Speakers

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, Florida, a large medical-surgical practice where he focuses on glaucoma management and neuro-ophthalmic disease. He was formerly Professor of Optometry at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry for 28 years where he served as Chief of The Advanced Care Service and Director of the Glaucoma Service at the College’s Eye Institute. He was the Program Coordinator and Supervisor for the Ocular Disease Residency. Dr. Sowka is a founding member of both the Optometric Glaucoma Society and Optometric Retina Society. He is also the Founder and 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. He is a partner and co-owner of Optometric Education Consultants.

Chris Putnam OD, PhD, FAAO

Dr. Putnam earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from South Dakota State University in 2001 and a Doctorate in Optometry from Pacific University in 2005. He was commissioned in 2004 as part of the Health Professions Scholarship Program, completed the USAF Optometry Residency program at Wilford Hall Medical Center and was awarded board certification in 2009. Dr. Putnam was competitively selected to attend the Air Force Institute of Technology Civilian to pursue a PhD in Vision Science in 2011 completing the accelerated program in 3 years winning 3 Graduate Research Fellowship awards. Additionally, he was selected to help align the activities of all USAF optometrists across 75 clinics with the Air Force Medical Service’s Strategic Vision impacting a $57M product line which provides vision and ocular health services to more than 3.1M beneficiaries world-wide. Current, he is the Medical Education Training Campus Department Chair for Diagnostic and Public Health Services overseeing 9 programs across radiology, laboratory, public health and behavioral health technician training.

Jessica Steen, O.D., FAAO

Dr. Jessica Steen is an Assistant Professor at Nova Southeastern University College of  Optometry where she serves as Director of the Glaucoma Service and as an attending optometric physician at the College’s Eye Care Institute. Dr. Steen teaches the course in glaucoma and ocular pharmacology at NSU where she has a special interest in pharmaceutical and health policy. Dr. Steen also serves as the Primary Care with Emphasis in Ocular Disease Residency Coordinator. Dr. Steen graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science and completed her residency in Primary Care with Emphasis in Ocular Disease at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Steen’s main clinical interests include glaucoma, retinal disease, neuro-ophthalmic disease with an emphasis in medical and surgical management. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society, and currently serves as President of the Palm Beach County Optometric Association.

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 full 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.