UOFM EYECARE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant for MobileEyes
Carrie Lebowitz received her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2006 from The Southern College of Optometry where she is currently serving as instructor. Following graduation from SCO, Dr. Lebowitz completed a residency in primary care at the Memphis VA Hospital and continues to serve our veterans as a contract physician. Her areas of emphasis currently lie in laboratory and clinical instruction.
Dr. Lebowitz is a member of the American Optometric Association (AOA), Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians (TAOP), and the West Tennessee Optometric Physicians Society (WTOPS.)
Originally from Little Rock, AR, Dr. Lebowitz has remained a proud Memphian since graduating from Rhodes College in 1996 and lives in the midtown area. Before coming to SCO, Dr. Lebowitz was a third and second grade teacher with the Memphis City Schools. Her husband owns his own athletic facilities in midtown and on Mud Island and they enjoy being active in the Cooper Young and Mud Island communities. They have two young sons.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Internal Clinics / Administration
- Chief of Internal Clinics at Southern College of Optometry
- Chief of Staff / the Eye Center at Southern College
Christopher Lievens is the Chief of Internal Clinics at Southern College of Optometry. He also holds the academic rank of Professor. Dr. Lievens has been employed in private practice, an ophthalmology referral center and he served in the United States Air Force. Dr. Lievens has published scientific research and has lectured on topics dealing with eye disease, contact lens solutions and optometric management. Dr. Lievens is the co-creator of the funduscopic grading card. He is also a peer reviewer for six optometric and ophthalmologic journals. Dr. Lievens was the former Tennessee state consultant on Healthy Eyes Healthy People and was Southern College of Optometry's representative to the American Optometric Association. Dr. Lievens has a Master's degree in Health Administration.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Cornea & Contact Lens Services
Daniel G. Fuller, OD, FAAO Dipl., FSLS is a Professor and serves as Chief of the Cornea Contact Lens Service of The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry.
He received his BS degree in 1980 from Purdue University and Doctor of Optometry degree in 1984 from The Ohio State University, College of Optometry. He began his career in a hospital-based setting in the US Navy, serving for eight years. He spent 17 years in private practice as owner of a multi-site, solo practice emphasizing medical eye, and specialty contact lens services. His career in academia began in 1987. He holds the rank of Professor, is the Chief, Cornea Contact Lens Service, and founding Supervisor of the Cornea Contact Lens Refractive Surgery residency at The Eye Center, Southern College of Optometry. He lectures nationally, has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers, posters, and performs original clinical research. He is a Diplomate in Cornea Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies in the American Academy of Optometry, and Fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society. He has held multiple chairs of leadership serving local, state and national organizations. He received the inaugural Educator of the Year award from the Gas Permeable Lens Institute.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Community Vision Health Services
- Chief of External Clinics
Dr. Aaron Kerr sees patients in Adult Primary Care and Advanced Care Ocular Disease Services in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. Her clinical interests include glaucoma management, diabetic retinopathy, and surgical co-management.
Dr. Kerr currently serves as Chief of Community Vision Health Services. She is an Associate Professor at SCO and has lectured and presented numerous case study presentations nationally on various eye disease-related topics.
Dr. Kerr is originally a WV native and has resided in Memphis for the past 15 years.
Job Titles:
- Director of Externship and Residency Programs
- Director of the Externship and Residency Programs
Dr. Cheryl Mengelt sees patients in the Adult Primary Care Service in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. Her Clinical interests include detection and treatment of eye disease in the adult population. Additionally, she enjoys practicing and educating patients in the realm of preventative medicine.
Dr. Mengelt dually serves as Director of the Externship and Residency programs for the College. An Assistant Professor at SCO, she teaches the Physical Diagnosis laboratory which integrates eye health management and systemic disease states.
In addition to her career with Southern College of Optometry, Dr. Mengelt is a Major in the United States Army Reserve. In this capacity she is privileged to provide eye exams to Memphis area veterans and active duty soldiers in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Dr. Mengelt has one daughter and enjoys numerous physical fitness activities, leisure reading and being involved in her profession and community.
