CAO Member Benefits
    

Welcome to our CAO Community! By becoming a member, you'll join a remarkable group united in the mission to advance the profession of Optometry in Connecticut! Take advantage of all the benefits listed below and more!

Membership to the American Optometric Association (AOA)

Membership dues include your membership to the Connecticut Association of Optometrists and the American Optometric Association. The AOA offers a range of additional benefits and discounts on a variety of useful tools, services, and registrations to national events.

• View AOA membership benefits

Newsletter and Publications

• CAO Newsletter, published quarterly
• AOA News, published monthly
• AOA First Look, published daily

Members Only Access

Members have many valuable resources available. We provide detailed information to assist you in managing your practice, keep you informed of managed care issues, and alert you to important legislative initiatives. We also provide information about upcoming meetings and events, professional opportunities, information on managed care plans, fee schedules and coding and billing issues, in addition to a host of other topics. A member directory is also available, which allows patients to locate you or find a certain specialty.

• Connecticut Association of Optometrists: www.cteyes.org/membersonly
• American Optometric Association: www.aoa.org

Legislative & Lobbyist Services

The CAO retains the services of Rome Smith & Kowalski, a government relations firm, to assist us with legislative and regulatory activities at our State Capitol. On a daily basis, the firm monitors all developments at the State Capitol and advocates for our profession with legislators and executive branch officials. The CAO also utilizes legislative grassroots software, KP Dashboard to assist in efficient communication between you and legislators.

Managed Care Consultant

The CAO contracts with CPR STRATEGIC MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS, a managed care consulting firm. On behalf of the CAO membership, CPR meets regularly with HMO’s and PPO’s offering both commercial and Medicare/Medicaid programs, to ensure appropriate positioning for optometrists as medical eye care providers. This includes identification of new networks that are conducting business in Connecticut and opening up fresh opportunities for OD participation. Their efforts and initiatives impact reimbursement, generate respect for optometry’s scope of practice and enhance the role of optometry statewide.

Access to the CAOLIST Listserv

CAOLIST is a ListServ forum managed by CAO staff, where members can engage with colleagues and discuss various topics related to anything optometry. By email, the group offers the opportunity to share information, ask questions, or report news. Members can either simply read the messages or contribute their own insights, comments, and advice. According to current members, this is one of the most valuable benefits of being part of the CAO.

Practice & Employment Opportunities

• CAO Job Board
  The local state of Connnecticut database of practice and employment opportunities, including full-time and part-time employment, fill-in or temporary positions, opportunities leading to partnership/ownership and the sale of a practice. CAO members can post job opportunities for FREE!
  View current job opportunities

• AOA Excel Career Center
  The national database of practice and employment opportunities. Reach the unreachable candidate through AOAExcel’s Career Center Spotlight and have your listing sent directly to the inboxes of 17,000+ qualified ODs. Many doctors of optometry may not actively be seeking a new position, but would be interested in the right opportunity.  Take advantage of the job seeker account features to help you do your research, find the right job opportunity, and get your experience and skill set in front of your ideal employer.
  AOA Excel Career Center

Continuing Education

We offer continuing education that elevates all participants to new levels of clinical care and enhances their expertise in the optometry profession. In addition, participants will learn how to protect and enhance our scope of practice.

• Annual Education Conference 
  Held in the fall annually, a 2-day event offering 16 hours of continuing education at significantly reduced rates to CAO members. Along with education, the conference also showcases 40+ exhibitors for a great opportunity to learn, network, and meet fellow colleagues. Event also includes a Paraoptometric Program to offer education to your optometric staff.
  
  
• Spring Training Program & Annual Awards Lunch
  Held in April annually, a 1-day event offering 5 hours of continuing education at significantly reduced rates to CAO members. Along with education, the event includes the Annual Awards Lunch to network, meet fellow colleagues, and honor award winners. 
  
  
• Virtual CE Series
  Held quarterly, 1 or 2 hours of continuing education that you can watch from your home or office virtually. 

Mentoring/Young OD Program

For new CAO members (recent graduates, students or established doctors) who might be new to CAO or the state of Connecticut. The program has several purposes, including forming new relationships between established ODs and new, in-coming members, help create another OD colleague referral source and encourage further, long-term commitment to CAO and to create a networking opportunity for new members to meet other optometrists in their locale, specialty and/or mode of practice.

• Young OD/Mentoring Events 
  Quarterly events are organized in different locations around the state of Connecticut. We offer a variety of topics including post graduation support, new practice ownership, new product information, stoplight job networking events or simply just an open discussion and getting to know your colleagues.
  
  
• CAOMentorList Listserv
  Alongside the CAOList Listserv, we also provide a separate listserv to support Young ODs and facilitate mentorship. Members are encouraged to ask questions related to Connecticut Optometric laws, practice management, and referral sources. Additional details are shared about the CAO organization, its committees, and upcoming Young OD/Mentoring events.

Marketing

On both the AOA and CAO websites, members are listed in a database where patients can locate them using search criteria such as last name, city or zip code. Members are also eligible to use the AOA and CAO logos on their business cards, stationery, etc., to distinguish themselves as a professional association member.

Click here to join the CAO/AOA!