Dr. David Heitmeier

Dr. David Heitmeier graduated in 1987 with honors from the University of
Houston College of Optometry. He then founded Heitmeier & Armani Medical
and Surgical Eye Care Center, Nautical Optical Laboratory in New Orleans, and
two charity eye care clinics in south Louisiana.
In 2007, he became the first doctor of optometry elected to serve in the Louisiana
State Senate where he served two terms. He served as Chair of the Senate
Health & Welfare Committee, authoring and championing numerous pieces of
legislation to advance healthcare in Louisiana.
Among his many legislative accomplishments and awards, Senator Heitmeier
has been credited with bringing billions of federal dollars to Louisiana Hospitals
through policy changes on how Medicaid dollars are received by the state.
Previous recognitions include being name Optometrist of the South by the
Southern Council of Optometrist in 2013, receiving the Optometry Association of
Louisiana’s Optometrist of the Year Award in 2009, its Statesman of the Year
Award in 2012, and its Public Service Award in 2014. In 2015 he was named
Optometrist of the Year by the American Optometric Association (AOA).
In the 2014 session of the Louisiana Legislature, he was a key supporter of HB
1065 allowing LA optometrists to expand their scope-of-practice to include
several laser procedures. This bill significantly increases access to eye care for
patients and give them choices in eye care providers for the first time in the
state’s history.