Special Series

Included in this page are relevant and timely series created by the Office of Continuing Professional Education including our highly popular COVID-19 series and Race in Optometry. These sessions are offered to help keep you informed, however no CPE or COPE credits are available.

Race in Optometry Series

Part 1 - Race in Optometry: An Honest Conversation

Watch Part 1 Now!

This course will examine race in optometry, and how race affects optometric training and clinical practice, specifically addressing the Black experience. A panel of Black optometrists will answer guiding questions about their experience as students, residents, and doctors of optometry, and how their race has affected their education, training, and careers. Additionally, they will address the ways we can begin conversations about race in optometry and increase awareness within the optometric community.

Moderators:

Matthew Bovenzi, OD, FAAO – Primary Care Section Chief, SUNY College of Optometry

Delaram Shirazian, OD, FAAO – Assistant Clinical Professor, SUNY College of Optometry

Panelists:

Darryl Glover, OD – Cofounder Defocus Media | Cofounder Eyefrica Media | Cofounder Black Eyecare Perspective

Joy Harewood, OD, FAAO – Attending Optometrist, Bronxcare Health System | Adjunct Professor, SUNY College of Optometry

Adam Ramsey, OD – Cofounder, Black Eyecare Perspective | CEO, Socialite Vision | Founder, Health Focus South Florida

Sherrol A. Reynolds, OD, FAAO – President, National Optometric Association (NOA) | Chief of Advanced Ophthalmic Care, NSU College of Optometry of Optometry

Andre Stanberry, OD, FAAO – Clinic Director, University of Waterloo College of Optometry

Part 2 - Race in Optometry: Seeking Solutions

Watch Part 2 Now!

Featuring an elite panel of Black optometrists and leaders in academia who will focus on seeking solutions within optometric education by discussing diversity, inclusion, and mentorship, which help lead the way to career pathways.

Program Panel:

Dr. John Flanagan – Dean and Professor, School of Optometry, University of California Berkeley

Dr. Joy Harewood – Attending Optometrist, Bronxcare Health System | Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor, SUNY College of Optometry

Dr. David Heath – President, State University of New York College of Optometry

Dr. Edwin Marshall – Professor Emeritus of Optometry and Public Health | Past Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs, Indiana University

Dr. Sherrol Reynolds – President, National Optometric Association (NOA) | Chief, Advanced Ophthalmic Care, NSU College of Optometry

Dr. Ruth Shoge – Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University | Chair-Elect, ASCO Diversity & Cultural Competency Committee

Part 3 - Race in Optometry: Diversity and Leadership in the Optometric Industry and the Profession

Watch Part 3 Now!

The third of our webinar series discusses how to increase diversity and provide leadership development in industry and professional organizations by bringing together leaders in those areas. The first two parts of the series discussed the experiences of Black optometrists as students and doctors and offered solutions to problems of diversity, inclusion, and mentorship within optometric education.

Program Panel:

Dr. Derrick Artis Former Chief Operating Officer, Vision Source Management Consultant, Artis Consulting, LLC

Dr. Jacqueline Bowen Trustee, American Optometric Association Board

Dr. Millicent Knight Senior Vice President, Customer Development Group, Essilor of America

Dr. Edwin C. Marshall Professor Emeritus, Optometry and Public Health Past Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs, Indiana University

Dr. Andrew Mick Director, American Academy of Optometry Residency Coordinator, San Francisco VA Medical Center Associate Clinical Professor, UC Berkeley Optometry

Dr. Howard Purcell President and CEO, New England College of Optometry

Ms. Veronica Schuver Secretary & Diversity Project Team Member, American Optometric Student Association 4th-year Optometry Student, Ohio State College of Optometry

Dr. Ruth Shoge Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University Chair-Elect, ASCO Diversity & Cultural Competency Committee

Part 4 - Race in Optometry - Accountability - One Year Later

Watch Part 4 Now

Last year, the SUNY College of Optometry’s Office of Continuing Professional Education hosted a three-part Webinar Series on Race in Optometry. These webinars took a hard look at the experiences of Black optometrists as students, residents, faculty, and practitioners. It was our intent to foster a dialogue that would lead to needed changes in optometric education and in the eye care industry. This year’s webinar, scheduled in conjunction with the Juneteenth celebration, brings back many of last year’s panelists to discuss whether substantive improvements have been made and where additional efforts are needed.

