2022 Annual Conference Speakers
Gary Asano, OD, FAAO
Gary Asano, OD, FAAO has been the principal creator and is the current Chair of the COA Low Vision Rehabilitation Section. Because it has 95 OD members and 105 student members, it is by far the largest and most visible in the US and probably internationally.
Dr. Asano has been a Clinical Asst. Professor of SCCO and WUCO at 2 clinical sites. Also, he has been the recipient of the 2018 Envision Oculus Award, the 2019 AOA Vision Rehabilitation Committee Award and the 2021 SCCO Distinguished Alumni Award. Being proactive is how others in the field of Vision Rehabilitation and other related fields describe him. His mantra is seeing his past students and mentees excel in the field and make our profession much more visible in health care.
Joanna Carter, OD, FCOVD
Dr. Joanna Carter specializes in vision therapy and neuro-rehabilitation. Since opening InSight Vision Therapy in 2016, Dr. Carter has lectured to optometrists, therapists, physiatrist and educators all over Southern Oregon. To further learn and share VT with optometrists and vision therapists, Dr. Carter founded VTODs on Facebook. She has been overwhelmed with the support, friendships and positive interactions found within this group. She is also constantly reminded that there is always so much more to learn!
Dr. Carter and her husband Kyle have three delightful children. When they’re not at sports games or practice, the family enjoys playing board games and watching Disney & Marvel movies. In 2019, Dr. Carter went to Uganda with her church. In the last year, she has lectured at FEDOPTO in Colombia and AMFECCO in Mexico. She hopes to travel again soon!
Kathryn Coleman, OTR/L
Kathryn Coleman, OTR/Lis a Neuro-IFRAH certified Occupational Therapist at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Memphis Tennessee. She received a BFA in Dance from The University of Memphis and a Master of Occupational Therapy from Texas Women’s University in Dallas Texas. At Encompass Health, Katy works as a preceptor to OT staff and host to OT and SCO students.
Katy is fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with Southern College of Optometry in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for the individuals she serves on a daily basis.
Susan Daniel, OD
Susan Daniel, ODis the Immediate Past President and an Advisory Board Member of NORA. She is in private practice in Carlsbad, California and has a special interest in serving children and adults with disabilities. She provides therapy services to all San Diego County Special Education students and serves as a consultant for Tri-City Medical Center and Scripps Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Services in the visual rehabilitation treatment for brain-injured patients and stroke victims. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor atthe Illinois College of Optometry and teaches an externship rotation in vision rehabilitation and therapy to 4th year optometry students. Dr. Daniel is a frequent international lecturer on brain injury rehabilitation and visual development for patients with Autism.
Dr. Daniel obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis in 1987 and her Doctor of Optometry degree at the Southern California College of Optometry in 1991.
Camilla Dukes, OD FCOVD
Dr. Camilla Dukes was born in Denmark. She got her first Optometry degree in 1990 and practiced in Denmark and Norway. She also worked as a Field doctor in Greenland providing care for the west coast. In 1999 she moved to the USA joining Dr. Daniel in her practice in California. In 2004 She graduated with her American degree in Optometry. She is working in Carlsbad California specialising in Neuro-Developmental Optometry working with children and adults.
DeAnn M. Fitzgerald, OD
DeAnn Fitzgerald, O.D. is President of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities as a result of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life.
Mehrnaz Green, OD, FCOVD
Dr. Mehrnaz Azimi Green is a 2002 graduate of Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry. In 2004, she began working with Dr. Harry Wachs at the Vision & Conceptual Development Center in Washington, DC specializing in visuo-cognitive therapy. Dr. Green continues to work at VCDC where she delivers exceptional vision care, including neuro-optometric rehabilitation, to patients of all ages. Dr. Green has extensive training in working with children with developmental delays, including autism. She combines her knowledge of neuro-developmental challenges with her training and experience in optometric rehabilitation to change the lives of patients who have suffered a brain injury. Dr. Green is a Fellow of the COVD and a clinical director of the D.C. Special Olympics.
Kenneth Lee, MD
Dr. Kenneth Lee is the Chief of Spinal Cord Injury Division at Zablocki VAMC, Milwaukee WI and Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
As a combat wounded Iraq War veteran from a suicide car bomber attack and along with his personal history of his own rehabilitation from TBI and nerve injury, Dr. Lee provides a strong connection to the Veterans and the community he serves. He is involved as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events out of Washington DC and CMO for World Wheelchair Rugby out of England. Dr. Lee is intimately involved with the local disabled sports community as owner and manager of the Milwaukee Eagles Wheelchair Lacrosse Team as well as the Vice President Executive Board for the Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association and provides unique perspective of life after rehabilitation utilizing adaptive sports as a tool.
