Pickle named as finalist for community service award

Special to The Clinton Courier

     Kim Pickle, CPOA, of Southern Eye Care in Clinton, is a finalist for the 2024 Paraoptometric Community Service award. The awards are presented annually by the Mississippi Optometric Association (MOA) to recognize significant contributions to the profession of optometry and the public. The finalists and winners are announced at the MOA’s annual fall conference.

     Paraoptometrics are health care professionals who assist optometrists in providing the highest level of vision care to their patients. They serve as opticians, optical technicians, insurance clerks, clerical staff, personal assistants and receptionists.

     Pickle is a Certified Paraoptometric with experience in preliminary testing and various special testing procedures utilized in the optometric examination. As the office manager, she says she is committed to providing the best, most hospitable care to all the patients, along with the ability to work and learn from all of her team members at Southern Eye Care. She has been actively involved in the paraoptometric community on a state and national level by helping to update the MOA Paraoptometric Handbook and volunteering on the American Optometric Association’s PRC team and the Continuing Education team.

     In the community, she has volunteered at local elementary schools to promote eye health awareness to students and parents and promoted eye health at the annual Back to the Bricks for Mississippi College. She can be found ringing the Salvation Army bells during the Christmas season and wearing an eyeball costume at the annual Clinton Christmas parade. She is married to Steve Pickle. She has two daughters, Trinity Burge and Shawna Hover, four grandchildren and one great-grandson.