National Vision's chief medical officer Priti Patel, OD (l) educated members of the National Vision Doctor of Optometry Network alongside National Vision's head of doctor network, Alexander Smith, OD.

  
DULUTH, Ga.—National Vision Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: EYE), one of the nation’s largest optical retailers, hosted more than 1,000 optometrists across two weekends for its Annual Continuing Education (CE) Symposium in Phoenix, Ariz., from June 1-4 and in Orlando from June 8-11. The conference was designed to empower doctors through education and camaraderie, giving them the tools they need to foster successful optometry careers, according to the company. “We are committed to empowering our network of optometrists to lead and innovate in their field," said National Vision chief medical officer Priti Patel, OD.

"By offering educational opportunities, we ensure they stay at the forefront of advancements in optometry. When our dedicated professionals come together to discuss clinical insights and explore cutting-edge technologies, it sparks remarkable growth and enhances patient care," Dr. Patel said.

At both regional events, optometrists in attendance were able to earn up to 22 hours of continuing education credits, according to the announcement. Employed optometrists also had the benefit of having their patient schedules managed for them during the festivities, with no need to use paid time off to attend.

 
Beyond providing COPE-approved lectures, National Vision also leveraged the event to celebrate the achievements of doctors practicing in the network. In total, more than 150 optometrists were recognized across both regional events, the announcement said.

The following optometrists received special honors for two decades or more of years of service to patients at practices in the National Vision Doctor of Optometry network:

● Albert Pasquarelli, OD (35 years)
● Andrew Engel, OD (30 years)
● Mark Mills, OD (30 years)
● Ronald Pizzo, OD (30 years)
● Brian Kern, OD (25 years)
● Mark Meyers, OD (20 years)
● Marda Voss, OD (20 years)

The Optometrist Recognition of Excellence Award was awarded to nine doctors for their superior patient care and outstanding contributions to their individual practices. Awardees included:

● Michelle Bertenthal, OD
● Kimberley Butler, OD
● Anne Chung, OD
● Carmen Cotto, OD
● Vivian Morris, OD
● Diana Nguyen, OD
● Seth Salima, OD
● Nicola Shatleh, OD
● Kevin Wogalter, OD

“While education is at the forefront of the event, it’s equally as important to leverage the experience for community-building,” said National Vision’s head of doctor network, Alexander Smith, OD. “We make sure doctors have the chance to connect with peers from across state lines, or fellow alumni they haven’t seen since graduating optometry school. Those connections are at our core and are what keep doctors coming back year after year.”

National Vision Holdings, Inc. is one of the largest optical retail companies in the United States with more than 1,200 stores in 38 states and Puerto Rico.