News & Updates
Welcome to the blog page for news and information relating to the Vermont Optometric Association! Stay up-to-date with exciting developments. Join us as we strive to elevate the scope of Vermont optometrists to match our exceptional training. Together, we can make a difference in the field of optometry.
Meet Justice Sutherland
Patients trust in our skills — now is the time for lawmakers to join them. Meet Justice Sutherland - Finding Purpose in Optometry Unexpected opportunities and moments of serendipity can lead us to our true calling. This was the case for me and optometry. Since then,...
Meet Dr. Morgan McClintic
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your history. Originally from Arkansas, I moved here two years ago with my partner, Matthew. While not a born and raised Vermonter, I feel at home being an eye care provider here. I provide primary eye care with an emphasis on...
Meet Dr. Hamza Dar
I grew up on a small hobby farm in upstate New York, near the Adirondacks. I completed my undergraduate studies at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS). During my time at ACPHS, my coursework focused on basic sciences along with an emphasis on...
Meet Dr. Rebecca Barcelow
Tell us a little about yourself and your history. My name is Dr. Rebecca Barcelow, and I am an optometrist practicing in Windsor County. I am a third-generation optometrist. My grandfather, Dr. Albert Barcelow, bought a practice in South Royalton, back in the 1960s....
Meet Dr. Mercedes Smith
After graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia in 2020, I moved with my family to Vermont. It wasn’t long before we fell in love with the state. My husband and I are from big cities, so the tranquil landscape, and the kind,...
Better access, better utilization of our doctors through optometry scope expansion bill
Below is the opinion of Dr. Randy Fitzgerald, of Colchester, who practices optometry in Burlington, sharing his thoughts on the need for an expanded scope for optometrists in Vermont. Why do you visit your optometrist? An injection, perhaps, a troublesome growth or...