Boca Raton, Florida – Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) brought together more than 1,200 private practice professionals, strategic vendor partners and industry leaders for its Annual Meeting themed “Connecting Your True North to What’s Ahead” from May 17 –19 to the backdrop of the San Diego coastline. The celebration reached capacity more than two months prior to the event and surpassed last year’s record doctor attendance.
“This year’s Annual Meeting offered members an opportunity to rediscover their North Star and focus on what matters most for their practice success through a robust agenda and solutions that reflect the forefront of eye care and promote resiliency and business growth,” said PECAA President Jonathan Worrall. “Attendees embraced the spirit of discovery and collaboration, and it was truly inspiring to feel the power and camaraderie of the PECAA community.”
The Annual Meeting also served as a launchpad to announce new initiatives, including a trailblazing COPE-accredited program titled “A/Eye Certification Course: Intelligent Tools for Private Practice.” The course begins on July 9 and guides practices in bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and the daily realities of running a private practice. AI was a recurring theme among attendee conversations during the event, and the newly announced course generated an immediate buzz. As previously announced, PECAA promise contact lenses were also unveiled at the meeting.
2026 Annual Meeting Recap
Worrall, together with Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Lance Anderson, OD, and Chief Member Experience Officer Justin Manning, OD, MPH, FAAO, greeted attendees with a special tribute to PECAA’s milestone 20th anniversary. They reflected on the remarkable evolution of PECAA and private practice over the past two decades and some of PECAA’s innovative resources and solutions created along the way to ensure members stay connected, build vibrant businesses and realize lasting prosperity. Dr. Anderson emphasized that the renowned PECAA community’s “secret sauce” is in its culture of belonging.
Reinforcing the event’s guiding theme, the “Education That Points the Way” lineup gave attendees the freedom to chart their own course, choosing from tracks on strategic leadership, clinical excellence, patient experience and sales mastery. This customizable approach empowered each participant to pursue their unique True North, ensuring learning was as dynamic and relevant as the event itself.
World champion adventure racer, firefighter and New York Times bestselling author Robyn Benincasa delivered the opening address revealing how resilience, respect, innovation and teamwork create cultures that endure and excel. Legendary skateboarder and San Diego area native Tony Hawk closed the event with his inspiring story of determination during times of uncertainty and setbacks and how staying true to his core values helped him navigate uncharted territory.
Attendees enjoyed connecting with colleagues over the course of the event, including 30 peer networking sessions with conversation topics ranging from AI integration to future-proofing your practice. The San Diego-themed Kick-Off Celebration in the Partner Pavilion featured indoor surf lessons from this year’s PECAA Gives beneficiary Urban Surf 4 Kids, and a Silent Fashion Show with models wearing the latest frame styles, in addition to the opportunity to connect with more than 62 vendor partners to learn about and experience their latest product and service innovations.
The event’s legendary Member and Vendor Appreciation Event & After Party took place aboard the aircraft carrier, the USS Midway, and featured live music from rock band Sonic Zoo and sounds from DJ Mancat, with food from the Midway’s various ports of call during its time at sea, from Italy to Lisbon and Hong Kong. Attendees danced the night away, energized and ready to return to their clinics with fresh insights to point the way to new heights of practice success.
PECAA Max members can look forward to the 2027 PECAA Annual Meeting, which will welcome attendees to National Harbor, Maryland, April 23-25.
A/Eye Certification Course: Intelligent Tools for Private Practice
PECAA’s “A/Eye Certification Course: Intelligent Tools for Private Practice” is now open for registration with classes beginning July 9. Comprised of six sessions and offering six COPE-accredited hours, the course covers essential topics including AI fundamentals, administrative tasks and practice efficiencies, AI for marketing, clinical purposes, ethics and implementation, and future trends. As the adoption of AI-integrated solutions in optometry increases, the new certification offers independents a timely opportunity to learn the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to leverage AI as a practical tool across their practices.
A/Eye Certification Course: Intelligent Tools for Private Practice is open to all doctors and their teams, including PECAA members and non-members. Additionally, receive two registrations for the price of one after adding one free team member with each doctor’s registration. Learn more about the certification and register today.
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About PECAA
PECAA is the nation’s most connected community of independent eye care professionals dedicated to the success of private practice. Our comprehensive suite of membership options — PECAA Max, PECAA Launch and PECAA Propel — is designed to support ECPs at every stage of their private practice career, from student to established professional. Membership in the PECAA community unlocks access to essential resources such as group purchasing power with special vendor pricing and rebates, peer networking and idea exchange, expert business advisory services, and industry-best education and training. Learn more and begin receiving all the benefits of PECAA membership today by visiting pecaa.com or calling 800.959.2020, option 3.
For more information, contact Senior Communications Specialist Ashley Torres Avila, (916) 953-3548 or Ashley.TorresAvila@pecaa.com.