The Visionary Fall 2009

The Visionary – Fall 2009 • Page 4 Every year, student members of the Florida Optometric Student Association have the opportunity to get involved in organized optometry at the state level. On March 12, 2009, I, along with 11 other students and many Florida optometrists, attended Legislative Day at our State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida. Together, we were a voice for Senate Bill 326 and House Bill 507, requesting the right for Florida optometrists to prescribe oral ocular pharmaceutical agents. We met with many senators and House of Representatives members, including Senator Nan Rich and Representative Juan Zapata, both supporters of our bills. We were successful in getting Senate Bill 326 on the legislative calendar to be heard. Even though the outcome was, sadly, unfavorable, we will not stop advocating for our profession. The more optometry students and local optometrists that get involved with the legislative process, the louder our voice. Legislative Day in Tallahassee By Michelle Levin, Class of 2012 eye-witness news Irvin M. Borish, O.D., has been called “optometry’s living legend” and “the most influential optometrist of this century.” Practitioner, teacher, and researcher, Dr. Borish has participated in the development of the optometric profession for the past 75 years. On August 12, Dr. Borish visited the College of Optometry and spent 75 minutes captivating a group of future optometrists as he shared stories with the first-year students about the pivotal moments in history that shaped the optometric profession we know today. Interestingly enough, Dr. Borish seemed to be at the center of most of these important moments. Humble about his accomplishments, he told the students that if they “googled” him, they could read more about his history, but he reassured them that he “didn’t put any of that stuff out there.” At the age of 96, Dr. Borish, who promised to visit the College of Optometry again next year, is still passionate about his chosen profession. “When you’ve given so many years and have been so devoted, you can’t just give up,” he said. He challenged the entering class of 106 future optometrists to “carry on and never give up” on the development of optometry. In fact, he has often been quoted as saying, “You need to decide: Do you want to move forward or do you want to stay where you are?” Indeed, even as he approaches his 100 th year, he clearly is still moving forward. Dr. Borish, who lives in a retirement community in Boca Raton, Florida, is the author of more than 80 articles and 9 textbooks. His most influential work, entitled Clinical Refraction , was first published in 1944, but most optometrists simply call it “Borish” because it has become like a bible for optometry students and practitioners alike. In addition, he was the first optometrist voted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame, which was established in 1999, and has received both of the American Optometric Association’s highest awards. By Michael Bacigalupi, O.D., M.S., FAAO Assistant Professor of Optometry and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Dr. Irvin Borish Visits Incoming Optometry Class