Dr. Teri Geist Elected President of the American Optometric Association

Congratulations to NOA member Dr. Teri Geist for her installation as Nebraska’s first President of the American Optometric Association.

Congratulations to NOA member Dr. Teri Geist for her installation as Nebraska’s first President of the American Optometric Association. Nearly 30 NOA members and their guests, along with members of the North Central States Optometric Council and family joined Dr. Geist at her installation ceremony on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Optometry’s Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. Geist was recognized by colleagues and friends from Nebraska and across the nation for her leadership, commitment, and service to deliver and ensure access to eyecare services. A video recorded by Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen commended Dr. Geist for her leadership and advocacy efforts to help address gaps in awareness and public policy in vision care for underserved students in Nebraska schools. During Dr. Geist’s service as President of the Nebraska Foundation for Children’s Vision, she and the NFCV Board worked to advance awareness of the role vision plays in the success of our children, and in helping to improve access to vision care for our children.

Dr. Geist has advocated for advancement of the optometric profession. She chaired the legislative effort to require vision evaluations for children entering kindergarten in Nebraska, and gave presentations to local PTA audiences, school nurses, Educational Service Units (ESU) and prospective teachers about the connections between children’s vision and learning. She also worked to develop vision screening guidelines for school nurses. 

In her acceptance speech as the AOA President, Dr. Geist illustrated the work of a relay team in working together and handing off the baton at a point where things are better. She compared it to moving the optometric profession forward to a better place.

Highlights from Dr. Geist’s speech included:

• Every generation has a responsibility to leave the optometry profession stronger, broader and more accessible than they found it.
• The future of optometry is helping people see what they don’t know they’re missing.
• None of the progress we celebrate today happens in isolation. It happens because optometrists choose to come together. They focus on protecting access to care, and demanding fair reimbursement. Advocating for our patients and supporting one another is critical. When we work together, our collective voice becomes stronger than any individual voice could ever be. As healthcare continues to evolve, that unity matters more than ever.
• The future deserves our attention. There’s never been a more exciting time to envision what we can become.
• Our profession continues to evolve while remaining rooted in something deeply human. We are defined by our willingness to keep showing up for patients again and again.

We are fortunate to shape optometry’s future together. Dr. Geist said her commitment is “To listen carefully, to hear the quiet voices – not just the loud ones. To lead humbly, to lead with integrity, honesty and transparency. To advocate boldly and help ensure the future that we build is more human. The future of optometry will be defined by the people who are willing to embrace change, serve patients and see possibilities where others see obstacles. The road ahead is wide. Together we have an extraordinary opportunity to help people see the world and the future more clearly.”