After our relocation of last year's Fall Congress due to Hurricane Helene, we are returning to the Renaissance Asheville this November for Fall Congress! Asheville is back and stronger than ever! Don’t miss this chance to mingle with your fellow ODs, gain valuable continuing education, and enjoy the beauty of the NC mountains while staying within walking distance of all that downtown Asheville has to offer. Registration and room block are now open, so make plans now to join us back in downtown Asheville! REGISTER NOW
Location: Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Asheville, NC Continuing Education: Earn 16 hours of COPE Accredited/NC Certified CE Credit. NCOS members have the opportunity to earn an additional 1 hour of general credit by attending the NCOS Business Meeting. NCOS Members or State Affiliate/AOA Members:
$529 (early bird, through 9/30/25)
$559 (regular rate, 10/1/25 - 10/31/25) $679 (walk-in rate after 10/31/25) Non NCOS or State Affiliate/AOA Members:
$799 (early bird, through 9/30/25)
$849 (regular rate, 10/1/25 - 10/31/25) $969 (walk-in rate after 10/31/25) Students:
*Free!
*Students must attend the Student Seminar and the Saturday evening reception in order to receive free registration! Refund dates: Cancel by 9/30/2025: entitled to a full refund Cancellations received after this time frame will not be entitled to a refund. Emergency situations may alter this policy on a case-by-case basis. Meeting and Event Policies: click here Room Block: For your convenience, a room block is available at the Renaissance Downtown Asheville at a group rate of $249/night. The room block booking link will be in your confirmation email after you have registered for Fall Congress. Our room block closes on October 22, 2025 or when we run out of rooms, whichever comes first. Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, the Renaissance Downtown Asheville offers sweeping mountain views, while the location allows you to walk to all the restaurants and breweries that downtown has to offer. The hotel's front desk navigators will help you find the best activities and experiences around town. An onsite restaurant and bar, indoor junior olympic pool and whirlpool, and a gorgeous patio for evening cocktails are available for those nights you don't wish to venture out. Highlights:
Partner Meals:
Agenda: Thursday, November 6 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Registration, Grand Ballroom Foyer Friday, November 7 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Breakfast Provided by NCOS, Grand Ballroom Foyer 7:00 AM - 4:15 PM: Registration, Grand Ballroom Foyer 7:00 AM - 4:15 PM: Partner Exhibit Hall, Grand Ballroom Foyer 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Glaucoma Mimickers, COPE Pending, Lindsay Thornton, OD (2 hours), Grand Ballroom 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM - Alcon Partner Lunch, Windsor (capacity is limited; first come, first served) 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: NCOS PAC Board Meeting, Swannanoa Saturday, November 8 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Breakfast Provided by NCOS, Grand Ballroom Foyer 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Partner Exhibit Hall, Grand Ballroom Foyer 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Laser Surgeries and Lid Procedures in Eye Care, COPE 97367-LP, Chris Wroten, OD (2 hours), Grand Ballroom 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: NCOS Overview and Discussion (New Licensees Only), Alexander 4:15 PM - 4:30 PM: North Carolina Board of Optometry Election (open to NC-licensed optometrists residing in North Carolina), Grand Ballroom 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Breakfast Provided by NCOS, Grand Ballroom Foyer 7:00 AM - 10:15 AM: Registration, Grand Ballroom Foyer 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: The Many Faces of Retinal Vein Occlusions, COPE Pending, Mark Miriello, OD (2 hours), Grand Ballroom 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM: The Relationship Between Sleep and Ocular Health, COPE Pending, Mark Miriello, OD (2 hours), Grand Ballroom
Kara Foster, OD is the owner of EyeCare for You, a Direct Care optometry practice in Apex, North Carolina, and President of VOSH-NC, where she leads local and international eye care outreach. A passionate advocate for prevention-first medicine, Dr. Foster integrates nutrition into her eye care approach, helping patients understand the connection between what they eat and how they see. She is also the host of The Opt-Out Podcast, where she explores healthcare reform, ocular wellness, and practical strategies for improving patient outcomes through lifestyle change.
Dr. Miriello graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Human Biology. He received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry, graduating Magna Cum Laude, in 2015. After graduation, he completed a residency in Ocular Disease at Omni Eye Services of Atlanta, where he trained under retina, cornea, and glaucoma surgeons. Following residency, Dr. Miriello worked as a full-time optometrist at MyEyeDr in Wake County before moving to Philadelphia to join the faculty at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2019. There, he was voted as PCO’s “Outstanding Clinical Preceptor” for the 2022-23 academic year by his students and peers. Now, having returned to his home state of North Carolina, Dr. Miriello practices at Hillcrest Vision in Winston-Salem and Mocksville, providing comprehensive optometric care to a diverse patient population.
Dr. Lindsay Thornton graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2017. She then attended Southern College of Optometry and graduated summa cum laude in 2022. During her optometric education, she was inducted into the Gold Key Society and Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society for her leadership and academics. After graduation, she completed her residency at the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina, focusing on ocular disease, low vision, and specialty contact lenses. Dr. Thornton is a member of the American Optometric Association and the North Carolina Optometric Society. She currently practices at Carolina Center for Eye Care, a private practice outside of Winston-Salem.
After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University, Chris Wroten, O.D., graduated from Southern College of Optometry (SCO) before completing a Residency in Hospital-based Primary Eye Care at the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Dr. Wroten has served as Chief Operating Officer at the Bond-Wroten Eye Clinics, with 3 offices in southeast Louisiana, while supervising its Primary Care & Ocular Disease Residency and assisting with its Student Externship Programs, both of which he founded. He has received appointment as Adjunct Faculty at several schools & colleges of optometry, twice been elected President of the Optometry Association of Louisiana (OAL), Chairs SECO International’s Education Committee, and received two appointments to the Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners. He’s also served on numerous committees within the American Optometric Association, moderated the Presidents Council meetings, and served on the Board of Trustees for SCO, including two terms as Chair. Dr. Wroten has lectured internationally, participated in clinical research, and been the recipient of several professional awards throughout his career. He is a devoted husband to his wife, Sarah Wroten, OD, and is the proud father of two children, Emily and Ben.
For questions contact Christy Santacana, Meetings Coordinator, at (919) 977-6964 or [email protected]. |