08/27/2025
Members Announce Candidacies for 2026 OOA Board of Directors
Members Announce Candidacies for 2026 OOA Board of Directors
The Ohio Optometric Association will hold an election for positions on its board of directors during the annual Congress business meeting slated for Friday, November 7, 2025 in conjunction with the EastWest Eye Conference in Columbus, OH. Elections will decide open positions for 2026 President-Elect, 2026 Secretary-Treasurer and two, two-year Trustee seats. Please plan to attend and vote for your 2026 leadership!
Members may submit their bids for open positions through Friday, October 31, 2025 by emailing their nomination statement to info@ooa.org.
Dr. Hannah Davidson Announces Her Bid for Trustee
I am excited to announce my candidacy for Trustee for the OOA Board of Directors. I have been interested in serving on the board since my time as the President of the Ohio State chapter of the AOSA in 2017-2018.
I have served as a committee member for the OOA Young OD Committee since 2019 and have served as the committee chair for the past three years. In order to better develop my leadership skills, I have participated in the AOA’s Leadership Institute 1.0 and 2.0. These workshops gave me the leadership skills I need to serve as a competent and confident member of the board.
I have also completed the 32-hour advanced procedures and laser course in order to better educate our legislators about these procedures and help pass our scope modernization bill.
We are so lucky in Ohio to have such a strong OOA and AOA connection. I hope that I can help keep our state strong by pushing forward with new legislation and continuing to inspire the next generation to be involved with organized optometry. Thank you for your consideration!
Dr. David Bejot Announces His Bid for Re-Election as Trustee
It has been both an honor and a privilege to serve as a Trustee on the Board of the Ohio Optometric Association over the past four years. I continue to be inspired by the unwavering passion and dedication demonstrated by our OOA Board as we lead and advance our profession. Our priorities remain clear: modernizing our scope of practice, championing Senate Bill 36, and supporting the Children’s Vision Initiative—all of which represent tremendous progress for optometry and the state of Ohio. In addition, we are consistently making significant strides in our work with third-party payors.
The issue of scope modification holds particular importance for me, as I believe it is crucial for encouraging new OSU graduates to remain and practice in Ohio. There is no denying the challenges our state faces concerning access to care and addressing this is essential for our community’s well-being.
As I seek to continue my service for another term as Trustee, I remain committed to my guiding principles: to Promote, Progress, and Protect the remarkable profession of Ohio Optometry. Thank you sincerely for granting me the opportunity to represent and serve you on the Ohio Optometric Association Board.
Dr. Taylor Babcock Announces His Bid for Secretary-Treasurer
I wish to announce my candidacy for Secretary-Treasurer of the Ohio Optometric Association. I consider it an honor and privilege to serve Ohio Optometry and the OOA members in this capacity. I have served on the board of trustees since 2019, and ask for your continued trust, to serve you with honesty and integrity. I am dedicated to maintaining a strong organizational foundation within the OOA and the optometric profession. As a board member I will continue the pursuit of broadening the optometric scope of practice in Ohio, pursuing children’s vision initiatives and any other issues that are prudent to Ohio Optometry.
I am the owner of a private practice in southern Ohio. I understand and will be able to represent private practices on the OOA board. Additionally, being in a more remote geographic setting in southern Ohio allows me to bring a different perspective that I feel is important to maintain on the board level. I look forward to joining the executive leadership team and learning about the role of Secretary-Treasurer to serve the OOA members to the fullest of my capacity. I am passionate about advocacy within optometry and have served as a Key OD to my area as well as serving on the Third Party committee. I am a Realeyes presenter, and in the past have been an iSee volunteer.
In addition to serving on the OOA Board, I am a board member of the AOA Optometric Historical Society, I am board president of a local nonprofit "Friends of Portsmouth" and an active member at my church. I am happily married with 3 children.
Dr. Jennifer Vincent Announces Her Bid for President-Elect
I’m honored to announce my candidacy for President-Elect of the Ohio Optometric Association. After serving as Trustee for six years and most recently as Secretary-Treasurer, I’m ready to take the next step in service to our profession and lead with purpose, vision, and accountability.
This is a pivotal time for optometry in Ohio. As we continue to modernize our scope of practice and advocate for expanded access to care, strong leadership is essential. I’m committed to ensuring our association remains forward-thinking, fiscally responsible, and deeply engaged with both our members and the communities we serve.
My ongoing work in membership and advocacy—locally and nationally—has shown me how powerful our collective voice can be. As chair of the AOA Membership Development Committee, I’ve seen firsthand how legislative victories translate into meaningful change for our members, profession and our patients. I will continue to champion these efforts, ensuring Ohio remains a leader in optometric innovation and influence.
Serving on the board has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I’m energized by the progress we’ve made and inspired by the possibilities ahead. With your support, I look forward to continuing this journey and helping shape the future of optometry in Ohio.
Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your belief in what we can achieve together.