Optometry Wales appoints new clinical advisers

Optometrists Sharon Beatty and Sarah Schumm (pictured) have been named clinical advisers for Optometry Wales, appointed to the four day a week role as part of a job share.

With backgrounds in the provision of education and training in Wales, Optometry Wales shared that both will contribute to the ongoing contract reform work, attending all implementation group meetings with Welsh government, while also being responsible for assisting with the establishment of new clinical pathways, drafting of clinical manuals and the associated work with contract reform.

Beatty has been an optometric adviser for Cardiff and Vale for a number of years, playing a key role in the development of Open Eyes, a platform that will allow electronic referrals from community to the hospital eye service. She was director of two optometry practices in South-East Wales for 16 years before joining Cardiff University in 2017 as lecturer at the Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre, overseeing the Eye Health Examination Wales (EHEW) training and accreditation programme before becoming co-clinical lead of the EHEW service. 

Schumm has worked as a community optometrist for 18 years, completing her Professional Certificate in Glaucoma and a Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Leadership and Management. She was one of the first clinical fellows for Health Education Improvement Wales and was named chair of Optometry Wales in 2021.

Speaking of the appointment, vice chair of Optometry Wales, Craig Mackenzie, said: “These dual appointments will allow us to properly contribute to the work of reform in Wales, it will allow us to have dedicated time and expertise to hand at the most crucial time for us as a profession in Wales and we are looking forward to welcoming Sharon and Sarah to the growing team in Optometry Wales.”