In the 1980s Dr. Kerr spent several years on the Advisory Board of the Saskatchewan Association for Children with Learning Disabilities (he continues as a prominent OD for persons with special needs). From 1985-1986, he was President of the Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists (SAO) during which he helped to complete a review and revision of the SAO Professional Bylaws to allow prescribing of Diagnostic Pharmaceutical Agents. Then in 1990, Jim joined both the Bausch and Lomb and the Wessley Jesson Advisory Boards and from 1990 to 2005 was an Advisory Board member with Vistakon and CIBA Vision USA.
During Dr. Kerr’s term as President of the Canadian Association of Optometrists from 1995-1996 he was instrumental in the creation and implementation of the Eye Health Council of Canada, was president when the first provinces received approval to prescribe Therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, was involved in the ground breaking development for the Mutual Recognition Agreement/Portability of Optometric practitioners between provinces, and researched and promoted the coordination of a National Board of Examiners which was later established.
In 1995, Jim became a Founding Member of the Horizon Laser Vision Centre, Saskatchewan’s only refractive laser surgery centre and continues as a Board Member & Treasurer of the Centre. In 1998 he and his partners opened Saskatoon’s largest practice, Atrium Optometric Group and from 1999–2005 he acted as Fundraising Chair of the Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund. Dr. Kerr currently serves as a member of the SAO Discipline Committee and is an Advisory Board member to AMO North America.
In 2006, Dr. Kerr was a recipient of a certificate from The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and has traveled extensively the past 2 years presenting COPE approved lectures across Canada and the United States. In 2007, Jim Co-Chaired the Canadian Association of Optometrists Congress and received the 2007 Recipient of the Canadian Association on Optometrists President’s Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the profession.
As an active member of his community, Jim has organized and managed many children’s activities and spent many seasons as a baseball coach. His experience and reputation have found him on many charitable and not for profit associations. He is a proud founder & promoter of the Austin Forsyth Memorial Fund with the Saskatoon Community Foundation.