Volume 6, Issue 40│October 7, 2022
ASSOCIATION NEWS
IOA Names State Representative Theresa Mah
Legislator of the Year
 
Illinois State Representative Theresa Mah is recognized by Illinois Optometric Association for her outstanding contributions to the IOA. Rep. Mah was the Chief Sponsor of House Bill 4929 which allows optometrists to administer the COVID-19 vaccination.
 
“We are grateful to Rep. Mah for serving as a Chief Sponsor of this important legislation,” said Leigh Ann Vanausdoll, CEO of the IOA.
 
“Our doctors are well prepared to step in and serve patients by offering preventive vaccines against COVID-19, in addition to providing eye care for patients of all ages,” added Vanausdoll.
 
An amendment to the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 expands the scope of practice and wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of the PAC Committee and Donors, Keyperson Network, and IOA’s supportive members who helped promote this important effort.
 
In her acceptance speech, Representative Mah said, “Eyecare is healthcare and healthcare access is a really important issue for me.” She continued, “It was not difficult to carry this bill to make sure optometrists had the opportunity to provide vaccinations.”
 
Governor JB Pritzker signed the legislation into law effective May 13, 2022.
 
Rep. Mah has served the 2nd District in Illinois since 2017; she is the first Asian American to serve in the Illinois House of Representatives. Mah holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and is a former college professor.

Thank you to everyone who posted on social media and hashtagged our event #2022IOA
Here are some of your pics!

Congratulations to Wendy Gale Grunwald, the winner of the social media contest! Wendy will receive a $100 gift card for uploading her pictures to social media using the hashtag #2022IOA.
Fox Valley 2022 "Doc Karl" Memorial Golf Outing
Thank you to all who attended the 2022 Fox Valley Optometric Society's "Doc Karl" Memorial Golf Outing on October 5. It was a beautiful day on the links and we are grateful to all attendees who came out to support FVOS and the IOA! Thank you to the event sponsor, Kovach Eye Institute.
2022 Medicare Fee Schedules

Locality 12: Excel or PDF

Locality 15: Excel or PDF

Locality 16: Excel or PDF

Locality 99: Excel or PDF
Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC
Labor Law Poster 2022
Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!

Our team is looking for a part-time optometrist to join us on our mission to transform lives through vision at our office in Bensenville, IL (located near O'Hare Airport (Read more)

Hello Colleague, I’m Dr. Bradley Grant, Managing Partner of Mid-State Eye Partners and EYE Wisconsin,  (Read more)
SAVE THE DATE
BUSINESS TIP OF THE WEEK
Instagram, like all social media apps, is always making changes and rolling out updates, and within that, it is possible that you may have missed or overlooked something that could be critical to how it now sorts content and displays search results.
Make sure you switch to an Instagram Business Account and fill out all the relevant details relating to your business.

Retrieved from Meta on October 04, 2022
 
Once you have an IG business account, you’ll be able to run ads, access analytics, get displayed in relevant discovery elements in the app, etc.

Instagram also provides three additional tips for those filling out their business details:
  • Use emojis or hashtags to highlight keywords
  • Include a link to your website or online shop
  • Choose a simple and clear photo

For more information on getting started with an IG business account, you can check out Instagram’s resources and guides, where you can also access a free, tailored Instagram business plan, aligned with your business goals.

INDUSTRY NEWS
Black EyeCare Perspective to Host Third Annual IMPACT HBCU Event
October 6, 2022


The event is part of the organization's pipeline for Black students into optometry.
Black EyeCare Perspective will host their third annual IMPACT HBCU, a community awareness and targeted recruitment event to create and develop more Black Doctors of Optometry, on October 18, 2022.

Although Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) produce about 40% of all doctors, future optometrists that identify as Black or African American make up approximately 4% of students in the 23 schools and colleges of optometry.
Black EyeCare Perspective, founded by optometrists Drs. Adam Ramsey and Darryl Glover, was designed, and created to cultivate and foster lifelong relationships between African Americans and the eyecare industry.

Along with Drs. Essence Johnson (Chief Visionary Officer), Jacobi Cleaver (Chief Program Officer) and Tiffany Humes (Business Transformation Manager), Black EyeCare Perspective is redefining the color of the eyecare industry 1% at a time by creating a pipeline for Black students into optometry.

