Welcome to the 2026 HOAECC Congress!

Heart of America Eye Care Congress
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2026 HOAECC Para Grid

Show Doctor Grid      Course Eval
Dates 1. Lecture 2. Lecture 3. Lecture 4. Lecture 5. Lecture Exhibit Hall

Friday Morning Coffee Bar sponsored by Vision Care Direct open by Registration.
> Stop by to grab a cup of coffee before lectures start at 8am.
7:00am to 8:00am Breakfast presentation by Bausch and Lomb. (No CE)
> Speakers: Dr. Jesslin Quint, Dr. Bobby "Chip" Wood
> Location: Chouteau room
12:00pm to 1:00pm Lunch Sponsored by Dompé
> "Welcome to Neurotrophic Keratitis Today" (No CE)
> Speaker: Dr. Shane Kannarr, OD.
> Location: Chicago room
> Stay for free Lunch and a great presentation.
2:45pm Grand Opening of Exhibit Hall
2:45pm to 4:00pm Exhibit Hall exclusive hours for all Attendees.
> Random Prize drawings! Must be present to win.
5:45pm to 6:45pm SandHills Brewing Craft Beer Tour in Exhibit Hall.
> Sponsored by GSRx. Sample beer, while getting 1 hour of CE at the Poster Session also in the Exhibit Hall.
5:45pm to 7:15pm Exhibit Hall exclusive hours for all Attendees.
> Random Prize drawings! Must be present to win.
6:00pm to 7:00pm Looking to add to your practice or find a practice opportunity?
> Student/Doctor Mixer in the Exhibit Hall.
7:00pm to 11:00pm "Pirates in Paradise" at Spectators, Sheraton Hotel.
> Sponsored by Essilor Luxottica EyeCare
7:30pm VSP Student/Resident Reception
> Meet with VSP representatives for food and drink.
> Open to all students and residents.
> Location: Chouteau room
D Friday
02/20/2026 		1:00
- 2:00 		Be the Team Member You Wished You Worked With
Gibb
PM-0038-25
Empire A 		10 Things That Make The Workplace Difficult and What To Do About It
Lawrence
PM-0091-25
Empire B 		Preventing Diabetes & Diabetes Complications
Chous
ED-0060-25
Empire C 		     
E 2:00
- 3:00 		Avoiding Redos
Gibb
OP-0001-26
Empire A 		It is All in Your Head: What a Stroke Patient May Say About Their Vision
Lawrence
ED-0061-25
Empire B 		You Deserve a Medal for Handling Patient Complaints
O'Keefe Lincoln
PM-0066-25
Empire C 		   
2:45
-
7:15
F Exhibit Hall

Exhibit Hall Grand Opening - 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm
Random Prize Drawings - Must be present to win
G 4:00
- 5:00 		Internet Sales and Your Office
Gibb
PM-0087-25
Empire C 		Optical Dispensing Standards
Lawrence
OP-0050-25
Empire B 		The Elderly: A Glimpse Into The Aging Eye
O'Keefe Lincoln
AP-0027-24
Chicago 		   
H 5:00
- 6:00 		Frame Selection and Styling Techniques
Gibb
OP-0017-25
Empire C 		I Can't See: Troubleshooting RX Complaints
O'Keefe Lincoln
OP-0015-23
Chicago 		   
I Exhibit Hall
Exclusive Exhibit Hall Session - 5:45 pm - 7:15 pm
Craft Beer Tour in Exhibit Hall - 5:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Random Prize Drawings - Must be present to win

