About Us

Dr. Ahmed received his doctorate of medicine from the University of Toronto, where he did his medical and surgical internship and ophthalmology residency. He completed a fellowship in glaucoma and anterior segment at the Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, and was later appointed Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Ahmed is currently Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Toronto, where he directs research at the Kensington Eye Institute, and the Glaucoma and Advanced Anterior Surgical Fellowship program. Internationally recognized for his diagnosis and treatment of highly complex eye diseases and surgical complications, Dr. Ahmed’s accomplishments include the development of novel glaucoma devices and cataract microsurgical devices and techniques. He is the author of myriad peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and serves on the editorial boards of publications such as Ophthalmology, Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology and formerly the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Dr. Ahmed is the recipient of numerous awards, most recently the 2014 Binkhorst Medal from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the understanding and practice of cataract surgery and IOL implantation. In 2010, Dr. Ahmed was selected as one of Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40”, a prestigious award recognizing significant achievements at a youthful age.

Paul S. Bernstein, MD, PhD is the Mary Boesche Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences in the Retina Division at the Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Bernstein graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University, where he also received his MD and PhD in pharmacology. After interning at New England Deaconess Hospital, he completed an Ophthalmology residency and a fellowship in retinal cell biology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute of UCLA School of Medicine, followed by a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery and research at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. During his residency in Ophthalmology at Jules Stein, he was a recipient of the Jules Stein Resident Research Award. Long interested in macular pigments, Dr. Bernstein has pioneered a method for measuring carotenoid pigment levels. Along with his colleagues, he holds several patents on the non-invasive resonance Raman imaging method for quantifying pigments in the living human macula, and has authored numerous papers on that topic. In addition, Dr. Bernstein's interests include the ocular effects of oxidative stress, and the relationships between dietary carotenoid intake, optical density of the macula and the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Dr. Bernstein is the recipient of numerous awards and grants, and is extensively published.
 
View / Listen to an interview with Paul Bernstein, MD, PhD on the Role of Lutein & zeaxanthin in Macular Health

Jeffrey Blumberg received Bachelor of Science degrees in Pharmacy and Psychology from Washington State University and a PhD in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He also received postdoctoral training in cyclic nucleotide metabolism at the Tennessee Neuropsychiatric Institute and the University of Calgary. Dr. Blumberg is a Professor in the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and also serves as the Director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. His research has focused on the biochemical basis for the role of antioxidant nutrients and their dietary requirements in promoting health and preventing disease during the aging process via changes in status of oxidative stress and inflammation. He has published more than 300 scientific articles and serves on the editorial boards of several scientific journals. Dr. Blumberg also participates in activities relevant to the incorporation of sound nutrition science into public health policy and has served as a member of the Surgeon General's Workshop on Health Promotion and Aging, Sports Medicine Committee of the U.S. Olympic Committee, WHO/FAO Consultation on Preparation and Use of Food-Based Dietary Guidelines, Food Advisory Committee of the FDA, and other committees.

Anat Galor, MD is a cornea and uveitis trained specialist with a dual appointment at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and the Miami VA medical center. Dr. Galor received her doctorate of medicine from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO and completed an ophthalmology residency at the Cole Eye Cleveland Clinic. She completed a uveitis fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute, and a cornea and external diseases fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Dr. Galor currently directs the ocular surface program at the Miami VA and serves as Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and Corneal Fellowship Director at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute,  University of Miami Health System. She is Past President of the Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group and is the Assistant Senior Editor of Cornea for the ONE network for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. In 2010, Dr. Galor was the recipient of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Achievement Award, and in 2016 was selected to participate in the AAO Leadership Development Program. Dr. Galor has authored numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles and lectures widely in the US and abroad. Dr. Galor has focused her research on understanding mechanisms of pain in dry eye, with an emphasis on studying new diagnostic and treatment modalities.

Alon Harris, PhD is the Lois Letzter-Endowed Professor of Ophthalmology and a Professor of Cellular & Integrative Physiology at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Dr. Harris received his doctorate degree at Indiana University, Bloomington, and did postgraduate work in physiology and biophysics at that institution. He is the co-founder of the Glaucoma Research and Diagnostic Center, where he heads a multi-disciplinary team that conducts state-of-the-art studies focusing on the role of IOP and ischemia in glaucoma progression, glaucoma prevalence and incidence. He is also Director of Clinical Research at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute. Professor Harris has spearheaded studies on ocular blood flow for over 20 years, and is one of the principal investigators in The Thessaloniki Eye Study – one of the largest population-based studies in ophthalmology. He has authored more than 250 journal articles, and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Edmund Benjamin Spaeth Oration Award for Outstanding Clinical Research and the William and Mary Greve International Research Scholar Award from the Research to Prevent Blindness organization. Dr. Harris co-chaired the World Glaucoma Congress Consensus on Ocular Blood Flow, is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Glaucoma Society, and serves on the editorial board of several journals.

