ATPO offers scholarships to attend its annual Scientific Session.

The 2009 recipients are:
Donna Campbell, COMT - New Boston MI
Lisa Rovick, MHSc, COMT, CO - Minneapolis MN

How ATPO Has Enhanced My Career

I'm proud to say that I have been an ATPO member for many of my 24 years in the rewarding field of ophthalmology, and I'm now pleased to share my knowledge and teach others in return. I’m the Monroe County Community College Ophthalmic Assistant Program Director and I "introduce" my students to ATPO on their first day of class, describing the membership benefits. (In fact, a student from my initial class is the first Program graduate to join ATPO and will attend the ACE Program this fall.)

ATPO has enhanced my career by providing a superior level of training, which is more beneficial than other educational programs:

• The quality of ATPO presentations is impressive: exciting speakers and topics, providing lectures which are very timely
• ATPO offers an excellent program structure: no wasted time moving around the hotel, trying to find the room for your next lecture (and hoping to get a seat!)
• The ATPO format of shorter lectures is superior, so that we hear an overview about a wide variety of topics each day

Benefits of continuing education include:

• Practices have better trained staff members = increased efficiency
• Physicians and administrators value our input
• Certified OMP command a higher rate of pay than non-certified personnel

The following ATPO educational benefits have also enhanced my career:

• The opportunity to earn 4 CECs "pays you back" for the cost of joining ATPO—these alone are worth the annual $65 membership fee!
• ATPO Flash Cards -- my students receive the COA cards, which are a great study tool! I utilize them as a review in class to help them prepare for quizzes and they also use them to study for their JCAHPO examinations.

The ATPO "Positions Available" online postings are something that I (thankfully) haven't had to utilize, but it's nice to know that they're available if needed!

Some ATPO membership advantages just can't be measured, such as networking with other ophthalmic professionals - I truly enjoy this perk! I've been able to make suggestions to my employer to improve patient care and assist with equipment purchasing decisions based on feedback from other members of this dynamic group of professionals.

All of these things help make me a better technician, and as an educator, they're more important to me now than ever before! I teach my students to provide the very best care for their patients (while keeping the Doctors happy and on-schedule at the same time if possible!). I expect them to use their education and training to strive for excellence in all they do, everyday-c-efficiently, and with patience, grace, and a smile!

I'm eager to return to San Francisco this October and attend the Scientific Sessions and Grand Rounds. I was lucky enough to participate in previous ATPO TechBowls and especially look forward to "Who Wants To Be A Super Tech", as well as Dr. Fine's Keynote Address—he is always a captivating lecturer who stresses the value of his technical support staff!

Donna Campbell, COMT
New Boston, MI

How ATPO Has Enhanced My Career

Members of ATPO have had a hand in my life and career since I was a first year tech student. Through my ATPO membership, I have been given opportunities to contribute to continuing education and to participate in committees that helped to develop policy and shape the future of our profession. Working closely on projects with other ATPO members over the years has helped to develop close ties and friendships.

The benefits are not only social. Because of my involvement with ATPO and the connections I have made, career and other professional opportunities have emerged. I learned about training programs and education, program accreditation and professional certification. I was encouraged to pursue a graduate degree, which enabled me to become an adjunct faculty member of an accredited training program. I have had help and encouragement from fellow ATPO members all of the way.

ATPO members started a professional chain reaction for me: While I was a tech student, I was invited by ATPO to participate as a student member of CAHEA (the committee of the AMA that accredited all of the allied health training programs in the United States), where I learned about program accreditation. After I graduated, this understanding of program accreditation led to an appointment by ATPO to serve on JRCOMP (now called COA-OMP) and eventually became the President of the committee. Through JRCOMP, I worked with ATPO members, JCAHPO commissioners and staff, making more connections. I started to teach for JCAHPO and ATPO, meeting more people who were also teaching and in leadership positions. Those leaders later encouraged me to run for President of ATPO. Other professional doors have been opened for me by ATPO colleagues in continuing education and formal training programs.

The leadership experience I have gained through ATPO has been enormously valuable. I have learned how good committees and boards of directors work. I have been able to observe and interact with some of the best leaders I could imagine. These "ATPO stars" have all been helpful and generous with their time.

Early in my career, a friend gave me some excellent advice: at each meeting I attend, I should pick two or three people to meet and spend enough time with to become acquainted. Keep in touch throughout the year and look them up at the next meeting. Continue this pattern at every meeting. I now have a very large circle of professional acquaintances and friends. When I encounter a tough clinical dilemma or a technical difficulty, I can send an email or make a phone call to some of the experts in our field, who just happen to also be my ATPO friends. It is so much easier to make that call when the person on the other end is a friend! My membership in ATPO has given me all of this!

Lisa Rovick, MHSc, COMT, CO
Minneapolis, MN