According to the 2021-2022 ASCO Annual Student Data Report, “The percentage of full-time Black or African American students increased to 4.0% from 3.4% last year, and from 2.8% five years ago.”

Through industry partners like America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses, MyEyeDr., and Warby Parker, Black Eyecare Perspective is able to raise awareness about optometry and expose students and communities to a variety of minority optometrists that share their unique journeys and diverse practice styles.

This year’s event will take place virtually on Tuesday, October 18 at 7:30 pm EST and feature a panel discussion with Drs. Janelle Davison (Smyrna, GA) and Devin Sasser (Silver Springs, MD) as well as the University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Optometry. The theme will focus on how eyecare professionals make an impact in the lives of students, their communities, and their industry.

Black EyeCare Perspective believes that “If you see it, you can be it,” and encourages students, families and communities to register here for the impactful and informative event.
Learn more about Black EyeCare Perspective, their initiatives, and ways to support, or join the club.
CooperVision’s Michele Andrews, OD, Named ICO 2022 Alumnus of the Year
Dr. Andrews earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from ICO in 1992.

SAN RAMON, CA — Michele Andrews, OD, vice president, professional and government affairs, Americas, CooperVision, was the recipient of the 2022 Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) Alumni Association Alumnus of the Year Award. The award recognizes those who demonstrate an accomplished career and extensive leadership, support, and service to the college and the optometric profession. Dr. Andrews earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from ICO in 1992.

“It is my absolute pleasure to present Dr. Michele Andrews with the 2022 Illinois College of Optometry Alumnus of the Year Award. Her dedication and commitment to the optometric profession and to her community is admirable,” said Nana Owusu, OD, president, Illinois College of Optometry Alumni Council. “In representing the largest Optometric Alumni Association in the world, the Alumni Council at ICO has the distinct honor of recognizing and supporting our graduates who continue to drive our profession forward. We are proud to call Dr. Andrews one of our own, and we are eager to see the impact that she will continue to make as she paves the way for future alumni.”

Prior to joining CooperVision in 2015, Dr. Andrews held various practice management, provider relations, and professional services positions with LensCrafters, EyeMed Vision Care, and ForEyes Optical. Her clinical career spanned many years in multi-unit ophthalmology practices, LASIK surgical centers, retail, and private practice settings.

In recognition of her ongoing contributions to the industry, Dr. Andrews was named one of Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optical in 2018, and was awarded the Theia Award of Excellence in 2019. She is also the recipient of the Dr. Rodger Kame Award by the Cornea and Contact Lens Section of the American Optometric Association.

“It is certainly special to be recognized by the Alumni Council in this way,” said Dr. Andrews. “Given the size of the alumni network at the Illinois College of Optometry and the significance of their contributions to their patients and the profession, I am truly humbled.”

Dr. Andrews accepted the 2022 Alumnus of the Year award at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo as part of ICO’s homecoming festivities held earlier this month.
Eye-Opening Discovery About Adult Brain's Ability to Recover Vision
The adult brain has the potential to partially recover from inherited blindness
Date: October 6, 2022
Source: University of California - Irvine
Summary:

A discovery about how some visually impaired adults could start to see offers a new vision of the brain's possibilities. The adult brain has the potential to partially recover from inherited blindness, according to new research.
ILLINOIS NEWS

