Wes Pittman - AOA President

See “AOA”, page 10New AOA President WesPittman, O.D., and wife, Kathyescorted in by Texas delegates.

THE TEXAS OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION, INC.

TEXAS OPTOMETRY

Wesley Pittman, OD, of Mexia, a fourth generationoptometrist, was sworn in as the 83rd president ofthe American Optometric Association Congress inOrlando last month. Crockett optometrist Dr. JohnMcCall, a former TOA and AOA president,administered the oath of office.

“Hey, Ophthalmology!

You guys can still come to all of our

meetings!

Our patients are better off when we

play together like adults.

Best regards,

Clarke D. Newman, OD, FAAO

Editor

AAO says‘No ODs allowed’ See story inside, page 17

John Coble Takes OD of Year

INSIDE Summer ‘04

• Dr. Bob PetersonReceives TOA’s William D.

Pittman AwardPage 8

• New AOA PresidentPage 10

• TOMAC is WorkingUpdate Page 18

• Behind Closed DoorsA Huge Success

Page 19

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Living Lavitra LocaBy Clarke Newman,OD, FAAO

n a Sunday in mid-April, a rag-taggaggle of TOA stalwarts fielded, Idare say, a team to compete in theStudent Texas Optometric Association’s (STOA)

Annual Softball Tournament. The tradition has been for all ofthe TOA Board to participate, although that tradition has oftenbeen more honored in its breach than its observance.

This year was different. We made an effort to align the starsso that we could make a go of it. We held the Spring Boardmeeting in Houston, which was of little use because the ballfield where the tournament was played was so far south that Iam sure it was in Central America someplace. They said itwas Pearland; I say Guatemala. I could be wrong.

We also brought in ringers. Bj Avery and Brigitte Kelly, MBAmay be the Godhead of the TOA, but there is no question whothe major-domo is, and that is Melissa Mueller. You wouldn’tknow it by her quiet demeanor, but our Administrative Assistanthas played softball on Fox SportsNet. She also brought a friend,Mike, who used to play in the Colorado Rockies organization.They were both a lot better than we were, and a fat lot ofgood it did us to have them around, too.

Did I tell you it was windy? Oh, yeah, it was windy. Now, I’mjust not a big softball player. The last time I played softball,George Bush was President and we were at war, but that wasfifteen years ago, and the country was Panama. So, there Iwas, wearing my Teva sailing shoes, because I thought theywould provide some traction. I went hoping someone wouldhave a glove I could use, because I couldn’t find the one I had.Other than that, I had big bag of nothing.

Well, Jim Hannigan, who is older than he looks, and way olderthan he acts, showed up with this big bag of something. Hehad bats and balls and gloves. Great! Someone had gloves!

Please See “Living“, Page 4

COMMENTARY

O

TEXAS OPTOMETRICASSOCIATION1503 S. I-35

Austin, Texas 78741512-707-2020

Fax: 512-326-8504e-mail: TexOp@aol.comwww.texas.optometry.net

EDITORClarke Newman, OD, FAAO

EDITOR EMERITUSBeverly Kotara-Wiatrek, OD,

San Antonio

CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTSJan Bergmanson, OD, PhD

Carl Dean, ODRichard Ebling, OD

Marcus Piccolo, OD, FAAOWilliam Townsend, OD

Exectutive DirectorBj Avery

Operations DirectorBrigitte Kelly

StaffCindy Mock

Melissa MuellerMelissa (Mel) Calvillo

OFFICERS

PresidentDennis Neely, OD, Odessa

President-ElectJohn Todd Cornett, OD, Amarillo

Secretary-TreasurerM. Keith Davis, OD, San Antonio

Immediate Past PresidentClarke Newman, OD, FAAO, Dallas

DIRECTORS

Tom Annunziato, OD, Fort WorthBrian Blount, OD, BeaumontRobert Chu, OD, Fort Worth

Larry Gunnell, OD, Wichita FallsJames Hannigan, OD, Georgetown

Mark R Hanson, OD, PA, ArlingtonMindy Ngo Huynh, OD, Richardson

Jeff Jones, OD, LongviewJerald Strickland, OD, PhD, Houston

Stacie Layne Virden, OD, WacoStanley Woo, OD, FAAO, Houston

JOURNAL OF THE TEXAS OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATIONTEXAS OPTOMETRY

IN MEMORIAM: Weston A. Petty, OD, Lubbock, Founding Editor

LOCAL SOCIETY PRESIDENTS

BCDOS: Farshid Amir, OD, San AntonioBOS: David Saul Mora, OD, LaredoCCOS: Heriberto (Bert) Ramos, OD, Corpus ChristiCOS: TOA Board Liaison, Stanley Woo, OD, HoustonCTOS: Carla Gavilanes, OD, AustinDCOS: Brian Celico, OD, DallasEPOS: John Ellis, OD, El PasoETOS: Brian Nichols, OD, Mt. PleasantHCOS: Joe Janes, OD, HoustonHTOS: Stacie Layne Virden, OD, WacoMTOS: Bruce Wadley, OD, GranburyNETOS: John Gilbert Randall, OD, ShermanNWTOS: Colin Castleberry, OD, Wichita FallsPOS: Kevin Appel, OD, CanyonPWOS: Tracey Scasta, OD, AustinRGVOS: Jim Rowe, OD, HarlingenRPOS: Doug Holle, OD, San AngeloSCTOS: TOA Board Liaison, Jim Hannigan, OD, GeorgetownSETOS: Ray B. Matocha, OD, GalvestonSOS: Mark Wiedenfeld, OD, LufkinSPOS: Jim Hamilton, OD, LubbockTCOS: Robert Chu, OD, Fort WorthWTOS: James P. Adcox, OD, Odessa

POSTAL INFORMATION

Texas Optometry (ISSN 0738-764) is published four times a year by the Texas Optometric Association,1503 S. Interstate 35, Austin, Texas 78741; phone 512-707-2020. Annual subscriptions are $4 for members(included in dues), $12 for non-members and $3 for students. Single-copy price is $2.00. Bulk postage ispaid at Austin, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TEXAS OPTOMETRY, 1503 S. Interstate35, Austin, Texas 78741. All articles and other contributions should be addressed to Stanley Woo, OD,TOA Editor, U of H, College of Optometry,Cntr. for Sight Enhancement, 505 J. Davis Armistead, Houston,Texas 77204.

Business correspondence, advertising inquiries and contracts should be addressed to Publisher, TexasOptometric Association, 1503 S. Interstate 35, Austin, Texas 78741.Expressions of opinion and statements of supposed fact published in signed articles do not necessarilyreflect the views or policies of the Texas Optometric Association, which does not endorse any specificeducational program or scientific theory or clinical approach which may be propounded. Acceptance ofadvertising or optical industry news for publication in TEXAS OPTOMETRY does not imply approvalor endorsement of any product or service by either TEXAS OPTOMETRY or the Texas OptometricAssociation.

Jim had a reputation for being a softball maven-a mavenwho hadn’t touched a ball in four years. He had cleatsand everything. So, he told us not to worry, and he did sowith all of the confidenceof someone playingRussian roulette. Hey, Isaw The Deer Hunter; Iknow how that turned out.

Anyway, we get there,and they hand us baseballshirts. Immediately,Laurie Sorrenson startscutting off the sleeves,and several others followsuit. I thought, “Howrude.” I mean, if they goto all the trouble to buy usshirt with sleeves, thenthe least we could do isnot tear off the sleeves.They said somethingabout the sleeves being restrictive. What do I know; whoam I to question?

