Sarasota 2023 Recap 

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING

While outstanding clinical education is important, we at OEC also feel that the experience is equally important. We design conferences to allow attendees flexibility in getting outstanding clinical continuing education and the opportunity to enjoy the facilities and surrounding area. In addition to securing golf and spa credits for attendees, we also plan lectures to ensure enough time to enjoy Scottsdale and surrounding areas, lay back and relax, and make travel home easier with an early end time.

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SUPPORTER

EDUCATION

Courses

Saturday March 4, 2023

Oral Pharmaceuticals in Eye Care – Pearls from an Optometrist and Pharmacist
Greg Caldwell, OD, FAAO and Tracy Offerdahl, Pharm.D
COPE 82380-PH | FL 20-976698
Course Notes (Full Slides)
Course Notes (6x Slides)

Neural Pearls
Joseph Sowka, OD
COPE 79961-NO | FL 20-976700
Course Notes (6x Slides)

Antimicrobial Primer: Things That “Bug” Us
Tracy Offerdahl, Pharm.D
COPE 82381-PH | FL 20-976704
Course Notes (3x Slides)

Ocular Biologics, Biosimilars, and Drugs for the Eye- What’s the Difference and What’s New
Greg Caldwell, OD and Tracy Offerdahl, Pharm.D
COPE 82382-PH | FL 20-976706
Course Notes (Full Slides)
Course Notes (6x Slides)

The William J. Lahners Memorial Lecture: Leveraging the Latest and Greatest Technologies in Refractive and Lens-based Surgery
William Soscia, MD, Priya Mathews, MD, Joaquin DeRojas, MD
COPE 82614-PO  | FL 20-981680
Course Notes (Full Slides)


Sunday March 5, 2023

Integrative and Functional Medicine: New Opportunities for Optometry
Greg Caldwell, OD and Tracy Offerdahl, Pharm.D
COPE 82383-GO | FL 20-976708
Course Notes (Full Slides)
Course Notes (6x Slides)

The Glaucoma Puzzle: When the Pieces Don’t Always Fit”?
Mark Dunbar, OD
COPE 77637-GL | FL 20-976710
Course Notes (6x Slides)

Prevention of Medical Errors
Joseph Sowka, OD and Barry Frauens, OD
2 Hours
COPE 82936-EJ | FL 20-976712
Course Notes (6x Slides)

Florida Jurisprudence
Joseph Sowka, OD and Barry Frauens, OD
2 Hours
COPE 82651-EJ | FL 20-976720
Course Notes (6x Slides)

Hot Topics in Retina
Mark Dunbar, OD
2 Hours TQ
COPE 79211-TD | FL 20-976716
Course Notes (6x Slides)

Grand Rounds: Improving Eye Care and Outcomes for Patients
Greg Caldwell, OD
2 Hours TQ
COPE 77895-TD | FL 20-976726
Course Notes (Full Slides)
Course Notes (6x Slides)

Education Sponsored By:

 

MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Greg Caldwell | Optometric Education Consultants

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 | Optometric Education Consultants

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.

Greg Caldwell | Optometric Education Consultants

Mark T. Dunbar, OD, FAAO

Dr. Mark Dunbar has been a member of the optometric staff at the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute for over 30 years and currently serves as the Director of Optometric Services. He is also Co-Chairman of the Conference Advisory Board for
Vision Expo.

Dr Dunbar is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and is a founding member of both the Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS) and the Optometric Retina Society (ORS). Dr. Dunbar also serves on the Editorial Boards for Review of Optometry
where he writes the monthly column “The Retina Quiz. “

Greg Caldwell | Optometric Education Consultants

Barry J. Frauens, OD, FAAO

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 Chair of the Department of Clinics as well as the Chief of the Primary Care Service at the N. Miami
Beach Clinic.

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 and the 2006 Florida Optometric Association ‘Optometrist of the Year’ 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.

Greg Caldwell | Optometric Education Consultants

Tracy Offerdahl, PharmD, BPharm, RPh

Dr. Offerdahl attended Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, PA, for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Upon completion of her Doctor of Pharmacy degree, she completed a Residency at Temple University Hospital, where much of her time was spent in internal medicine and infectious diseases.

She is currently on faculty at Salus University in the Department of Optometry, where she is the course director and instructor for all systemic pharmacology courses for students in the optometry, audiology, and physician assistant programs. Additionally, she is a practicing clinical pharmacist with a pharmacy and a patient care practice site in Rosemont, PA.

Dr. Offerdahl is currently earning another degree in holistic medicine, as well as additional certifications in veterinary pharmacy. She lectures extensively in the optometry community.

Greg Caldwell | Optometric Education Consultants

Dr. William Soscia

Dr. William Soscia is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He is a decorated Army officer, having served in the Persian Gulf War in Iraq. Following his military career, Dr. Soscia was admitted to the University of Florida College of Medicine, where he graduated with honors in research and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.