Nancy M. Mackowsky, OD, FCOVD, FNORA
Dr. Nancy Mackowsky is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University of Health Sciences. She is a fellow of both the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA). In 1995, she was one of the developers of The Center for Visual Learning for the corporate group, Doctors Vision Center. In 2010, she founded The Mackowsky Visual Learning and Rehabilitation Clinic in Raleigh, North Carolina and is the sole owner. Her practice is devoted solely to providing neuro- optometric rehabilitation and vision therapy to her patients.
Dr. Mackowsky’s most recent publication, “The Role of Gait Analysis, Egocenter and Yoked Prism in Parkinson's Disease” can be found in the April 2018 edition of the Optometry & Visual Performance journal. Dr. Mackowsky has served on the COVD International Certification and Examination Board and is currently a member of the NORA Fellowship Committee. She lectures to many area groups/hospitals about the specialty of neuro-optometric vision rehabilitation.
Cameron Marshall, BA(Hons.), DC, FRCCSS(C)
- Founder and President of Complete Concussion Management Inc. & The Concussion Fix program
- Social Media - @Concussion_Doc
Doctor of Chiropractic and sports injury specialist who holds a Fellowship through the Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences in Canada. Dr. Marshall’s primary research and clinic practice focuses on evidence-based treatment and management of concussion and post-concussion syndrome. He is the founder and current president of Complete Concussion Management Inc., a multidisciplinary concussion care network of 500+ locations globally, who provide evidence-based concussion care and he is also the founder of the Concussion Fix program, an online group treatment program for patients with persistent concussion symptoms. Dr. Marshall has authored several peer-reviewed scientific articles with respect to concussion and has been a keynote speaker at several leading concussion conferences and continuing education seminars. Dr. Marshall has served as a past board member for Brain Injury Canada, and hosts a weekly podcast called ‘Ask Concussion Doc’ where he discusses the latest concussion research.
Raquel Munitz-Goldfeder, MS
Raquel Munitz Goldfeder, graduated from the School of Psychology of the Faculty of Philosophy and Literature in 1969. She has dedicated herself to the study of visual perceptual processes and to the normal and abnormal development and its manifestation in functions. She holds certifications in: Instructor in the Adult Reading/Writing Method Laubach Method Sensory integration, Neurodevelopment treatment / Bobath Treatment of Infants, Infants and Adults and in early detection of Neurological Disorder through the observation of the activity Motorboat Espontanea del Bebe, Dr. Heinz Prechtl. She is currently working part-time to give informative conferences and to give training courses in the specialty of Neuro-Visual Postural Rehabilitation as an interdisciplinary approach.
William V. Padula, OD, SFNAP, FAAO, FNORA
Dr. Padula, who practices in Guilford, Conn., is the founding president of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) and the founding chairman of the Low Vision Section for the American Optometric Association. Dr. Padula founded the first low vision clinic at the Zhongshan Eye Research Hospital in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China, which was named in his honor. He has lectured and consults internationally. He has received the Distinguished Medal of Science Award from the National Academy of Practices (NAP). Dr. Padula is the recipient of the President’s Award and the Distinguished Science and Research award from the NORA. He has been awarded 12 US Patents. Dr. Padula also has authored numerous publications including three books.
Amy Pruszenski, OD, FCOVD
Amy Pruszenski, OD, FCOVD graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Brain and Cognitive Science. She graduated from the New England College of Optometry in 1993. She has been providing help for brain injury patients for the past 19 years, collaborating with other health care providers to ensure a coordinated approach to rehabilitation. She practices in private clinical settings at Harbor Eyecare Center and Visual Victory Training in Portsmouth, NH.
For the past few years, Dr. Pruszenski has been a featured speaker for the Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics, Maine Osteopathic Association, Maine Brain Injury Association, Vermont Brain Injury Association, the New Hampshire Brain Injury Association and the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Concussion Symposium. Topics include “Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome: Managing Double Vision, Field Deficits and Dizziness;” and, “Visual Rehabilitation: A Missing Link to Recovery.”
Charles Shidlofsky, OD, FCOVD
Charles Shidlofsky, OD, FCOVD is Clinical Director of Neuro-Vision Associates of North Texas, a specialty clinic serving children and adults with neurological vision issues. He is a member of the medical staff at Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation-Frisco, Dallas and Ft. Worth.
Dr. Shidlofsky also serves as a consultant for several Texas-based rehabilitation centers, including the Centre for Neuro Skills and Pate Rehabilitation. He is residency director for a private practice residency in vision rehabilitation through Southern College of Optometry.
He is also the team vision consultant for the Dallas Stars (NHL), Allen Americans (ECHL) and FC Dallas (MSL). In addition, he is Vice President of the Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Association. (NORA) and President, International Sports Vision Association (ISVA).