Well, we warm up a bit (relearn how to throw and catch),and then we take the field. Actually, we batted first, andscored four runs. We’ll show these kids who’s boss.Having a flashback to my youth, I got stuck in the outfieldwith the other rejects. I played left field, in deference tomy political leanings. Frankly, I think I am more of acentrist, but in today’s world, a guy in the middle is wayout in left field, so that’s where I played. The third guy uphits this long fly ball to left, that by the time it gets to meis somewhere in center field. Did I tell you it was windy?I tried to play it, but the harder I ran, the more the balldrifted right. It was like a metaphor for me in the currentpolitical climate. It missed my glove by about a yard. Then,I didn’t relay the ball back in fast enough, and the runnerscontinued to advance. I sucked.

Well, it is getting late in the time limit game, and weare down two runs with one out, I make solid contact,but I hit it right at the short stop. I explode out of thebatter’s box, knowing that we need base runners,and then I felt it. The pain in my right leg tells methat, for the first time in my life, I have pulled amuscle-a groin muscle. I pull up, and I’m done. Later,Joel Hickerson, Sorrenson’s friend, pulls a hamstring.

Sorrenson’s on the bench in traction because her back iskilling her, and she’s waiting, praying, for the drugs tokick in. I think Brigitte’s nose was getting a little pink out

in the sun. Bj’s taking hugecuts at the ball, only tohave the ball dink off thebottom of the bat and stopeighteen inches from theplate. John Todd Cornetthas to leave to go to theairport in the middle of agame, because he lives inthe sticks, and Southwestonly flies to the sticks onceon Sunday. It was shapingup to be a banner day.Hannigan, who has areputation for pinpointplacement of his hits goes0 for 4, and mumblessomething on his wayback to the dugout about

making good contact, but that he just wasn’t able to get itup. Well, the ice bags came off, as the cynical, sittingwounded dog piled Jim with Levitra comments.

We did not seem to win a game. Imagine that. At onepoint in the dugout, I looked up and down the bench, andI wondered if this aging bunch of warriors would even beable to field a team. Then it hit me. These are the guyswho lead our profession, and we are starting to showsome signs of being vincible. We needed reinforcementsin that dugout. We are going to need reinforcements inAustin, too. This same group of people just can’t keepcarrying the load year after year. We need our membersto step up to the plate. We need new blood that can getthings passed through the legislature. We need you,because we are a great professional association with agreat tradition, and because we suck at softball.

4 TEXAS OPTOMETRY • Summer ‘04

FROM PAGE 3 Living

TOA Softball team shakes hands after the game in show of goodsportsmanship.

TOA Softball Team - (pictured from the left) top row - Dr. JimHannigan, Dr. John Todd Cornett, Joel Hickerson, Dr. ClarkeNewman, Dr. Dennis Neely, second row - Leigh Ann Cardwell, Dr.Laurie Sorrenson, Bj Avery, Dr. Stacie Layne Virden, Brigitte Kelly,Dr. Brian Blount, bottom - Dr. Keith Davis

Paving the PresentFrom the PastBy Dennis Neely, O.D.TOA President

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

I n my Presidential acceptance speech I spoke ofOptometry’s past and its future. It is hard to know

where you are going unless you have some sense of yourpast. The future is somewhat bleak without a vision ofwhere you want to go. Having discussed the past andtalked about the future, let me now tell you some of thethings that havehappened to get us to ourfuture. Since the TOAconvention in Februarymany people have beenworking on Optometry’sfuture.

At the convention Ispoke of the SunsetCommission and itsreview of Optometry’s law and Board of Examiners. TheTOA and the Texas Optometry Board have met with theSunset review personnel and have attended the Sunsethearing. Laurie Sorrenson, OD, FAAO, TOA’s Legal-Legislative Chair testified before the commission on TOA’sbehalf, outlining TOA’s concerns regarding the SunsetReview process. Joe DeLoach, OD, FAAO, Chair of theTexas Optometry Board, spoke of the positive work doneby the TOB, despite a small staff and tight budget.

The Sunset staff and committee seemed impressed thatthe Texas Optometry Board on average deals with a filedcomplaint in just 65 days. One of the other Boards thattestified that day stated that it took more than 600 days onaverage to deal with complaints made to that Board.

The Texas Optometry Board, obviously feels that theyare effective at policing the profession and that the Boardshould not be radically changed. This of course was nosurprise to me, I know the men and women who compriseour profession and I have no questions about their ethicsor professional intents, but if a practitioner does stray from

the correct path we have aBoard of Examiners to swiftlyand aggressively remedy theoffensive act.

Optometry has been busy onthe national level too. TheAOA and its affiliate membersworked hard to defeat anophthalmology-driven bill thatwould limit the care an

Optometrist can render to a veteran in a VA facility. Thebill limited the scope of practice of an Optometrist in VAsettings, but it is obvious that this would be just a beginningfor future legislation. The fact that it rolls back what anOptometrist can do for his or her patients is offensive; thefact that our opponents have chosen to do this at the expenseof military veterans is morally depraved. The AMA andits allies tried to attach this black piece of legislation to theDept. of Defense Appropriations bill as an amendment butoptometry defeated their efforts.

Please See “Paving”, Next Page

“ It is hard to know where youare going unless you have some

sense of your past. ”

5 Summer ‘04 • TEXAS OPTOMETRY

Paving FROM PAGE 5

6 TEXAS OPTOMETRY • Summer ‘04

This bill in the US Congress will likely resurface in the future.If you are called on to respond to your congressman about thisbill, waste no time in doing so. Also, if you know or have influencewith VA personnel, make sure they understand that the trueissue is a turf battle that would reduce care for veterans bylimiting an entire profession. As I said in my speech in Februarymany of our battles will be moving to Washington and we mustbe prepared to take the fight there.

The TOA’s efforts to place OD’s on insurance provider panelsis beginning to gain steam and really pay off. Recently theTOA office received a large list of OD’s that the TOA programenrolled on one or more plans. OD’s being on insurance panelsand being able to bill for medical type evaluations is veryimportant. The TOMAC program will not only bring greatbenefits to the individual OD, but in the broader scope it willstrengthen Optometry’s role in future health care issues. It isimperative that we take our appropriate place in delivering careto the public. This role is not only in providing care in the formof exam and physical treatment but also in the use prescriptivemedications.

It benefits our patients the most if we practice to the utmostof our licensure.

7 Summer ‘04 • TEXAS OPTOMETRY

Coming Next Year in TEXAS!

BCDOS Pitches in at VSPKid’s Day Exams with theSan Antonio Missions,Baseball Team With media coverage from 5 local TV stationsand one newspaper, the event was a bigsuccess. Volunteers screened 124 kids andfound that 49 of them will require follow-upcare. That’s a 40% fail rate. The YMCA thatworked with the program will be giving outSight for Student gift certificates to all of thekids who qualify for the program. This willclose the loop with most of the kids and getthem set up with a complete eye exam andglasses before they head back to school.

Dr. Keith Davis examines a child’s eye sight.

Volunteers included: BeverlyWiatrek, O.D.,Rachel Tellez, O.D., John Nevelow, O.D., KeithDavis, O.D., Robert Onofre, and AnnelaArrendondo, O.D.

8 TEXAS OPTOMETRY • Summer ‘04

BOB PETERSON, OD ReceivesTOA’s William D. Pittman AwardOptometrist sees needs of community

Bob Peterson learned to help others as childBy JOSEF MOLNARCopyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

Editor’s Note: Dr. Robert Peterson, a past president of TOA received the Pittman Award at thisyear’s TOA convention in February. This article reproduced from the Houston Chronicle, withpermission,notes his award and accomplishments.

