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American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry

Secretary Douglas J. Rett, O.D., FAAO

Picture of Board Member Doug RettDoug Rett is the Chief of Optometry for VA Boston, and a clinical faculty member at four different optometry schools. The optometry section at VA Boston has one of the oldest and largest optometric residency programs in the country, and spans four campuses. He has seen patients at VA Boston since his residency there in 2005. Dr. Rett is the Director of VA Tele Eyecare for all of New England. He is responsible for running the current sites participating in VA Telehealth, and adding new sites at various clinics around New England.

Dr. Rett is proud to be on the ABCMO Board. He knows the importance of board certification in optometry; his experience guiding new programs, teaching new residents and working with a large faculty body help in guiding ABCMO as it grows its reach nationally.

Doug has written and lectured extensively during his career. He has given COPE approved lectures to audiences at national meetings, different state associations and local optometry audiences. He is the author or co-author of over twenty posters or papers published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Rett writes regularly in Primary Care Optometry News and is on their Editorial Board. His primary interest is ocular disease and expanding the role of technology in eyecare.

Dr. Rett received his optometric doctorate from the New England College of Optometry. A native of Michigan, he received his BS from the University of Michigan and travels back home as often as he can. He volunteers annually to give homeless veterans eye exams and travels to local colleges to talk to pre-optometry clubs. He used to be a pretty decent basketball player and now enjoys bird-watching and photography.

April 14, 2021

Email Updates

ABCMO News

  • ACMO Exam Scheduled for Friday, June 7, 2024
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News & Updates – July 2023
  • The Journal of Medical Optometry – First Edition
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News & Updates – March 2023
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News & Updates – May 2022

Reflections – Editorials and Articles of Interest

  • 10 Administrators for Every Doctor
  • What is Medical Optometry?
  • A Letter to VA Optometry Residency Coordinators: Benefits of ACMO
  • Retail and Clinical Pharmacy
  • It’s Time to Rethink Board Recertification

Comments are welcome and can be sent to editor@abcmo.org for publication under the author's name.

Certification Requirements

The following are in addition to an O.D. degree from an accredited North American school or college of optometry and a current state license to practice.

Residency: Completion of a full-time, ACOE (or equivalent) accredited, postgraduate clinical residency training program having major emphasis on medical optometry.

ACMO Exam: Passage of the Advanced Competence in Medical Optometry exam (or equivalent) offered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry.

Practice: Documented significant practice of medical optometry for a minimum of two years immediately prior to application for certification.

The Practice requirement is waived in the two years immediately following residency training.

Complete Application and Requirements

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