|
|
Michael DePaolis, OD, FAAO
Michael DePaolis is a graduate of Pennsylvania College of Optometry
and in private group practice in Rochester, New York. He serves as a
Clinical Associate faculty member at the University of Rochester Medical
Center and is on the Board of Directors at TLC Vision. Dr. DePaolis is a
member of the American Optometric Association and a Fellow of the
American Academy of Optometry. He is the Optometric Editor of Primary
Care Optometry News, and has served on the editorial review boards of
Contact Lens Spectrum, Optometry, Eye & Contact Lens, Review of
Optometry, and Refractive Eye Care. A frequent clinical investigator in
the disciplines of contact lenses and anterior segment care, Dr.
DePaolis has authored over 100 articles, papers, and textbook
chapters, and has lectured at more than 450 eye care conferences.
|
|
|
Ian Benjamin Gaddie, OD, FAAO
Dr. Ben Gaddie received his undergraduate degree at the University of
Kentucky. He earned his Doctor of Optometry from the University of
Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry and completed a Residency
in Ocular Disease and fellowship in Glaucoma and Laser Therapy
through Northeastern State University College of Optometry.
Dr. Gaddie is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Optometry at
Northeastern State University College of Optometry, a Fellow of the
American Academy of Optometry, and Vice President of the Optometric
Glaucoma Society (OGS).
|
|
|
LEO P. SEMES, OD, FAAO
Leo P. Semes, OD, is Professor of Optometry and the Director of
Continuing Education at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. He
earned his doctor of optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of
Optometry (PCO) in Philadelphia and completed his residency at The
Eye Institute of PCO.
He has contributed as principal author and panel member for the AOA’s
Clinical Practice Guidelines for Ocular Surface Disease and Peripheral
Retinal Disorders and Retinal Detachment. Dr. Semes is a founding
member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society and a founding fellow of
the Optometric Retina Society.
An accomplished educator, Dr Semes has received numerous teaching
awards, including the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in
Teaching. In addition, he has been listed in 2000 Outstanding
Intellectuals of the 21st Century and in Who’s Who in the 21st Century.
|
|
|
Tammy Pifer Than, MS, OD, FAAO
Dr. Than received her Doctorate of Optometry from Southern College of
Optometry in Memphis, TN and completed a residency in Primary Care
with an emphasis in ocular disease in Tahlequah, OK.
Dr. Than is an associate professor at the University of Alabama at
Birmingham School of Optometry. Prior to this she was a staff
optometrist at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin, Georgia.
Dr. Than is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. Dr. Than
received the UAB President’s Teaching Award in 2004, has received
numerous teaching awards, and was named Young OD of the South in
2006.
|
|
|
John Rumpakis, OD
Dr. Rumpakis is President & CEO of Practice Resource Management,
Inc., a firm that specializes in providing a full array of consulting,
appraisal, and management services for healthcare professionals and
industry. He developed ReimbursementPLUS® (www.
ReimbursementPlus.com), the industry leading internet-based CPT
Code Information and Reimbursement software program and is also
the founder of Opt-ED Professional Continuing Education which creates
and delivers top tier continuing education around the country. Recently
name the Chief Medical Coding Editor for Review of Optometry, he has
been extensively published on the topics of third party coding & billing,
practice management, team building, maximizing effectiveness and
profitability, including the textbook “Business Aspects of Optometry”. Dr.