Saturday Morning Coffee Bar sponsored by Vision Care Direct open by Registration.
7:00am Apellis Pharmaceutical Breakfast Symposium
> Topic: Optometrists' Guide to GA: Best practices for early detection and referral. (No CE)
> Speakers: Dr Sam Minaker, MD & Dr Carolyn Majcher, OD
> Location: Chouteau room
9:00am to 2:15pm Exhibit Hall Open
  Exclusive Exhibit Hall Sessions
    Paras Only > 9:00am - 10:00am
    Doctors and Students > 10:00am - 11:30am
12:00pm to 1:15pm Luncheon
   Paras > 12:00pm - 12:45pm
   Doctors and Students > 12:30pm - 1:15pm
Dessert Bar in the Exhibit Hall After Luncheon
12:45pm to 2:15pm Exclusive Exhibit Hall Hours
   Paras > 12:45pm - 2:15pm
   Doctors and Students > 1:15pm - 2:15pm
Prize Drawings (Must be present to win)
Random Prize Drawings during Exclusive Exhibit Hall Times
GRAND PRIZE Drawings at the end of the Exhibit Hall Time
4:30pm to 5:30pm UMSL Alumni Reception
> Location: Chouteau room
5:30pm to 7:00pm Presidential Camaraderie Reception in the New York Ball Room for all attendees.
> Drinks, hors d'oeuvres, music, dancing.
> Live band "Streetside Pirates"
7:30pm to ??? Evening free. Enjoy Kansas City!
J Saturday
02/21/2026 		8:00
- 9:00 		Put a Lid On It
Lawrence
(limited to 90 registrants)
ED-0021-25
Benton 		Insurance Matters
Gibb
CW-0012-25
Van Horn 		Managing Difficult Frame Fits
Drake
OP-0034-24
Empire C 		Optical Jeopaordy
O'Keefe Lincoln
OP-0016-23
Fremont 		   
K Exhibit Hall 9:00
- 10:00
Exclusive Exhibit Hall Session - 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Random Prize Drawings - Must be present to win
9:00
-
2:15
L 10:00
- 11:00 		8 Steps That Will Elevate Your Team's Performance
Schmidt
PM-0044-24
Chouteau 		Prism-Is it prescribed or is it Unwanted
Drake
OP-0048-23
Empire C 		Visual Field Testing: How to get Good Results
Lawrence
PT-0022-25
Van Horn A/B 		The Chronicles of Digital Devices and Their Relationship to CVS & DES
O'Keefe Lincoln
BP-0026-25
Fremont 		 
M 11:00
- 11:30 		How to Deal with Employees Who Don't Get Along
Schmidt
PM-0067-25
Chouteau 		Front Office Success and Scheduling Strategies
Gibb
PM-0005-26
Empire C 		Making the Sale
Lawrence
OP-0037-25
Van Horn A/B 		Hug Your Patients
O'Keefe Lincoln
(limited to 90 registrants)
OP-0021-25
Benton 		 
N 11:30
- 12:00 		 
O/P Luncheon 12:00
- 12:45
Business Luncheon in Exhibit Hall 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Dessert Bar Following Luncheon in Exhibit Hall
Q Exhibit Hall 12:45
- 2:15

Exclusive Exhibit Hall Session - 12:45 pm - 2:15 pm

Grand Prize Drawing - $500 cash - Must be present to win
R Exhibit Hall
 
S 2:15
- 3:15 		CPR Workshop
Kansas City Fire Department
(limited to 8 registrants)  B 
Additional $100
Mezzanine Terrace 		Principles of Visual Assessment for Opticians and Technicians
Drake
RS-0014-24
Van Horn A/B 		Ocular Anatomy: How the Eye Works
Gurwood
(limited to 90 registrants)
AP-0001-26
Benton 		Round Table
Schmidt
(limited to 30 registrants)
Fremont

Note: No CPC Credit

 "Are You Okay?" Recognizing Warning Signs of Patient Mental Illness in Optometric Practice
McGhee
102123-PB/HP-0001-26  B 
Empire A/B 		 
T 3:15
- 4:15 		CPR Workshop
Kansas City Fire Department
(limited to 8 registrants)  B 
Additional $100
Mezzanine Terrace 		10 Ways to Lose a Patient and Not Even Know It
Schmidt
(limited to 60 registrants)
PM-0056-25
Fremont 		Top 10 Common Misconceptions About Non-Compliant Patients
McGhee
102125-GO/GO-0001-26  B 
Empire A/B
U 4:15

Sunday Morning Coffee Bar sponsored by Vision Care Direct open by Registration.
V Sunday
02/22/2026 		8:00
- 9:00 		Optical Crosses: I Don't Get It!
Schmidt
OP-0041-24
Empire A 		A Review of Contact Lenses from Application to Removal
DeKinder
CL-0034-25
Empire B 		Communicating with the Dry Eye Patients
Drake
ED-0083-024
Empire C 		     
W 9:00
- 10:00 		It Has Prism…YOU Do It!
Schmidt
OP-0022-24
Empire A 		Multifocal Contact Lens Selection and Evaluation
DeKinder
CL-0035-25
Empire B 		   

Click the course names below for more information and to download course materials.

Friday Camaraderie Events
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Empire A
Be the Team Member You Wished You Worked With
Gibb
PM-0038-25
Empire A
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Empire B
10 Things That Make The Workplace Difficult and What To Do About It
Lawrence
PM-0091-25
Empire B
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Empire C
Preventing Diabetes & Diabetes Complications
Chous
ED-0060-25
Empire C
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Empire A
Avoiding Redos
Gibb
OP-0001-26
Empire A
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Empire B
It is All in Your Head: What a Stroke Patient May Say About Their Vision
Lawrence
ED-0061-25
Empire B
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Empire C
You Deserve a Medal for Handling Patient Complaints
O'Keefe Lincoln
PM-0066-25
Empire C
2:45 PM - 7:15 PM: Exhibit Hall Open!

