Aurora, OH—College of Optometrists in Vision Development welcomed 31 new Certified Optometric Vision Therapists (COVTs) and 31 Fellows of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (FCOVDs) at the 49th Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. The newly-certified were inducted on April 12th, 2019 at the 49th Annual Installation and Induction Banquet.
To become a Fellow (FCOVD), 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 the International Examination and Certification Board (IECB), which includes three case reports and six 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, COVD welcomed the following new Fellows:
Emily J. Aslakson OD, FCOVD
Justine Simon Bailey, OD, FCOVD
Alyssa Bartolini, OD, FCOVD
Heidi Bell, OD, FCOVD
Linda Luong Bellomy, OD, FCOVD
Lindsay Berry, OD, FCOVD
Michaela Betka, OD, FCOVD
Devin Duval, OD, FCOVD
Katie D. Fisher, OD, FCOVD
Jana Giebel, OD, FCOVD
Joelle Saliba Greenaway, OD, FCOVD
Jamie Ho, OD, FCOVD
Jasleen Jhajj, OD, FCOVD
Tedra Kindopp, OD, FCOVD
Laura J Knapp, OD, FCOVD
Zoe Lacroix, OD, FCOVD
Miranda Lepinski, OD, FCOVD
Megan Sumrall Lott, OD, FCOVD
Duc Q. Nguyen, OD, FCOVD
Leigha M. Nielsen, OD, FCOVD
Emily O’Meara, OD, FCOVD
Pravina Patel, OD, FCOVD
Julia Sirianni, OD, FCOVD
Lauren Strawn, OD, FCOVD
Allison R. Toler, OD, FCOVD
Stacie A. Van Voorst, OD, FCOVD
Fotis Velissarakos, OD, FCOVD
Cassandria Warr, OD, FCOVD
Nathaniel Wernick, OD, FCOVD
Janet M. Wilson, OD, FCOVD
Samantha Zaczyk, OD, FCOVD
The Academic Fellowship (FCOVD-A) is awarded to candidates who submit ten authored and published works related to the advancement and education of vision therapy. Once reviewed, Academic Fellow candidates must also complete an Oral Interview to be awarded Fellowship.
COVD welcomed the following FCOVD-A at the 2019 Annual Meeting:
Stanley W. Hatch, OD, FCOVD-A
To become a Certified Optometric Vision Therapist (COVT), an individual must work under the direct supervision of an optometrist who has completed a Fellowship (FCOVD) with the COVD International Examination and Certification Board (IECB) for 2,000 hours, complete a guided study process that includes nine 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, COVD welcomed the following new COVTs:
Jessica Agens, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Dan Fortenbacher, FCOVD
Taylor Benton, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, FCOVD
Lauren Brickley, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Dan Fortenbacher, FCOVD
Kimberley Burgess, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Ted Kadet, FCOVD
Joseph Colangelo, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Robert Prazer, FCOVD
Melody Delamarter, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Benjamin Winters, FCOVD
Karlie Drexler, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Kara Heying, FCOVD
Nicole Ferreyros, COVT—Employed by: Drs. Marcia Moore, FCOVD and Ann Voss, FCOVD
Erin Finley, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Robert Prazer
Sefra Gemma, COVT—Employed by: Drs. Macson Lee, FCOVD and John Reski, FCOVD
Robin Herskowitz, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Nancy Guenthner
Tobi Hitow Karch, COVT—Employed by: Drs. Michael Cook, FCOVD and Anna Lammers, FCOVD
Kaitlyn Kennedy, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Robert Prazer, FCOVD
Justin Kramon, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Lynn Trieu, FCOVD
Brittney Langford, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Elizabeth Crandon, FCOVD
Jessica Liedke, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Juanita Collier, FCOVD
Crystal Lin, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Ted Kadet, FCOVD
Ryan Mann, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Ingryd H. Lorenzana, FCOVD
Benjamin Mazur, COVT—Employed by: Drs. Mehrnaz Green, FCOVD and Amanda Manley, FCOVD
Elizabeth Melmer, COVT—Employed by: Drs. Macson Lee, FCOVD and John Reski, FCOVD
Christy Milks, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Joshua Watt, FCOVD
Karen Miller, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Maura Massucci, FCOVD
Jill Mosny, COVT—Employed by: Drs. Jennifer Smith Zolman, FCOVD and Neil Draisin, FCOVD
Michelle O’Brien, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Dominick Maino, FCOVD-A
Mia O’Driscoll, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Leanna Dudley, FCOVD
Hillary E. Reeves, COVT—Employed by: Drs. Marcia Moore, FCOVD and Ann Voss, FCOVD
Kimberly Torres, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Kacie Monroe, FCOVD
Susan VanMetre, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Kara Heying, FCOVD
Jordan Wilson, COVT—Employed by: Dr. Brianna Larson, FCOVD
Stephen Yednock, COVT—Employed by: Drs. Mehrnaz Green, FCOVD and Amanda Manley, FCOVD
Michelle Zellers, COVT—Employed by: Drs. Macson Lee, FCOVD and John Reski, FCOVD
The College of Optometrists in Vision Development extends congratulations to all of the newly inducted FCOVDs, FCOVD-A, and COVTs!
About COVD
The College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) 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
COVD Credentialing and Education Director
Phone: 330.995.0718
Email: katie@covd.org
Website: www.covd.org
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