Multicultural Blog, Featuring Board Member Insights, Now at MyMulticulturalToolkit.com/Blog
NEW YORK, 2013 – Transitions Optical, Inc. has announced its 2013 Diversity Advisory Board members, who will continue to help guide efforts through the Transitions Cultural Connections™ initiative.
The Diversity Advisory Board is comprised of eyecare professionals and cultural experts who have a vast knowledge of the largest and fastest-growing demographic groups in the United States. Transitions Optical will work closely with its Board members throughout 2013 to ensure that all of its efforts are culturally appropriate and relevant. Returning members include:
- Allert Brown-Gort – Faculty Fellow, Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame; Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Work and the Economy
- Brian Chou, O.D., F.A.A.O. – EyeLux Optometry, San Diego
- Edwin Marshall, O.D. M.S., M.P.H. – Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs, Indiana University
- Drake McLean – Optician, President, Dietz-McLean Optical Company, San Antonio, TX
- Charlotte Parniawski, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.E. – Cultural Diversity Trainer, National Multicultural Institute; Nurse Educator, Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing at Bridgeport Hospital, Part of the Yale New Haven Health Care System
- Kirk Smick, O.D., F.A.A.O. – Chief of Optometry Services, Clayton Eye Center, Atlanta
- Madeline L. Romeu, O.D., F.A.A.O. – President, Dr. Romeu Eye Associates, West New York, NJ
- David K. Yoo, Ph.D. – Professor and Director, Asian American Studies Center, University of California at Los Angeles
- Vincent K. Young, M.D. – Chairman, Division of Ophthalmology, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia
“We rely on our Diversity Advisory Board members to help us identify ideas for new multicultural education, resources and outreach opportunities,” said Manuel Solis, multicultural marketing manager, Transitions Optical. “With their support and guidance, we are committed to further strengthening our efforts to ensure that growing groups at risk are getting the best possible eye care.”
Multicultural Blog Finds New Home on “My Multicultural Toolkit”
Throughout the year, Transitions Optical’s Diversity Advisory Board members will continue to share best practices and insights through blog entries. Formerly located within Transitions Optical’s professional website, the blog can now be found at MyMulticulturalToolkit.com/Blog within My Multicultural Toolkit – an online resource designed to help eyecare professionals better understand and meet the needs of their diverse patients. My Multicultural Toolkit, which was launched in 2012, also provides eyecare professionals with one-stop access to complimentary multicultural education and tools.
ABOUT TRANSITIONS CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
Transitions Optical is dedicated to promoting healthy sight worldwide. Together with its industry partners, the company supports programs that encourage people to establish healthy eye habits today – such as getting regular eye exams and wearing the right eyewear – to protect and enhance their eye health for the future.
While vision problems can affect anyone, many ethnic minority populations are more likely to develop eye and overall health issues that can take a serious toll on their vision and quality of life. Research has shown that these same groups are often less likely to take preventive steps to protect their eye health, and language and cultural barriers can make it even more challenging for them to receive adequate eye care.
Through the Transitions Cultural Connections™, Transitions Optical strives to raise awareness of the eye health risks faced by growing ethnic minority populations, driving them to their eyecare professionals for more information; increase consumer understanding of the role that higher-performing vision wear options, like Transitions® lenses, can play in enhancing and protecting eyesight; and support eyecare professionals with the education and tools they need to better serve and improve communication with their culturally diverse patients.
In addition to reaching culturally diverse consumers directly through national advertising and consumer outreach efforts, Transitions Optical also provides its industry partners with tools, programs and resources to support their individual education efforts. These resources are available free of charge to optical professionals at MyMulticulturalToolkit.com.
ABOUT TRANSITIONS OPTICAL
Since Transitions Optical, headquartered in Pinellas Park, Fla., was founded more than 20 years ago, the company has been driven by an innovative spirit and a commitment to partnership. As the leading provider of photochromics to optical manufacturers, Transitions Optical offers state-of-the-art light management technology in virtually every major lens design and material encompassing a family of everyday adaptive lenses and performance sun lenses.
Everyday lens options include Transitions® lenses, which provide indoor clarity and outdoor darkness; Transitions® XTRActive® lenses which provide more activation for extra protection; and the revolutionary Transitions® Vantage™ lenses, the first and only photochromic lenses to darken and polarize outdoors for even crisper sharper vision.
The Transitions® adaptive sunglass line includes a range of products customized in partnership with other best-in-class brands. These products are all designed to provide a visual advantage by increasing contrast, sharpening colors, reducing glare and improving distance and depth perception.
Transitions Optical is dedicated to promoting healthy sight worldwide and to supporting its partners and optical professionals with tools, programs and resources to aid in their individual efforts and help strengthen industry growth. For more information, visit TransitionsPRO.com, or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).