Rumpakis is a popular lecturer both nationally and internationally.
|
|
|
Suzanne Wickum, OD, FAAO
After receiving her Doctor of Optometry degree at the University of
California Berkeley, Dr. Wickum completed a residency in pediatric
optometry at the University of Houston, College of Optometry. She is
currently a Clinical Associate Professor at UHCO. Dr. Wickum’s clinical
practice and teaching focus on pediatrics, binocular vision, and neuro-
optometric rehabilitation. Dr. Wickum is the Director of Vision
Rehabilitation Services at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research
and serves as the Director of Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation as well
as the Pediatric Optometry Residency Director at UHCO. Dr. Wickum
received the TIRR/Memorial Hermann Outstanding Consultant of the
Year Award for 2007 as well as the UHCO Cora & J. Davis Armistead
Teaching Award in 2008.
|
|
|
Stephen Farebrother
Mr. Farebrother has 23 years experience in the insurance industry. His
last 12 years have been with VSP Vision Care developing and
facilitating training: the last 1.5 years specifically focused on ECPs and
their staff. His territory consists of 15 states in the central United States.
He has received training certifications from California State University,
Sacramento and Zenger Miller Corporation. He is married to Theresa
and has two grown daughters, Stephanie and Shanon, living in Kansas
City, Missouri. He and his wife recently rescued a Golden Retriever
named Bianca.
|
|
|
Jill Luebbert, CPOT, ABOC
Jill has been involved in paraoptometry for over 20 years. She is
currently on the team at the office of Drs. Bahner and Jacobsen in
Fremont, NE. Jill is an AOA certified paraoptometric technician and ABO
certified optician. She has served in the Nebraska Paraoptometric
Section (as president twice), the AOA Paraoptometric Section, serving
through the Council positions including as chair. She is a Section
Editor of Optometry-Journal of the American Optometric Association and
a regular contributor to Vision Care Products news. She speaks at
state, regional and national meetings and is a volunteer through the
AOA committee structure currently serving on the national InfantSEE
committee and on the AOA PS Speakers Bureau. Jill is also an
independent opththalmic consultant and trainer.
|
|
|
Kathryn Gross-Edelman
Kathryn Gross-Edelman is Director of Education for Pech Optical
Corporation. She travels the nation as an educator and business
consultant. She began her optical career in 1974. Her educational
background stems from the medical technology field. She is a nationally
accredited speaker for the American Optometric Association Para
Section, Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in
Ophthalmology (JCAHPO), and the American Board of Opticianry (ABO).
In 2004, Kathryn was selected as one of the 50 Most Influential Women
in the optical industry.
|
|
|
Mary Schmidt
Mary E. Schmidt is the founder of EyeSystems, a professional training
and practice consulting firm, specializing in the eyecare field.
She provides full scope paraoptometric education with a focus on
dispensing skills and patient care. Her emphasis is on organization
and professionalism.
Mary has over 30 years experience within the optical field including ten
years of hands-on in office experience along with practice
administration for multi-doctor practices, outside sales and marketing
experience and she was manager of education and training for a large
practice management group.
She was one of Vision Monday’s 50 Most Influential Women in Optical in
2005.
|
|
|
Phernell Walker, ABOM
Phernell C. Walker, AAS, NCLC, ABOM is the President & CEO of Pure
Optics, LLC. He is author of the text-book, Pure Optics, which is in its
Second Edition. Mr. Walker is a Master in Ophthalmic Optics (A.B.O.M.),
a graduate of Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, Florida with an
Associate Applied Science Degree in Opticianry (A.A.S) and National
Contact Lens Examiners Certified (NCLC). Mr. Walker is a graduate of
the Ophthalmic Technology School with a diploma as an Ophthalmic
Technician from Bryman College San Francisco, California. He is
considered an authority and expert in advanced geometric and applied
optics and serves as a faculty member for the American Association of
Dispensing Ophthalmologists (AADO). He has served as an item writer
for the American Board of Opticianry Advanced Certification (ABO-AC)
Exam. He has lectured extensively nationwide to include the American
Academy of Ophthalmology, International Vision Expo in New York &
Las Vegas, Eye Quest in Chicago, private consulting and numerous
over state society conventions. In January 2004, Mr. Walker was
honored in Vision Monday’s “Forty Under Forty”, which listed forty of the
nations brightest and innovative ECP’s Eye Care Professionals in the
country under the age of forty.
|
|
