Contact Lens Institute has named 17 established and emerging eyecare community leaders as 2026 Visionaries, recognizing a diverse group of professionals from the United States and Canada. Representing a broad mix of practice settings, specialties, and research interests, the Visionaries program was established in 2021 to elevate peer-to-peer engagement for soft contact lens innovation and best practices.

Each Visionary has demonstrated a commitment to raising awareness of advances in soft contact lenses and prescribing benefits. Selected in part for their ability to connect with professional peers, they will contribute to initiatives that promote success through practical tools, data, and clinical and practice management insights, including Contact Lens Institute’s The EASY Way and See Tomorrow initiatives.

Seven Visionaries return to the program after serving in prior years, while 10 are newly appointed. This year’s members include:

• Roxanne Achong-Coan OD, Coan Eye Care and Optical Boutique, Ocoee, Florida*

• Kelsea Brown, OD, MyEyeDr, Atlanta, Georgia

• Elaine Chen, OD, Southern California College of Optometry, Marshall B. Ketchum University, Fullerton, California

• Jennifer Chinn, OD, Dr. Chinn’s Vision Care, San Diego, California

• Ryan Corte, OD, Northlake Eye, Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina*

• Susan J. Gromacki, OD, MS, First Sight Vision Care, Fulton, Maryland*  

• Michael Gzik, ABO, NCLE, New York Optometric, Syracuse, New York

• Jennifer Liao, OD, New England College of Optometry (NECO) Center for Eye Care, Boston, Massachusetts*

• Heidi Miller, OD, principal optometrist, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, California

• Sheila Morrison, OD, MS, Mission Eye Care, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

• Julian Prosia, OD, Mountain Eyecare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

• Renée E. Reeder, OD, Kentucky College of Optometry, University of Pikeville, Pikeville, Kentucky

• Maria Sampalis, OD, Sampalis Eyecare, Cranston, Rhode Island

• Scott Samples, CPOT, Dean McGee Eye Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• Harbir Sian, OD, Highstreet Eyecare Center and Clarity Eyecare, British Columbia, Canada* 

• Jennifer Stewart, OD, Look New Canaan, New Canaan, Connecticut*

• Shauna Thornhill, OD, Amarillo Vision Specialists, Amarillo, Texas*

*Returning Visionary