Dr. Christina Newman graduated with a B.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida in 2003. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2007 from Nova Southeastern University, graduating with Honors. Following graduation, Dr. Newman practiced at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, FL. After three years of practice, she entered and completed a Residency in Cornea, Contact Lens & Refractive Surgery at Southern College of Optometry in 2011. Upon completion of her residency Dr. Newman joined the faculty at Southern College of Optometry. She currently is a clinical instructor in The Eye Center in the Cornea and Contact Lens Service.
Dr. Cynthia G. Heard sees patients in the Vision Therapy & Rehabilitation and Adult Primary Care Services in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. Her clinical interests include diabetes patient education, nutrition and eye health, eye disease management, and new drug development for eye conditions. Dr. Heard lectures on such topics periodically at local and national meetings.
Dr. Heard is a Professor of Optometry. She teaches clinical techniques for diagnosis of eye conditions and analysis of patient care in small-group format. She supervises the Low Vision Residency Program at SCO.
Dr. Heard has authored a drug guide for several years that provides drug information to assist the optometrist in successfully managing conditions specific to the eye.
Dr. Heard is a past president of the National Optometric Association (NOA), an organization that represents underrepresented minority optometrists in the US. She was NOA Optometrist of the Year in 1998.
Dr. Heard enjoys reading, watching movies, and visiting art galleries in her spare time.
Job Titles:
- Professor at the Southern College of Optometry
Dr. Glen Steele is a professor at the Southern College of Optometry in the Pediatric Service with special emphasis on the vision care needs of the infant and young child. A past president of both the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and the Optometric Extension Program Foundation, he is past chair of the American Optometric Association's InfantSEE® Committee. Dr. Steele has lectured extensively throughout the USA and internationally in the area of infant vision development and care.
Dr. Steele holds membership in the American Optometric Association, the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians, the Optometric Extension Program Foundation, the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, the American Public Health Association, and SECO International. He has an active role in each of these organizations.
Dr. Steele has received the G.N. Getman Award from the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and Southern College of Optometry's Lifetime Achievement Award. He has been selected as Tennessee's Optometrist of the Year, named one of Optometric Management's Top Ten Optometrists of the Decade, received the Robert Rosenthal Award from the OEP/Pacific University Joint Conference on Theoretical and Clinical Optometry, and received the John Streff Award from the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association. He also received Prevent Blindness Tennessee's Lifetime of Service Award and the Armand Bastien Award for international accomplishments from the International Congress of Behavioral Optometry. The Fors/Steele Developmental Vision Endowed Scholarship was established jointly in his name along with Allen Fors, O.D. at the Southern College of Optometry.
Most recently, Dr. Steele was the recipient of the William Feinbloom Award from the American Academy of Optometry for his work with InfantSEE. This award was presented at the annual meeting of the Academy in Boston, MA.
Dr. Steele is married and has three grown children.
Job Titles:
- Administration
- Vice President for Clinical Programs
- Vice President for Clinical Programs / Administration
Dr. James E. Venable, a magna cum laude graduate of East Tennessee State University ('85), attended optometry school at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, where he earned the Doctor of Optometry degree. He received intern training at the James H Quillen College of Medicine & V.A. Hospital and the Chattanooga Vision & Perception Center. Since entering practice, Dr. Venable has served as Director of Special Services, Director of Referral Services and Clinical Director for group private practices and referral centers while concentrating his clinical practice in pediatrics and binocular vision, laser vision correction and glaucoma. He has also been active in intern and resident programs having held adjunct faculty status at Southern College of Optometry, The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry and the University of Houston College of Optometry. Currently Dr. Venable serves as the Vice President for Clinical Programs at Southern College of Optometry.
Dr. Jason Duncan provides patient care in Adult Primary Care and Advance Care of Ocular Disease Services in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. His clinical interests include ocular inflammatory disease, dry eyes/eyelid disease and primary care optometry.
