P ROS P ECTUS | V OL 47 | ISSUE 3 | 2021
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I’m glad I went! Reflections from the Innovation Conference By: Elsa C. Sheerer, OD When I first heard about the Innovation Conference in Corning during spring 2021, I did not think I would attend. I was still shy about mingling in a large gathering during the ongoing pandemic, even with protection from vaccination. I was worried about a long drive to ‘the middle of nowhere’ upstate. Besides, what is there to do in Corning anyway? Let’s be honest, while the prospect of hanging out with a bunch of eager optometrists is sometimes motivation enough, we all really like using a conference as an excuse to travel and sight-see a bit. So, what would Corning really have to offer? Dr. Viola Kanevsky, our esteemed President and my NYC compatriot, was going on and on about how much fun the NYSOA conference would be. We would finally be able to convene as New York optometrists, celebrate the passage of our Orals Bill through both houses of legislation, and get some quality in-person continuing education. I also found out that NYSOA had not had a state-wide conference in quite some time—perhaps a decade or so. Desperate to persuade me, she mentioned that we could tour the well-known glass museum. I was still not convinced. Summer was going out kicking and screaming from New York City with waves of sticky humidity every day in early September. That’s when I got a call from Tom Coté, the NYSOA executive director, telling me I had won an award. Won an award!? Me? Are you sure, Tom? The umpteen articles I had written for the OSCONY newsletter had apparently amounted to award-winning level. I would receive the Communications Award from NYSOA this year. And by the way, they wanted me to come to Corning to accept it. Graciously, I finally conceded. Off to Corning I went! And I’m so glad I did! It turns out Corning is actually pretty great! Fall was already well underway in the town, which straddles the Chemung River in the Southern Tier. The early evenings were crisp and the leaves had a red-orange tinge. The conference organizing committee did a great job choosing the venue; the Radisson was the perfect place to host the event! For me, it’s all the little things that add up to a great experience. The lobby was open and spacious and a great spot for our cocktail party on Saturday night. All-day fresh coffee and tea outside the well-lit ballrooms, where the meetings and CE were held, were served in real, ceramic mugs. The rooms were spacious and modern. All of this nestled at the end of a quintessential brick façade Market Street, dotted with boutiques, pubs, and cafés. The setting was a welcoming backdrop to catching up with doctors from around the state. It was so nice to be able to chat with people face-to-face rather than through a screen. Conferences always breathe renewed energy into my practice—this one was no different. In fact, I probably needed more encouragement now more than ever coming out of pandemic shutdowns. I was really encouraged by the NYSOA business meeting where members could discuss the status of our profession and chart out a roadmap for the future. We got to dream together of how optometry can be at its best here in New York. It’s difficult to deny the efficiency of real-time, in-person collaboration with smart, well-intentioned optometrists from around the state. I find continuing education to be much more impactful when delivered live and in-person. The continuing education offerings were diverse with robust content and provided by recognized experts. Many of
the speakers were also NYSOA members, which was even better! I found the oral medications review particularly helpful as we prepare to become certified to prescribe oral medications now that the Orals Bill has been officially signed into law! Additional benefits at the conference were the Exhibit Hall, professional headshots, and financial planning session. A dozen or so exhibitors came out to support New York optometrists and provide up-to-date product information. Headshots were included with the conference, which are always nice to keep current. Jed Goldberg, from Wealth Advisory Group, came to meet us in person to discuss personal financial planning and to set-up one-on-one consultations. Jed’s services are now part of the portfolio of benefits from NYSOA. His session was the culmination of a four-part series on financial planning leading up to the conference. Lest I forget to mention the Corning Museum of Glass! On Saturday afternoon, we got to go to the museum together for a little break from CE. The Museum is world class! I did not realize how cool glass really could be nor all its many artistic and practical forms. The glass museum surpassed my expectations. Plus, it was a fun way to relax with my colleagues. It being fall, the bright orange glass pumpkins were out in full force in the gift shop. Many folks even purchased one to take home as a souvenir for the weekend. Saturday night was our banquet, which was full of many laughs and warm fellowship. We had the opportunity to formally induct the 2021-22 NYSOA officers and watched a quite charismatic ‘passing of the gavel’ among the past-presidents to the current president, Dr. Kanevsky. We honored the award winners. All of the award winners I found incredibly inspiring. Dr. Ted Bryant won the Optometrist of the Year Award for his work with his local Lyons Club and providing free optometric services in his community. Dr. Saysha Blazier won Young Optometrist of the Year Award for her many efforts in organized optometry on the local, state, and national levels. Dr. Matthew Bovenzi won the Optometric Educator Award for being a rising star on the national stage for continuing education and teaching at SUNY College of Optometry, where he is on faculty. Dr. Bryan Wolynski shared the moving biography of Rev. Dr. Holly Bonner, this year’s recipient of the Public Service Award. Rev. Dr. Bonner started a non-profit to support visually impaired parents. To cap off the night, Dr. Bovenzi led a sing-along from the piano of the hotel lobby, featuring well-known musical numbers from Broadway and pop culture. Despite many being off-key, we all had a good time. The Innovation Conference rejuvenated me! Considerably smaller than national conferences, this one was quite intimate. It mirrored a family reunion more than a stuffy professional meeting. I really enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere that fostered meaningful conversation, camaraderie, and simple break from the grind of the day-to-day. On top of that, Corning truly charmed me! I am very hopeful for the future of optometry in the state and our great state organization. Our hard work and diversity in the state certainly deserve a yearly gathering where we may lift one another up, accomplish important association tasks, and receive quality education. I cannot wait to attend the next Innovation Conference! I hope to see you there!
N YS OA. ORG | 5 18.449.7300. | INFO@NY SOA.ORG
