Complete Story
02/26/2026
EastWest Destinations 2026 Wrap-Up
The 2026 EastWest Destinations conference (EWD) came to an end on Saturday, February 14th, after 11 hours of high-quality continuing education. This year kicked off with an opening reception on the 16th floor of the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach—a great opportunity for attendees, guests, and sponsors to mingle and celebrate EWD.
Attendees heard from ODs and MDs on a variety of topics, ranging from the use of AI in the optometric workplace, to the partnership between optometrists, ophthalmologists, and ER doctors. Drs. Hartman, Miller, Yuhas, Wesley, Hoepf, Derick (MD), Orlando (MD), Davis, Daigh (MD), and residents from across the Midwest lectured and presented posters throughout Friday and Saturday morning.
This year, we experienced a bit of fog, but that didn’t stop the group from enjoying our annual Friday night Sunset Cruise. With a private boat, dinner, and drinks provided, we returned to port just in time to see an amazing sunset break through the fog. Many attendees then went on to see Bad Habits at a local bar and grill and continued the festivities into the night.
Next year marks the 10th anniversary of EastWest Destinations, and we would love to see you there. Visit www.eastwestdestinations.com in the coming weeks to see where we will be next year!