Dr. Duncan currently serves as Chair of the Faculty, the Faculty Affairs Committee, and the Seeing Green Initiative. An Associate Professor at SCO, he teaches classes in Anterior Segment Disease and Management, Posterior Segment Disease and Management, and a Common Optometric Procedures Seminar.
Dr. Duncan has recently begun providing continuing education lectures and workshops, lecturing in Nashville, Memphis, and Gatlinburg.
Dr. Duncan's hobbies include guitar, tennis, and landscaping. He is the Chair of the Membership Committee for the Central Garden's Neighborhood Association and Assistant to the Editor for the CGA Newsletter. Dr. Duncan was in private practice in the Memphis area through 2008 and continues to see his patients at SCO.
Dr. Jennifer L. Jones earned her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2006 from Southern College of Optometry, graduating cum laude. She completed a postgraduate residency in primary care with an emphasis in ocular disease at the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 2007. She is currently an Associate Professor at Southern College of Optometry.
Dr. Jones sees patients in the Adult Primary Care Service in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. Her clinical interests include ocular disease. She also teaches Integrative Clinical Analysis II to third year students. She has authored and presented many posters at national optometric meetings.
Dr. Jones is a member of the American Optometric Association (AOA), the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians (TAOP), and the West Tennessee Optometric Physicians Society (WTOPS).
Dr. Jones is married and has a baby boy. She enjoys watching baseball and playing with her two dogs in her spare time.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Low Vision Services
Dr. Karen Squier received her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2001 from Pennsylvania College of Optometry. She completed a postgraduate residency in Low Vision Rehabilitation at the William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Clinic, which is a part of The Eye Institute at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
Prior to joining the SCO faculty, Dr. Squier was a staff optometrist at The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Illinois Eye Institute in Chicago, IL. She relocated to Memphis in 2015 to join the faculty at Southern College of Optometry.
Dr. Squier is the Chief of Low Vision Services and is also the Instructor of Record for SCO's Vision Rehabilitation Course. Dr. Squier teaches interns and residents in the Low Vision Service as well as Adult Primary Care Clinic. Her research interests include low vision rehabilitation as well as public health aspects of visual impairment.
Dr. Squier is a Diplomate of the Low Vision Section of the American Academy of Optometry and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Low Vision Section. She is also a member of the American Public Health Association, Tennessee Public Health Association and the American Optometric Association. Dr. Squier has lectured and presented her research at local and international conferences on low vision.
Dr. Haworth holds optometry licenses in California, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. Her research focus is in ocular surface and dry eye conditions. She has published manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and has presented some of her findings at national annual meetings of the American Academy of Optometry and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) through scientific papers and posters.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation
- Editor - in - Chief of the Optometry & Visual Performance
- Professor and Chief of Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Services at Southern College of Optometry
Dr. Marc Taub is a professor and Chief of Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Services at Southern College of Optometry. He teaches in the vision therapy and pediatric clinics. He is also the co-supervisor for the Pediatric and Vision Therapy Residency.
Dr. Taub is the Editor-in-Chief of the Optometry & Visual Performance and serves on the review board of Optometry Times. He has written numerous peer reviewed articles and has lectured and presented posters at international, national, and local conferences. He is the lead editor and a multiple chapter author on Visual Diagnosis and Care of the Patient with Special Needs and editor and chapter author on Visual Development, Treatment, and Diagnosis of the Pediatric Patient.
Dr. Taub is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and the College of Optometrist in Vision Development and is active in the Optometric Extension Program Foundation.
Dr. Taub is married with two children and enjoys whatever free time he can get. He is an avid runner and cyclist.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Advanced Care Ocular Disease Services
Dr. Michael D. Gerstner sees patients in the Advanced Care Ocular Disease Service in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. His clinical interests include: cornea disease, retina disease, glaucoma and surgical co-management.
