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American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry

Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – September 2021

Direct Link to Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/67175a825e53/abcmo-news-updates-september-2021

ABCMO – Fall 2021 Updates

Greetings!

1) First and foremost, the Board would like to welcome all those newly certified in the Specialty of Medical Optometry: Stephanie Carter, Scott DePoe, Adam Fannin, Lisa Himmelein, Meaghan Horton, William Kress, Kathy Lewis, Ethan Leyda, Michael Meyer, Hannah Sipola, Danielle Taylor, and Betty Wang.

If you work with any of these people please greet them with the secret ABCMO handshake (we’re just kidding, there is no handshake, but please say hello).

2) ABCMO would like to introduce Trustee Douglas Rett, O.D., FAAO as the newest member of our Board. Doug is the Chief of Optometry for VA Boston, and a clinical faculty member at four different optometry schools.

Full bio here -> https://abcmo.org/board-of-directors/douglas-rett/

3) The Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program is in full operation and all ABCMO certified ODs are expected to sign up and submit all required information when renewing their state license to practice.

Program Info -> https://abcmo.org/maintenance-of-certification/
Bylaws, Article 19 -> https://abcmo.org/bylaws/#article-19

Quite simply, ABCMO has dropped the requirement that you re-take the NBEO ACMO exam every 10 years and replaced that with the requirement that you fill all remaining/extra State Required CE Credit hours with courses in Medical Optometry. This information along with a Self-Query of the National Practitioners Databank can then be submitted online every year or every other year (depending on your state license renewal cycle).

Enrollment in the MOC Program is a requirement for continued certification and Verification of Certification (VOC)

4) If you are curious about the early days of the Department of Veterans Affairs Optometry Service or would like to see a picture of our President, Dr. Kenneth Myers, the first Director of VA Optometry Service, please click the link below.

VA Optometry – Summer of 1980

As a profession, Optometry is constantly evolving. We commend all of you certified in the Specialty of Medical Optometry for being part of this evolution and for helping lead our profession forward.

President, Kenneth J. Myers, Ph.D., O.D.
Vice President, Richard J. Zimbalist, O.D., FAAO
Secretary, Gerald Selvin, O.D.
Trustee Douglas Rett, O.D., FAAO
Trustee, Molly McGinty-Tauren, O.D., FAAO
Trustee, Michael W. Ohlson, O.D., FAAO

September 9, 2021
Filed Under: News

ABCMO News, Updates & Editorials


ABCMO News

  • A Reminder to VA Residents
  • Advanced Competence in Medical Optometry (ACMO) Exam – Friday, June 10, 2022
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – September 2021
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – January 2021
  • Background Information – Article 19 – Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

Reflections – Articles of Interest and Editorials

  • 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

Veterans/Military

  • Optometry Careers at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and Financial Assistance Program (FAP)
  • Uniformed Services University
  • American Board of Optometry Specialties

    ABCMO is a Member of the American Board of Optometry Specialties (ABOS)

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