AOA Officer Profiles

Randolph E. Brooks, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Randolph E. Brooks, O.D., was first elected to the American Optometric Association’s Board of Trustees in June 2000, re-elected in 2003, and ascended to the presidency at the 112th Annual AOA Congress & 39th Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry’s Meeting® in June 2009.

In addition to his responsibilities as President, Dr. Brooks is chair of the AOA Executive and Agenda Committees as well as a member of the AOA Personnel Committee. He is board liaison to the American Academy of Optometry and the National Optometric Association. Dr. Brooks also serves as liaison to various regional optometric councils and organizations.

Prior to his election to the board, Dr. Brooks held a variety of volunteer appointments within the American Optometric Association. He served several years on the Eye Care Benefits Center Executive Committee and was its chair from 1999-2000.

Dr. Brooks is a past president of the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians. He is in private practice in Ledgewood, NJ.

In 1995 and 2000, the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians named him Optometrist of the Year. Dr. Brooks is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany and the New England College of Optometry. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

Joe E. Ellis, O.D.

Joe E. Ellis, O.D., was first elected to the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees in 2001, re-elected in 2004, and elected President-Elect at the 112th Annual AOA Congress and 39th Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry’s Meeting® in June 2009.

In addition to his responsibilities as President-Elect, Dr. Ellis serves as chair of the AOA Personnel Committee and is a member of the Agenda, Building, Executive and Program Planning Committees. He is board liaison to the AOA Clinical & Practice Advancement Group, the AOA Meetings Center, the American Academy of Optometry and affiliate associations in California, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Prior to his election to the Board, Dr. Ellis held a variety of volunteer appointments within the American Optometric Association. Most recently, he served as chair of the AOA’s State Health Care Legislation Committee.

Dr. Ellis served on the Board of the Kentucky Optometric Association from 1990-96 and as president in 1994-95.

In 1992, he was named Kentucky Young Optometrist of the Year; and in 1995, his colleagues honored him as Kentucky Optometrist of the Year. He has also received three President’s Awards from the Kentucky Optometric Association.

Dr. Ellis was very instrumental in his efforts and relationship with Governor Paul Patton and the Kentucky General Assembly to help pass the first school entrance level eye examination in the United States in 2000.

Dr. Ellis’ area of special interest is in the area of advocacy, especially as it pertains to patients’ access to optometric care. He has been active in legislative and government relations at the state and national levels. Dr. Ellis was instrumental in the passage of numerous legislative efforts in Kentucky relating to access issues.

Dr. Ellis is a graduate of Southern College of Optometry and is in private practice in Benton, KY. He is a member and past president of the Benton Lions Club and past chairman of the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce.

Dori M. Carlson, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Dori Carlson, O.D., was first elected to the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees in June 2004, re-elected in 2006 and elected Vice President at the112th Annual AOA Congress and 39th Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry’s Meeting® in June 2009.

In addition to her responsibilities as Vice President, Dr. Carlson serves as Speaker of the House Pro Tem, chair of the AOA Building Committee and member of the AOA Executive, Personnel and Program Planning Committees. Dr. Carlson serves as board liaison to the AOA Clinical and Practice Advancement Group, the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and affiliate associations in Washington D.C., Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and New York.

Prior to her election to the Board, Dr. Carlson was the first female president of the North Dakota Optometric Association. She served as Chair of North Dakota’s Managed Care Committee, Hospital Privileges Committee and Mentoring Committee. She also served as chair of the AOA Information and Member Services Group, chair of the Membership Development Committee and was a member of the Communications Technology Project Team.

She continues to serve on the North Dakota Blue Cross Blue Shield Advisory Committee and is a long-standing member of the North Dakota Legislative Committee. She is a trained consultant for the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.

Dr. Carlson is a graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry. She then completed a residency at the American Lake and Seattle VA Hospitals. In 1994, she was honored as the North Dakota Young Optometrist of the Year and as the Optometrist of the Year in 2003. She is in private practice in Park River and Grafton, North Dakota.

Ronald L. Hopping, O.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.O.

Ronald L. Hopping, O.D., M.P.H., was elected to the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees in June 2005, re-elected in June 2008 and elected Secretary-Treasurer in 2009.

In addition to his responsibilities as Secretary-Treasurer, Dr. Hopping serves as chair of the AOA Finance, Program Planning, and Constitution and Bylaws Committees. He is also a member of the Executive Committee. His board liaison assignments include the Council on Research, the AOA Research and Information Center, the Insurance Committee, the AOA Sports Vision Section, the National Academies of Practice in Optometry, and the National Commission on Vision and Health as well as the affiliate associations in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Prior to his election to the Board, Dr. Hopping served as group chair of the AOA Information and Member Services Group and also of the AOA Communications Group Advisory Committee. He has served on the Healthy Eyes Healthy People Oversight Committee. He is a charter member of the AOA Contact Lens and Cornea Section and the Sports Vision Section. He is an InfantSEE® provider and a contributor to the AOA PAC at the Visionary level. He has served as a full-time faculty member with the rank of Assistant Professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry. Dr. Hopping served as president of the Texas Optometric Association in 1996.

Dr. Hopping is a graduate of Southern California College of Optometry. He received his Masters in Public Health from the University of Texas in 1982. He has received President’s Awards for Outstanding Service from ten different state presidents and was recognized as the Texas Optometrist of the Year in 2002. Dr. Hopping received the Outstanding Faculty Award at the University of Houston College of Optometry. Dr. Hopping is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and is recognized as a Diplomate in Cornea and Contact Lenses. Additionally he is recognized as a Distinguished Practitioner by the National Academies of Practice in Optometry.

Dr. Hopping is in fulltime independent practice with his spouse, Desiree Hopping, O.D., and two associates in the Clear Lake area of Houston, Texas.

Peter H. Kehoe, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Peter H. Kehoe, O.D., F.A.A.O., was first elected to the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees in June 1999 and re-elected in 2002. Dr. Kehoe ascended to the presidency at the 111th Annual AOA Congress & 38th Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry’s Meeting® in June 2008 and now serves as Immediate Past President.

In addition to his responsibilities as Immediate Past President, Dr. Kehoe serves as Speaker of the House and as a member of the AOA Executive and Agenda Committees. He is board liaison to the AOA Industry Relations Center. Dr. Kehoe also serves as liaison to affiliate associations in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan and Missouri.

Dr. Kehoe is a past president of the Illinois Optometric Association and the West Central Illinois Optometric Society. He continues to serve on the Illinois Optometric Association’s Legislative Committee and was named Optometrist of the Year in 2001.

Dr. Kehoe is a graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry and served on its Alumni Council Board of Directors. Dr. Kehoe is a principal in a multi-location group practice in Galesburg, IL, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and is a past president of the Galesburg Lions Club.