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David Damari, OD, FCOVD, FAAO Southern College of Optometry  A
1988 graduate of State University of New York, Dr. Damari completed a residency
in Vision Therapy at SUNY in 1989. A member of the SCO faculty since 1997, Dr.
Damari serves as chair of the Department of Academic Assessment and as an
associate professor. He also serves as Central Regional Director for COVD. His research interests include learning-related visual
disorders and visual disability analysis. Dr. Damari consults with several
states on visual disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. He also
serves on several committees of the NBEO. |
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H. S. Ghazi-Birry, MS, MD, OD, PhD, OCS Dr. Ghazi-Birry obtained his Doctor of Optometry degree as Valedictorian from Southern College of Optometry and served on faculty as an associate professor. Prior to his optometric career, his post-graduate clinical training was in surgery followed by a fellowship in Brain microvascular pathology at Wake Forest School of Medicine. He obtained his master’s degree in Gross Anatomy and Neurological Science from the University of Western Ontario. His PhD work was completed in Retinal biochemistry & pharmacology at Oxford University. Additionally, Dr. Ghazi-Birry completed a sabbatical training program in clinical neuro-ophthalmology at The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in 2004. Throughout his career, Dr. Ghazi-Birry’s research has been the topic of numerous original publications in a variety of scientific and clinical journals. He recently completed a curriculum in specialty medical coding and documentation and has been granted certification as an Ophthalmic Coding Specialist. This certification was awarded by the American Academy of Ophthalmology/American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives and was provided in partnership with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology. He is a nationally recognized speaker in the areas of therapeutics, ocular and systemic disease, neuro-eye disease, and medical coding and reimbursement and is the Founding Dean of the University of Incarnate Word School of Optometry in San Antonio. |
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Cynthia G. Heard, OD, FAAO Cynthia Heard is an Associate Professor at SCO. She received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Ohio State University College of Optometry. She completed a postgraduate residency in Geriatric and Vision Rehabilitation at the Birmingham VAMC. Prior to joining SCO, she was an Assistant Professor at OSU. In 2005, Dr. Heard authored The Optometry Drug Guide: Informed Decision-Making at the Point of Care, which is updated annually. Dr. Heard received the Epsilon Psi Epsilon Outstanding Clinical Instructor Award in 1997 and the NOA Optometrist of the Year in 1998. She has served as a senior examiner for the NBEO. Dr. Heard was the 19th NOA President from 2003-05 and is a member of the AOA and the Optometric Retina Society. |
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Charles W. Kinnaird, OD, FAAO Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center Dr. Kinnaird received his O.D. from Nova Southeastern University, Health Professions Division in 1994 and completed a residency in Hospital Based Primary Care Optometry and Low Vision Rehabilitation at West Side VA Medical Center in Chicago where he is now an attending optometrist. He holds faculty appointments at the Illinois College of Optometry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Ophthalmology, and Indiana University College of Optometry. Dr. Kinnaird is a Fellow of the AAO and clinical examiner for the National Board. His research interests include the areas of systemic and ocular disease and he is the author of numerous publications in the area of glaucoma evaluation and management. |
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Christopher W. Lievens, OD, MS Dr. Lievens is the co-creator of the funduscopic grading card. He is also a peer reviewer for three optometric and two ophthalmologic journals. Dr. Lievens was the former Tennessee state consultant on Healthy Eyes Healthy People and was Southern College of Optometry’s representative to the American Optometric Association. Dr. Lievens has a Master’s degree in Health Administration. |
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John J. McSoley, OD, FAAO Bascom Palmer Eye Institute John J. McSoley is a graduate of The New England College of Optometry. Shortly after completing an optometric residency in ocular disease, he joined the optometric staff at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, where he is currently Assistant Director of Optometric Services. He has lectured and authored articles on topics related to glaucoma. With his optometric colleagues, he participates in an optometric residency and student externship program. He is also an adjunct clinical faculty member of Nova-Southeastern University College of Optometry and The New England College of Optometry. He is a member of the American Optometric Association. Dr. McSoley is a founding member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society. |
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Leo P. Semes, OD, FAAO The University of Alabama at Birmingham Leo P. Semes, OD, is Professor of Optometry and the Director of Continuing Education at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. He earned his doctor of optometry degree and completed an optometric residency at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Dr. Semes has authored over numerous scientific articles as well as several book chapters. He is an active member of the AOA. He has contributed as principal author and panel member for the AOA’s Clinical Practice Guidelines on Ocular Surface Disease and Peripheral Retinal Disorders. Dr. Semes is a founding member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society and the Optometric Retina Society. He has received numerous teaching awards, including the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. |
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Bernard I. Sparks, III, MS, OD ’77, FAAO Southern College of Optometry A Professor at SCO, Dr. Sparks obtained a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology from the University of Memphis. He has held the administrative positions of Optometry Chair and Director of Externs at SCO. He is actively involved in the optometric community, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and is a regular contributor to many journal and poster publications. |
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Glen T. Steele, OD, FCOVD 2001 SCO Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient  Dr. Glen Steele is a clinical professor and Chief of the Pediatric Service at
The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. He also has a private practice
emphasizing the eye and vision care needs of the infant and child. Dr. Steele is
a past president of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and a past
president of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation. He is currently a
member of the American Optometric Association Infant Vision Project Team. He has
lectured extensively throughout the USA and internationally in the area of
infant vision development and care.Dr. Steele was selected Tennessee’s Optometrist of the Year in 1999 and also as one of Optometric Management’s Top Ten Optometrists of the Decade in 2000. He was the first chair of Operation Bright Start - Tennessee, a program to emphasize the need for eye and vision care of the infant. In 2001, he received Southern College of Optometry’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2005, Dr. Steele was presented with Vision Service Plan’s Southeast Regional People First Award. In 2005, he also received the G.N. Getman Award from the College of Optometrists in Vision Development for service to the profession and, in particular, a concern for all children. |
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Marc Taub, OD, FAAO Southern College of Optometry  Dr. Taub joined the SCO
faculty as an assistant professor in 2007. He earned undergraduate degrees at
Washington University and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, and he earned
his OD degree in 2001 from PCO. In 2004, he completed a residency in primary
care with an emphasis in pediatrics. Dr. Taub’s research interests include
vision therapy. He currently serves as interim Community Outreach Coordinator
for The Eye Center at SCO. |
Christopher Lievens is an Associate Professor and the
Chief of Primary Care at Southern College of Optometry. He is the instructor of
7 clinical patient care courses. Dr. Lievens has been employed in private
practice and at an ophthalmology referral center. Dr. Lievens served in the U.S.
Air Force for six years. He was the Chief of Aerospace Optometry at the Pentagon
before joining SCO. He has published 18 articles, presented 28 optometric
posters, and delivered 20 different continuing education lectures on topics
dealing with eye disease, contact lens solutions and optometric management.