About IJCAHPO

History

The International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO) was established as a not-for-profit organization in 1969 to offer certification and continuing education opportunities to ophthalmic allied health personnel. Currently more than 27,000 people in the U.S., Canada, and around the world hold an IJCAHPO certification.

Mission

To promote global eye health and prevent blindness through training program accreditation, education and the certification of Allied Ophthalmic Personnel.
In pursuit of its mission, IJCAHPO will bring results in four areas:

Promote the establishment of AOP training programs
Develop and implement global accreditation standards for training programs
Develop and encourage adoption of international standards for certification
Promote education, training, and continuing education resources for AOP

2019 IJCAHPO Value Report

Download a PDF of IJCAHPO’s 2019 Value Report.

IJCAHPO Certification Standards of Ethics
Scope of Practice
IJCAHPO – Imiles Program for Certificants

Governance

IJCAHPO is managed by, or under the direction and subject to the oversight of, a Board of Directors (the “Board”) consisting of seventeen (17) Directors.

An Advisory Councilor is selected from each of the Regular and Affiliate Organizations. The purpose of the Council is to facilitate dialogue, support IJCAHPO’s activities on issues related to allied ophthalmic personnel (AOP), and provide input/advice to the Board of Directors on such matters as the Board of Directors may refer to the Council.

Organizational Council Representatives	Councilors

American Academy of Ophthalmology	Richard C. Allen, MD, PhD

American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus	Brian J. Forbes, MD, PhD

American Glaucoma Society	Gayle Howard, MD

American Ophthalmological Society	Teresa Chen, MD

American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery with American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators	Vasudha Panday, MD

American Society of Retina Specialists	Edward S. Lim, MD

Association of Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology	Veronica Plessinger, COT

Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology	Terri L. Young, MD, MBA

Association of Veterans Affairs Ophthalmologists	April Maa, MD

Canadian Ophthalmological Society	Femida Kherani, MD, FRCSC, DABO

Canadian Society of Ophthalmic Medical Personnel	Warren Whitford, COMT

Consortium of Ophthalmic Training Programs	Carla Blackburn, COMT, ROUB

Eye and Contact Lens Association	Joann Kang, MD

North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society	Jade Schiffman, MD, FAAO, FAAN

Society of Military Ophthalmologists	Gary L. Legault, MD, MAJ (P), MC

Affiliate Organizational Council Representatives

American Association of Certified Orthoptists	Sarah Whitecross, OC(C), CO

American Orthoptic Council	Omondi L. Nyong’o, MD

Ophthalmic Photographers’ Society	Holly Cheshier, COT, CRA, OCT-C

Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology	Open

The Canadian Orthoptic Society	Maria Pryde, MSc, OC(C), COMT

Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology	Open

Board of Directors
President * Neil Choplin, MD

President Elect	* James Tsai, MD, MBA, FACS

Secretary	* Lynn D. Anderson, PhD, CEO

Treasurer	* Michael Stewart, MD

Immediate Past President	* William F. Astle, MD, FRCSC, Dipl. ABO

Secretary of Education	Christine McDonald, COA, ROUB, OSC, COE, CTC, OCS

Secretary of Certification	Natalie Loyacano, COMT, ROUB, OSA

Secretary of International Relations	Karl Golnik, MD, MEd

Secretary of Public Affairs	Eydie Miller-Ellis, MD

Public Advisor	Jeannine Bayard, BSN, MPH

Director-at-Large	Steven J. Lichtenstein, MD, FAAP, FACS

Director-at-Large	William Mieler, MD

Director-at-Large	Barbara T. Harris, PA, MBA, COT, OSC

Director-at-Large	Kent Rose, COMT

Foundation President	William Ehlers, MD

International Councilor	Prashant Garg, MBBS, MS

Legal Counsel	Paul Quast, Esq.

*Executive Committee