As Teri Geist, OD, anticipates stepping into the role of president-elect of the American Optometric Association (AOA) at its 2025 meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she embodies the spirit of leadership that the AOA seeks to promote.
Dr. Geist’s career began with a clear vision of community involvement. “When I first started practicing, I knew I wanted to be involved in some type of community,” she says. Her early engagement with the Nebraska Optometric Association was pivotal. “Our state association has a high membership rate. If you’re a new graduate and you’re new to optometry, you will be immersed,” she says. Within a few years, she moved up to serve on the Nebraska board and soon became the president. “I think all optometrists are leaders to some degree, or else we wouldn’t have made it to graduate school,” she says.
GETTING INVOLVED IN ADVOCACY
Dr. Geist’s commitment to optometry extends beyond her practice. She has been instrumental in advocating for the profession and getting others engaged. “This commitment—whether they decide to advocate at the regional level, the state level or even the national level—is a commitment that we hope more people will take,” she says. Her vision for the AOA includes not just increasing membership. She also wants to foster engaged members who understand the value of their involvement and put it to work through advocacy for the advancement of optometry and patient care. “If we don’t have engaged members, then we don’t have an informed public,” she says.
Reflecting on the progress made at the AOA, Dr. Geist notes the importance of public awareness. “We need to tell the story of the important clinical care we provide to our patients in our practices to reinforce why change is needed,” she says. This commitment to advocacy was particularly crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. “If you had told me at the beginning of COVID that we would expand the scope of practice in so many states, I’d have been shocked,” she says. The pandemic forced many optometrists to adapt quickly, and Dr. Geist was at the forefront of these changes, advocating for the profession and ensuring that optometrists could continue to provide essential services.
A LONG-TERM VISION AT THE AOA
Dr. Geist’s leadership style is characterized by a long-term vision. “Instead of focusing on a year-long plan, we work to expand that to a longer-term mission,” Dr. Geist says. “We don’t want to put so much energy into something that’s short-term and short-lived.” This approach aims to create sustainable initiatives that extend beyond one person’s leadership alone. It’s about creating a legacy that future leaders can build upon.
As she prepares for her term as president-elect of the AOA, Dr. Geist has high hopes for the future of optometry. “The opportunities that we have will continue to be amplified,” she says. With an aging population and increasing demand for eye care, she sees a critical role for doctors of optometry to provide this care.
BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY
Balancing a demanding career with family life was no small feat. “Like many, I started when I had young children, and I was practicing full time. All that juggling! I’m not saying it was easy at all,” she says. However, she credits her success to a supportive family and the optometry family at large. “It takes a village to get through those early years. Luckily, I had the support to make it possible for me to make commitments to my profession, my practice and my family.”
Dr. Geist’s involvement in the AOA has enriched her personal and professional life. “The friendships, the relationships… you can’t put a price tag on that,” she says. “It’s fantastic to have friends in literally every state in the country—many of whom aren’t just personal friends but professional guides and supports.” She encourages young optometrists who want to network to join their local, state and national optometric associations. The relationships she has built along the way have not only enhanced her career but have also given her a sense of belonging within the community.
THE BEST INSURANCE YOU COULD BUY
As she looks ahead, Dr. Geist is committed to ensuring that the AOA remains a strong advocate for optometrists and their patients. “We need every doctor to be engaged,” she says. Her vision includes reaching out to non-members to help them understand the value of membership. “People sometimes talk about the cost of membership, but most of the time they don’t know how much it is,” she says. “To me, it’s the best insurance you could ever buy.”
“We really need to have open communication and transparency. If we’re all in this together, we can strengthen our impact.”
A MOMENT IN HISTORY
For the first time in its more than 100-year history, the AOA has seen a female president, president-elect and vice president assume those leadership roles. Jacquie Bowen, OD, FAAO, president; Teri Geist, OD, president-elect; and Terri Gossard, OD, MS, vice president, say this is a reflection of the changing demographics, expanding opportunities and increasing interest in a profession that truly changes lives. “Seventy percent of optometry students right now are women, and it’s important for leadership at the AOA board level to reflect that,” says Dr. Bowen.
They look forward to building on the legacy of all AOA leaders who have come before. As they head into their new roles and leave their own marks for coming generations, they each told Women In Optometry what drives them to be leaders.
Read about AOA’s President Jacquie Bowen, OD, FAAO, here.
Read about AOA’s Vice President Terri Gossard, OD, MS, here.
