Dr. Andrea Thau was sworn in as president of the American Optometric Association (AOA) in Boston on Saturday, July 2. In addition to her responsibilities as president, she serves as chair of the AOA’s Executive and Agenda committees and is a member of the 401K and Personnel committees. She also serves as liaison trustee for the American Academy of Optometry and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Dr. Thau was first elected to the AOA’s Board of Trustees in 2007. She is a founding member of the organization’s InfantSee committee and was a member of the Infants’ Vision Project, Pediatrics and Binocular Vision, and Faculty Relations committees. She regularly makes media appearances on a variety of issues related to eye health as a vision care expert and spokesperson for the AOA. Exceptionally active in organized optometry throughout her career, Dr. Thau was the first female president of the New York State Optometric Association, the New York Academy of Optometry, and the Optometric Society of the City of New York. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, a distinguished practitioner on the National Academies of Practice, and a diplomate of the American Board of Optometry. A champion of children’s vision, she is a founding member and former vice president of the New York Children’s Vision Coalition, which is dedicated to mandating eye examinations for New York City’s children upon school entry. She is also a part-time faculty member at SUNY Optometry, where she provides clinical supervision for the pediatrics and children with special needs services in the University Eye Center. Dr. Thau has received many awards, including New York State Optometrist of the Year and SUNY Andrea Thau, OD ’84 President American Optometric Association Associate Clinical Professor Emeritus Optometry Alumna of the Year. She has been recognized twice as one of Vision Monday’s “20 Most Influential Women in Optical” and owns a thriving private practice on Park Avenue in Manhattan. She received the Dr. D. Elva Cooper Award for Leadership and Advocacy during Women In Optometry’s first Theia Awards for Excellence presentation at the annual American Academy of Optometry meeting in Anaheim, CA on Thursday, November 10. The Theia Awards, named for the Greek goddess of vision or sight, recognize women ODs for excellence in leadership, mentorship and education, or innovation. 37 “I think each one of us has to contribute back to our profession at the highest level that we possibly can.” – DR. ANDREA THAU Dr. Andrea Thau and President David A. Heath during the SUNY Optometry alumni reception at American Academy of Optometry meeting in Anaheim, CA.
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