent and CV will be required for consideration. For more information please reach out to your AOSA Trustee which can be found at http://www.theaosa.org/x18890.xml. Deadline for submission is February 15th, 12:00pm EST. The announcements of the positions will be on March 1st by 6pm EST.
Positions are for:
Colleges of Optometrists in Vision Development
InfantSee- Optometry Cares
AOA Cornea and Contact Lens Section
American Public Health Association
AOA Sports Vision Section
Neuro-Optometric Rehab Association
American Academy of Optometry
American Board of Optometry
AOA Advocacy Committees
Armed Forced Optometric Association
Optometric Extension Program
AOA Vision Rehab Section
James Deom
The Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University
President of The American Optometric Student Association
