DENVER—The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) broke attendance records at its recent 93rd annual meeting with 6,323 total registrants, including 3,958 optometrists and vision scientists and 995 students, representing a 5 percent increase over last year’s attendance, organizers said.

During the four-day meeting, held Nov. 12 to 15, 2014, at the Colorado Convention Center, the AAO recognized individuals who have contributed to advancing the profession of optometry with a variety of awards. The 15 people honored by the AAO can be viewed here: 2014 Academy Award Recipients.

The AAO also announced the new 2014-2015 Board of Directors for 2014-2015: Brett Bence, OD, FAAO, president; Joseph Shovlin, OD, FAAO, president-elect; Barbara Caffery, OD, PhD, FAAO, secretary-treasurer; and Bernard Dolan, OD, MS, FAAO, immediate past-president. Board members at large are Susan Cotter, OD, MS, FAAO; Pete Kollbaum, OD, PhD, FAAO; Timothy McMahon, OD, FAAO; and Jeff Walline, OD, PhD, FAAO.

In addition, 242 new Fellows were inducted into the AAO at the Saturday evening President’s Banquet, and seven individuals were awarded AAO Diplomate status. Fellows must complete a candidacy process that includes submitting written work demonstrating their skills as an optometrist or vision scientist and sitting for an oral exam at the annual meeting. Diplomates are Fellows who demonstrate their skill in one of nine sections—Anterior Segment; Binocular Vision, Perception and Pediatric Optometry; Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies; Glaucoma; Low Vision; Optometric Education; Primary Care; Public Health & Environmental Vision; and Vision Science.

Click here for a complete list of all of the AAO’s new Fellows and Diplomates.