The Optometric Scholar of the Month series was created to feature optometrists and optometrists in training for their exceptional academic efforts, dedication to the progression of optometry, community service, inquisitiveness, and high potential as future leaders in optometry. The following is a yearbook-inspired highlight of those 12 individuals who were nominated and featured online this year at modernOD.com. Scan the QR code at the end to access the archive and view each scholar’s full profile.
JANUARY: ETHIN KIEKHAFER, OD
Associated Eye Care | Stillwater, MN
“I enjoy managing chronic conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetes, but I would say my primary specialty of interest is definitely dry eye disease. I enjoy the complexity of these patients; it is like trying to solve an ever-evolving puzzle. In addition, dry eye is increasingly prevalent.”
FEBRUARY: Kristin Mohr, OD
Vance Thompson Vision | Sioux Falls, SD
“My dad taught me the invaluable lesson that faithful dedication (and a bit of hard work) will take you as far in life as you want to go. My mom gifted me with an analytical mind, a passion to helps others, and a love for the sciences. As an ocular disease resident, I apply all that my parents taught me every day in clinic, especially when dealing with complex cases.”
MARCH: Evan C. Hays
Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry | Fort Lauderdale, FL
“Scleral lenses are my favorite lenses to fit because I can connect with patients and help those who are unable to achieve adequate vision with glasses or soft contact lenses. I will never forget the first time a patient cried tears of joy after a successful scleral lens fit.”
APRIL: Dalton Cunningham
Northeastern State University Oklahoma School of Optometry | Tahlequah, OK
“A subdural hematoma almost cost me my life at age 11. Without quick action, it’s possible I wouldn’t be here today. As a kid, I was in awe that someone with no affiliation to me was willing to use their medical knowledge to save my life. I believe experiences like this pushed me to use my mind to help others through medical care such as optometry.”
MAY: Janelle Gardner
Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry | Davie, FL
“I am passionate about pediatric care and ocular disease. I know many families whose lives have been changed because of the early diagnosis of eye diseases, which can greatly improve patient quality of life and patient trust. As optometrists, we owe it to our patients to be on top of our game and to catch the signs early, refer when needed, and put patient needs first.”
JUNE: Mary Theresa V. Taormina
Southern College of Optometry | Memphis, TN
“I believe my skills can best be used in a full scope practice with an emphasis on unique posterior segment conditions. It is my goal to use my education and training to improve the lives of all my patients.”
JULY: Sonya Apinyavat, OD
Sepulveda VA Medical Center | Sepulveda, CA
“Managing ocular disease has truly become an important part of practicing optometry for me. I even found a brain tumor in a patient based on choroidal fold findings on a dilated eye exam! I am fortunate that this program allows me to focus on patient care encounters and expand my critical thinking when it comes to working up patients for different ocular findings.”
AUGUST: Lauren Butler, OD
New England College of Optometry | Boston, MA
“As I finish my formal training, I am looking forward to starting my career and strengthening my clinical skills over the next several years. In addition to my clinical role, I hope to be contributing to Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group research studies and working with students and residents both clinically and didactically.”
SEPTEMBER: Samantha Chapman
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry | Birmingham, AL
“At the age of 10, my career of choice was astronaut, but at age 12, it was forensic scientist. When I was 15, I looked around at my life and noticed a suspicious number of eyes drawn in the margins of my notes. “Could I connect science and the eye?” I wondered. I decided to experiment by going on a mission trip to Mexico with an optometrist and an ophthalmologist. The looks on our patients’ faces when they were able to see clearly, perhaps for the first time in their lives, touched my heart, and I decided optometry was the career for me.”
OCTOBER: Alice Kim
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry | Birmingham, AL
“Attending college in the underdeveloped urban hub of Birmingham, surrounded by the deeply rural Black Belt region, provided vast opportunities for exposure to vision care in underserved populations and helped me discover my passion for patient care informed by current research.”
NOVEMBER: Lydia Smith
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry | Birmingham, AL
“I grew up in Jamaica with two older brothers and migrated to the United States 6 years ago ... I am interested in partaking in mission trips to provide quality eye exams to Jamaica and other underserved communities. In Jamaica, the optometrist-to-patient ratio is 1:180,000, so there is a dire need for eye care services.”
DECEMBER: Demetric Jones
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry | Birmingham, AL
“I have very little experience interacting with children, so pediatric optometry has proven to be difficult. I’m up to the challenge, though; as someone with progressive myopia, I struggled in the classroom, and no child should fall behind academically due to poor vision. I’m excited to learn about advancements in myopia control and help reduce the growing number of people affected by the condition to lessen their risk of developing more severe ocular disease.”
Click here to view the archived Optometric Scholar of the Month columns.
