Eyeworld

3 EW NEWS & OPINION by Liz Hillman EyeWorld Staff Writer ASOA celebrates its 30th anniversary March 2016 hours at the 1986 ASCRS Annual Symposium in Los Angeles. 'Planning for the future, learning from our history' T hirty years ago, Lucy Santiago stood in line for the ladies' room while attending the American Academy of Ophthalmolo- gy's annual meeting. Working at the time as a con- sultant for a practice in Long Beach, Calif., she attended this meeting with a handful of other practice administrators, mostly to check out new technologies and equipment on the show floor. In that line for the restroom, she started talking with her peers and sharing information. An idea began to take shape. "At the time, there was no place that I could turn and say 'How are you guys doing this?' or compare notes with anybody," Ms. Santiago said, explaining how administrators of ophthalmic practices in the mid- 1980s felt rather isolated. "It dawned on me that we need an organiza- tion." This thought eventually helped pave the way for founding the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA), which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. It now boasts more than 2,800 members, its own annual meeting that features diverse programming and exceeds 1,000 in attendance, a certification program, and a plethora of resources. "Did I ever sit and think 'Will this be here 30 years later?' Nev- er," said Ms. Santiago, who served as ASOA's executive director from 1986–2005. "Did I have the time to think that? Not really." Shortly after her lightbulb moment, Ms. Santiago met with ASCRS Executive Director David Karcher, who, knowing that ASCRS had recently conducted a survey and learned that its members would like more information about practice management, gave her 6 program continued on page 4 ASOA, established in 1986, celebrates its 30th anniversary of providing resources, networking, and advocacy for ophthalmic administrators.

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