Dr. Koch is a Professor and The Allen, Mosbacher, and Law Chair in Ophthalmology at the Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine. He is the Editor of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Past President of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and Past President of the International Intra-Ocular Implant Club. He has authored over 100 articles and book chapters on the topics of cataract and refractive surgery. He has given several named lectureships, including the Binkhorst Lecture at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, the Lans Lecture at the International Society of Refractive Surgery Annual Meeting, the Ronald G. Michels Memorial Lecture at Johns Hopkins University, the Jules Stein Lecture at UCLA, and the First Gold Medal Lecture, at the Australian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in Queensland, Australia. Dr. Koch was named as one of the top 10 refractive surgeons in the United States in a recent survey conducted by Ophthalmology Times. He is also named as one of the Nation's leading medical specialists in America's Top Doctors.

Dr. Koch received his MD from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1977. He completed an internship at the Rhode Island Hospital of Providence in 1978 and completed his residency as Chief Resident at the Manhattan Eye Ear and Throat Hospital in 1981. Dr. Koch founded Koch Eye Associates in 1981 and serves as it’s Medical Director. He is the Chief Medical Officer of Claris Vision LLC, and is also the Medical Editor Emiritus of Ophthalmology Management. Dr. Koch was one of the first refractive surgeons in America performing keratomileusis in 1979, keratophakia in 1980, and radial keratotomy in 1983. He has helped popularize many advances in cataract surgery, including techniques that permit surgery to be performed comfortably without anesthetic injections, and with vision recovery beginning only a few minutes after the operation is completed. He has won many awards including the Mericos H. Whittier Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award and the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Honor Award. Dr. Koch has written many textbooks on eye surgery, which are the standard reading materials for residency programs in the US and abroad. He has also written many journal articles, book chapters, and specialty editorials. Dr. Koch has been named one of the Top 100 Ophthalmologists and one of the Top 15 Cataract Surgeons in North America by Ophthalmology Times and he has been cited in each issue of the Best Doctors in America.

Lisa C. Olmos de Koo, MD, MBA is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology in the division of vitreoretinal surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she is the director of the surgical retina fellowship program at the University of Washington Eye Institute. Previously, Dr. Olmos served as Assistant Professor at the USC Roski Eye Institute and the Primary Investigator of the Argus device trials at USC for patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa and related retinal degenerations. She also has research experience in macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Olmos received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Harvard University, an MBA from Rice University, and a medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine, where she was the recipient of the American Medical Women's Association scholastic achievement award. Dr. Olmos completed her internship at Georgetown University/Inova Fairfax Hospital and completed her residency and vitreoretinal fellowship at the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami. Following this, she was selected to serve a one-year term as Chief Resident, Clinical Instructor, and Co-Director of Ocular Trauma at Bascom Palmer. Dr. Olmos has been voted one of Pasadena’s “Top Doctors” from 2012-2016, and she was the recipient of a “Rising Star” award from Los Angeles Magazine in 2013.

Kelly K. Nichols received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of California at Berkeley, completed a residency in ocular disease at Omni Eye Specialists of Colorado, and earned her MPH in biostatistics and PhD in vision science at Ohio State University. In 2014, Dr. Nichols was named Dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. Prior to that appointment, Dr. Nichols was a professor at the University of Houston, College of Optometry, where she co-founded and served as Executive Director for the Ocular Surface Institute, a translational research institute focused on bench-to-bedside research on ocular surface conditions. Earlier, Dr. Nichols was faculty at the Ohio State University College of Optometry. She currently serves as a medical adviser to the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation, is an executive board member for the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society, and a founding member of Ocular Surface Society of Optometry. A leading expert in dry eye disease, Dr. Nichols is or has been on the editorial boards of the journals Optometry and Vision Science, and The Ocular Surface, and is extensively published. Her research interests encompass meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eye in menopause, dry eye diagnostics and therapeutics, and tear proteomics and lipidomics.  