Reprinted from the Houston Chronicle April 29th edition.

Dr. Bob Peterson says he has always wanted to helpother people, and volunteering seems a natural extensionof that. It also makes up for what he says are hisshortcomings. “It keeps me out of trouble,” he says. “I never wasvery good at hunting or fishing, and when I play golf,people offer me a job chopping cotton.” Without considering his contribution to the need for sportinstructors, Peterson’s work over the past 30 yearsvolunteering in education and in his field as an optometristrecently earned him the Optometrist of the Year Awardfrom the 1,500-member Texas Optometric Association,as well as the William D. Pittman Leadership Award.The Pittman Award has only been given four times sinceit was initiated about 10 years ago, and requires at least25 years of leadership experience. “This is done when someone has shown a lifetime historyof work and when it comes to the attention of the awardscommittee, so this doesn’t happen a lot,” said Bj Avery,an association spokeswoman. Peterson devotes much of his time to professionalorganizations and boards, and also helps homeless peopleobtain prescription glasses through the Lord of the Streetshomeless shelter downtown. The shelter is sponsored bythe Trinity Episcopal Church. Peterson, who has a practice in Northshore and anotherin Dayton, was encouraged to volunteer to help otherssince he was young. And while helping people hasn’tpadded his pocket, it has fulfilled him and given himpurpose. “My dad always said, `If you were as good at gettingpaying jobs as you are at getting nonpaying jobs, you’dbe alright,’ “ he recalls with a laugh. After a stint in the military, Peterson returned to theUniversity of Houston, his alma mater, to teach and work

with students before starting his practice in North Shorein the 1970s. He served on the Galena Park school boardand continues to work with the North Shore Rotary Cluband the Northshore Chamber of Commerce. Dr. John E. Sawyer, the county school superintendentof the Harris County Department of Education, saysPeterson lends his time to help others at the department.Peterson has served on its board for eight years, andthrough that organization, helps with the EducationFoundation of Harris County. “He regularly sacrifices his personal and professionaltime to make himself available to honor both studentsand staff of Harris County Department of Education,”he said. “I don’t how he does it, but he finds time to do so muchin the community,” said Tammy Lanier, a spokeswomanfor the department. “He’s a really committed person toeducation and community service.” Peterson says helping children should be an importantfocus for any nation because of its direct impact on thefuture. “Education is the most important thing we can do as apeople. It’s the key to unlocking the future. As a nation, itshould be our number one priority to help improve people,”he said. The inspiration for doing what he does comes from hisbelief that every person is responsible for helping to makethe world a better place. “I think we all have an obligation to even pick up trashthat’s laying around and make things a little better thanwe found it,” he said. “Sometimes when you help someonewho’s had a bad life, it doesn’t seem like your life is sobad.”

Dr. Ron Hopping, of Houston, announced his candidacyfor the AOA Board of Trustees in an election to be heldat the annual Congress in Dallas next year. Hoping tocontinue in the Texas tradition of current AOA presidentWesley Pittman, OD, and former presidents Robert Day,Sr., and John McCall, Jr., Hopping said, “The secret tothe future of the AOA, and Optometry, is to be in tunewith our members.”

“The hard work of the AOA leaders before us has createdan excellent profession for us today. AOA’s leaders mustbe diligent in our work today if we are to enjoy an evenbetter future,” he added.

Hopping is looking forward to a spirited campaign as fourpeople run for two positions on the board. Those interestedin contributing to his campaign for AOA Trustee shouldsend donations to: Hopping for AOA, 1234 Bay AreaBlvd., Suite E; Houston, TX 77058.

Hopping Hopefulon AOA Candidacy

9 Summer ‘04 • TEXAS OPTOMETRY

Dr. Dixon Golden, Bj Avery, Lt. Gov. DavidDewhurst and Dr. Fred Farias take part in DewhurstCouncil Round-up at the Lt. Governors Ranch.

Eye on ...Texas Politics

10 TEXAS OPTOMETRY • Summer ‘04

The Texasdelegation, headedby TOA PresidentDr. Dennis Neely,marched in to theAOA House ofD e l e g a t e swearing cowboyhats and boots andwaving Texasflags. The Texas-size groupincluded a largecontingent ofTexas opto-metrists and anoutpouring ofMexia friends andrelatives of Wes,his wife, Kathyand son Duke.Pittman’s mother,Pat Pittman, aformer AOAA u x i l i a r yPresident received

a standing ovation when introduced. Pittman’s father, Bill,who passed away in 1992 had been a longtime member ofTOA and ‘mover’n’shaker’ himself in the AOA leadershipstructure. Wes’ ascendancy to the presidency was apoignant reminder of Bill’s pride in his son.

TOA was in the spotlight throughout the AOA Congressthis year. Greenville optometrist John Coble, OD receivedthe ‘AOA Optometrist of the Year’ award, only the secondtime in its history that a Texan has received that award.

FROM FRONT COVER

Wiley Curtis, O.D., accepting AOA-PAC Keypersonof the Year Award.

Dr. Coble with Texas OD’s after being awarded AOA OD ofthe Year - Tom Annunziato, O.D., Clarke Newman, O.D.,F.A.A.O., John Coble, O.D., Keith Davis, O.D., Dennis Neely,O.D., John Todd Cornett, O.D., Wiley Curtis, O.D. and WesPittman, O.D.

OD of the Year Award - AOA President Dr. Vic Conners, Dr.Coble, wife Pat, daughter Ashley, and son Brent.

Dr. Coble received the award based on his commitmentand dedication to the profession, his community and hisinvolvement in politics. A former TOA President, Dr.Coble has also served as president of the United Way inhis area, and is active in Boy Scouts, Rotary and othercommunity groups. In the national arena, his friendshipwith Congressman Ralph Hall has helped optometry onnumerous fronts.

With politics as a focus this year, another Texan earneda prestigious national award. Arlington OD, Wiley Curtisreceived the AOAPAC Keyperson of the Year Award.Dr. Curtis’ longtime involvement in Texas politics gaveoptometry a national voice when George Bush becamepresident. In his acceptance speech, Curtis urged alloptometrists, including the attending students from theAmerican Optometric Student Association, to get intopolitics at the grassroots level.

AOA

TOA President Dennis Neely, O.D.leads Texas delegates into AOAHouse of Delegates escorting thenew AOA President..

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Kenneth Falknor, ODLarry Falknor, ODFred Farias III, ODJames Fehr, ODJames Andrew Fitch, ODDavid Fitzhugh, ODLaura Fletcher, ODBrenda Floyd, ODStephen Flynn, ODCharles Foster, ODTerry Foster, ODLittleton Fowler, ODMichael Friedberg, ODPhillip Fruge, ODRenee Garofalo, ODEdward Garza, ODKevin Gee, OD, FAAODavid Gibson, ODJewell Ginter, ODKathleen Goff, OD, FAAODennis Golden, ODDixon Golden, ODGary Golden, ODThomas Goldstein, ODPedro Gomez, ODRobert Gracey, ODNelson Greeman, III, ODThomas Greene, ODJeffery Grigsby, OD, FAAOJerry Gundersheimer, ODLarry Gunnell, ODStephen Gustafson, ODEugene Guthrie, ODGeorge Hall, ODJeffrey Halpin, ODSteve Hankinson, ODJames Hannigan, ODMark Hanson, ODChristine Harden, ODYi-Ming Harrison, ODCameo Harvey, ODAndy Hawari, ODHeidi Hawkins, ODPaul Hayter, ODSean Healey, ODDonald Hembree, ODBarbara Higgins, ODNhan Hoang, ODQuyen Hoang, ODDouglas Holle, ODEdith Hollenberg, ODDesiree Hopping, ODRonald Hopping, OD,MPHCindy Hudson, ODMatthew Hudson, ODCraig Hughes, ODHenry Hull, ODAndy Hustava, ODLinda Jackson, OD, FAAOJerry Jacobs, OD

