Published:
Reps. Holt, Pallone and Pascrell Receive AOA Health Care Leadership Award
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rep. Rush Holt, Rep.
Frank Pallone and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) have been recognized for providing
important leadership on health care policy issues by doctors of optometry from
their districts and their national organization, the 34,000 member American
Optometric Association (AOA). Optometrists inNew Jersey 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.
"Reps. Holt, Pallone and Pascrell are true leaders in Congress on health
care issues," said Kevin Alexander, O.D., Ph.D., AOA president. "They listen
to the concerns of doctors and patients from across their districts, and are
worthy recipients of the 2008 Health Care Leadership Award."
With support from Reps. Holt, Pallone and Pascrell, 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 Reps. Holt, Pallone and Pascrell and the work that they are
doing in Congress for our communities," said Randy Brooks, O.D. and vice
president of the AOA fromLedgewood, NJ.
"My patients and I know that Reps. Holt, Pallone and Pascrell are
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," said Markus Barth, O.D. ofLawrenceville, NJ.
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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