Armed Forces Optometry Society names 435th doctor president

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Scott Saldukas
  • 435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Lt. Col. (Dr.) Daniel E. Reiser, the 435th Aerospace Medical Squadron deputy commander and Optometry Flight commander, was installed as President of the Armed Forces Optometric Society, an affiliate of the American Optometric Association, Feb. 27 in Atlanta.

Doctor Reiser additionally serves as the U.S. Air Force's in Europe Optometry Consultant and is the Ramstein Clinic Executive Biomedical Science Corps officer.

AFOS was founded in 1970 and currently represents more than 800 optometrists working in federal service optometry: Air Force, Army, Navy, Public Health Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Civil Service.

Doctor Reiser became a member of AFOS and the American Optometric Association in 1990 and has been involved from the beginning.

Joining the United States Air Force in 1990, Doctor Reiser was assigned as a staff optometrist at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and then quickly moved on to complete a hospital-based optometry residency at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center.

In 1996, Doctor Reiser was recognized as the AFOS Junior Optometrist of the Year and continued to standout in his career field by winning the Col. Floyd Morris Air Force Field Grade Optometrist of the Year in 2004.

The reason he decided to run for the president position was because he likes to be involved and give of himself in everything he does, whether it is supporting the mission of the military or the mission of optometry.

"AFOS looks out to ensure what is best for the patient," said Doctor Reiser.

He explained some of his goals as president of AFOS. One goal he said, "Is to help future DOD optometry leaders grow professionally and to have more optometrists involved at the national level." Additionally, he added that he will continue to ensure AFOS offers state-of-the-art continuing education for its members with an emphasis placed on visual effects of traumatic brain injury.

Along with being nominated as president, his hard work has also been recognized by his co-workers and superiors.

Colonel (Dr.) John Chu, 435th Medical Group deputy commander, commended Dr. Reiser on his leadership and selflessness. "He always goes above and beyond what is asked of him," he said.

The AFOS mission statement says, "The purposes of this Society are to advance, improve and enhance the eye care of designated federal services health care beneficiaries given by optometrists in federal service; to provide a forum for these optometrists; to improve the art and science of the practice of optometry and to elevate the standards of practice."

"Doctor Reiser is always going out of his way trying to improve the clinic, and I am sure he will do the same as AFOS president," said Doctor Chu.