Greg Jefferies, ODBob Joe, ODCynthia Johnson, ODMurray Johnson, ODIan Jones, ODJeffrey Jones, ODRon Kaiser, ODGayle Karanges, ODKevin Katz, ODGeorge Kaufman III, ODShawn Kelly, ODVic Kimball, Jr., ODTerry Kirkland, ODHenry Krauss, Jr., ODStanley Kremp, ODTimothy Kret, ODKen Krivacic, ODW. Steve Kroeger, ODBruce Krutsinger, ODTraci Kuykendall, ODMargaret Kwan, ODThomas Labbe, ODMichelle Lamb, ODHarold Lamm, ODRichard Lane, ODMark Lanier, ODStephen Lanier, ODAlan Larsen, ODJerry Latham, ODKristin Y Le, ODNorman Leach, ODPatrick Leas, ODSundra Lemanski, ODMichael Leve, ODMarion Lewis, ODTrina Lieske, ODMark Little, ODXinmian Lo, ODJay Lollar, ODDavid Lopez, ODOliver Lou, ODEdward Makler, ODCarl Malone, Jr., ODF. Keith Manuel, ODEugene Marley, ODJoe Martin, ODLora Martinez, ODJohn Matthews, ODJohn McCall, Jr., ODJohn McCall, Sr., ODWilliam Ken McCarty, ODLinda McClain, ODJohn McCormick, Jr., ODBarbara McDonald, ODJames McDowell, ODCharles McGonagill, OD

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Vanessa Loo Chang, ODChris Cheyne, ODAllen Chin, ODAllen Chin, ODLarry Chism, ODMike Christensen,PhD, ODRobert Chu, ODDouglas Clark, ODCalvin Clarke, ODDaniel Clarke, ODElizabeth Clarke, ODMelvin Cleveland, Jr., ODGary Cloud, ODJohn Coble, ODSteven Coburn, ODHarold Codianne, ODTex Cole, ODKent Comolli, ODScott Conroy, ODMichael Conte, ODBilly Cook, ODB.D. Cope, ODJohn Todd Cornett, ODStephen Cowan, ODRandal Cox, ODSteven Cox, ODWilliam Craft, ODJohn Crawford, ODWiley Curtis, ODThuyhong Dang, ODLynda Dao, ODPaul Darrow, ODSteven Davenport, ODMark Keith Davis, ODBob Day, Jr., ODBruce DeBeer, ODJoe DeLoach, OD, FAAODennis Dean, ODRichard Delay, ODDonald Derryberry, ODMartha Diaz, ODO. Keith Dishman, ODStephen Ditta, ODRyann Donaldson, ODDrew Douglas, ODDiana Driscoll, ODRichard Driscoll, ODLisa Duchman, ODShawn Dunnigan, ODJules Dupuy, ODThomas Dvorak, ODKaren Ebling, ODRichard Ebling, ODWilliam Elizondo, ODTrent Elliott, ODJohn Ellis, II, ODGlenn Ellisor, ODKeith Ermis, ODSteven Ezzell, OD, FAAOJohn Fain, Jr., OD

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TOPAC HONOR ROLL

TOPAC FUTURE 500 CLUB (continued)

Join Future 500...for the future TOA leaders have made sacrifices - missing days,sometimes weeks, of appointments - in the most recentbattle to protect the health and vision of Texas patients.You can show your appreciation and support for theTOA legislative effort by joining the TOPAC Future500 program. When every optometrist commits just $75 per monthto TOPAC, Optometry will maintain the financialresources to ensure that we hold onto our hard-foughtlegislative gains and prepare to battle other foes in thefuture. If you are proud of the accomplishments the TOAhas made for you and wish to preserve them for thefuture, call 512-707-2020 to join the TOPAC Future500 today.

Corporate contributions are not permitted. Checks from P.C'sare acceptable. Contributions to TOPAC are not deductible ascharitable contributions under the Internal Revenue Service Code.

Tom Annunziato, ODBrian Blount, ODKim Castleberry, ODRobert Chu, ODJohn Coble, ODJohn Todd Cornett, ODWiley Curtis, ODMark Keith Davis, ODJoe DeLoach, OD, FAAOJohn Fain, Jr., ODFred Farias III, ODKathleen Goff, OD, FAAODennis Golden, ODDixon Golden, ODJeffery Grigsby, OD, FAAOLarry Gunnell, ODJames Hannigan, ODRonald Hopping, OD,MPH

Neshia Rudd, ODMark Ruiz, ODWallace Ryne, ODJesse Salazar, ODRobert Salchak, ODWilliam Sansing, ODThomas Scannell, ODStephen Schaefer, ODTerry Schitoskey, ODThomas Schobelock, ODRichard Scott, ODDonald Semler, ODRichard Sharp, ODMichael Shea, ODRobert Sheets, ODJonathan Sher, ODDaniel Shropshire, ODChris Simank, ODDerrick Simmons, ODDiane Simmons, ODFred Simmons, ODScott Sitterle, ODJ. Robert Slider, ODBrian Smith, ODRobert Smith, ODEarl Smith, III, ODJeffrey Snyder, ODMatthew Snyder, ODPatricia Solar, ODPerry Soli, OD

Melissa Sommers, ODLaurie Sorrenson, OD, FAAOVirginia Sosa, ODJeryl Sparks, ODWilliam Spiegler, ODDouglas Steger, ODSteve Steger, ODNancy Stehlik, ODElliot Stendig, ODRonald Stevener, ODAnne Stevenson, OD, P.A.Philip Stiles, ODArnold Stokol, ODMary Strahan, ODHarvey Sturdevant, ODVissett Sun, ODMarkar Taroyan, ODGary Tatum, ODTrussell Lee Thane, ODCraig Thomas, ODBill Thompson, ODMelanie Thompson, ODMallory Thornton, ODTobin Tilley, ODAlan Tilson, ODDan Tom, ODWade Toombs, ODEdward Topfer, ODJanet Townsend, ODWilliam Townsend, OD

Felipe T Tran, ODPaul Tran, ODVanessa Tran, ODMorris Treadwell, ODW.C. Treadwell, ODElmer Tucker, ODDavid Tybor, ODAlan Upchurch, ODMelanie Vardeman, ODTimothy Veillon, ODStacie Layne Virden, ODRobert Vodvarka, ODJohn Voss, ODJames Wadley, ODLi Wang, ODDebra Ware, ODJ. Stewart Webb, ODMargaret Webb, ODJohn Webb Jr., ODKarl Wedel, ODRoger Weikum, ODMark Welding, ODBeverly Kotara Wiatrek, ODPaul Wiggins, ODDoug Wike, ODStephen Wilkes, ODLarry Wilkinson, ODJ. Floyd Williams, ODJames Williams, OD

Jeffrey Jones, ODJohn McCall, Jr., ODDennis Neely, ODClarke Newman, OD, FAAOMindy Ngo Huynh, ODJohn Perez, ODMarcus Piccolo, OD,FAAOJ.T. Roberts, ODWallace Ryne, ODLaurie Sorrenson, OD, FAAONancy Stehlik, ODPhilip Stiles, ODArnold Stokol, ODCraig Thomas, ODWilliam Townsend, ODStanley Woo, OD,MS,FAAODavid Wright, OD

