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A year apart academically, the late David A. Evans, III, OD ‘83, and Gail Evans, OD ‘84, were married just days before Gail started classes at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO).
“Dave said we had to get married before I came to PCO because the ratio of guys to girls really wasn’t in his favor,” said Gail Evans. “It was definitely a male dominated situation then at PCO.”
Dr. Evans graduated from PCO in 1983, and had an independent optometry practice in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, in addition to being a partner in Family Vision Care of Kingston, Pennsylvania. Dr. Evans also provided care for head trauma patients at Allied Services Rehabilitation Center in Wilkes Barre and Scranton, Pennsylvania, for 30 years.
He was a member of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA), on its board for nearly 40 years, and held every position including trustee. He was also quite active with the American Optometric Association and, served as Legislative Affairs liaison and Pennsylvania Optometric Political Action Committee (POPAC) Keyperson for local constituents.
During the pandemic, Dr. Evans was president of the POA in “2020: The Year of the Optometrist.” During his tenure as president of the POA, the Pennsylvania Optometric Practice Act was amended with Act 99, expanding the profession’s scope of practice. The amendment not only expanded the ability of optometrists to examine, diagnose and treat patients, but also gave the state board the sole authority to set optometric formulary and provided patients with greater access to needed medications.
Dr. Evans was nominated for POA Optometrist of the Year in 1997, 2013, 2016, and 2018. And, now he is being honored posthumously by the Salus University Alumni Association with a 2023 Distinguished Service Award. He unfortunately died suddenly in September 2022 while on a fishing trip. His wife will accept the award on his behalf.
“It is an honor. I‘m sure he would be very proud,” said Gail. “His theory — but really our theory as a couple — is we weren’t doing this for us, but for all the optometrists who follow. You work for legislation because you have to take the first step before you can get to the next step. It was always about whoever was going to follow us in the profession.”
In nominating Dr. Evans for the award, Ann D. Plotkin, OD ‘83, MSc, wrote that while his family, friends and colleagues grieve his loss, they all find consolation that the world is a better place because of Dr. Evans.
“Dave worked tirelessly and effectively in many roles, as an optometrist who was greatly appreciated by his patients and as an optometric leader involved in advancing the practice of optometry in Pennsylvania,” wrote Dr. Plotkin, professor emeritus of the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.
Dr. Evans practiced primary care optometry and according to his wife, loved technology, so he had all the gadgets and gizmos that came along in the optometry profession during the course of his career.
“Dave considered himself a dinosaur because he was a solo practitioner until the very end, which is not something that people do these days,” said Gail. “He was the only optometrist in Nanticoke for about a 20-year period.”
Optometry truly was a family affair. Dave and Gail were also accompanied into the profession by Dave’s brother, Darrell Evans, OD ‘85.
