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