13 Summer ‘04 • TEXAS OPTOMETRY

John Wimbish, ODBarry Wineinger, ODIrving Wishnow, ODVaughn Witt, ODMikeal Wohlgemuth, ODJoyce Wong, ODStanley Woo, OD,MS,FAAOBobby Wood, Jr., ODDavid Wright, ODJ. Britt Wright, ODTim Wright, ODMargie York, ODKathryn Yorke, ODMicheline Young, ODCarl Zimmerman, ODLaura Zivley, OD

ADD YOUR NAME HERE

Thank you, Dr. Smith. First of all, to the graduates andtheir families, the faculty, the administrators and thedistinguished guests gathered here today, let me say that Iam honored to be here. I am puzzled why you would want me to speak to youtoday. I guess Irv Borish was busy. Anyway, here I am.So, let’s see if I have any mind vitamins to share with youtoday. At least two of you have heard me tell this story before,so forgive me, but I grew up racing sailboats, and one ofmy mentors was a guy named Buddy Melges. The son ofa Wisconsin dairy farmer, buddy lives in Zenda, Wisconsin,and I grew up in Dallas, Texas, so, I didn’t get to see himbut once or twice a year. However, he always left thejunior sailors who followed him around with some life lessonthat would forever change the way we raced boats, andlived our lives. Buddy’s one of those guys who just gets it. He’s wontwo Olympic medals—a Gold and a Bronze, numerousworld and national championships, and the America’s Cup.One of his great skills is bringing simple clarity to themost complicated sport on the planet. Many years ago, while racing for the Star Class WorldChampionship on a fjord in Norway, Buddy, on the lastleg of the last race, took a huge and very uncharacteristicgamble by tacking away from the entire fleet, and sailingall the way across the racecourse by himself. No onefollowed, because what the author of the book, SailingSmart, was doing seemed to everyone else a very stupidthing to do. Just as Buddy got to the far side of the racecourse, thewind shifted to his side, and he won the race by almost amile, securing his second Star Class World Championship. Back on shore, the other competitors demanded anexplanation. Why would one of the most conservativesailors in the game take a giant flier like that? I supposesome thought they would hear a treatise on moving airmasses and shore effects, but Buddy, being Buddy, simplysaid, “the cows.”

“The cows?” they asked. “Yeah, one minute they werepointin’ one way, and then I looked at them and they werepointin’ the other way, and anyone who grows up on adairy farm knows that cows stand with their butts into thewind, so I knew the wind was going to change to thatside. I just went with it.” You see, what we have taught you will not be nearly soimportant to your success as a doctor as what you havelearned. What you have learned as optometry students isimportant, but what you have learned through your lifeexperiences is what will make or break you as doctorsand as individuals. It is your ability to see the relationships between yourdisparate knowledge bases, and your willingness tointegrate them that will determine where you will be intwenty years. Sitting among you right now is a “C” student whostruggled in every class, who will be one of the very bestdoctors this college has produced. Also sitting among isan “A” student who will struggle to survive in thisprofession. And what will be the difference? Thedifference will be who you are, and what you bring to thetable. The pursuit of knowledge is never-ending. It must be alife’s work, discounting nothing. It is like the DepecheMode song says, “everything counts in large amounts.”That a small piece of knowledge absorbed by a Wisconsinfarm boy would one day make the difference in a worldsailing championship on a fjord in Norway is the perfectillustration of this point. Learning must be contextual, but applying knowledgemust be context free. You must be able to integrate yourknowledge, and have the courage to act on what you seefrom that integration. Buddy had to know something about cows, but he alsohad to see and perceive what they were doing on a shorelinea mile away—and then act on it. One of the great mind vitamins that Buddy shared withme as a kid was, “I am always looking for things that areout of place, and you have to get your head up out of theboat to do that.” I must confess that I find it easy to keep my head out ofthe boat in the examination room, but, sometimes, difficultto do with my family and in the management of mypractice. Let me give you another example of how important itcan be to keep your head up out of the boat. In the 1950’sno one dominated the sport of formula one auto racinglike Juan Manuel Fangio. Only last year, did Michael

Editor’s Note - The following is Dr. ClarkeNewman’s Commencement Speech to the UHCO2004 graduating class.

All That We Let InBy Clarke Newman, O.D., F.A.A.O.

TOA Immediate Past President

14 TEXAS OPTOMETRY • Summer ‘04

Please See “All That We Let In”, Next Page

Schummacher surpass Fangio’s five driving titles. Duringthe 1950 Monaco Grande Prix, Fangio was leading therace after the first lap. Going into a blind turn, Fangiosuddenly slammed on the breaks and slowed to a crawl inthe middle of the track, obviously, a very dangerous thingto do. Around the turn was almost every other car in the racein a massive pile up. Had Fangio not stopped, he wouldhave crashed into the racecars and rescue workers atover 100 miles per hour. Later asked how he knew what lie ahead around a blindcurve, Fangio said, “On the first lap, I saw the blur ofwhite faces as I went into the turn. This time, I saw theblur of black hair. No one was looking at me. I figured, ifthey were looking at something more interesting than therace leader, that I’d better stop.” Graduates, I tell you, it is the common thread that runsamong all successful people. Whether it is MichaelFaraday seeing the benzene ring in a fire’s flame, or thenext huge gain in eye care that, perhaps, one of you will

discover. This context free integration results in catharticleaps in understanding. Demanding of yourself that youfunction in this manner will greatly improve your chancesof success in life. Just as important, however, to your success as a doctoris the strength of your character. My muse, Ralph WaldoEmerson once said, “Nature magically suits a man to hisfortunes, by making them the fruit of his character.” Your character is a vital component of what you takeinto the exam room and into your daily lives. How theevents of the day impact you is based largely on yourvalues, both personally and professionally. The balancebetween the core values that you possess and your abilityto see and understand the values of others will defineyour character. Emerson sums up this point by notingthat, “People seem not to see that their opinion of theworld is also a confession of their character.” You are entering the healing arts, and, as such, caringfor others will really be all you will have to offer. Caring

15 Summer ‘04 • TEXAS OPTOMETRY

All That We Let In FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

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Please See “All That We Let In”, page 16

16 TEXAS OPTOMETRY • Summer ‘04

for others demands compassion. It demands tolerance ofdiversity. To care for someone as you would your brotherdemands that you see the possibility that the patient beforeyou could be a brother. If you cannot do that, then you donot have the character to walk across this stage. As you encounter large groups of people with differingvalues, your values will be tested. Ours is a great anddiverse nation. America is one of the few countries where,if you open the door, people come in instead of go out. However, we are becoming a nation beyond parody, andthat tests your character and your will. As Chris Rocksays, “We’re the only country in the world where peoplego hunting on a full stomach.” Only in America canPassion of the Christ get knocked off at the box office byDawn of the Dead, and we sit passively watching bothwith a large tub of buttered popcorn and a diet drink. Ourleaders deceive us about extramarital affairs and aboutweapons of mass destruction, and we are left to sortthrough it all. And what will guide you as people and as professionals?Will it be your faith? Will it be some ethical construct?Will you just wing it? This important time demands thatyou contemplate these issues, if you have not already. We are not without our challenges, but in many ways,things have never been better. You know, I’m not onewho subscribes much to the “good old days.” It’s a myth,and often, a lie. Sure, some things were simpler back inthe day, but so what? We don’t live there, and the worldonly spins in one direction—forward. So, I challenge each of you to recognize this milestone inyour lives by reflecting upon who you want to be andupon your core values. Will Rogers once said, “The presentgeneration don’t know what a milestone is. They go byso fast nowadays that miles mean nothing.” But they do.Every milestone is important. They tell you where youare on your road. Yet, in your search for values, don’t lose sight of thewonder of it all. Albert Einstein once said, “There areonly two ways to live your life. One is as though nothingis a miracle. The other is as though everything is amiracle.” Your lives are miracles, and your patient’s lives are equallymiraculous. Emily Sailers of the Indigo Girls, writes thelyric, “You may not see it while it’s sticking to your skin,but we’re better off for all that we let in.” Life’s greatest tragedy is not evil; it is apathy. Engage inyour life, in the lives of friends and family, and in the livesof your patients. You’ll be better off for all you let in.