Program Panel
John G. Flanagan PhD, DSc, FCOptom, FAAO, FARVO
Dean and Professor, School of Optometry | President, Association of School and Colleges of Optometry | University of California Berkeley

Joy Harewood, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO
Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging | Associate Clinical Professor SUNY College of Optometry

Edwin C. Marshall, OD, MS, MPH
Professor Emeritus, Optometry and Public Health | Past Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs, Indiana University

Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO
President and CEO | New England College of Optometry

Adam Ramsey, OD
Cofounder, Black Eyecare Perspective | CEO, Socialite Vision | Founder, Health Focus South Florida

Sherrol A. Reynolds, OD, FAAO President, National Optometric Association (NOA)
Chief, Advanced Ophthalmic Care, NSU College of Optometry of Optometry

Ruth Y. Shoge, OD, MPH, FAAO
Associate Professor | Pediatric and Binocular Vision Services | The Eye Institute Pennsylvania College of Optometry | Salus University

Part 5 - Race in Optometry: Where Are We Now Two Years Later?

Watch Part 5 Now

Over the last two years, the SUNY College of Optometry’s Office of Continuing Professional Education has hosted a Webinar Series on Race in Optometry. This year, we will also hear directly from patients as to why increasing diversity within healthcare professionals is a vital step in resolving health inequities and providing the highest quality of care. It was our intent to foster a dialogue that would lead to needed changes in optometric education and in the eye care industry. This year’s webinar, scheduled in conjunction with the Juneteenth celebration, brings back many of the previous participants to discuss whether substantive improvements have been made and where additional efforts are needed.

Program panel:

Mr. Easy Anyama President – American Optometric Student Association Student – University of Houston, College of Optometry

Dr. Teri Geist Chair- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force American Optometric Association

Dr. Joy Harewood Director – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging – SUNY College of Optometry

Dr. David Heath President – SUNY College of Optometry

Dr. Cynthia Heard Chair – Diversity Task Force – American Optometric Association

Dr. Edward “Larry” Jones President – National Optometric Association

Dr. Edwin C. Marshall Professor Emeritus – Optometry and Public Health Past Vice President – Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs, Indiana University

Dr. Chinelo Onyeador President – National Optometric Student Association Incoming Ocular Disease Resident – Huntington VA

Dr. Adam Ramsey Co-founder – Black Eyecare Perspective

Dr. Ruth Shoge Chair – ASCO’s Diversity and Cultural Competency Committee

Part 6 - Race in Optometry: Headwinds - Exploring Emerging Barriers to Success Webinar

Watch Part 6 Now

Over the last three years, SUNY College of Optometry‘s Office of Continuing Professional Education has hosted a series of webinars to stimulate a national conversation on race and equity within the profession of optometry. This has served as a measure of accountability and reflection in our journey to becoming a more equitable profession. This year’s webinar comes at a time when there has been significant anti-DEI legislation at the state level and challenges to racially conscious admissions at the level of the US Supreme Court. Our sixth “Race in Optometry” discussion will address the challenges, discuss the impact they have on our DEI initiatives and outline tools we can use to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in the face of these headwinds.

Click below to see the Updates on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion from Optometric Organizations.

Program Panelist

Building An Inclusive Practice Series

Part 1 - Optometric Care of Transgender Patients

Watch Part 1 Now!

Abstract:

This course will equip optometrists to provide culturally competent eye care to transgender patients encountered in a clinical setting. The course will cover a variety of topics concerning this unique patient population including terminology, population statistics, barriers to care, and health disparities. Clinical case examples will be presented that highlight the clinical complexities and legal responsibilities that optometrists must address to ensure inclusive care of transgender patients.

Course Objectives:
• Have increased comfort, use the correct terminology when providing care to a transgender person
• Identify barriers to health care and common health disparities (including lack of access to culturally competent health care providers)
• Identify the legal responsibilities to provide non‐discriminatory care

Presenters:
Lillian Kalaczinkski, OD, FAAO – lilliankalaczinski@ferris.edu
Diplomate, American Board of Optometry
Associate Professor, Primary Care Service Chief & Associate Director of Continuing Education
Michigan College of Optometry

Paula McDowell, OD, FAAO – paulamcdowell@ferris.edu
Chief of Pediatrics, Pediatric Residency Supervisor
Michigan College of Optometry

Part 2 - Disability Justice Frameworks for Optometry: Expanding Understanding of Mental Illness, Neurodivergence, and Disability

Watch Part 2 Now

Abstract: This course will establish the foundation for expanding our conceptions of mental illness, neurodivergence, and Disability–centering on the narratives of those who identify with or have lived experience of these identities. Various ocular and medical presentations of mentally ill, neurodivergent, and Disabled patients will be reviewed. We will also challenge optometrists and optometry students to question internalized ableism and sanism, and the potential for our field (and selves) to cause or further exacerbate trauma, harm, and violence for the Disabled and neurodivergent patients. As health providers, it’s critical to understand how medicine has often been used as a tool of oppression for multiply marginalized folks (including practices of eugenics, forced hospitalization, triage policies, etc.). We will discuss the Disability Justice movement, ableism, intersectionality, and social and political models of Disability.

