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Door County Optometrist to Lead WOA

Dr. J. Eric Paulsen, a Sturgeon Bay optometrist, was elected on Sept. 27 as president of the Wisconsin Optometric Association (WOA) at the Association’s Annual Convention and Business Meeting in Middleton. Dr. Paulsen will assume the Office of President on Jan. 1, 2015 for what should be an exceptional year for both the association and the optometric profession.

The Wisconsin Optometric Association is a nonprofit affiliation of licensed optometrists and associated businesses dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the vision welfare of the people of Wisconsin. The WOA is a statewide professional organization representing approximately 640 licensed doctors of optometry.

“Becoming the WOA President is one of the highest honors ever given to me in my life,” said Dr. Paulsen. “I am humbled by the fact that my fellow doctors have entrusted me to lead our association as president.”

Dr. Paulsen graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) in 1982 and became owner of his practice, Door County Eye Associates, in 1984. He earned his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Carroll College in 1978 and graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1974. Serving the Door County community for three decades, Dr. Paulsen emphasizes treatment and management of eye disease, emergency eye care for injuries and infections, specialty contact lens fitting, and cataract and LASIK surgery co-management in his practice. Over the years, he has been a part of multiple international benevolent missions to provide vision and eye health care to those most in need.

A WOA and AOA member optometrist for more than three decades, Dr. Paulsen has served on the WOA Board of Directors for several years, first as president of the WOA’s Northeast Shore Optometric Society, then as a director at large, followed by service on the WOA’s Executive Committee. Recognizing his contributions to both the WOA and Wisconsin optometry, WOA was proud to name Dr. Paulsen its Optometrist of the Year in 2009.

Dr. Paulsen and his wife Dee have two children, daughter Annika and son Nels. Annika has recently announced her desire to attend optometry school to follow in her father’s footsteps, while Nels has recently passed the Wisconsin Bar exam to become a licensed practicing attorney.

During his free time, Dr. Paulsen enjoys spending time with family, golfing, gourmet cooking, and volunteering in his community. Dr. Paulsen is surely ready to lead Wisconsin’s primary advocate for the profession of optometry in our state.