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $31 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $31,055,926 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) medical research grants for Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from cancer prevention to vision research.
“Federal investments in medical research equip Illinois’ institutions with the resources they need to deliver real public health results for patients in need,” said Durbin. “I’ve fought for significant increases in funding for the National Institutes of Health over the past decade, and I’ll keep making sure these organizations have the support they need to help save lives.”
“Illinois has an outstanding slate of state and local programs to keep residents healthy, safe and protected,” said Duckworth. “I'm proud of the continued federal support that helps keep these programs properly equipped to serve Illinoisans and provide care during public health crises.” 
Recipients of the HHS grants include:
1.       University of Chicago (Human Genome Research): $218,559
2.       Aplexis, Inc. (Blood Diseases and Resources Research): $397,198
3.       University of Chicago (Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry Research): $744,119
4.       Northwestern University at Chicago (Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research): $494,888
5.       Northwestern University at Chicago (Aging Research): $2,184,811
6.       Northwestern University (Child Care Research Partnerships): $100,000
7.       Chapin Hall Center for Children (Child Care Research Partnerships): $99,925
8.       University of Chicago (Modernization and Programmatic Expansion of the
9.       University of Chicago Gnotobiotic Research Animal Facility): $7,941,899
10.   Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (Newborn Circumcision Care Redesign): $400,000
11.   University of Illinois at Chicago (Cancer Biology Research): $362,132
12.   Northwestern University at Chicago (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research): $945,019
13.   Loyola University (Research for Mothers and Children): $226,950
14.   Northwestern University at Chicago (Research for Mothers and Children): $463,032
15.   Northwestern University at Chicago (Cancer Treatment Research): $743,534
16.   University of Chicago (Effects of Preconception Care on Maternal Outcomes in Medicaid): $399,999
17.   Northwestern University at Chicago (Preventing Postpartum Depression Among Immigrant Latinas Through A Virtual Group Intervention): $710,934
18.   Northwestern University (Vision Research): $551,038
19.   National Opinion Research Center (Child Care Research Partnerships): $99,398
20.   The Hektoen Institute For Medical Research (Advancing System Improvements for Key Issues): $675,000
21.   Chapin Hall Center for Children (Child Care Research Partnerships): $99,932
22.   University of Illinois at Chicago (National Center for Sleep Disorders Research): $676,935
23.   Northwestern University at Chicago (Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research): $796,750
24.   University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (A Novel Transducer Clip-On Device To Enable Accessible and Functional 3D Ultrasound Imaging): $547,851
25.   Loyola University Chicago (Alcohol Research Programs): $375,489
26.   University of Chicago (Human Genome Research): $773,773
27.   University of Chicago (Cancer Treatment Research): $531,117
28.   University of Illinois at Chicago (Lung Disease Research): $2,422,486
29.   University of Chicago (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs): $2,405,743
30.   University of Illinois at Chicago (Clinical Research Related to Neurological Disorders): $673,844
31.   University of Illinois at Chicago (Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry Research): $242,238
32.   Denovx, LLC (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs): $1,775,613
33.   University of Illinois at Chicago (Vision Research): $491,224
34.   University of Chicago (Cancer Treatment Research) $534,674
35.   University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Mental Health Research Grants): $75,424
36.   University of Illinois at Chicago (Oral Diseases and Disorders Research): $331,894
37.   University of Chicago (Vision Research): $410,000
38.   Northwestern University at Chicago (Vision Research): $434,355 
NATIONAL NEWS
CDC: Majority of Adults with Long COVID-19 Report Trouble Performing Daily Activities
More than 80% of adults with long COVID say their long-term symptoms have reduced their ability to carry out daily activities.
Oct. 6, 2022, at 3:29 p.m.

Most adult Americans who are experiencing long COVID-19 are struggling to perform daily activities, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Federal data published by the CDC on Wednesday found that 15% of adults who previously had a COVID-19 infection are currently experiencing symptoms of long COVID as of Sept. 26.
Of those adults with long COVID, 81% report that their long-term symptoms from the condition have reduced their ability to carry out day-to-day activities. A quarter of the adults with long COVID said that the limitations were “significant.”
The highest rate of daily activity limitations come from the 18-29 age group, while the lowest rate comes from the 40-49 age group.
The survey’s results mean that over 18 million adult Americans are currently experiencing symptoms of long COVID and 15 million have problems performing daily activities because of it.
The data helps to round out the picture of long COVID, a condition the CDC defines as a “wide range of new, returning or ongoing health problems people can experience four or more weeks after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.”
The federal numbers mostly align with estimates from the Brookings Institution that 16 million working age Americans – aged 18 to 65 – are currently experiencing long COVID.
The Brookings report also looked at how long COVID is affecting American lives, finding that up to 4 million working-age adults are out of a job due to long COVID.

"If long COVID patients don't begin recovering at greater rates, the economic burden will continue to rise," the report said.
With the U.S. facing a potential fall and winter wave of COVID-19, the number of Americans experiencing long COVID is expected to grow. While estimates of the prevalence and effects of long COVID vary, the high numbers signal that the condition will be a lasting challenge for public health policy and the economy.
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