Have the courage to bring all that you are into the examroom, and show strength of character through compassion,knowing that you do so for the betterment of those youserve. If you can do that, then, in twenty years, what you havelearned will be judged a success. I will leave you with this thought. Before the 1976, SuperBowl, Oakland Raiders Coach, John Madden came intothe locker room, and said just this, “Boys, this day will bethe most memorable and most important day in yourlives…but only if you win. Today, you are all winners. Thank you and congratulations.

All That We Let In FROM PAGE 15

Letter to the EditorDEAR CLARKE,

SUCH AN AWESOME AOA CONVENTION IN ORLANDO!

THE GAYLORD FACILITY IS A TOURIST ATTRACTION INAND OF ITSELF. CAN’T WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR AT OURGAYLORD CONFERENCE CENTER.

IT WAS A QUANTUM LEAP FROM MY FIRST AOACONVENTION, WHICH WAS WHILE I WAS ANOPTOMETRY STUDENT AT UH IN MCMXLV. (IT WAS SOLONG AGO, WE USED ROMAN NUMERALS THEN TOREFER TO THE YEAR, NOT JUST THE SUPER BOWL, WHICHWASN’T BORN YET.)

LET’S GIVE SPECIAL THANKS TO THE THREE (OUT OF 83)AOA PRESIDENTS FROM TEXAS. DRS. ROBERT DAY BACKIN THE 60’S, JOHN MCCALL IN THE 90’S AND NOW WESPITTMAN IN THE 00’S.

ALL THREE ARE FROM OPTOMETRY FAMILIES, ANDTOTALLY DEDICATED TO PERFECTING THE VISION ANDENHANCING LIFE FOR OUR PATIENTS.

THE TURNOUT OF TEXAS OPTOMETRISTS WAS FAR LESSTHAN WES DESERVED FOR ALL HE’S DONE ANDCONTINUES TO DO.

SO LET’S PLAN NOW FOR A GIGANTIC CELEBRATION ATTHE MMV AOA. SEE YOU IN DALLAS!

DAN PENICK, OD, DALLAS

Two online courses will finally be offered at Tyler Junior College this Fall.by Dixon Golden, OD, Chair of TOA Paraoptometric Task Force

Online courses to be offered this fall are: Visual System, and Office Procedures. These are three-hour courses, which can leadto a certificate and/or Associate degree in Vision Science. A second course, Contact Lens Theory I will be offered in the Spring.We have been working with TJC to develop these online courses for our existing work force, which is what TOA has beenworking to develop for several years. It is extremely important that these courses have enough students to “make” or they willbe canceled and our program of online courses will be canceled. So please encourage your existing tech to pursue that collegetraining. There will be multiple entry and exit positions, as a student can take one course or they can take a two year course forassociate of science degree. To sign up, follow these instructions:

For someone that has never been a student at TJC these are the steps they need to follow:1. Call admissions and get an application to TJC 903-510-2398, or go the www.tjc.edu and you can download an application.2. After sending in theapplication and being accepted, you need to e-mail Kathy or Rebecca in the advisors office so you canbe added to the register. This is so you will not have to meet with an advisor. Those e-mail addresses are: kpat@tjc.edu, orrwil@tjc.edu.When you e-mail them, you need to include a phone # and SS#.3. Once you have been added by the office, you can then go online to register. www.tjc.edu

A. Campus ConnectB. Type in SS#C. Type in PIN # (this is the DOB without year - month and day only)D. Go to Add/DropE. Follow prompts. They will scroll down throughout the classes. Vision Care classes are OPTS 500

Dixon Golden, O.D. Paraoptometric Community College Committee, Chair

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has bannedoptometrists from the educational portions of their annualmeeting. In a “member alert,” issued April 27, AAO announced,“The Board of Trustees of the American Academy ofOphthalmology, acting on the resolute will of itsCouncil, has passed the following resolution: TheAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology does not permitattendance or participation by optometrists at anyeducational activity at its Annual Meeting. TheAcademy’s educational programs are developed forophthalmologists who have the educational basis ofmedical school, internship, and residency as abackground for understanding the knowledge that ispresented during the Annual Meeting. These programsare presented to ensure better patient care by Academymembers. Unfortunately, non-members have attendedthese courses and then used their attendance asarguments to legislatures to expand their scope ofpractice. The Academy Board believes that using theseeducational events in such a manner is not in theinterest of the public or good patient care....” In response, AOA President Victor J. Connors, O.D.,issued the following statement:

AAO says ‘No ODs allowed’ FROM FRONT PAGE

“The AOA is surprised and disappointed with thisdecision by the American Academy ofOphthalmology to ban optometrists from educationalactivities at their Annual Meeting. “AOA welcomes ophthalmologists to ourCongress, Optometry’s Meeting, to participate inour continuing education programs, all for the goalof providing our patients with the best care possible. “We pledge in our optometric oath that we ‘willshare information cordially and unselfishly with myfellow optometrists and other professionals for thebenefit of patients and the advancement of humanknowledge and welfare’, and would hope otherorganizations would be willing to do the same.” The AOA House of Delegates unanimously passed aresolution at their June meeting continuing AOA’s policyto open all educational courses to ophthalmology “for thebenefit of patients, adhere to the principles of scientificprofessionalism, the free exchange of medical knowledge,and the ethics of collegiality among health careprofessionals.”

Article reprinted from The NEWS. The NEWS is publishedsemi-monthly by the American Optometric Association.

TOA ENDORSEMENTS

Alcon1-800-862-5266www.alconlabs.com(Pharmaceuticals and other eycare products)

Ameriforms1-800-229-3569Ameriforms@email.com(Office Forms, etc.)

Bank of America1-800-365-2219 (AOA)Visa (endorsed through AOA)

Capitol Credit Union1-800-486-4228www.ccutx.org(Business, Personal Accounts, Savings,Checking, Loans)

Cooper Vision1-800-341-2020www.coopervision.com(Contact lens manufacturer)

Essilor Laboratories1-800-229-3569www.eloa.com(Optical lab services)

Electronic Data ResourcesCredit Card Processing1-866-371-2273www.edprocessing.com(Provides Visa, MasterCard, Debit,American Express, Electronic gift card andElectronic Check payments)

Eyecare Services, Inc1-800-296-0991www.eyecareservices.com(Practice Broker, Consulting, Valuation &Management)

First Insight1-800-920-19401-877-690-4637www.first-insight.com(Website Developers: Optometry.net, maximEyes & paradEyes)

Frost Insurance Agency1-817-420-5700(Life, Health, Disability Insurance)

Heidelberg Engineering1-760-598-3770www.heidelbergengineering.com(Laser scanning systems)

Hello Polly1-800-642-7653hellopolly@aol.com(Phone messaging, Hardware, Voice Mail)

Horizons Insurance Inc.(Oldham & Oldham)1-800-950-24741-972-231-3600www.horizonsinsurance.com(Malpractice Insurance)

IC Systems1-800-685-0595www.icsystem.com(Collection Agency)

Laser Diagnostic Technologies1-800-722-6393www.laserdiagnostic.com(Scanning Laser Equipment)

LegalCare1-877-377-2273www.legalcareamerica.com(Legal Helpline)

Madeley & Company, Inc. - OPP1-800-382-7741(Malpractice Insurance)

M. A. R. Financial Group1-800-880-9733(Disablility Overhead Expense Insurance)

Mobile Glaucoma Solutions1-936-546-8808(GDX occ, Blood Flow Analyzer: MobileService)

Ocular Sciences1-800-972-6724www.ocularsciences.com(Contact Lenses)

Office Depot1-800-234-9483 x 122ldolese@officedepot.com(Office Supplies, Computer Hardware, Software, Furniture, etc.)

