This year’s meeting was held at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Optometry’s Meeting is the premier annual event for the profession that highlights contemporary optometric continuing education and professional development. NECO students had the opportunity to network with colleagues and leaders in the industry.

Interested in attending next year? Clairice Bouvier OD 2025, Nyah Miranda OD 2026, Nina le OD 2027, and Kara Chuang OD 2027 share their experiences of OM 2024 and how their motivation for becoming an optometrist was reignited through meeting new people and learning more about the industry.

What was your favorite part about OM 2024?

Clairice Bouvier, “I so enjoyed representing NECO at the AOSA Optometry Student Bowl! I made it all the way to the final round, with the crowd encouraging and energizing me. It is an experience I’ll never forget.”

Nyah Miranda, “Connecting with peers, who have become friends, on the AOSA Board of Trustees was the highlight for me. We collaborated on ways to enhance our local AOSA chapters and I am excited to implement these at NECO.”

Nina le, “My favorite part was working as a Continuing Education Monitor. This role gave me a unique, behind-the-scenes perspective on the operations that make OM a success. Not only did I make money, I also had the chance to connect and network with fellow optometry student monitors from across the country.”

Students Nina Le, Kara Chuang, Loveth Aleburu, and Carissa Fleming stand with NECO President, Howard Purcell at the entrance of the NECO Alumni Reception.

What new thing did you learn at OM 2024?

Clarice Bouvier, “I learned about higher order aberration correction for scleral contact lenses. This high-performance optical correction improves visual quality for patients with keratoconus using wave-front guided optics. The concept is similar to noise-canceling technology for headphones, but for visual interference in contact lenses!”

Nyah Miranda, “One important takeaway was realizing how optometry is deeply tied to legislation. Witnessing the efforts of other states to expand the scope of optometry was truly inspiring and made me hopeful about the future.”

Kara Chuang, “There are so many opportunities to get involved! In my experience, the challenge isn’t finding them; rather, it’s taking the initiative to step out of your comfort zone and introduce yourself to doctors, students, or recruiters. Once you make genuine connections and consistently show up to events, new doors will open and you’ll naturally be top of mind for upcoming initiatives. Each optometrist and upper-year I’ve met has been incredibly approachable and supportive. They want us to succeed and are super generous in offering opportunities or connections to further our careers. Whether it’s with the AOSA or other organizations, it’s never too late to get involved. The student voice is much needed at the local and national levels, offering an amazing opportunity for learning and growth!”

Loveth Aleburu and Nina Le enjoy all OM has to offer.

Did you get to network at OM?

Clarice Bouvier, “There were many networking opportunities! In particular, I attended the CLCS Awards: Conversations with Contact Lens Leaders where I was able to interact with and learn from some of the greatest minds in the field.”

Nyah Miranda, “The Johnson & Johnson Panel featured many accomplished ODs who shared valuable insights on transitioning from life as an optometry student into working ODs. They encouraged us to connect on LinkedIn and provide us mentorship in the future.”

Nina Le, “Even as a second-year student, people were eager to connect with me! We discussed residency options and potential job openings that would suit me in the future. Going to the Eye Exhibit Hall was particularly rewarding, it allowed me to discover new companies and interact with new products to gain a deeper understanding of the latest advancements in the industry.”

Nyah Miranda, representing NECO, meets with other AOSA student members at OM

What did OM teach you about your future optometric career?

Clarice Bouvier, “OM provided the opportunity to highlight my interest in Cornea and Contact Lens where I was awarded a CLCS Honorable Distinction Award. I plan to pursue a Cornea and Contact Lens residency and this award helps set me apart from other contact lens professionals.”

Nyah Miranda, “OM gave me invaluable networking opportunities with fellow students and established doctors. It opened my eyes to the possibilities that lie ahead for my career in optometry.”

Clarice Bouvier at OM

Why did you decide to attend OM? Do you think optometry students should try to attend?

Clarice Bouvier, “I attended OM to represent NECO at the Optometry Student Bowl, network with future colleagues, and learn about the newest innovations on the market. Students should absolutely attend OM at least once to connect and learn from experts in the industry. I’ve gone twice and can confirm that attending is worthwhile no matter what year you are in school!”

Nyah Miranda, “I went to OM primarily to contribute as a member of the AOSA Board of Trustees. It’s truly one of the most enriching events for optometry students to make new connections, find mentors, or earn continuing education. The event has left a lasting impact on me.”

Nina Le, “The optometrists I worked with as a technician always said their biggest regret was not attending OM sooner, and now I completely understand. This event was an incredible opportunity to meet fellow students and learn more about the profession. I especially loved being able to explore a new city after the meetings each night!”

NECO AOA and AOSA students Nyah Miranda (far left), Nina Le, and Kara Chuang (front center) network at Optometry’s Meeting

If you are interested in attending Optometry’s Meeting in 2025 check out this page to stay up to date. Next year’s meeting is scheduled for June 25-28th at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We hope to see you there!