By Linda Conlin, Pro to Pro Managing Editor

In honor of Black History Month, it is fitting to highlight the accomplishments of an African American eye care provider. Dr. Paula Newsome is the first African American female optometrist to open a private practice in North Carolina, and no stranger to a fight. More than 30 years ago, she received concurrent OD and MS in Physiological Optics degrees at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, in only four years. After graduating, Dr. Newsome obtained a residency at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and later taught primary-care courses as an assistant professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis School of Optometry. She also is the first African-American woman to become a fellow in the American Academy of Optometry.

In spite of those credentials, however, Dr. Newsome couldn’t get a job in optometry in North Carolina because of the color of her skin. But Dr. Newsome fought back by opening Apogee Vision Care in 1984. Knowing that she needed to better understand business management, Dr. Newsome took business classes at the local community college. When the rent for the Apogee Vision Care lease was going up, she took on the challenge of obtaining financing and bought a building in Charlotte where she could relocate the practice. From Apogee Vision Care, Dr. Newsome became president of AAA Vision Care in 1997, then on to her current solo practice Advantage Vision Care in 2000.

In practice and in life, Dr. Newsome became keenly aware of the impact of diabetes on her patients and family, and again decided to fight. In spite of the demands of her practice, she decided to become a certified diabetes educator (CDE). The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) defines a CDE as “a health professional who possesses comprehensive knowledge of and experience in diabetes prevention, prediabetes and diabetes management.” Certification requires passing an examination, practice experience and continuing education. What’s more, Dr. Newsome has completed the CORE Concepts Course through the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE), one of two organizations that accredit groups that provide diabetes self-management education meeting certain quality standards. She has put those credentials to use by founding KNOC Out Diabetes™, weekly educational, support and optometry-focused sessions for patients with diabetes or prediabetes. KNOC stands for Knowledge, Nutrition, Ocular health, Coaching. Diabetes can be detected during a regular eye exam, before some patients are aware of the disease, and Dr. Newsome believes that optometrists can educate their patients in self-management.

In addition to educating diabetics in her community, Dr. Newsome has done volunteer work abroad. She volunteered for missions bringing eye care to the needy in Guyana, Jamaica and South Africa before the end of apartheid, where her passport had to be stamped “temporary white” to allow her to enter the country. Personal drive, courage and tenacity resulted in Dr. Newsome’s accomplishments as an optometrist, businesswoman, educator and humanitarian. It makes you wonder what those who denied her a job so many years ago are thinking today.

You can learn about contact lenses that monitor glucose levels for diabetics with our CE, Therapeutic Contact Lenses and Beyond, at 2020mag.com/ce.