Thursday, January 23, 2014

New year; old resolutions

The clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve - 2014 is here! The crystal ball just dropped in Times Square, and a large Hershey’s kiss just descended in Hershey. Auld Lang Syne lyrics echo from the TV, while fireworks pierce the quiet and light up the sky of downtown Hershey. I begin to reminisce about the highlights of 2013 and think about what may lay ahead for 2014. Resolutions ... ugh, the obligatory New Year resolutions … for me and for the Pennsylvania Optometric Association.

Personally, my New Year resolutions don’t change too much year to year. They usually involve losing weight (20 pounds would be really great!) and getting to work a bit earlier each day (which means not hitting the snooze alarm each morning at least three times). But, alas, I’ve come to the realization as to why these same issues plague me each year: I need to address the big picture. For instance, rather than focusing on just what my scale says each morning or what clothes fit me, realize that the more important issue is my general health – providing for a good quality of life now and for the future. Also, I must realize how lucky I am to have a career as a pediatric optometrist that gives me so much personal satisfaction, and a position at Penn State Hershey Eye Center that provides me so many unique patient care and teaching opportunities. So what’s the big deal about getting a half-hour less sleep in the morning?

Likewise, the POA each year has resolutions that continue to challenge the organization. Two of these repetitive goals are increasing active membership numbers and increasing member contributions to both POPAC and AOA-PAC. It is my hope that more Pennsylvania optometrists will, as I did, step back and look at the big picture in regards to these issues. I want the statewide non-members to look past the cost of yearly dues and realize the value of the numerous tangible and intangible benefits of membership in the POA and AOA. I also hope that you, as POA members, will be a bit more generous with PAC donations, realizing how extremely important they are to the future of optometry in this state and nationwide. Contributing to one or the other is also not acceptable - we need to support efforts of both PACs to move the profession forward locally and throughout the country. Optometry is a legislated profession, and maintaining the practice privileges we have today and any hope for scope of practice expansion in the future bluntly costs money. I wish I could say that we can advance our profession just because what we want is right and best for our patients; but that is, sadly, just not enough. It is one compelling lesson I learned over the last six years as a POA Board member. 

I am both humbled and excited by the honor of representing each of you as the 2014 POA president. We have much to look forward to this year! For example, we are planning to roll out several pediatric initiatives (making 2014 the unofficial “Year of the Child”) and have the privilege of hosting the AOA Optometry’s Meeting in Philadelphia this June – we hope to see you there. Dr. Rich Christoph (POA president-elect) and I represented Pennsylvania earlier this month at the AOA President’s Council in San Antonio. Stay posted for the next issue of the Keystoner for our report on the hot topics and highlights of this interesting conference – it’s always a unique opportunity to learn what is happening with the profession of optometry around the country. 

In the meantime, I wish you and your family a happy, healthy New Year. Good luck making those resolutions ... just don’t forget to make the POA a part of them!





Marianne E. Boltz, O.D., F.A.A.O.
President
Pennsylvania Optometric Association
http://www.poaeyes.org/