Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association, welcomed 32 Fellows (FOVDR), and 33 new Certified Optometric Vision Therapists (COVT) of the Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association, at the 53 rd Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California. The newly certified were inducted on April 12, 2024 at the 53 rd Annual Installation and Induction Banquet.
To become a Fellow (FOVDR), the doctor must have graduated from an Accreditation Council for Optometric Education (ACOE)‐accredited institution; been in active clinical practice for at least three years, at least two of which have included the direct diagnosis and management of vision therapy patients; completed 100 hours of relevant CE or a relevant residency program; successfully completed the guided study portion of the process set forth by International Examination and Certification Board (IECB) which includes 3 case reports and 6 open book questions as prescribed by the Fellowship Candidate Guide; and successfully completed the oral and written examinations according to the established criteria of the IECB.

This year, OVDRA welcomed the following new Fellows:

Dr. Dipty Acharya mentored by Dr. Patrick Quaid

Dr. Jennifer Aschenbener mentored by Dr. Angela Cerny

Dr. Amrit Bilkhu mentored by Dr. Virginia Donati

Dr. Qiwen (Kevin) Chen mentored by Dr. Curt Baxstrom

Dr. Darin Chun mentored by Dr. David Biberdorf

Dr. Katherine Cioffi mentored by Dr. Michelle May

Dr. Manish Dahal mentored by Dr. Marc Taub

Dr. Guillermo Del Campo mentored by Dr. Nancy Torgerson

Dr. Zhenyuan Deng mentored by Dr. Yanglin Jiang

Dr. Julien Goyard-Ruel mentored by Dr. Angela Peddle

Dr. Katherine Green mentored by Dr. Marc Taub

Dr. Anette Hogenhav mentored by Dr. Steen Aalberg

Dr. Jamie Jacobs mentored by Dr. Brenda Montecalvo

Dr. Sarah Jones mentored by Dr. Heidi Bell

Dr. Sydney Kapp mentored by Dr. Kristi Kading

Dr. Sarah Keep mentored by Dr. JC Thompson

Dr. Samantha Krueger mentored by Dr. Jasleen Jhajj

Dr. Sato Mananian mentored by Dr. Derek Tong

Dr. Arushah Manasia mentored by Dr. Christina Esposito

Dr. Justin Matsuura mentored by Dr. Carl Hillier

Dr. Stephanie McMillen mentored by Dr. Gabrielle Marshall

Dr. Elizabeth Nace mentored by Dr. Nancy Torgerson

Dr. Kimberley Nguyen mentored by Dr. Marilyn Vricella

Dr. Jensen Rafool mentored by Dr. Daniel Press

Dr. Felicia Rai mentored by Dr. Barry Tannen

Dr. Kimberly Rock mentored by Dr. Barry Tannen

Dr. Michael Serrano mentored by Dr. Robert Fox

Dr. Gedalya Moshe Shindler mentored by Dr. Robin Lewis

Dr. Sonia Singh mentored by Dr. Miki Zilnicki

Dr. Zoe Stein mentored by Dr. Heidi Bell

Dr. Rui Wang mentored by Dr. Yanglin Jiang

Dr. Melissa Yeung mentored by Dr. Marc Taub

To become a Certified Optometric Vision Therapist (COVT), an individual must work for a determined number of eligibility in office hours and must be employed by or under the direct supervision of an optometrist who has completed a fellowship (FOVDR) with the COVD International Examination and Certification Board (IECB), complete a guided study process that includes 9 open book questions, and pass a written exam and an oral interview administered by the IECB. The certification process provides an opportunity for optometric vision therapists to expand their knowledge and skills in providing vision care as related to development and behavior in optometric vision therapy.

This year OVDRA welcomed the following new Certified Optometric Vision Therapists:

Kathryn Bareman mentored by Tammy Harman-Siebel

Deborah Bevan mentored by Julie Petteruto

Michelle Burns mentored by Jen Rea

Kele Carterby mentored by Jared Torgerson

Katie Chapman mentored by Sefra Norwitz

Karyn Conway mentored by James Smith

Michelle Dahl mentored by Jen Rea

Susan Alexis Danshita mentored by Dodie Bailey

Britany Ellis mentored by Sylvia Ewing

Lorelei Feeny mentored by Sandra Todd

Megan Genjian mentored by James Smith

Emma Glogoza mentored by James Smith

Emily Gossin mentored by Amanda Roselip

Debra Holtzhauer mentored by Sara Mohr

Lorelei Hoover mentored by Jessica Stevenson

Amanda Hopkins mentored by Lisa Knopp

Taylor Jacobson mentored by Lindsey Gonzales

Maxine Jelilyan mentored by Taylor Benton

Kopila Kafle mentored by Kaitlyn Dittmar

Laura Layton mentored by Kristen Fuhriman

Alexandria Lindberg mentored by Mitchell Warners

Jacqueline Lootsma mentored by Victoria Consiglio

Elizabeth Markley mentored by Julie Petteruto

Erin McClellan mentored by Ann Bayles

Darby Mollan mentored by Santana Prescott

Caitlin Smart mentored by Robert Nurisio

Kelsey Smith mentored by Sara Mohr

Ashley Stracener mentored by James Smith

Sarah Tate mentored by Jessica Stevenson

Krishelle Todd mentored by Julie Smith

Kristen Wells mentored by Nancy Major

Sierra Woollard mentored by Amanda Roselip

Fuhao (Henry) Zheng mentored by Lindsey Gonzales

The Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association extends gratitude to all of the mentors and employers of the candidates who worked diligently this past year to support and guide through this process, we thank you.

And from The Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association, a huge congratulations to all of the newly certified FOVDRs and COVTs!

For more information about certification, please visit https://www.covd.org/page/certification.

About OVDRA

The Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA) is an international, non-profit optometric membership organization that provides education, evaluation, and board certification programs in behavioral and developmental vision care, optometric vision therapy, and visual rehabilitation. The organization is comprised of doctors of optometry, vision therapists, and other vision specialists. For more information please visit www.covd.org.

Contact:  Kathryn S. Kirschner, MS, CAE

OVDRA Executive Director

Phone: 330.995.0718

Email: katie@covd.org

Website: www.covd.org