Dr. Sheppard received his Masters degree in Medical Science and his MD from Brown University on a full Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship. After an internship in pediatrics at the University of Virginia, he spent four years with the US Navy as 6th Fleet Medical Officer and Chief of Family Practice. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh Eye and Ear Institute and a three-year fellowship in corneal diseases, uveitis, third world blindness, and ocular immunology at the Proctor Research Foundation at the University of California, San Francisco. In 1989, Dr. Sheppard joined Virginia Eye Consultants and the ophthalmology, microbiology, and immunology faculty of Eastern Virginia Medical School, where he now serves as Ophthalmology Program Director and Clinical Director of the Thomas R. Lee Center for Ocular Pharmacology. Dr. Sheppard is also the Residency Research Director and Medical Director of the Lions Eye Bank of Eastern Virginia. Dr. Sheppard served as an Associate Examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology for 7 years and is now a Mentor examiner. He has participated as principal investigator in over 45 clinical research trials for major pharmaceutical companies and the FDA. Dr. Sheppard has been the author of over 100 peer review abstracts, journal articles, and chapters. Dr. Sheppard received the American Academy of Ophthalmology Honor Award in 1995.
 
View an interview John D. Sheppard, MD and Stephen C. Pflugfelder, MD on new developments in dry eye treatment and diagnosis

Dr Devries is co-founder of Eye Care Associates of Nevada, a state-wide medical/surgical practice, where he is clinical director and the optometric residency program director. He has a degree in financial management from the University of Nevada and graduated from Pacific University College of Optometry. He is past President of the Nevada Optometric Association and served as legislative chair for 8 years. He is a Past President of the Great Western Council of Optometry – which named him Optometrist of the year in 2012, has served on Medicare’s Carrier Advisory Committee for the past 13 years and is a consultant for the Council on Optometric Education. Dr. Devries lectures widely, has authored numerous articles, and serves on the editorial board for Optometry Times.

Dr. Ferrucci graduated from the New England College of Optometry and completed his Residency in Primary Care/Hospital Based/Geriatric Optometry at the Sepulveda VA Hospital in Sepulveda CA. He is currently Chief of Optometry as well as the Residency Director at the Sepulveda VA Ambulatory Care Center and Nursing Home. He is also a Professor at the Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University. Dr. Ferrucci has lectured extensively, with a special interest in Diabetes, Diabetic Eye Disease, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, and Fluorescein Angiography. He has also published several articles in optometric journals, including The New England Journal of Optometry, Optometry and Vision Science, Optometry: Journal of The AOA and Review of Optometry. Currently, he serves on the Editorial Board for both Review of Optometry and Optometry Times. He is an active member in the American Optometric Association and the California Optometric Association, as well as a fellow in both the American Academy of Optometry and the Optometric Retinal Society.

Dr. Gaddie graduated from the University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry and completed a Residency in Ocular Disease through Northeastern State University College of Optometry at the Triad Eye Medical Clinic and Cataract Institute in Tulsa, OK. Currently he is the owner and director of the Gaddie Eye Centers, a multi-location full service practice in Louisville that was started by his father over 40 years ago. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and President of the Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS). Dr. Gaddie is currently the Co-Chairman of the International Vision Expo Meetings, the largest provider of continuing education for eye doctors. He is also a Past President of the Kentucky Optometric Association. Having published extensively in the ophthalmic literature, Dr. Gaddie serves on the editorial boards of Review of Optometry, Optometric Management, Primary Care Optometry News and Optometry Times.  In 2011, Dr. Gaddie was inducted into the Oklahoma Pioneers in Optometry Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was selected as one of the Most Influential Doctors in the last 50 Years by the industry publication Optometric Management and was awarded the Kentucky Optometric Association Optometrist of The Year Award.

Dr. Whitney Hauser received her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2001 from Southern College of Optometry. She completed a postgraduate residency in Primary Care Optometry at the Southern College of Optometry in 2003. Prior to joining the SCO faculty as Assistant Professor, Dr. Hauser served as Clinical Director and Research Coordinator at an ophthalmology referral center in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Hauser has authored numerous articles focusing on the management and treatment of ocular surface disease, the anterior segment and practice management and has been an invited speaker across the United States and internationally. Dr. Hauser serves as Clinical Development Consultant at TearWell: Advanced Dry Eye Treatment Center and the Advanced Care and Ocular Disease Service at Southern College of Optometry. She is also the founder and senior consultant for Signal Ophthalmic Consulting (SOC). SOC designs premier care plans for optometry and ophthalmology practices with an emphasis on dry eye care and cataract/refractive surgery. Dr. Hauser serves on the editorial board of Advanced Ocular Care.