James M. Stringham, Ph.D
Dr. Stringham earned his doctorate in experimental psychology and neuroscience from the University of New Hampshire in 2003, and did postdoctoral training at both Harvard Medical School and the Medical College of Georgia. He has since held positions at the University of Georgia, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and most recently the Duke Eye Center.
Nearly all of his research has been geared toward understanding visual and cognitive benefits of proper nutrition. Recently, he became the Chief Scientific Officer of MacuHealth, where he is investigating new ways that nutrition can benefit visual and cognitive performance in athletes, visual and systemic health in those with metabolic disease, and neural health and development in children.
Jacqueline Theis, OD, FAAO
Jacqueline Theis, OD, FAAO completed her optometric and residency-training in neuro-optometry, binocular vision, and children's vision at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry. After residency she became an Assistant Clinical Professor and was the founder and chief of the UC Berkeley Sports Vision and Concussion clinic, which provides research and clinical care in post-concussion vision problems and sports vision performance. Dr Theis has inpatient and outpatient hospital and medical office-based experience in evaluating vision problems in patients with TBI.
Dr. Theis is an international lecturer on oculomotor (eye-movement) disorders in systemic and neurological conditions including diabetes, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, acquired and traumatic brain injury. She currently owns and practices in Richmond, VA at Virginia Neuro-Optometry, a tertiary care neuro-optometry private practice, which is located within the Concussion Care Centre of Virginia, a multidisciplinary brain injury practice.
Amy Thomas, OD, FCOVD
Amy Thomas, OD, FCOVD, founder of Arizona Vision Therapy Center in Tucson, Arizona, has been spending the past two decades gathering information and concepts about the brain - from how it develops to how it heals. She has studied not only neuro-optometric teachings, but also neuropsychology, functional neurology, functional medicine, reflex integration, sensory integration, and many more specialties to gather the basic fundamental facts that connect them all to the brain. She has spent the past 17 years testing her new knowledge on herself, friends, and family to better understand the effects of the treatments and is working on perfecting those treatments with her patients at Arizona Vision Therapy Center.
Terry Tsang, OD, FAA
Dr. Terry Tsang is a 1995 Graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Optometry. She completed a residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses at the Southern California College of Optometry where she subsequently joined as faculty. After several years, she moved into private practice where she has been providing neurovisual rehabilitation and vision therapy for over 20 years. She also was an investigator in research projects that included Performance of an Augmented Reality Device for patients with Low Vision for Functional Activities as well as Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Trials for patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Vincent R. Vicci, Jr. OD, DPNAP, FNORA
Dr. Vicci is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and is in private practice in Westfield, N.J. He is a co-founder of the vision clinics at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and the JFK / Johnson Rehabilitation Institute – Edison, N.J. – and consultant at a number of hospitals and rehabilitation centers for patients with stroke, concussion and other traumatic brain injuries. He is a co-founder of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association. Dr. Vicci is a biannual guest lecturer for Seton Hall University Graduate Medical Education (1999-present) Dr. Vicci has been accepted as an expert in the field of Neuro- Optometric Rehabilitation in all New Jersey county courts as well as out of state appointments.
Bridgett Wallace, PT, DPT
Bridgett Wallace, PT, DPT, has a doctorate of physical therapy and holds competency-based certifications in vestibular rehabilitation, ImPACT’s PT training program and Concussion Health’s V2FIT training. She has been treating patients with dizziness and balance disorders for 25 years and is the founder and President of 360 Balance & Dizziness – a specialty clinic for the evaluation and treatment of dizziness and balance disorders that includes both audiology and therapy services. She is also the co-founder and Director of Clinical Education for 360 Neuro Health Institute, which provides online, mobile and live educational offerings for health care providers.
Dr. Wallace lectures nationwide to other providers regarding dizziness and balance disorders and has provided consulting services for The University of Texas Sports Medicine Department since 1998 regarding concussion management and more than 5 years for the Major League Baseball Umpires’ Medical Team. She is also course director for the Certificate of Competency in Vestibular Rehabilitation (CCVR) course for 360 NHI.
Melissa Zarn, OD, FAAO
Melissa Zarn, OD, FAAO is an Assistant Professor at Southern College of Optometry (SCO). She graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2009 and completed residency training in Vision Therapy and Pediatrics in 2010.
Dr. Zarn spent 12 months working at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) clinic. She, along with a dedicated vision therapy technician, established optometry and vision therapy services in the new TBI clinic. She provided primary optometric care and vision therapy services to Army, Air Force, Marine, and Navy service members both during and following deployment.
As a provider in the TBI clinic, she worked closely with other members of the rehabilitation team including Physical and Occupation Therapy, Psychology, Speech and Language Pathology, and Neurology. Dr. Zarn also consulted on patients with military optometrists throughout the U.S. Army European Medical Command.