To all the members of NORA, This is my final message as President of this wonderful organization. It has been my privilege to serve the men and women of NORA for the past four years. I believe that the organization is stronger and has gained world wide recognition for its pioneering efforts in the rehabilitation medicine area and with those involved with neurological and acquired brain injury. True to our mission statement we have facilitated the utilization and integration of each discipline’s unique skills into an effective rehabilitation management team. We have facilitated communications with our case managers, occupational therapist, physical therapists, speech pathologists, physiatrists, neuro psychologists, attorneys and most importantly to our brain injured patients. Our partnerships with OEP, COVD, CSO, and IARP continues to be a project for “Unity”. I am proud to have been your President of this organization which has witnessed all time highs in attendance at our annual conferences. Beginning in San Antonio, Portland, and now Pomona, attendances and exhibitors have surpassed each consecutive year. Interest in our clinical skills program has increased. Our academic lecturers have validated our theories and practice of Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation. Recent publications and many more await printing of our NORA members are now reference sources for the science and practice of NOR.
All of these accomplishments cannot be achieved without the assistance, dedication, and leadership those supporting the President. Special thanks to all are too numerous to list here but the outstanding individuals should not go unnoticed. Special thanks to William Padula, OD and Vincent Vicci, OD special friends, consults, and advisors. Their involvement has been the seed for great accomplishments for NORA recognition. Eric Ikeda, OD, I was extremely blessed with his guidance and mentor. Janet Berthiaume, OTR behind every successful President has been the even more important Secretary and Treasurer. I cannot list the numerous times I have had to call upon Janet for this and that and she was there. Sue Wenberg, DC. These years of the Presidency were successful because Sue went outside of the box for speakers to our annual conferences. It was important to hear others outside Optometry validate that we are truly multi-disciplinary in our neuro optometric rehabilitation approach. Special thanks to Carl Garbus, OD and his curriculum team. His leadership and their curriculum has implemented the essence of NOR. Thank you to Jenny Garbus for her individual efforts to re-design the NORA website into a professional first class introduction to NORA. Thanks to Dianne Ludlum and Ken Cuffreida for their shared thoughts and advice.
Finally, every organization cannot lead without an executive director; Bob Williams. A lot of behind the scene activities have to occur before projects can come off polished. Special thanks to Dianne Simmons Grab whose marketing approach helped NORA achieve its growth. John Thomas, O.D., Daniel Gottlieb, O.D., Alma Privette, and others the list can go on endlessly. And finally a heart-felt thank you to those many newfound friends and individuals that I had the pleasure to meet during my Presidency from across this country, from Canada to China.
Internationally, nationally, State, and local organizations such as brain injury associations are well aware of the importance of our organization, members, and provider services. Our men and women of our armed forces are being helped with the increase awareness of how their visual systems can help in their return to functionality. Conversely, our allied health professionals are seeking our assistance in their regimens. These demands for our services create a vital need for NOR education but a shortage of supply of NOR doctors and allied personnel. This calls for increasing the educational curriculum to enhance the supply of professionals perform NOR.
I leave this Presidency with a sense of many accomplishments but many more to continue. Carl Garbus, O.D., is best suited to continue those goals and accomplishments. I look forward to continued involvement in this profession and field that I dearly love.
Thank you all for allowing me to serve as your President.
To all the members of NORA, This is my final message as President of this wonderful organization. It has been my privilege to serve the men and women of NORA for the past four years. I believe that the organization is stronger and has gained world wide recognition for its pioneering efforts in the rehabilitation medicine area and with those involved with neurological and acquired brain injury. True to our mission statement we have facilitated the utilization and integration of each discipline’s unique skills into an effective rehabilitation management team. We have facilitated communications with our case managers, occupational therapist, physical therapists, speech pathologists, physiatrists, neuro psychologists, attorneys and most importantly to our brain injured patients. Our partnerships with OEP, COVD, CSO, and IARP continues to be a project for “Unity”. I am proud to have been your President of this organization which has witnessed all time highs in attendance at our annual conferences. Beginning in San Antonio, Portland, and now Pomona, attendances and exhibitors have surpassed each consecutive year. Interest in our clinical skills program has increased. Our academic lecturers have validated our theories and practice of Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation. Recent publications and many more await printing of our NORA members are now reference sources for the science and practice of NOR.