Exhibit Hall Grand Opening - 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm
Random Prize Drawings - Must be present to win
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Empire C
Internet Sales and Your Office
Gibb
PM-0087-25
Empire C
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Empire B
Optical Dispensing Standards
Lawrence
OP-0050-25
Empire B
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Chicago
The Elderly: A Glimpse Into The Aging Eye
O'Keefe Lincoln
AP-0027-24
Chicago
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Empire C
Frame Selection and Styling Techniques
Gibb
OP-0017-25
Empire C
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Chicago
I Can't See: Troubleshooting RX Complaints
O'Keefe Lincoln
OP-0015-23
Chicago
Exclusive Exhibit Hall Session - 5:45 pm - 7:15 pm
Craft Beer Tour in Exhibit Hall - 5:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Random Prize Drawings - Must be present to win
Saturday Camaraderie Events
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Benton
Put a Lid On It
Lawrence
(in-person limited to 90 registrants)
ED-0021-25
Benton
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Van Horn
Insurance Matters
Gibb
CW-0012-25
Van Horn
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Empire C
Managing Difficult Frame Fits
Drake
OP-0034-24
Empire C
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Fremont
Optical Jeopaordy
O'Keefe Lincoln
OP-0016-23
Fremont
Sat. 9:00 AM - 2:15 PM: Exhibit Hall Open!
Exclusive Exhibit Hall Session - 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Random Prize Drawings - Must be present to win
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Chouteau
8 Steps That Will Elevate Your Team's Performance
Schmidt
PM-0044-24
Chouteau
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Empire C
Prism-Is it prescribed or is it Unwanted
Drake
OP-0048-23
Empire C
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Van Horn A/B
Visual Field Testing: How to get Good Results
Lawrence
PT-0022-25
Van Horn A/B
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Fremont
The Chronicles of Digital Devices and Their Relationship to CVS & DES
O'Keefe Lincoln
BP-0026-25
Fremont
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Chouteau
How to Deal with Employees Who Don't Get Along
Schmidt
PM-0067-25
Chouteau
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Empire C
Front Office Success and Scheduling Strategies
Gibb
PM-0005-26
Empire C
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Van Horn A/B
Making the Sale
Lawrence
OP-0037-25
Van Horn A/B
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Benton
Hug Your Patients
O'Keefe Lincoln
(in-person limited to 90 registrants)
OP-0021-25
Benton
Business Luncheon in Exhibit Hall 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Dessert Bar Following Luncheon in Exhibit Hall

Exclusive Exhibit Hall Session - 12:45 pm - 2:15 pm

Grand Prize Drawing - $500 cash - Must be present to win
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Mezzanine Terrace
CPR Workshop
Kansas City Fire Department
(in-person limited to 8 registrants)  B 
Additional $100
Mezzanine Terrace
2:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Van Horn A/B
Principles of Visual Assessment for Opticians and Technicians
Drake
RS-0014-24
Van Horn A/B
2:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Benton
Ocular Anatomy: How the Eye Works
Gurwood
(in-person limited to 90 registrants)
AP-0001-26
Benton
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Fremont
Round Table
Schmidt
(in-person limited to 30 registrants)
Fremont

Note: No CPC Credit


2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Empire A/B
"Are You Okay?" Recognizing Warning Signs of Patient Mental Illness in Optometric Practice
McGhee
102123-PB/HP-0001-26  B 
Empire A/B
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Mezzanine Terrace
CPR Workshop
Kansas City Fire Department
(in-person limited to 8 registrants)  B 
Additional $100
Mezzanine Terrace
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Fremont
10 Ways to Lose a Patient and Not Even Know It
Schmidt
(in-person limited to 60 registrants)
PM-0056-25
Fremont
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Empire A/B
Top 10 Common Misconceptions About Non-Compliant Patients
McGhee
102125-GO/GO-0001-26  B 
Empire A/B
Sunday Camaraderie Events
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Empire A
Optical Crosses: I Don't Get It!
Schmidt
OP-0041-24
Empire A
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Empire B
A Review of Contact Lenses from Application to Removal
DeKinder
CL-0034-25
Empire B
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Empire C
Communicating with the Dry Eye Patients
Drake
ED-0083-024
Empire C
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Empire A
It Has Prism…YOU Do It!
Schmidt
OP-0022-24
Empire A
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Empire B
Multifocal Contact Lens Selection and Evaluation
DeKinder
CL-0035-25
Empire B