Director of Publications

Southern College of Optometry (SCO) Graduate Darby Chiasson, OD ’99,

Named SECO International’s 2008 Young Optometrist of the South

ATLANTA (April 14, 2008) – SECO International – one of the largest optometry meetings in the world and one of the most comprehensive sources of continuing education for eye care professionals – has announced Southern College of Optometry alumnus, Darby Chiasson, OD, as SECO’s Young Optometrist of the South.

The award was presented during the SECO International House of Delegates meeting held recently during SECO 2008 in Atlanta, Ga. .

“Every year SECO recognizes several outstanding individuals for their enormous contributions to the optometry profession,” said Doug Clark, O.D., Past-President of the Southern Council of Optometrists. “This year, we are honored to recognize Dr. Chiasson not only for his numerous achievements, but for profoundly impacting the level of optometric care patients receive today.”

This SECO award recognizes an optometrist in practice for less than 10 years, but who has already made a significant impact in the field of optometry. Dr. Chiasson currently practices in a solo practice, Advanced Eye Institute, in Cut Off, La. He has been in practice there since 1999 after graduating from Southern College of Optometry.

Dr. Chiasson’s commitment to optometry began at SCO as the AOSA trustee and continued after graduation when he was appointed to the Optometry Association of Louisiana board as Gulf Zone Chair.

He served as chairman for two years before moving up to the executive board, culminating in serving as the 2005 Optometry Association of Louisiana President. While serving on the board, Dr. Chiasson helped in the passage of scope of practice bills to include all oral and topical treatment of the eye and its adnexa.

In addition to lobbying Congress for optometry at the AOA Congressional Conference in 2005 and 2006, he has co-chaired the Special Olympics Opening Eye Program in Louisiana for the past three years. Dr. Chiasson was appointed Louisiana SECO trustee in 2006 and awarded the Optometry Association of Louisiana’s Young OD of the Year for 2007.

Along with optometric service, Dr. Chiasson is very active in his community, parish and state. Prior to graduating from SCO, he earned a bachelor of science degree from Louisiana State University with a major in zoology and a minor in psychology.

The SECO Tradition

SECO International is produced annually by SECO International, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Council of Optometrists, Inc. SECO International, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a not-for-profit membership association founded in 1923, and counts as its members practitioners in the 12 southern states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The annual SECO conventions regularly attract more than 7,000 national and international eye care professionals, vendors, and allied ophthalmic personnel. SECO International is widely acknowledged as the largest optometric educational meeting in the world.

For more information on SECO International, LLC, please contact Elizabeth Taylor, Executive Director, at SECO International, LLC, 4661 N. Shallowford Road, Atlanta, GA 30338, or by phone: (770) 451-8206, fax: (770) 451-3156, or e-mail: etaylor@secostaff.com.

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SECO media contact: Kim Ryan / SECO International

(770) 932-0695 / kimryan@bellsouth.net

Kimberly Ryan

Public Relations & Marketing

(770) 932-0695 (office)

(404) 822-7087 (mobile)

kimryan@bellsouth.net