Reasons to become a fellow

II. Reasons to become a FIAOMC

• Fellows are viewed as an authority by patients researching Myopia Control and OrthoK on the web
• Fellows receive a prominent and distinctive listing on our website’s practitioner search tab
• The preparation to take the FIAOMC test hones your skills and broadens your knowledge.
• Patients will see the FIAOMC designation after your name giving you and your staff the opportunity to promote myopia control and ortho-K.
• Members use our website to locate a new doctor for their relocating patients. They usually refer to a Fellow as their skills have been certified.

Testimonials

“My journey for fellowship has been an eye-opener. When I first applied for the fellowship, I thought I had a good grasp of orthokeratology knowledge. (Perhaps 70%) In hindsight, I probably only knew about 10%. This process had ups and downs and I learned so much. I am so grateful I had this opportunity to grow and learn and become a better orthokeratologist. Now, I am part of the fellowship, I will try my best to share my knowledge and help promote myopia management with my patients, my colleagues, and my community. I highly recommend this rewarding challenge. Thank you for everything, Sherman”

– Sherman Tung, OD, FIAOMC

“I found the process of obtaining my fellowship to be very rewarding and educational. Preparing the cases and studying for the examination reinforced the fundamental concepts of orthokeratology and myopia control, and also helped me to think about orthokeratology at a more advanced level. Obtaining fellowship is a source of pride for me, as myopia control has been a passion of mine for a long time. I feel that fellowship in the academy signifies that I take myopia control seriously and am dedicated to advancing my knowledge in this field.”

– Dwight Barnes, O.D., FIAOMC

“I have been providing orthokeratology for 13 years. By discussing online, reading books, keeping up with studies, and attending meetings such as Vision by Design I developed a multi-faceted myopia control program that includes the use of ortho-k, atropine, and multifocal contact lenses. However, I knew that I wanted to elevate my skills even further. I already had Fellowships in the Academy of Optometry and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development so I know how much work and benefit it provide. The Fellowship process of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control case presentation really required me to think through every step of my myopia care. The preparation for the written examination made me study fundamental details and the oral examination challenged me in ways that I didn’t expect. The whole process was especially challenging during the global COVID-19 pandemic. I commend the Academy Fellowship Committee for adapting the process.

I can definitely state both my clinical skills as well as patient management have benefited me significantly during my year of Fellowship preparation. I highly recommend the Fellowship process for anyone who wants to be the best myopia specialist they can be.”

– Nate Bonilla-Warford, O.D., FIAOMC

“Fellowship gives both my patients and myself confidence that I am one of the experts in the field of orthokeratology. To my ortho-k patients, that confidence leads them to trust me from the very beginning; to me, that confidence pushes me to hold a higher standard in ortho-k patients’ care.”

– Ling Zhou, O.D., FIAOMC

“Studying for this fellowship has been challenging and rewarding at the same time. This experience has broadened my knowledge greatly. While studying for the fellowship, I realized I had to use a different thought process about approaching each case. This ortho-k fellowship means a tremendous sense of accomplishment for my patients and me. I realized this is a lifelong learning process about ortho-k. This field is wide and deep. This fellowship changed my perspective–I have more tools in my toolbox for designing my ortho-k treatment. I believe this fellowship elevates the practitioners to a much higher level of expertise. It changed your way of thinking about how to best help each patient. Overall, I’m more confident in helping the patient with their individual needs.”

– Yang Ping Chang, O.D., FIAOMC