In 1996, the Board of Directors (formerly referred to as the Executive Council) of the American Academy of Optometry approved a Diplomate Program for the Section on Disease. Since that time, it has been a work in progress. 

The Diplomate Program in Disease of the American Academy of Optometry was officially introduced at the 1999 Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA. Through the coordinated efforts of the section leadership and well-respected individuals within the profession, the Diplomate Program was developed to recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional clinical experience, extensive knowledge, and research activities in a core area of ocular disease.

The initial four core areas are: 

  • Anterior Segment Diseases 
  • Glaucoma 
  • Neuro-Ophthalmic Diseases 
  • Vitreo-Retinal Diseases 

As of January, 2000, the section began accepting applications for the Diplomate Program. 

 

Disease Section Diplomate Chair: Joseph Sowka, OD, FAAO, Diplomate (jsowka@nova.edu) 

Diplomate in Disease with Emphasis on [Core Area*] 

This is an outline of the requirements and procedures for becoming a Diplomate in Disease of the American Academy of Optometry. 

Requirements for Diplomate in Disease with emphasis on core area* 

A. Qualifications, including Fellow of the Academy in good standing and at least five years in practice, or the equivalent years in education or research. 

B. Completed application form and fee, including personal data, education and training, faculty appointments, licensure, and other pertinent information. Application and fees are sent directly to the AAO, but all cases are submitted to the Disease Section Diplomate Chair, who then will send them to the appropriate committees.

C. Selection of a Core/Primary area (Plan B would include a secondary area). 

*Core areas: 

Core Area

Chairperson of the Diplomate Subsection Program

Anterior Segment Disease

Alan Kabat, OD, FAAO

Glaucoma

Murray Fingeret, OD, FAAO

Neuro-ophthalmic Disease

Len Messner, OD, FAAO

Vitreo-Retinal Disease

Tony Cavallerano, OD, FAAO

D. Case Reports (separate paths only for this section)

1. Clinical path: 10 case reports 

2. Research path: original research/paper complemented with a strong disease background and curriculum vitae. 

E. Written Examination (70 percent score is passing) - questions taken from the chosen core area 

F. Oral examination 

 1. Three or four interviewers from the core area 

Diplomate Program Officers

Link to Diplomate Officer Section. Officers