Dr. Karpecki graduated from Indiana University and completed a fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery at Hunkeler Eye Centers in affiliation with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1994. He is currently the Director of Cornea and External Disease at Kentucky Eye Institute. He has lectured in over 400 symposia covering four continents and was invited to both the Delphi International Society at Wilmer-Johns Hopkins that includes the top 25 dry eye experts in the world, and the National Eye Institute's dry eye committee – a task force established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to better understand and treat dry eye disease in women. Dr. Karpecki is the current Chair of the Refractive Surgery Advisory Board to the AOA, Chair of the ASCRS Task Force on the Integrated Eyecare Delivery System and serves on the AOA Congress Education Committee. A noted educator and author, Dr. Karpecki presently serves on eight professional journal editorial boards.

View a video of Dr. Paul Karpecki talking about ScienceBased Health and HydroEye

Dr. Mastrota graduated from New York University with a Master of Science degree in Biology and completed her Optometry degree at SUNY Optometry, where she was Alumnae of the Year in 2007. Dr. Mastrota currently serves as the Center Director of Omni Eye Surgery in New York City. A Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, Dr. Mastrota is a Contributing Editor to Contact Lens Spectrum and the online newsletter, Optometric Physician. She serves as Secretary to the Ocular Surface Society of Optometry (OSSO), and is on the Board of Directors of the Optometric Society of the City of New York. She sits on the Editorial Board of Advanced Ocular Care, Refractive EyeCare and Optometry Times and has authored numerous articles for these and other professional publications. She has lectured widely on ocular surface disease and other topics.

Jim Owen, OD, FAAO, MBA is a graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry and has a Masters in Business Administration from San Diego State University. He is the Optometric Director for Encinitas Optometry. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and a member of the American Optometric Association (serving on its Refractive Surgery Committee), California Optometric Association and the San Diego Optometric Society. He serves an extern preceptor for the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis TN. He is a Past President of the Optometric Council on Refractive Technology, served as Clinical Director for TLC Laser Eye Centers for ten years, and is currently Vice President of Business Development for NJoy Vision Centers. Dr. Owen serves on the editorial board for Optometry Times. He participates in clinical research for refractive surgery, dry eye and keratoconus and frequently lectures at local and national optometric meetings on refractive surgery, and anterior segment disease.

Diana Shechtman, O.D. F.A.A.O. is a Professor of Optometry at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, where she serves as an attending optometric physician at the eye institute and diabetic/macula clinic. Dr. Shechtman is a member of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and she is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), as well as the Optometric Retinal Society (ORS). Her area of interest has centered on retinal disease and other ocular pathologies. She has participated in various research projects and has authored numerous posters and publications. She is a member of the editorial board for Optometry Times and Review of Optometry, where she co-authors the monthly “Research Review” column. She is a member of the Macular Degeneration Association and serves on the Advisory Board for the Ocular Nutrition Society. She has lectured on a local, national & international level on topics related to retinal disease.

Kirk Smick, O.D., F.A.A.O. is Chief of Primary Care Services at the Clayton Eye Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The Clayton Eye Center is a full service eye care facility with eleven ophthalmology and optometric providers. Dr. Smick is a past president of the Georgia Optometric Association, the Georgia State Board of Examiners in Optometry and the Southern Council of Optometrists. He is a frequent lecturer both in the US and abroad, and currently serves as Chairman of the Continuing Education Committee for the International Vision Expo Programs. Dr. Smick graduated from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.

William D. Townsend, O.D., F.A.A.O. is a graduate of the University of Houston College of Optometry. In addition to his private practice he served for eleven years as a consultant at the VA Medical Center in Amarillo, Texas. Dr. Townsend is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry and a preceptor for senior externs who rotate through his practice. Dr. Townsend conducts research in pharmaceutical agents, contact lens materials and solutions, with special emphasis on ocular surface disease and dry eye. He was a recipient of the 2009 Pittman Award from the Texas Optometric Association. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and President of the Ocular Surface Society of Optometry.

Dr. Walter Whitley serves as the Director of Optometric Services at internationally recognized Virginia Eye Consultants in Norfolk, Virginia where his practice encompasses ocular surface disease, glaucoma, surgical co-management, clinical research and the supervision of an extensive referral network. He completed an optometric residency in ocular disease, refractive and ocular surgery at Eye Care Associates of Nevada. He is a recognized author, lecturer and co-host of the Innovation in Clinical Practice web series on eyetubeOD. On the state level, Dr. Whitley is the current Legislative Chair for the Virginia Optometric Association and serves on the board of trustees. In 2012, he was named the Young OD of the Year for the Virginia Optometric Association.