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2023 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 595
Commending Jeffrey C. Michaels, O.D.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 6, 2023
Agreed to by the Senate, February 9, 2023

 

WHEREAS, Jeffrey C. Michaels, O.D., a distinguished doctor of optometry and co-owner of Family Vision Care of Richmond, was named Optometrist of the Year by the American Optometric Association in 2022; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from the Michigan College of Optometry in 1998 and completing a residency in low vision at Johns Hopkins University, Jeffrey Michaels settled in the Richmond area, served 13 years as the director of a low vision clinic at Stony Point, and most recently became a co-owner and practicing optometrist at Family Vision Care of Richmond in Glen Allen; and

WHEREAS, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeffrey Michaels supported his fellow optometrists by presenting a series of webinars explaining the federal relief programs that were created in response to the historic public health crisis; these webinars were attended by thousands and have since been restreamed over 10,000 times; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Michaels’ efforts helped optometrists nationwide receive a collective $1.6 billion from federal relief funds and programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program, Employee Retention Credit, and Provider Relief Fund, allowing many to maintain their practices throughout this difficult and uncertain time; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Michaels went above and beyond the call of duty following these webinars by personally speaking with dozens of optometrists by phone, email, or text to help them navigate the myriad federal programs and their complex regulations; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Michaels has advanced the optometry industry through leadership positions with various organizations, including the Richmond Optometric Society, which he served as president from 2003 to 2005; the Virginia Optometric Association (VOA), which he served as president and legislative committee co-chair; and the American Optometric Association (AOA), which he served as a Quality Improvement and Data Committee member; and

WHEREAS, over the years, Jeffrey Michaels has participated in numerous clinical trials to improve the quality of vision care and has spoken many times at local, state, regional, and national optometric educational events; he has also appeared before many non-optometric groups to raise public awareness of vision care best practices; and

WHEREAS, beyond his work as an optometrist, Jeffrey Michaels fosters the well-being of an untold number of young people by teaching mental conditioning to sports teams at the travel, high school, and collegiate levels; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his recent distinction from the AOA, Jeffrey Michaels has received several prestigious accolades over his career, including Virginia Optometrist of the Year honors from the VOA in 2008 and 2021 and the President’s Award from the AOA in 2015 and 2020, all of which serve as testaments to a productive and meaningful career in service to others; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Jeffrey C. Michaels, O.D., for being named the American Optometric Association’s 2022 Optometrist of the Year; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Jeffrey C. Michaels, O.D., as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his award and appreciation for his contributions to the Commonwealth.