Documents

Presenters:
Shelby Leach, OD – SUNY Faculty
Jennifer Liu – SUNY Student
Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu – Project LETS Rep

Part 3- Disability Justice Frameworks for Optometry: Skills Based Crisis Response for Optometrists, Faculty, and Students

Watch Part 3 Now!

Abstract: This course will apply the expanded frameworks of understanding from Part 2 to heightened situations of crisis response within patient care and other interpersonal contexts. We will challenge ourselves to question our willingness and desire to “outsource” patients in moments of distress, trauma, or crisis. The understanding that police do not make us safe is widening, and both students and providers are asking, what does make us safe? What skills do we need to cultivate to better engage in peer-led de-escalation? How can we center practices of Transformative Justice in our work to interrupt harm and violence? We will address how optometrists can better support Disabled, mentally ill, and neurodivergent patients who are in distress or crisis, and what skills are needed to center patient autonomy and self-determination in your future medical practice.

Presenters:
Shelby Leach, OD
Jennifer Liu – SUNY Student
Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu – Project LETS Rep

Part 4 - Beyond the Exam: Practical Ways to Improve Patient Access to Care

Watch Part 4 Now

Abstract:
This course is built to help you identify barriers in access to care that your patients may face and provide practical tools to help you overcome them. Starting with a review of definitions related to the social determinants of health, this lecture will outline optometry’s role in caring for underserved populations and leave attendees with resources to provide excellent care under difficult circumstances.

Course objectives:
· Have a working knowledge of the social determinants of health and commonly associated definitions
· Identify common barriers in access to healthcare and eye care
· Identify the role of the primary eye care provider in caring for underserved populations
· Provide practitioners with a toolkit to help manage and overcome common barriers in access to eye care

Presenters:
Joy Harewood, OD
Asha Tadepalli, OD

COVID-19 & the Optometric Community Series

Covering a wide range of topics related to all the transitions and changes resulting from the public health crisis, this series aims to bring you key information and real-world experiences. Information ranges from COPE requirement updates to implementing telehealth and safety protocols. More than 8 hours of in-depth information throughout the series.

Part 1: COVID-19 & the Optometric Community

Watch Part 1

This course presented the following topics:

COPE Requirements Update Updates: DOH | NYSOA | AOA
TeleHealth
Your practice COVID-19
Your Practice
Q & A Session

Panelist:

Dr. Viola Kanevsky | Dr. Richard Madonna | Dr. Michael McGovern

Dr. Ray Pirozzolo | Dr. Richard Soden | Dr. Andrea Thau

Part 2: COVID-19 & the Optometric Community

Watch Part 2 Now

This course presented the following topics:

COVID-19 Basic Virology and Immunology
Ocular Manifestations of COVID-19 – Infection Control in the Office
Urgent and Emergency Care during the COVID-19 Crisis
Update on Telehealth Billing & Coding
Q & A Session

Panelist: Dr. Ann Beaton | Dr. Kimberley Poirier-Schmidt | Dr. Anupam Laul | Dr. Matthew Bovenzi | Dr. Richard Soden

Part 3: COVID-19 & the Optometric Community

Watch Part 3 Now

This course presented the following topics:

Update on COVID-19 Basic Virology and Immunology
Update on Ocular Manifestations of COVID-19
Update on Infection Control & Re-Opening the Office
Q & A Session

Part 4: COVID-19 & the Optometric Community

Watch Part 4 Now

Program at a glance:

The Science of COVID-19: Virology, Treatment, Testing

Presenter: Dr. Ann Beaton SUNY College of Optometry | Associate Professor

COVID-19 & The Eye

Presenter: Dr. Kimberley Poirier-Schmidt SUNY College of Optometry | Assistant Clinical Professor | SUNY Alumna

Infection Control & Protocols

Presenter: Dr. Anupam Laul SUNY College of Optometry | Assistant Clinical Professor

The Future of Telehealth: Where is this Modality Going?

Presenter: Dr. Richard Soden SUNY College of Optometry | Director of Health Care Development | SUNY Alumnus

Special Series

Special Series

Race in Optometry Series

Watch Part 6 Now

Building An ​Inclusive Practice Series

COVID-19 & the Optometric Community Series

Thank you for your feedback!

Building An Inclusive Practice Series