OOGP1-800-654-3829www.oogp.com(Group Purchasing: Frames, Lenses, etc.)

Signet Armorlite1-800-950-5367www.practice-plus.net(Practice Plus Program for Kodak Lense)

Talia Systems1-800-214-2030(Scanning Laser and Other DiagnosticHardware/Software)

The following organizations have been endorsed by the Texas Optometric Association Board of Directors. These suppliers financiallysupport the TOA. As you comparison shop for goods or services, we urge you to consider these endorsed suppliers. They have made a

commitment to support your profession.

TOMAC, Texas Optometric Medical Access Consultant Planis beginning to show signs of success. Several companies havesent contracts to doctors who signed up with the TOA program.TOA has been dealing with company credentialingdepartments and working to streamline the process for theinsurance companies by delivering groups of doctors who havealready filled out the credentialing forms and materials. Over 410 applications have been submitted for participatingdoctors in the TOA program, in which the doctor pays a feeONLY when he or she actually joins and contracts with theinsurance panel. Companies have already sent 130 contractsto these doctors. To enroll in TOMAC or for questions concerning theprogram, contact the TOA office at 512/707-2020 and speakwith Jennifer Reve.

Dr. Julian Spring passed away in Houston on March1 at the age of 85. Dr. Spring practiced in Baytown forover 45 years. He retired in 1994. He was a member ofTOA and Harris County Optometric Society. He wasalso active in the Baytown Lions Club. He graduatedfrom Northern Illiniois College of Optometry in 1939.

TOA mourns Dr. Spring

TOA mourns Dr. PandiscioDr. Robert J. Pandiscio (retired) of Houston passedaway June 15 at the age of 75 . He was a TOA memberand had received his AOA 40 year membership awardin 2002.

TOMAC is Working -Contracts Sent to Participants

19 Summer ‘04 • TEXAS OPTOMETRY

Behind Closed Doors CE - A Unanimous Success

The TOA convention has become the place to seeand be seen for Texas ODs and vendors! LastFebruary’s 104th Annual Convention has become thetalk of the optometric community. Not only could TexasODs get an entire year’s worth of CE then, but theywere reimbursed $200 of their registration if theyattended all eight Behind Closed Doors (BCD)sessions. That’s what the buzz is all about.

The program was a unanimous success! Almost300 ODs took advantage of the BCD program and100% of those who responded on the exit survey saidthat they want to participate in next year sessions!100% stated that they learned something that wouldhelp them to make better buying decisions and help intheir practices. The doctors were also in completeagreement that they were more likely to buy from oneof the BCD vendors because of participating and thatthey learned something about the vendors that theycouldn’t have otherwise.

A thank you is owed to all the ODs supporting theBCD vendors AFTER the program was completed.Six out of the eight BCD vendors have asked toparticipate in the 2005 program! So far, Alcon, LaserDiagnostic Technologies, Essilor, CooperVision, SignetArmorlite and Ocular Sciences have signed up topresent again. Be sure to thank your reps when yousee them for this great support of the TOA. Withoutyour support of these companies, they would not becoming back. Remember, when all things are equal,support the companies that support TOA.

The 105th TOA Annual Convention will be heldFebruary 24th – 27th, 2005 at the Austin RenaissanceHotel. Watch for more information in the upcomingnewsletters and on the TOA websitewww.texas.optometry.net

By Brigitte KellyTOA Operations Director / Vendor Relations

Special Pricing for

Texas Optometric Association

Members (Special Pricing – June thru Sept 2004)

AbStool™

We've got your back...and your front! A "cool stool" and then some! Neutral Posture's newest contribution to workplace ergonomics, the patented AbStool™ is a uniquely supportive stool (stool height) that allows the soft, pillow backrest to smoothly swivel around and become a "frontrest". Ideal for forward leaning tasks in medical and dental environments, as well as drafting and engineering, glove box applications, industrial and electronic assembly and inspection and more! For dental, the AbStool™ is available as the AbChair™, a state-of-the-art sit/stand with standard height cylinder and the same cushy support for leaning over patients.

List Price - $699 TOA price - $373

(Delivery-3-4 weeks)

For this and other great offers from OFFICE DEPOT

contact Lee Dolese at 800-234-9483.

Email her at ldolese@officedepot.com

The Importance of Financial Planning in an Uncertain EconomyPart 1 -Get Off the Roller Coaster and Get a Financial Plan

by Greg Rychlik - AXA

When everyone else was investing in dot com stocks, did you go along for the ride? Were youtempted to do so? Now that the market’s bumpy ride is making you queasy, are you thinkingabout getting out? Should you?

Too many people decide how to invest their savings based on what everyone else is doing. But it’s become painfully clearthat no one else can make the right decisions for your investment strategy. That’s why a financial plan is so important.

A financial plan can help you negotiate the twists and turns of the market because your investment strategy is based onyour own situation and goals—not what the market is doing at the moment.

A financial plan is simply a guide to help you determine where you are financially, where you want to be, and how to getthere. Many people resist creating a financial plan because it seems like too much trouble—until they find themselves ina pinch. If you’ve been seeing the value of your investments fall lately, now may be the time to consider the benefits ofputting a solid financial plan together.

You can create the plan yourself or seek a qualified financial professional who has the knowledge and experience to helpguide your key decisions. A good financial plan will address more than your investments—it will look at all the pieces ofyour financial picture, including investment objectives, risk tolerance, budgeting, saving, credit, taxes, insurance, retirementplanning, estate planning and more.

Since it’s the investment portion of your financial picture that we are most concerned with here, let’s look at some of therelated questions your financial advisor will ask:• What are your investment goals? Are you saving for a long-term goal, like retirement or a child’s education? Or are youlooking forward to fulfilling some more immediate dream, like starting your own business or paying for a daughter’swedding?• How much money do you have to invest?• How long will you keep the money invested? Can you add to your investments on a regular basis? Do you need theincome from your investments for living expenses? Do you have enough cash readily available in the event of an emergency?• How much can you afford to put at risk? In other words, what is your risk tolerance level? Partly, this is a question aboutyour psychology of investing. But it’s also a question that concerns your age, your current income, your potentialincome, and your total assets.

The answers to these and other important questions are the starting points for the investment portion of your plan. Thenext step is to outline the types of investments that are appropriate for you (diversification) and how much of each toinvest in (asset allocation). Specifically, you need to decide how much to put in liquid investments, like money marketfunds, how much in dividend paying investments, like bonds, and how much to put in stocks, and what kind of stocks.

Wise investors know that a diversified stock portfolio helps cushion against the ups and downs of the market. There aremany different groupings of stocks—by industry, by market cap size (large, medium and small), by investment style(growth, value and blended), by country (U.S., international), and so forth.

Each of these different types of investments performs in different ways. Often some segments of the investment universewill be rising while others will be falling. Deciding on an appropriate asset mix for your particular situation can be the mostimportant investment decision you make.