Dr. Soscia has extensive experience in cataract and lens replacement surgery with advanced premium intraocular lenses. He also is experienced in refractive procedures such as LASIK, CK and refractive lens exchange. Dr. Soscia has published papers and has given many lectures at national meetings on topics in refractive surgery as well as cataract surgery and intraocular lens technology. He also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at LECOM.

Board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, Dr. Soscia is a member of the American Medical Association, Florida Medical Association, Manatee Medical Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS).

Dr. Soscia lives in Bradenton with his wife, Karen, and their two daughters, Sarah and Maria. He is dedicated to practicing Kung Fu, studying the Northern Shaolin-Mi Jong style. He also enjoys weightlifting, running, and fishing.

Greg Caldwell | Optometric Education Consultants

Dr. Priya Mathews

Dr. Priya Mathews is a board-certified, fellowship-trained cataract, refractive, and corneal surgeon at Center For Sight. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degrees from the University of Maryland, graduating summa cum laude and valedictorian of her graduating class. She received her Medical Degree from Johns Hopkins University, and also earned her Master’s in Public Health, with a concentration in epidemiology and biostatistics, at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Mathews completed her ophthalmology residency at Harkness Eye Institute at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, followed by a fellowship in Cornea, External Diseases, and Refractive Surgery at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute.

Dr. Mathews specializes in cataract, cornea, and refractive surgery. She is an expert in the diagnosis and management of cornea and external diseases, including Keratoconus, Fuchs’ Dystrophy, autoimmune diseases, and severe dry eye disease. Dr. Mathews is dedicated to offering to her patients the most advanced surgeries and procedures available, including partial thickness corneal transplantation (DMEK and DSAEK), full-thickness corneal transplantation, corneal crosslinking, intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, thermal pulsation, blepharoexfoliation, and laser vision correction with LASIK and PRK.

Dr. Mathews has extensive scientific research experience, publishing over 30 peer-reviewed publications in top medical journals. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), the Pediatric Keratoplasty Association, and the International Society of Refractive Surgery. She has volunteered for numerous medical and surgical mission trips to places around the world, including Haiti, Guatemala, India, Philippines, and Bolivia. Dr. Mathews has a particular interest in combatting the global burden of corneal blindness. She has received and continues to receive multiple grants to support related initiatives, including the ASCRS International Service Grant and the prestigious AAO Hoskins Center IRIS Registry Research Fund Award.

Dr. Mathews lives in Sarasota with her husband Joaquin and their two young children Isabella and Leonardo. She is a certified Vinyasa and Hatha yoga instructor and practices daily to strengthen and rejuvenate her body, mind, and spirit.

Greg Caldwell | Optometric Education Consultants

Dr. Joaquin De Rojas

Dr. Joaquin De Rojas is a board-certified, fellowship-trained cataract, refractive and corneal surgeon who also serves as the Director of Cornea and Ocular Surface Disease at Center For Sight. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston College, graduating at the top of his class and from the Honors Program, and then received his medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his surgical internship and ophthalmology residency training at Columbia University Medical Center, where he was Chief Surgical Resident, followed by a Cornea, External Diseases, and Refractive Surgery fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute.

Dr. De Rojas specializes in premium cataract and lens replacement surgery, as well as laser vision correction with LASIK, Epi-LASEK and implantable lenses. He is an expert in the diagnosis and management of severe dry eye and ocular surface disease, Fuchs’ Dystrophy and Keratoconus. Dr. De Rojas employs the most advanced treatments available for his patients including Corneal Cross-Linking and corneal transplantation with Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK). Furthermore, Dr. De Rojas performs minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) and often attends to patients with issues from prior laser, cataract or corneal surgeries.

Dr. De Rojas has extensive scientific research experience, authoring peer-reviewed publications, chapters, reviews, editorials, and paper presentations. In addition, he has presented his research at national and international academic conferences and has received funding from the National Institute of Health. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the International Society of Refractive Surgery.

In his spare time, Dr. De Rojas enjoys exercise, golf, outdoor activities, travel, as well as helping design medical and surgical devices. He and his wife Priya, also an ophthalmologist, and daughter Isabella are new to the area and are happy to call Sarasota home.

TQ EXAMS

Saturday March 4, 2023

Oral Pharmaceuticals in Eye Care – Pearls from an Optometrist and Pharmacist

Greg Caldwell, OD, FAAO and Tracy Offerdahl, Pharm.D

Neural Pearls

Joseph Sowka, OD

Ocular Biologics, Biosimilars, and Drugs for the Eye- What’s the Difference and What’s New

Greg Caldwell, OD, FAAO and Tracy Offerdahl, Pharm.D

Sunday March 5, 2023

Integrative and Functional Medicine: New Opportunities for Optometry

Greg Caldwell, OD, FAAO and Tracy Offerdahl, Pharm.D

Grand Rounds: Improving Eye Care and Outcomes for Patients

Greg Caldwell, OD

The Glaucoma Puzzle: When the Pieces Don’t Always Fit?

Mark Dunbar, OD

Hot Topics in Retina

Mark Dunbar, OD