Member Thoughts
Consider Board Certification –
You May Be Surprised
By Nina Doyle, O.D.
The idea of taking another test, many years removed from
optometry school, seemed like an insurmountable hurdle
at this stage of my life. With two young children and a busy
practice, studying for an examination, one in which I was
certain I would fail, was the last thing I wanted to do each day. However, in the end, Iprevailed. The weeks and months leading up to the examination provided the greater challenge, rather than the examination itself, like training for a marathon.
Board Certification is a voluntary process of established standards that demonstrate that a doctor of optometry has exceeded basic requirements. Setting aside the controversial aspects of it, taking the American Board of Optometry’s Board Certification examination proved my lifelong commitment to learning, no matter what stage I am in my life. I owed it to my patients to maintain a level of knowledge and to practice at a higher standard. Current continuing education events are passive for me; taking this examination revealed what I truly know and understand. Many years ago, I had read in the Washington Post that doctors are at the height of their clinical skills and technical knowledge five years post-residency. I did not think that applied to me, but I was most surprised by how much I learned (or forgotten) over the years since then as life takes over. During the process of preparing for the examination, I learned things that I could implement immediately to elevate how I practice.
In the time since passing Board Certification, I have found the Maintenance of Competence compels me to continue learning and to seek out best practices and studies that will benefit my patients.
If any MOA member is interested in learning more about my experience or about the American Board of Optometry’s Board Certification process, please reach out to me at [email protected].
About Dr. Doyle:
Dr. Nina Doyle, OD, FAOO has been a member of the American Optometric Association (AOA) since 1999 and a member of the Maryland Optometric Association (MOA) for the last 13 years. After graduating from the New England College of Optometry in 2003, Dr. Doyle completed a residency in Ocular Disease at the San Francisco Department of Veteran Affairs. Dr. Doyle had served on the MOA Board for 8 years and is currently the President of the Maryland Optometric Association Education Foundation. She was awarded Young OD of the Year in 2006 and OD of the Year in 2014. Dr. Doyle specializes in Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation. When Dr. Doyle is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband Dr. Andrew Doyle and her two daughters.