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Board of Examiners in Optometry approves minutes, reelects officers, accepts reciprocity applications and a trade name; staff introductions and briefings held
Summary
At its April meeting the Kansas Board of Examiners in Optometry approved routine minutes, reappointed its officer slate, accepted two reciprocity applications, approved a trade name, introduced new staff, heard a budget briefing and cybersecurity training, and began a multi‑year regulation review.
The Board of Examiners in Optometry conducted regular business at its April meeting, approving minutes and a slate of officers, accepting two reciprocity applications, approving a trade name for a Topeka practice, and hearing informational briefings on the budget, planned regulation reviews and cybersecurity resources.
Minutes and officers: The board approved the minutes from the Jan. 8 meeting by voice vote. The board then elected and/or confirmed the officer slate by motion as the same slate in place: Don Bircher as president, Dr. Sheena Nagarajah as vice president and Gary Beavers as secretary‑treasurer; the motion passed by voice vote.
Reciprocity applications: The board voted to accept two reciprocity applications during the meeting. The board moved and seconded acceptance of Dr. Dittamore (reciprocity application discussed in person) and, later, Dr. Lindquist (appearing by WebEx) and approved both by voice vote. Board members asked each applicant about their licensure history, scope of practice in their previous states and any pending internal or clinic reviews; both applicants were accepted for Kansas licensure by reciprocity.
Staff and personnel: The board introduced Callie McAtee, who will serve as the coordinator for continuing medical education and as Jan’s incoming replacement in board staff operations. McAtee described her 12 years as coordinator of continuing medical education for the Oklahoma College of Optometry and said she plans to focus on logistics for future CE administration.
Trade names and executive session: The board approved the trade name Crystal Vision LLC for a Topeka office (motion and voice vote). The board also held and reconvened executive sessions during the meeting to discuss attorney‑client privileged matters and trade name audit questions; motions to recess into executive session were made and passed as recorded on the meeting record.
Informational briefings: The meeting included a budget overview from John Kirk of the Division of Budget, who explained the state budget calendar, the July 1 fiscal year start and the agency’s responsibility for annual upkeep costs for new statewide licensing software. The board also received a cybersecurity and information‑security briefing from the Kansas Information Security Office (KISO), which reviewed state reporting obligations for cyber incidents, best practices (multifactor authentication, password managers, timely patching), and offered to conduct tabletop exercises and follow‑up training for the board or its staff.
Continuing education (DEA hours): Board members discussed whether to accept DEA‑required training hours for continuing education credit. After review, members indicated they will not accept DEA course credit for Kansas CE credit until the training is submitted to and approved by COPE; staff indicated any decision about partial credit or future acceptance would require an administrative review but that, for now, DOE/DEA‑related CE will be accepted only if COPE‑approved.
Regulation review: Staff reported that the board’s rules are due for statutorily required five‑year review under KLRD/JCAR schedules and asked members to review an online spreadsheet of regulations and submit any proposed edits soon so the agency can meet the July 1 filing window.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (Jan. 8): motion, voice vote — approved. - Election/confirmation of officers: motion to retain current slate (Don Bircher, president; Dr. Sheena Nagarajah, vice president; Gary Beavers, secretary‑treasurer): voice vote — approved. - Reciprocity: Acceptance of Dr. Dittamore (reciprocity): motion and second — voice vote approved. - Reciprocity: Acceptance of Dr. Lindquist (reciprocity): motion and second — voice vote approved. - Trade name: Crystal Vision LLC (Topeka) approved: motion and second — voice vote approved. - Executive sessions: motions to go into executive session for attorney‑client privileged discussions and trade name matters — motions made and passed.
What’s next: Staff will follow up on the regulation review spreadsheet and prepare travel authorizations for members attending ARBO; the board will continue to collect proposed state exam questions from members ahead of the July licensing administration.
