Sunshine State Summer Conference
June 7-9, 2024
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
4600 World Dr,
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
© Disney
Speakers
View Our Course Schedule
20 hours of COPE CE of which 16 are CEE/TQ including Florida required courses. CEE/TQ examination courses are for states such as Florida and Illinois which have this additional requirement. If you are licensed in states that do not require CEE/TQ, you do not have to take an exam to receive COPE credits
Pending COPE, Florida, and Texas accreditation.
Education Sponsored By:
Greg Caldwell, OD, FAAO
Greg Caldwell, O.D., is a 1995 graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He completed a one-year residency in primary care and ocular disease at The Eye Institute in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry (ABO), member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS), and member of the Optometric Wellness and Nutritional Society (OWNS). He currently works in Duncansville, Pennsylvania as an ocular disease consultant. Dr. Caldwell’s primary focus is the diagnosis and management of anterior and posterior segment ocular disease, and he has been a participant in multiple FDA investigations and trials. Dr. Caldwell has integrated nutrition, prevention, and wellness into his patient care. He practices integrative optometry. Dr. Caldwell is a co-founder of Optometric Education Consultants and co-administrator of OCT Connect on Facebook. Dr. Caldwell has lectured extensively throughout the county and over thirteen countries internationally. In 2010 he served as President of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) and served on the AOA Board of Trustees 2013-2016. He is President of the Blair/Clearfield Association for the Blind.
Joseph Sowka, OD, FAAO, Diplomate
Dr. Joseph Sowka is an attending optometric physician at Center for Sight in Sarasota and Venice, Florida, a large medical-surgical practice where he focuses on glaucoma and neuro- ophthalmic disease management. He is the residency education coordinator at Center for Sight. He is also Director of Optometric Business Development for US EYE. He was formerly Professor of Optometry at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry for 28 years where he served numerous academic and administrative roles. Dr. Sowka is a founding member of both the Optometric Glaucoma Society and Optometric Retina Society. He is also the Founder and former Chair of the Neuro-Ophthalmic Disorders in Optometry Special Interest Group for the American Academy of Optometry. Dr. Sowka is a Glaucoma Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry. In 2021 and 2022, he was ranked #4 optometrist in the US by Newsweek magazine “America’s Best Eye Doctors” list. He is a partner and co-owner of Optometric Education Consultants.
Joseph J. Pizzimenti, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Dr. Joseph J. Pizzimenti received his Doctor of Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry, and completed a residency in Ocular Disease and Rehabilitative Optometry at the University of Houston. He is a recognized clinician and educator and a Fellow of both the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and the Optometric Retina Society (ORS), serving as ORS President from 2012-2014.
Dr. Pizzimenti’s areas of clinical research include diabetes, age-related macular degeneration, and vitreomacular adhesion. His scientific articles have appeared in a host of peer- reviewed journals, and he regularly lectures on posterior segment disease. Dr. Pizzimenti was awarded a Fellowship by the World Council of Optometry in 2006, resulting in an appointment to teach and evaluate optometric education programs in Central Europe.
Dr. Pizzimenti has been a faculty member at Nova Southeastern University and the University of the Incarnate Word, serving with distinction at both institutions. He recently accepted a position as Consultative Optometric Physician at the Center for Retina and Macular Disease. Dr. Pizzimenti enjoys living in central Florida as well as travelling with his wife and grown children.
Barry J. Frauens, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Dr. Barry J. Frauens graduated with honors from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in 1996 and thereafter completed a one-year residency program in Primary Care optometry at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
Dr. Frauens is a full-time faculty member at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry where he holds the rank of Associate Professor and serves as the Chief of the Primary Care Service at the N. Miami Beach Clinic. Dr. Frauens served as Chair of the Department of Clinics as well for nearly a decade.
Dr. Frauens is a past President of the Florida Optometric Association and the Broward County Optometric Association. He is the 2002 recipient of the BCOA ‘Optometrist of the Year’ award, the 2003 ‘NSU Distinguished Alumni Achievement’ award, the 2006 FOA ‘Optometrist of the Year’ award and the 2017 FOA Edward K. Walker ‘Optometrist of the Decade’ award.
Dr. Frauens has published numerous journal articles in the refereed literature. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a fellow of the Optometric Glaucoma Society, a Fellow of the Optometric Retina Society and is one of the first Optometrists in the profession to become Board Certified by the American Board of Optometry. Dr. Frauens has lectured locally, regionally, nationally and internationally covering numerous subjects in anterior and posterior segment ocular disease management as well as prevention of medical errors. His current research interests include glaucoma.
Andrew Gurwood, O.D., Diplomate
Dr. Gurwood graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1984. Following his undergraduate education he entered the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and received his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1989. He completed a one year post-graduate residency at The Eye Institute in 1990. He has been a member of the teaching faculty and professional staff of The Eye Institute for the past 17 years. In addition to his clinical practice at The Eye Institute, he also maintains at practice in the Department of Ophthalmology at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia.
Dr. Gurwood is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry. He is a member in good standing of the American Optometric Association and the Pennsylvania Optometry Association. In 1998 he was recognized by the American Optometric Association as “Young Optometrist of the Year.” The Pennsylvania Optometric Association recognized him in 2006 as the state’s “Optometrist of the Year.”
Dr. Gurwood has published extensively in optometric journals, and has authored textbook chapters, as well as entire professional texts. He currently serves on the numerous editorial boards including The Journal of The American Optometric Association ( Optometry ), The Southern Journal of Optometry, and the Review of Optometry. Dr. Gurwood continues to lecture extensively throughout the country on his areas of professional expertise, internal and external ocular disease.
In addition to his passion for his profession, Dr. Gurwood is a Lieutenant in The Northampton Township Volunteer Fire Company where he also serves as an Emergency Medical Technician.
Marc Myers, O.D.
Dr. Marc Myers is a Senior Staff Optometrist at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. He also is guest lecturer and adjunct clinical faculty at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
Dr. Myers has contributed numerous publications and lecture throughout North America on the topic of Ocular Disease.
Dr. Nidhi Rana MS, OD, FAAO
Dr. Nidhi Rana MS, OD, FAAO is a graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry. She completed her Masters in Clinical Optometry in 2001 from Pacific University College of Optometry. She has also completed her one-year residency in Pediatric optometry from Illinois College of Optometry in 2005. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO). She currently works in a private MD/ OD pediatric specialty practice in New Jersey and at Wills Eye Hospital Pediatric Ophthalmology department in Philadelphia. Her specialties include treatment and management of amblyopia and strabismus in pediatrics, specialty contact lenses including aphakic fittings and genetic conditions in pediatrics. She lectures extensively both nationally and internationally. In her free time she enjoys photography and reading.