Barry Barresi, OD

ST. LOUIS--The American Optometric Association (AOA) has appointed health-policy expert and educator Barry Barresi, OD, as executive director of the 34,000-member organization, effective July 1.

Barresi--currently president of the New England Eye Institute and vice president of clinical affairs at New England College of Optometry--will succeed Michael Jones, OD, who retires on June 30 after 10 years as the AOA’s executive director.

A long-time AOA volunteer, Barresi is currently a member of the AOA’s federal relations committee. He also serves as a consultant to AOA’s Healthy Eyes Healthy People project and is the founding chair of the newly established National Commission on Vision and Health.

Barresi has been a key player in AOA’s advocacy efforts, according to the organization, having testified in state legislatures on scope-of-practice legislation and worked with AOA on policy development and advocacy in Washington. ■