Greetings, blogosphere:
School's back in session for us second years (boy, doesn't 'second years' have a nice ring to it or what?). We've been hitting our noses to the grind this summer mini-term taking courses in Evidence Based Medicine, Pathology, Pharmacology, and dazzling ourselves with the magnificence of the optic nerve in our slit lamp Theory Lab. While final exams looms in two weeks, what I'm really excited to share with you is the trip I made to Bentonville, Arkansas late July as SCO's AOSA Trustee-elect.
As you've probably read from my previous posts, the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) represents over 6,000 students from all U.S. and Canada's optometry schools. Each school selects a Trustee and Trustee-elect to serve on the National AOSA Board of Trustees. As Trustee-elect, it's my goal to keep my SCO classmates informed about the issues important to us future optometric physicians. As an AOSA Board member, I serve as a link between optometry students, the AOSA leadership, and the American Optometric Association(AOA) leadership.
So what brought me to far western Arkansas? Well it just so happens, Walmart headquarters are in Bentonville. And so, as you've probably guessed, Walmart hosted all 22 Trustee-elects for a three-day leadership retreat, tour of it's home office, and tour of the largest Walmart optical distribution lab. When we weren't meeting senior officers of the executive leadership team at Walmart (and fielding them questions about the future of Walmart's optical industry, it's Vision Centers, and the advantages and misconceptions of corporate practices), the Trustee-elects were doing a little bit of introspection as we went through a leadership assessment profile together. Walmart was a great host. I appreciated the company's southern hospitality and the opportunity to better learn more from my fellow Trustee-elects.
I could go on about the details of the retreat, but I'll try to keep your eye-tracking minimal. Instead, I'll leave you with a few pictures that I think explains it all! Enjoy...
Indiana Trustee-Elect, SCO TE (me!), and Arizona TE decked out in our Optical Lab white coats and safety glasses…Walmart takes tours quite seriously! Neat fact, over 60,000 glasses orders are filled by this optical lab each week.
The Anti-reflective coating machine in the Walmart Optical Lab…hello wave-front technology!
Uncut lenses waiting for the Anti-reflective coating treatment
Who knew!? Walmart has an in-studio TV Station at its Home Office.
If this whole Optometry gig doesn’t work out, I guess I could always try my hand out at broadcasting!?
The whole Trustee-elect gang from a group photo
Be on the lookout for my next post later this month as I update you all on what's in store for second years in the upcoming fall term!
Carpe Diem,
Amy