PHOENIX—Teri K. Geist, OD, president-elect of the American Optometric Association (AOA), is slated to be sworn in as the organization's president today, Saturday, June 20, during the association’s House of Delegates gathering at Optometry’s Meeting in Phoenix. Earlier this week and ahead of her installation, Vision Monday spoke with Dr. Geist, who joined the AOA Board of Trustees in 2019 and was appointed president-elect in 2025, about her priorities and the major issues facing the profession. In an exclusive interview with VM’s senior editor Daniel Breeman, she said she plans to build on the momentum the association has already made in advancing optometry’s role as a primary eyecare profession.