Whether you choose to create your own financial plan or seek out the help of a professional, having a plan in place—andsticking to it—can help make sure that your investment decisions are the right ones for you. Markets go up and marketsgo down, but that doesn’t mean you have to be just a passenger, along for the ride. You can get off the roller coaster andcontrol your own financial future.

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21 Summer ‘04 • TEXAS OPTOMETRY

HUMPHREY AUTOREFRACTORModel 520 $2,000, MarcoKeratometer $800, 4 - instrumenttables (manual) $150 each 972-231-9595.

TEXAS OPTOMETRY

CLASSIFIED ADSFOR SALE / LEASE

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

LOOKING FOR DOCTOR OFOPTOMETRY - SAN ANTONIO -for full and part-time positions. NOSUNDAYS!! Benefits include:health insurance, retirement plan,paid C.E. and malpracticeinsurance, and more. Top wagesoffered, Spanish speaking a plus.Call for more info, fully confidential.Phone numbers, 210-737-1926,1800-725-1926 and fax, 210-737-2621.

FOR SALE: Excellent opportunity/Outstanding location. 20 year, wellestablished metropolitan practicelocated in a busy strip mall in F.Worth, Texas. Primary careoptometry/great therapeutics. Highgrowth area. Gross $650,000. Net$230,000. Call Dr. Spivey @ 817-232-2321.

HOUSTON - F/T Optometrist forprivate practice. New state-of-the-art-equipment. Optometric assistantassists with pre-lim exam and teachscontact lens care. Excellent salaryand benefits. Fax resume to (713)465-4009.

FT/PT OPTOMETRIST NEEDEDfor high income SAM’s ClubPractice in Dallas/Fort Worth. Weoffer New Equipment / FlexibleSchedules / The highest patient flow.Call Art Dion at 682-554-5554, orToll Free at 1-877-243-3078.

MORE CLASSIFIEDS, NEXT PAGE

22 TEXAS OPTOMETRY • Summer ‘04

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT:Share 1500 sq. ft. office in Terrellwith podiatrist. Available 3 days/wk.Call 214-707-8739.

FAR N. DALLAS - OD with toppeople skills and entrepreneurialspirit to compliment 18-year solomed optometric practice to startwork 10+ hrs per week. Newbuilding fully equipped with latesttechnology. Kindly send CV andphoto to: Practice Successor 18484Preston Road, 102, pmb 149,Dallas, Texas 78252*All replies strictly confidential*

SAN ANTONIO PRACTICE FORSALE - Next to LensCrafters,Crossroads Mall. Fully equipped,Topographer, 2 Exam Lanes. Greatpotential with growth of SanAntonio. Inquiries:tayres2020@aol.com

CENTRAL TEXAS OPTOMETRYPRACTICES FOR SALE - Over$1MM and $500K in revenues withsolid cashflow. Significant revenueupside potential. Decades inbusiness at same locations.Tremendous goodwill. Listed byAndrew Pendleton at EyecareServices, Inc. (972-670-8366)

OPTOMETRIST - NORTHCENTRAL TEXAS - Seeking FT orPT energetic Optometrist. Salary$100,000. Plus for FT. Newgraduate considered. Fax resume to(940) 549-0252 or e-mail to“seeclear20@hotmail.com”.

FOR SALE - TOPCON SL3ESLIT LAMP Hardly used - sat inextra exam room - extra eye pieces- $3000.00 817-431-8600

LIQUIDATING INVENTORY -Dispensary, pre-tet and exam laneequipment, designer frames,cabinets, etc. Call C. Mitchell at713-253-9656 for complete list oremail to cm0399@aol.com.

HOUSTON TEXAS PEARLEVISION FRANCHISE - I-45North. 3 Yrs. old. 832-228-8218E-mail IDOCHOU3@aol.com

AUSTIN PRACTICE FOR SALEGross last 12 months: $160,000Price: $60,000 or Owner FinancingAvailable. Location: Lincoln Village,near Hwy 290 and I-35 in NorthCentral Austin. Call (512) 918-3937 and ask for Ken Richey formore details.

New TOA MembersApril 1, 2004 - June 1, 2004

DOCTOR MEMBERS

Farshid Amir, O.D.Bertram Z. Buie, O.D.

Liliana Cervantes-Karim, O.D.Derek Cunningham, O.D.

Jaime Delgado, O.D.Aaron P. Erdmanczyk, O.D.

Matthew Greene, O.D.Mindi M. Greene, O.D.Shabana Q. Khan, O.D.Maurice E. Knapp, O.D.

Mark G. Lloyd, O.D.Michelle L. Martinez, O.D.Stephen P. Planchet, O.D.

Alison Ramsey, O.D.Cameron Smith, O.D.

Christine A. Tyler, O.D.I-Pu E. Wang, O.D.

Richard M. Ullman, O.D.

STUDENT MEMBERS

Chris Gunn

PARAOPTOMETRIC MEMBERS

Miriam GarciaTamera Holt

EAST TEXAS - Fulltime employment opportunity for theright OD. No insurance hassles, no administration etc. Sendresume to: Eye Doc 5621 South Broadway, PMB 136,Tyler, Texas 75703 or call 903-561-EYES.

EXPERIENCED Therapeutic Relief Optometrist availablein the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Please call Dr.Howard Hooker at 972-250-4838.

THERAPEUTIC RELIEF OPTOMETRIST - Located inDallas, will travel. Intermediate Spanish. Call Dr.Rosenberg at (214) 352-4502 or e-mail:myrosenberg@earthlink.net.

23 Summer ‘04 • TEXAS OPTOMETRY

SERVICES

MORE CLASSIFIED ADS FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

POSITIONS AVAILABLE(continued)

HOUSTON - Optometrist needed for a busy two Doctorpractice. Health insurance plus other benefits. Contact DrNasser at mnasser40@aol.com or call 281-788-6966.

POSITIONS WANTED

O.D. NEEDED - in Dallas area. Excellent opportunity.Cell 214-773-3457, fax 972-264-7220.

FUTURE OPPORTUNITES IN TEXAS - Build asuccessful practice with the value leader in the opticalindustry. We offer... The independence to practice medicineas you see fit. Exceptional income potential. The securityof a strong cash-patient base. A fully equipped officefeaturing the latest technology. Call Joe Hardy, EyemartExpress 972-488-2002 x158,jhardy@eyemartexpress.com Or fax to: 972-488-8563.

NATIONAL PRACTICE SALES - Buyers: 100% +financing abailable. Sellers: Free Internet listings, valuations.Gross $250,000+. Confidentiality maintained.www.promed-financial.com ProMed Financial, Inc. 888-277-6633

OPTOMETRIC CONSULTANT Dr. Jack L. Bridwell

Paractice Appraisals, Partnership,Employmentand Associate Agreements,

Negotiation and Arbitration.

Phone 979-242-4087 Fax 979-242-5132cell 979-966-9500

email: jbpar@hotmail.comwebsite: Bridwellconsulting.com

TEXAS OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION1503 S. I-35AUSTIN, TEXAS 78741512-707-2020

www.texas.optometry.net

E-mail: TexOp@aol.com

TEXAS OPTOMETRY PRESORTED STANDARDU.S. POSTAGE PAID

AUSTIN, TEXASPERMIT NO. 1353

WHAT YOU’VE BEEN ASKING FOR:

Billing and Coding: Done Right - Including breakout session for beginners

Medical Case Histories & Instruments: Which

do you use, when and for what?

Rapid Fire Session on New Technologies

HIPAA Security Update

Demonstration Hall

6 hours of CE