What role do opticians play in improving patient outcomes, and why does the profession need a unified national voice?

In this debut episode of Mission:Optician, the official podcast of the United Opticians Association (UOA), host Gwen Cooper, executive director, sits down with Bob Alexander, licensed optician and director of member education, to introduce the mission behind the organization and discuss the future of opticianry.

They reflect on why opticians are essential to patient care, how the UOA is working to unify the profession, and what it will take to strengthen education, advocacy, and collaboration across the optical industry.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why education and minimum competencies for opticians are a national priority
• How state associations play a critical role in advancing the profession
• What’s coming next on Mission:Optician, including upcoming speakers and topics

Gwen and Bob also preview the UOA One Vision | One Voice | One UOA Leadership Conference taking place June 25-27 in Chicago, where opticians, educators, and industry partners will gather to explore innovation, advocacy, and the future of the profession.

Secure your spot: https://uoaleadership.org/

Learn more about UOA and join our growing community at https://opticians.org

Shape the conversation on Mission:Optician! Tell us what topics and guests you want us to feature next at https://opticians.org/podcast