Dr. Michael Chaglasian, OD, FAAO is an Associate Professor at the Illinois College of Optometry and Chief of Staff of the Illinois Eye Institute. He is a graduate of State University of New York College of Optometry and completed a residency in Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Dr. Chaglasian is in charge of the Glaucoma Service at the Illinois Eye Institute, providing patient care while instructing residents and students. His clinical practice is directed exclusively to patients with glaucoma while co-managing surgical care with two glaucoma specialists. His research interests include normal tension glaucoma, automated perimetry and the clinical use of OCT imaging. He is a founding member and a President of the Optometric Glaucoma Society. He has a number of published articles and has contributed chapters to several popular textbooks on the topics of glaucoma and visual fields. He sits on the editorial board for Optometry Times.
After graduating from SUNY College of Optometry, Dr. Daniel Epshtein took a position at a high-volume multispecialty practice in New York City serving the underserved population with a significant ocular disease burden. He directly supervised optometry students as an Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor and provided instruction on myriad topics including perioperative care, uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and ocular surface disease. He has since taken a full time position at the ophthalmology department of Mount Sinai St. Luke’s, becoming the first optometrist to ever practice at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s. Dr. Epshtein’s research focuses on using the latest ophthalmic imaging technologies to elucidate ocular pathophysiology and to help simplify equivocal clinical diagnoses. His clinical interests include posterior segment disease, uveitis, and ocular surface disease, especially glaucoma therapy exacerbated ocular surface disease. Dr. Epshtein combines his research experience with the latest clinical practices to detect vision threatening disorders and provide the best treatment options available.
Dr. Murray Fingeret is Chief of the Optometry Section, Brooklyn/St. Albans Campus, Department of Veterans Administration New York Harbor Health Care System and is a Clinical Professor at SUNY, College of Optometry. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and sits on the Board of Directors of the Glaucoma Foundation and is a member of the American Glaucoma Society. Dr. Fingeret is a member of the annual meeting program committee, Glaucoma Section, Association in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), the editorial boards for the Journal of Glaucoma, International Glaucoma Review, Glaucoma Today, Primary Optometry News, Optometry Times and Review of Optometry and has authored numerous articles and co-authored the texts “Atlas of Primary Eyecare Procedures” and “Primary Care of the Glaucomas”
John G. Flanagan is the Dean and Professor at School of Optometry and Vision Science Program, University of California, Berkeley. Until May 2014 he was Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo and in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto. He was Director of the Glaucoma Research Unit, Toronto Western Research Institute and a Senior Scientist at the Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network. He graduated in Optometry and Vision Sciences from Aston University, Birmingham, UK in 1980, where he later earned his PhD in 1985. He has held continuous federal research funding for over 28 years (MRC/CIHR/CHRP/ORF) with additional research funding from the American Health Assistance Foundation, the Glaucoma Research Society of Canada and the Glaucoma Research Foundation.
Dr. Gee is in private practice in a suburb of Houston: Missouri City, Texas. He graduated from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2002. He joined senior staff at Scott & White Memorial Hospital upon graduation until 2004 when he returned home to Houston. Dr. Gee was on faculty at the University of Houston College of Optometry until 2018 when he decided to dedicate more time for family and the private practice. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry. He serves the Texas Optometric Association on multiple committees and was President in 2013. Dr. Gee is involved in the care athletic teams in the city of Houston including the University of Houston Baseball & Softball teams as well as the 2017 World Series Champion Houston Astros.
Carolyn Majcher is a Doctor of Optometry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She received her Doctorate of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University and completed an ocular disease residency at the Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Following completion of her residency, Dr. Majcher became and remains a full-time faculty member at the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry where she is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Chief of the Retinal Disease Clinic. She is an instructor within the posterior segment disease, glaucoma, and neuro-ophthalmic disease courses. Dr. Majcher’s research interests include retinal imaging and OCT angiography.
Dr. Peña is chief optometrist in a multi-location private practice based in Kerrville, Texas and Fredericksburg, Texas both located north of San Antonio. Dr. Peña has been practicing full scope medical optometry in the Texas hill country since graduating with honors from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2007. A member of the Texas Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association, Dr. Peña is also the current Chairman of the Board of Texas State Optical. Prior to getting his optometry degree, he served five years in the Marines and in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm followed by working as an ABO-certified optician while earning his B.S. degree from Schreiner University. An avid music fan, Dr. Peña also played bass guitar with the Roger Creager Band.
A Charleston, SC native, Dr. Steele graduated from Wofford College in 1999. She graduated from the UAB School of Optometry in 2003, then completed a residency at the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Dr. Steele joined the UAB faculty in 2004 and has since taught in the Clinical Skills, Injections, Lasers, Advanced Clinical Procedures, and Imaging courses. She currently serves as the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. Dr. Steele received the AOSA Clinical Science Teaching Award in 2005, 2008 and 2011. In 2009, she was awarded the ALOA Young Optometrist Award, and received the SECO Young Optometrist of the South Award in 2010. Dr. Steele was honored with the UAB Scholarship of Teaching Award in 2012, the ALOA Educator of the Year Award in 2016, and the AOA Educator of the Year Award in 2017. Dr. Steele is an active volunteer for the ALOA, AOA, and ASCO, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.