Dr. Gerstner currently serves as the Chief of Advanced Care Ocular Disease. An Associate Professor at SCO, he lectures on systemic and retina disease. He formerly served as Faculty Chair.
Dr. Gerstner is married with two children. He is a grill master and music and sports fanatic.
Job Titles:
- NHALP Clinical Coordinator
Dr. Michael Dorkowski is a 2004 graduate of Southern College of Optometry, who completed a postgraduate residency in family practice optometry at West Tennessee Eye in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Dorkowski attended the University of Florida earning a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology, with a focus on cardiac rehabilitation.
Dr. Dorkowski is active as Associate Professor supervising student clinicians in The Eye Center in the areas of Adult and Pediatric Primary Care, as well as Advanced Care Ocular Disease and Nursing Home Service. He is the Clinical Coordinator for the Nursing Home/Assisted Living Program (NHALP).
He has worked in private practice at West Tennessee Eye serving as Chief of Operations for several years, and has also been an associate with Visionary Eye Care, an ophthalmic referral center specializing in pediatric and oculoplastic surgery.
Dr. Dorkowski has presented clinical workshops to practitioners at both state and national optometric educational meetings. Dr. Dorkowski is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians where he has served on the board of trustees. He is also a member of the West Tennessee Optometric Society serving as past Vice-President and President.
Dr. Pamela Schnell is a Professor at SCO. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and a member of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). After completing her residency, she became a faculty member at the State University of New York College of Optometry, where she taught courses and supervised interns in the Pediatric and Infant Vision Clinics. She held clinical privileges at Woodhull Medical Center in the Bronx, where she supervised externs and residents in the outpatient, inpatient, and emergency departments.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor at SCO
Dr. Patricia Cisarik was appointed Associate Professor at SCO in 2008. A graduate of Duke University, Dr. Cisarik earned her O.D. degree from Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1987 and her Ph.D. in Physiological Optics and Vision Science in 2005 from the University of Houston College of Optometry. In addition to her private practice experience, Dr. Cisarik served as an Assistant Professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry and at the University of Houston College of Optometry.
Dr. Richard S. Savoy sees patients in the Adult Primary Care Service in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. His clinical interests include geriatric vision and diabetes mellitus with a personal commitment to public health and community outreach. An Associate Professor at SCO, he teaches geometrical optics and moderates student doctor clinical seminars. A retired military officer, Dr. Savoy held various clinical and administrative positions while an active duty Navy optometrist. He continues to maintain a diverse roster of assignments at SCO including student academic affairs, student mentoring, and environmental management responsibilities.
Dr. Savoy is married with five children and enjoys camping and hiking, running, and soccer and is active in his church.
Dr. Scott Ensor sees patients in the Advanced Care Ocular Disease Service and Adult Primary Care in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. His clinical interests include: glaucoma, post-operative management of cataract and refractive surgery, and retinal disorders.
Dr. Ensor helps teach the post-operative management course as well as a seminar on Medical Optometry. He formerly served as Center Director of a large optometric referral center in Nashville and has lectured on cataract management, refractive surgery, glaucoma, and ocular pharmacology.
A Memphis native and avid sports fan, Dr. Ensor is married with one daughter and enjoys classic movies.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor at Southern College of Optometry
Dr. Shaleen Ragha is an Assistant Professor at Southern College of Optometry, where she also received her Doctor of Optometry in 2016. Following graduation, she completed her postgraduate residency in primary care at the Memphis VAMC. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology at the University of Georgia.
Dr. Shaleen Ragha currently sees patients and supervises students in a clinical setting at The Eye Center at SCO, in the primary care and ocular disease department, as well as at The Focal Point. Dr. Ragha is licensed to practice in Tennessee and is a member of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians (TAOP). Her areas of professional interest include primary care, ocular disease, and ocular manifestations of systemic disease. She has authored numerous publications on various topics in ocular disease. She particularly enjoys volunteering on a local and international level. Dr. Ragha also enjoys exploring Memphis and spending time with her friends and family.
