At the AOA Opening Session, AOA president Jacquie M. Bowen, OD, talked to attendees about the importance of reconnecting and learning from each other.
PHOENIX—Arizona Optometric Association president Jon Beeson, OD, officially kicked off Optometry’s Meeting 2026 on Wednesday night by welcoming attendees to this year’s event and the city of Phoenix. Following Dr. Beeson’s welcoming remarks, current AOA president Jacquie M. Bowen, OD, took the stage and expressed her enthusiasm for this year’s event that has attracted more than 3,000 students, residents, new doctors and faculty joining the more than 5,500 attendees. “Patients need us now more than ever,” Dr. Bowen said. “Patients are looking for answers. Patients are struggling to access care. It’s the eye exam with us that is the gateway to the broader health arena and a better picture for our patients.”
Dr. Bowen added, “This week is about reconnecting along with the momentum that we’ve built. We’re going to learn from each other, we’re going to challenge each other, we’re going to celebrate what’s possible out there. It’s undeniably about getting re-energized, about why we chose this profession in the first place.”
The keynote address at the Opening Session was delivered by Dr. Daniel Kraft, a physician-scientist, inventor and healthcare futurist, who told attendees that the eyecare profession is at a pivotal moment, with an opportunity to help direct a future that is rapidly unfolding due to changing technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The keynote address at the AOA Opening Session was delivered by Dr. Daniel Kraft, a physician-scientist, inventor and healthcare futurist, who told attendees they have an opportunity to use the tools of technology to reinvent optometry.
“We have a chance to reinvent optometry and every element of care,” Dr. Kraft said. “I encourage you to think about not just what’s next, but what’s needed. The future’s already here, it’s up to you and your AOA colleagues not to just predict the future but to boldly create the future of optometry together.”
Following the Opening Session, attendees made their way to the Eye Care Square exhibit hall to get a sneak preview of what products and technologies will be highlighted on the show floor over the next few days.
The inaugural AOA EyeQ Championship, an updated version of the Student Bowl supported by AOAExcel, made its debut on Thursday evening. More than 2,600 optometry students gathered to support their school’s participants, with Brooke Major, OD, serving as the master of ceremonies.
Also on Thursday, the AOA+ Leadership Lab highlighted the importance of networking, professional advocacy, and service for aspiring leaders in the field. The discussion, titled Leading with Purpose: Influence, Growth and Impact in Optometry, encouraged students to recognize leadership opportunities in moments that may feel intimidating or uncertain. Dr. Bowen participated in the panel discussion led by Dr. Major, where she urged new doctors and students to embrace opportunities for professional connection. She advised that leadership involvement “ups your game as a practitioner” because it places young doctors among high achievers and creates relationships that can shape their careers.
