Dr. Ernie Bowling joins the National Academies of Practice

North Olmsted, OH-Optometry Times’ Chief Optometric Editor Ernest Bowling, OD, FAAO, joins the National Academies of Practice and the Optometry Academy as a Distinguished Practitioner and Fellow.

The National Academies of Practice (NAP) is a nonprofit professional organization comprised of the 14 major health professions as recognized by Congress: dentistry, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, medicine, psychology, podiatric medicine, social work, veterinary medicine, audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language pathology, and pharmacy.

The purpose of the Academies is to advise Congress in matters of healthcare practice and delivery by working together as an interdisciplinary force to influence national health policy and legislation and to promote quality health care through cooperative advocacy, practice, education, and research.

NAP Fellows are considered the most accomplished in their field. Fellowship is through invitation only, and all invitees undergo a rigorous selection process. Only 150 members can belong to each professional Academy in order to maintain this standard. Dr. Bowling was recently inducted at the NAP’s Annual Forum in Washington, DC.

“I am delighted that Dr. Bowling has been inducted into the National Academies of Practice,” says Gretchyn M. Bailey, NCLC, FAAO, editor in chief and content channel director of Optometry Times. “He’s very knowledgeable and well represents the profession with our publication. I’m thrilled he’ll be able to effect broader change in his role as Distinguished Practitioner and Fellow.”

Dr. Bowling received his Doctor of Optometry and Master of Science in Physiological Optics degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Optometry. He is a Diplomate in the Primary Care Section of the American Academy of Optometry and serves as Diplomate Exam Chair of the Academy’s Primary Care Section.

Dr. Bowling is currently the Chief Optometric Editor of Optometry Times and the past editor of the e-journals Comprehensive Optometry and Diagnostic Digest.

He is a former Associate Professor and Director of the Primary Care Service at the UAB School of Optometry. He also served as Center Director at VisionAmerica of Gadsden (AL), a co-management surgical referral center. Dr. Bowling is a past recipient of the Georgia Optometric Association’s Bernard Kahn Memorial Award for outstanding service to the optometric profession.

Dr. Bowling is in private practice in Gadsden, AL.