The California Optometric Association welcomes you to join as a student or post-graduate member. Any student planning/hoping to practice in California is encouraged to apply! Membership offers you an opportunity to gain an understanding of the issues facing optometrists in the state today, to network with and learn from California ODs, and access to COA members-only resources and expert knowledge.
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Dues are waived while you are attending a school of optometry. Your AOA Residency dues are $35 annually.
Student membership provides you with password access to the members-only section of COA's website.
COA virtual meetings are free for students, and in-person meetings are almost free!
House of Delegates: Student delegates from the California schools of optometry are invited to participate in the COA House of Delegates, an annual meeting of society representatives, to conduct association business.
Take the opportunity to introduce yourself to the professionals in optometry. Many local societies surrounding the two California schools of optometry welcome students at their membership meetings and/or may have special mentoring opportunities available.
The COA Professional Advocacy Recognition Program aims to recognize the students at SCCO, UC Berkeley, and Western University who went above and beyond to represent Optometry students in legislative advocacy. Qualifying students will receive a formal certificate, an exclusive white coat pin, along with statewide recognition as a COA Young Advocate!
All requirements must be completed during the 4 years of your optometric education and you must attend at least 1 event each in-person or virtually.
• AOA on Capitol Hill
• COA Legislative Day
• Local Legislative Meetings (ex. local society meetings with legislators)
• AOA Optometry's Meeting
• COA Monterey Symposium
• COA House of Delegates
• COA Optowest
Options may vary by school:
• SCCO: Legucate Me, Leg Get Lit, AOA-PAC, AOSA-PAC Event
• Western: Legucate Me
• UC Berkeley: Legucate Me
• Western Regional Conference (WRC)
Ahmed Ahmadzada
Amy Zizhu Chen
Mirhet Girum
Michelle Hoang
Isabel Kazour
Jennifer Lam
Alexis Meyer
Vanessa Morales
Melissa Rezk
Minette Tsang
Allison Andrews
Biviana Lie
Dhara Patel
Emily Nickles
Whitnie Szutu
Katie Bozner
You could save on your student loans by refinancing with AOAExcel® ’s endorsed business partner, Laurel Road.
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Chief Strategy Officer
Dr. Lance Anderson is the Chief Strategy Officer at PECAA, where he is engaged in all aspects of company strategy. He co-founded PECAA in 2007 and helped lead the organization as it grew from a small local Portland study group to a national alliance of independently owned eye care practices. He served as a board member of Rev-360 from 2015 – 2021 and helped oversee the management and successful sale of Revolution EHR, Visionary Partners, and eventually PECAA.
He earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University in 1991. He started his own optometry practice in 1993 in Hillsboro, OR, and was able to grow the practice into a busy three-doctor clinic. He retired from clinical care in 2021 and then moved to New York City where he was tasked with helping to integrate PECAA with the HEA buying group. He recently moved to Nashville, TN where he will continue to be actively involved in creating the future vision for PECAA as it is integrated into the VSP family of businesses.
Chief Member Experience Officer
Dr. Justin Manning is the Chief Member Experience Officer at PECAA, where he leads the member experience team, encompassing member education, the Member Business Advisory services, Events, and the Cold Start program. He is the founder and host of the Practice Advantage podcast. Prior to joining PECAA, he founded The Keratoconus and Scleral Lens Institute at Bettner Vision in Colorado Springs, and eyeLeader, a consulting company focused on leadership development, technology in eyecare, and population health.
He has contributed to Review of Optometric Business and has lectured nationally and internationally on specialty contact lenses, design thinking, population health, and the patient experience. He earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from The Ohio State University and completed a residency in Geriatric Optometry at the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System in Tacoma, WA, a Master of Public Health degree at Salus University, and a graduate certificate in Customer Experience from the CU Boulder Leeds School of Business. He is driven to help all independent eye care professionals grow their businesses and enjoy their practices every single day.
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