2020 Annual Report

Professional Outreach Amid COVID-19

COVID-19 Webinars Support and Guide Fellow Eye Doctors More than 8,000 eye doctors across the nation and worldwide virtually attended a four-part webinar series entitled, COVID-19 & The Optometric Community , organized by the SUNY College of Optometry Office of Continuing Professional Education to provide the latest information on the impact of coronavirus and help providers navigate changes and challenges in health care practice.

Topics for discussion featured how to manage a rapidly changing health care environment in response to COVID-19 and understanding the science of coronavirus, including how eye health is connected to the spread and prevention of infection. Participants also learned about the use of telehealth to safely and securely connect eye doctors with their patients remotely using a computer, smartphone, and/or any device with a camera. “The webinars enable optometrists to learn more about how the virus works and its relationship to eye health. It is also an opportunity to ask questions and get answers about the use of new technology in the service of patients and address a host of other issues in practice management,” explained Dr. Madonna, who serves as director of the Office of Continuing Professional Education at the College. “We want to serve as a resource to our colleagues in optometry who are seeking to maintain continuity of care for their patients.” Access the webinar series at www.sunyopt.edu/education/academics/ continuing_professional_education/online-courses .

All sessions were delivered by College faculty and alumni, including (pictured L-R): Richard Madonna, OD, '85, Professor and Chair of the Department of Clinical Education; Ann Beaton, PhD, '84, Associate Professor; Matthew Bovenzi, OD, '14, UEC Assistant Chief of Primary Care; Anupam Laul, OD, Assistant Clinical Professor; Michael McGovern, OD, '97, UEC Chief Medical Officer; Kimberly Poirer-Schmidt, OD, '14; Richard Soden, OD,'79, Director of Health Care Development; Ray Pirozollo, OD, '09; Viola Kanevsky, OD, '93; and Andrea Thau, OD, '84.

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