Before coming to Tennessee, Dr. Tyler Kitzman received a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He then came to Memphis where he earned his Doctor of Optometry Degree from Southern College of Optometry. After graduation Dr. Kitzman pursued a one-year residency in Cornea and Contact Lens at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. Upon completion, he returned to Southern College of Optometry as an Assistant Professor. He is licensed in Tennessee and Oklahoma.
Dr. Kitzman currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Cornea and Contact Lens department as well as the Adult Primary Care suites in The Eye Center. He is also a member of the American Optometric Association.
Dr. Wil McGriff attended the University of South Alabama, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. In 2000, Dr. McGriff earned a Master of Public Health degree with an emphasis in Epidemiology from the UAB School of Public Health. He then worked as an academic fellow for the United States Air Force at Brooks City Base in San Antonio, TX, where he monitored troop health and conducted health history surveys of former USAF employees. Following his fellowship, Dr. McGriff returned to the UAB School of Public Health where he worked as a program coordinator for internships, student recruiting, and an interdisciplinary student service organization. Dr. McGriff received his Doctorate of Optometry degree from the UAB School of Optometry in 2010. He completed a residency in Family Practice Optometry at UAB Eye Care in 2011.
Job Titles:
- Director of Clinical Operations / the Eye Center at Southern College
The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry is pleased to participate in a comprehensive number of various insurance and vision health plans. The Eye Center accepts most major insurance plans, including TennCare, Medicare, and Tennessee Medicaid patients.
A limited amount of funding is available for schoolchildren with financial need and others who require special assistance in meeting their eye health and vision care needs. Our Low Vision Endowment Fund can help certain patients obtain optical devices and equipment not covered by traditional insurance. At The Eye Center, we will do our best to help provide you with the access to insurance plans or other funding sources necessary to provide you with comprehensive, eye health and vision care.
Dr. Goldring joined the faculty in 2008 after being an externship preceptor since 1993. He has maintained a successful solo private practice in Senatobia, Mississippi for over 30 years. He accepted the position of faculty advisor of the Private Practice club at SCO, where is working closely with the new leadership to establish long-term goals for the group. He holds memberships in both the TAOP and MOA and is active in the Lions and Rotary clubs of Senatobia. He brings both clinical expertise and practice management experience to his time as a clinical faculty member in the Cornea and Contact Lens Service of The Eye Center.
Job Titles:
- Member of the National Eye Institute 's National Eye Health Education Planning Committee
Dr. Wolfe is a 2001 graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He completed an optometric residency in ocular disease & low vision rehabilitation at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (Chicago, IL) in 2002. Following residency, Dr. Wolfe joined the faculty of the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science serving as Assistant Professor and Clinical Director of the UIC Eye Clinic at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, IL. While on faculty, Dr. Wolfe earned his Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Policy & Administration from the University of Illinois, School of Public Health. In 2008, Dr. Wolfe joined the staff at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System in Tucson, AZ serving as the residency coordinator for the ocular disease & low vision rehabilitation residency program. In 2015, Dr. Wolfe joined the faculty of the Southern College of Optometry as Associate Professor.
Dr. Wolfe has served as a select member of the National Eye Institute's National Eye Health Education Planning Committee and has held various volunteer appointments within professional associations. Currently he serves as the Vice Chair of AAO's Chapters Committee, sits on the Action Board of American Public Health Association, and is a member of AOA's Evidence-Based Optometry Committee.
Dr. Cottrill currently serves SCO as an Assistant Professor where she supervises student clinicians in the Adult Primary Care and Low Vision Rehabilitation departments.
A West Virginia native, Dr. Cottrill earned her undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, WV. After earning her Doctor of Optometry degree at Southern College of Optometry in 2016, Dr. Cottrill completed a residency in Low Vision Geriatric Optometry at the Birmingham VA Medical Center in Birmingham, AL.
Dr. Cottrill is licensed in both Tennessee and Alabama. She is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians. Her professional areas of interest include low vision, primary care, ocular disease, nursing home care and neuro-optometric diseases.
