From top: James D. Wetherbee, former NASA astronaut, Hanns Pladerer, Silhouette International board member and Arnold Schmied, president of Silhouette USA; Practitioners honed in on specifics during the more intimate break-out group discussions; R. Mike Abel of Delaware Ophthalmology Consultants discusses educating patients about solar protection.

It was an information packed weekend as eyecare professionals from across the country came together for Silhouette's second annual Optical Symposium held against the autumnal backdrop of Lake George in upstate New York at the historic Sagamore Hotel. Part of Silhouette's Alliance for Value & Excellence Program, the symposium offered its invitationonly guests an unparalleled educational forum and networking opportunity. Speakers included Jim Fannin, well-known sports performance coach whose clients include the Chicago White Sox' Jim Thome, Olympian Dan O'Brien and, most famously, New York Yankees All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez who wrote the forward to Fannin's book, "S.C.O.R.E. for Life: The Secret Formula for Thinking Like a Champion." Fannin discussed how to get "into the Zone" and have the life of a "true champion." Robert Abel, MD, and Mike Abel of Delaware Ophthalmology Consultants, gave an in-depth presentation about blue light, age-related macular degeneration and "Implementing a Sight Protection Program into Your Practice." And Harold Stolovitch, PhD, a teacher, trainer, author, researcher and consultant for over 40 years, discussed “Incentives, Motivation and Workplace Performance: Research and Best Practice." Evening activities included a fun and informative pre-dinner presentation by former NASA astronaut James D. Wetherbee, a veteran of six U.S. space missions. Later in the evening, We t h e r b e e posed for pictures and signed autographs for guests. As the weekend wrapped up, Arnold Schmied, president of Silhouette, had these words of wisdom to leave with participants. “Be the leaders for your patients to know why they need what they need. Jim Fannin reminded us there is a force in us we can't control. If we put that force to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we can move things in a way we never could before. That's the point: Trying to accomplish what we set out to do. If we focus our attention like a laser, we can make a ton of energy."

— Jackie Micucci