First Appt: 2013
Academic Background:
1989; O.D.; Northeastern Oklahoma State University College of Optometry
1980; Ph.D.; Mississippi State University
1974; M.S.; University of Oklahoma
1971; B.S.; Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Biography:
Michael Christensen, OD, Ph.D. FAAO, is a Professor and Director of Clinical Research at Southern College of Optometry (SCO) having joined the college in 2013. Dr. Christensen received his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1989 from the Northeastern State University College of Optometry (NSUCO). Before that, he held a Ph.D. (Mississippi State University) in Zoology and was a tenured professor at Phillips University in Enid Oklahoma. After completion of his OD, Dr. Christensen worked 22 years for Alcon, rising to Associate Director II in the organization having received the Technical Excellence Award for outstanding research and contributions to Alcon. Dr. Christensen is a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society, the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, and the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians. In addition to his teaching assignments, Dr. Christensen serves as a member of SCO’s Research Committee.
Dr. Christensen’s research interests include cornea, contact lenses and dry eye. He completed several clinical dry eye studies while employed at Alcon and helped to develop artificial tear products. More recently, he has served as a Principal Investigator on the multicenter NIH supported DREAM study (Dry Eye Assessment and Management). Dr. Christensen has also served as PI or sub-PI on numerous industry-supported studies by a range of companies including, Alcon, Allergan and ThermiEye. He has published peer-reviewed manuscripts and presented his work through peer-reviewed abstracts at national meetings of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Optometry and the American Optometric Association meeting. Dr. Christensen has also coordinated the SCO Summer Research program for five years, and has mentored several summer research students whose projects have been presented at national meetings.