Dr. J. Bart Campbell sees patients in the Cornea and Contact Lens Service in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. His clinical interests include: all types of contact lens care, especially care of patients with astigmatism and presbyopia (patients who require a reading prescription).
Dr. Campbell has been at Southern College of Optometry since 1988. He has formerly served as Chief of the Contact Lens Service, Director of Residency Programs, and as Director of Academic Support Services.
He has written numerous articles related to contact lens practice and has lectured at national meetings on contact lens-related topics.
Dr. Campbell is married and is an avid hiker and pilot.
Dr. Janette Dumas Pepper sees patients in the Pediatric Primary Care Service and the Vision Therapy & Rehabilitation Service in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. Her clinical interests include pediatric contact lenses and lazy eye research.
Dr. Pepper is currently an Associate Professor at SCO. She teaches the Optometry Theory & Methods and Vision Therapy courses. She also assists in the Pediatrics course.
Dr. Pepper originally from Southern Illinois, is very active in the community as a volunteer for the Ronald McDonald House and a youth mentor.
Job Titles:
- Equipment Specialist & Driver
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor at the Southern College of Optometry
- Member of the American Optometric Association
Jennifer Sanderson, a London, Ontario native, received her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2005 from Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO). She completed a postgraduate residency in Primary Care at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which is affiliated with the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN.
Dr. Sanderson is currently an Assistant Professor at the Southern College of Optometry, where she supervises the primary care examinations of patients in the affiliated Eye Center. She assists in the second year anterior and posterior segment laboratories, teaches in a theory and method lab and is the instructor of record in a class that has a primary focus on the education of various diseases in a clinically relevant manner. She is the Assistant Director of Residency Programs.
Dr. Sanderson is a member of the American Optometric Association (AOA), Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians (TAOP) and West Tennessee Optometric Physicians Society (WTOPS). She is a consultant to the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE). She recently became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and is a regular instructor of the Injections Workshop held at the annual meeting.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor at SCO
Dr. John Mark Jackson sees patients in the Advanced Contact Lens Service in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. His clinical interests include working with difficult-to-fit contact lens patients including those with high amounts of astigmatism, those needing bifocals, and those with corneal disorders such as keratoconus. He also is a leading practitioner in Corneal Refractive therapy (orthokeratology), where contact lenses are worn while sleeping to mold the eye so that no glasses or contact lenses are worn during the day.
Dr. Jackson is an Associate Professor at SCO, teaches the optics and contact lens courses and is active in clinical research. His research interests include pediatric contact lens fitting (the ACHIEVE study) and Corneal Refractive Therapy (orthokeratology).
He has written two book chapters on Corneal Refractive Therapy and has published papers and posters related to his research. He is also a contributing editor for the journal Contact Lens Spectrum.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Optometric Education
An associate professor, Dr. Elkins serves as Chair of Optometric Education, Clinical Lab Director in The Eye Center, and as a clinical instructor in the adult primary care clinic of The Eye Center. Dr. Elkins is also the faculty advisor for the SCO Virginia and North Carolina students' clubs.
Dr. Elkins is an active member of the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians, American Optometric Association, American Academy of Optometry, and the West Tennessee Optometric Physicians Society.
Job Titles:
- Chief of the Pediatric Primary Care Service
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor at Southern College of Optometry
Dr. Bartuccio was appointed Associate Professor at Southern College of Optometry and is currently evaluating and managing patients in the Eye Center in the Pediatric, Teen and Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation clinics.
Dr. Hoang earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Millsaps College in Jackson, MS and her Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry in 2014. Following graduation, Dr. Hoang completed a one year postgraduate residency in Hospital Based Primary Care Optometry at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Memphis, TN.
