I am honored to be nominated to serve the American Academy of Ophthalmology in the role of trustee-at-large. In this position it will be my duty to represent and advocate for the interests or our membership to the Academy Board of Trustees.
My background as an advocate for our profession at state and national levels, experience as director of the Academy’s Leadership Development Program (classes XV-XVII), participant in state and national organizations representing our profession and 20-plus-year history in private practice have helped prepare me to serve the Academy in this capacity.
I was raised in Iowa City, Iowa, where I attended the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa. My residency was at the University of Washington under Robert E. Kalina, MD, and then Richard P. Mills, MD. After residency I joined a Seattle area private practice.
In 2000, I jumped into a legislative battle and ultimately became the legislative chair for the Washington Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (WAEPS). I have served in that capacity for the last 20 years. My legislative work lead me to the Academy secretariat for state affairs committee, where I served as regional representative, and the Leadership Development Program where I graduated in class IV (2002).
While on the state affairs committee, I co-chaired the Surgical Scope Fund disbursement committee and the quality eye care programs for the states committee. Following state affairs, I served on the communications advisory board, where I participated in the early development and launch of the Academy’s EyeSmart public education portal. In 2005, I was recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as a “40 Under 40” honoree, and then received the Academy’s secretariat award (2008 and 2011), distinguished service award (2007) and an achievement award (2011).
In addition to my Academy roles and that of WAEPS legislative chair, I served as president of WAEPS in 2011. I am the president of WAEPS physicians EyePAC and the co-founder of the Washington Eye Foundation with K. David Epley, MD. I have served on the board of advisers of a college ophthalmic technician program and the board of directors of a regional not-for-profit health care contracting company, where I was board chair in 2010.
I have been a partner at Clearview Eye & Laser, PLLC in Seattle for 15 years. During that time our practice planned and built an ophthalmic ambulatory surgery center and then acquired land and developed a new freestanding facility. I have remained an EyeCare America volunteer for my entire career and have enjoyed community service as a volunteer for the King County Medical Clinic.
Throughout my education and postgraduate training, I have been dedicated to ophthalmic advocacy and education, state and national society relations and the delivery of the highest quality eye care. If elected trustee-at-large, I hope to further all of these missions while representing the interests of the Academy membership to the board.