The College of Optometrists has welcomed a new President and four members to its Council at the College’s recent AGM.
The incoming College President is board member Mary-Ann Sherratt and its new Council members are; Priya Jayaprakash (MCOptom) representing College members in the London region, Aleksandra Mankowska (MCOptom) for Yorkshire and Humber, Andrew McGregor (MCOptom) who will represent the North East and Paul Carroll (MCOptom) joining as a new Council member for the North West.
New College President, Dr Mary-Ann Sherratt (MCOptom), is part of a multidisciplinary team at Bristol Eye Hospital, and is an honorary lecturer at Cardiff University. Taking up her two year stint as College President, she said: “I am proud to be President of the College and I look forward to continuing David Parkins’ great work. I’m excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the College team where my main focus will be to continue to strengthen the clinical credibility of the optometric profession through developing evidence, ensuring the highest professional standards and ultimately equipping our members with the tools to provide high quality care for patients.”
Speaking about her election to the Council, Priya Jayaprakash said: “I am delighted to take a place on the College Council. There seems to be no better time to be a practitioner at the frontier of primary eye care than now. The role of the conventional optometrist needs to expand to cater to the inevitable increase in demand for primary eye care via the provision of enhanced optometric services. In turn, the public can only be educated about ocular health by people in a position to do so and by being on the council I aim to elevate public awareness along with my fellow colleagues.”
Several existing Council members have been re-elected to the Council:
Council members can be contacted via the College of Optometrists website.