Dr. Hoang currently serves as an assistant professor, supervising student clinicians in Adult Primary Care. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians, and West Tennessee Optometric Physicians Society. Dr. Hoang is licensed to provide optometric care in the states of Tennessee and Mississippi. Her professional areas of interest include primary care and ocular disease.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Optometry at Southern College of Optometry
Melissa Zarn Urankar is an Assistant Professor of Optometry at Southern College of Optometry (SCO). She attained a BS in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Tech and an OD from Illinois College of Optometry. After completing residency training in Vision Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Pediatrics at Pacific University College of Optometry, she worked at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center where she helped to establish Optometry and Vision Therapy services in the multidisciplinary traumatic brain injury clinic.
Dr. Zarn evaluates and manages patients with traumatic and acquired brain injuries (TBI/ABI) at the SCO clinics as well as at local rehabilitation hospitals. She has been a member of NORA since 2008 and is working toward her FNORA. She is the faculty advisor for SCO's Student NORA Chapter and has coordinated the NORA poster session during the annual meeting since 2012. She has presented workshops on evaluating and managing TBI/ABI at the American Academy of Optometry meetings since 2015. At SCO, she is the Director of Interprofessional Education (IPE). She is the lead instructor for the Interprofessional Education series and is engaged in curriculum development to enhance IPE and collaborative practice opportunities for students at SCO. Through this work, she has helped create a network of health professions educators in the Memphis, TN area who are developing unique opportunities in health professions education. She is a member of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) IPE and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) Committee and chair of ASCO's IPECP Special Interest Group, the Midsouth Interprofessional Health Education Collaborative, Co-Chair of Tennessee Interprofessional Practice and Education Consortium's (TIPEC's) Membership and Communications Working Group, and Co-Chair of the American Interprofessional Health Collaborative Program Committee's Mentoring Program Workgroup.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor in the Areas of Pediatric Primary Care
Dr. Ollinger currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the areas of Pediatric Primary Care, Teen Clinic, and Vision Therapy. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and a member of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Dr. Ollinger's areas of interest include pediatric eye care, and management of strabismus and amblyopia. In his spare time, Dr. Ollinger enjoys reading, exercising, puzzles, and being outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor at SCO
- Chief of Adult Primary Care
Dr. Patricia Estes Walker sees patients in the Acute Care Ocular Disease Clinic and Adult Primary Care Clinic in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. Her clinical interests include: ocular disease with an emphasis in cataract care, and glaucoma. She feels refractive surgery is a viable option for everyone who wants to rid themselves of the need for glasses or contact lenses.
Dr. Walker is an Assistant Professor at SCO. She is the Chief of Adult Primary Care in The Eye Center. She has spent several years working in referral centers that specialize in the treatment and management of ocular diseases.
Dr. Walker is married with two children and enjoys music, especially singing with her church choir.
Dr. Harris is a 1979 graduate of the State University of New York, State College of Optometry. He was in private practice in Baltimore, MD until joining SCO's faculty in September of 2010. His accreditations include Fellowships in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (1984), the Australasian College of Behavioral Optometry (1993), and the American Academy of Optometry (1999). He has published two series for the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF), an organization that he currently serves as Vice President and a Clinical Curriculum Instructor.
He brings a passion for understanding the "why" of the visual process. He enjoys directing his energies to student development through involvement in the classroom and clinic along with establishing new clinical research initiatives and then publishing the results.
Dr. Beth Sparrow sees patients in the Adult Primary Care service in The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. Her clinical interests include ocular disease. An Associate Professor, she supervises the Primary Care Residency Program at SCO and also works in the eye clinic at the Church Health Center. She works with several philanthropic organizations on campus and has participated in international mission trips.
When not working, Dr. Sparrow enjoys watching The Andy Griffith Show and gardening.
A professor at Southern College of Optometry, Dr. Bill Edmondson serves as attending faculty for the Cornea-Contact Lens and Teen Clinics.
Dr. Edmondson is the recipient of the 2013 Achievement Award from the Contact Lens and Cornea Section of the American Optometric Association for his contributions to the profession in that specialty area. He holds licenses in TN, WV, PA, and Oklahoma, where he is Anterior Segment Laser Certified.