Published:
Rep. Dan Boren Receives AOA Health Care Leadership Award
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK)
was recognized for providing important leadership on health care policy issues
by doctors of optometry from his district and their national organization, the
34,000 member American Optometric Association (AOA). Optometrists inOklahoma
and the AOA are working to pass legislation before Congress designed to
safeguard sight, promote healthy vision among school-aged children and ensure
access to much-needed primary eye and vision care.
"Rep. Boren is a true leader in Congress on health care issues," said
Kevin Alexander, O.D., Ph.D., AOA president. "He listens to the concerns of
doctors and patients from across his district, and is a worthy recipient of
the 2008 Health Care Leadership Award."
With support from Rep. Boren, the AOA-backed Vision Care for Kids Act
(HR 507), was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on October 16,
2007. HR 507 would establish a federal grant program aimed at bolstering
children's vision and learning initiatives developed by the states.
"I'm proud of Rep. Boren and the work that he's doing in Congress for our
communities," said George Foster, O.D. ofTahlequah, OK. "My patients and I
know that Rep. Boren is committed to making sure health care is a top priority
inWashington, DC and that important bills like the Vision Care for Kids Act
are passed and signed into law."
About the American Optometric Association (AOA)
The American Optometric Association represents more than 34,000 doctors of
optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians.
Optometrists serve patients in nearly 6,500 communities across the country,
and in 3,500 of those communities are the only eye doctors.
American Optometric Association doctors of optometry are highly qualified,
trained doctors on the frontline of eye and vision care who examine, diagnose,
treat and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing
eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in a patient's overall
health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases such as diabetes and
hypertension. Doctors of optometry have the skills and training to provide
more than two-thirds of all primary eye care inthe United States.
Prior to optometry school, optometrists undergo three to four years of
undergraduate study that typically culminates in a Bachelor of Science degree
in a field such as biology or chemistry. Optometry school consists of four
years of post-graduate, doctoral study concentrating on both the eye and
systemic health. In addition to their formal training, doctors of optometry
must undergo annual continuing education to stay current on the latest
standards of care. For more information, visit http://www.aoa.org.
Media Contact: Matthew Willette
O: 703-837-1001
mwillette@aoa.org
SOURCE American Optometric Association
Copyright © 2009, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2009, NewsBlaze,
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