NEW YORK—Luxottica, moving to enhance its growing “Eyecare” division and related initiatives, announced Monday that it has appointed Weslie Hamada, OD, FAAO, as senior director of OD Engagement. Dr. Hamada, who joins the company from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, assumed her role on Monday, Jan. 28. She reports to Dr. Carl Spear, senior vice president of eyecare at Luxottica. In this newly created position, Dr. Hamada will be responsible for leading “eyecare practice growth marketing” as well as industry and affiliated/employed doctor communications across the region, according to the announcement.

She will focus on driving practice growth through marketing and doctor advancement programs and supporting Luxottica ODs in providing the highest quality patient experience overall.

“The leadership of Dr. Hamada will elevate our team to the next level as we continue to build programs and processes to support affiliated doctors across all Luxottica brands,” Dr. Spear said in the announcement. “Her varied experience gives her broad perspective of how to support optometrists and their practice goals.”

Dr. Hamada joins Luxottica with more than 11 years of clinical practice, optometric advocacy experience, extensive research and development knowledge, and professional eyecare business acumen. For the past four years, she has served as associate director, professional education and development, North America, at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, where she led the business strategy for strengthening and enhancing partnerships with national, regional, state and key account professional organizations, the announcement noted.

Dr. Hamada, who was named to Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optical list in 2015, continues to advocate for the profession of optometry and her peers through her involvement with the American Optometric Association (AOA). 

Luxottica launched its eyecare division in North America in 2017, and subsequently has introduced a number of platforms and initiatives to provide greater professional and practice support to ODs, the announcement noted. Its eyeFWD program offers optometry students an in-person education experience with custom courses on business acumen to nurturing patient relationships.

As part of its eyecare efforts, Luxottica recently opened up its OneSight missions to some of the country’s top optometry students.