ABO Board Welcomes Dr. Lynn Hammonds and Dr. David Parker

ABO is please to introduce two new board members elected at the annual ABO Board of Directors Meeting in June – Lynn Hammonds, OD and David Parker, OD.

Dr. Lynn Hammonds is a founding Optometrist at EyeCare Associates, Inc., the largest eyecare group in Alabama. She received a Bachelor of Music at the University of Georgia before embarking onto her optometry career. She graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry and after graduation completed a residency in Geriatric/Low Vision Rehabilitation.

Her path to become a leader in the field of optometry began when she served as President of her second-year class at University Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry (UABSO.) Dr. Hammonds has continued to show her dedication to optometry through the numerous leadership positions she has held including President, Southern Council of Optometrists; President, UABSO Alumni Association; President, Alabama Optometric Association; President, Alabama Board of Optometry; and President, Birmingham Area Optometric Society.

In addition to achieving ABO Diplomate status in 2011, Dr. Hammonds holds numerous accolades including UABSO Alumni Association, Alumna of the Year; Alabama Optometry Association, Optometrist of the Year; Alabama Young Optometrist of the Year; and the Anderson College Distinguished Young Alumni Award.

She previously served on the Advisory Board for Vision America, and she has volunteered her time to serving on numerous committees for the AOA, ALOA, SECO, and UABSO.

Upon graduation from Southern College of Optometry, Dr. David Parker founded Olive Branch Eyecare and later Horn Lake Eyecare. He is currently an adjunct faculty professor at the Southern College of Optometry and UIW Rosenburg School of Optometry and previously at University of Alabama-Birmingham.

He was named James Brownlee Optometrist of the Year by the Mississippi Optometric Association in 2011 and 2017. He was also honored with The American Optometric Association’s 2013 AOA Public Service Award and the 2021 AOA President’s Award winner for distinguished service. Other accolades include being named to the Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities, a member of Beta Sigma Kappa International Honor Fraternity, and recognition as the First Year Outstanding Clinician Award for Southern College.

Dedicated to his home state of Mississippi, he currently serves as a state senator where he has been a member or chaired several committees and received numerous leadership awards. He is also a founding board member of Trinity Healthcare, serving health needs for those without insurance.

Dr. Parker achieved Diplomate status in 2011. He is a member of the American Optometric Association; the Mississippi Optometric Association; and the Northwest Mississippi Society of Optometrists, where he served as president.

He and his wife Ashleigh have four children Allie, Jack, Luke, and Jude. His hobbies include golf, tennis, and coaching youth sports.