2024 Annual Conference Speakers
Xenia Larin Andrzejewski, P.T.
Mrs. Xenia Larin Andrzejewski holds a Master's in Physical Therapy from Florida International University and has a diverse clinical background, with over 15 years of experience as a Physical Therapist and Rehab Professional. Highlights of her career include working with U.S Armed Forces and Military Families providing concussion and vestibular care and being part of the team that established the 1st traumatic brain injury clinic in an overseas medical treatment facility for U.S forces in Germany. Additionally, she has worked with weekend warriors, elite athletes, pediatric and geriatric populations in outpatient clinics and Sports Rehab. Mrs. Larin Andrzejewski has also worked in different settings to include Skilled Nursing, Home Health, and School-based physical therapy providing rehab services and expertise to multidisciplinary teams. She has recently been providing telehealth Physical therapy being at the forefront of recent world, business, and rehab trends in offering digital and telehealth services to vulnerable populations. Mrs. Larin Andrzejewski has been a virtual speaker with NORA for the last 2 years and is looking forward to her in-person debut with her brilliant teammates.
Shirley Blanc, OD, FNORA
Shirley Blanc, OD, FNORA is an Advisory Member to the Board of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities as a result of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life.
Dr. Blanc graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in 2001, and became a fellow of the NORA in 2019. She dedicates most of her practice to assessing and treating patients with visual problems due to acquired and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Blanc has conducted many speaking engagements on the topic of vision and concussion for organizations including Brain Injury Canada, Sports Physiotherapists of Canada, the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and the University of Toronto. She is an Advisory Board Member and course lecturer for Complete Concussion Management Inc. She served as Conference Chair for NORA in 2019, and has contributed to NORA website educational content for patients and professionals. Her literature review article about visual dysfunction from whiplash injury was published in a peer reviewed Optometry journal, Optometry & Visual Performance. She is currently an external vision consultant and a co-investigator with the University of Toronto David L. Macintosh Sports Medicine Clinic, looking at various visual manifestations of sport related concussion. She has provided vision rehabilitation as well as vision performance services for athletes at all levels, including varsity, Olympic, and professional.
Mariano Canegallo, OD
Mariano Canegallo is an optometrist from Argentina, Founder and Optometrist Director of the Neurar International Association. He is a member of the Mexican Council of Functional Optometry. He has specialized his studies in the area of behavioral optometry and neurosciences related to the development of human movement. He is the author and director of the Vision Study and Training Model in High Performance Sports, and the book of the same name, “Brain Vision Training”. He is co-author of the book “Neurosciences in Sports”.
Dr. Canegallo became an optometrist for the Professional Team of the First Division of Soccer of the San Lorenzo de Almagro Club and as an advisor to the goalkeeper team of the first division of the Gimnasia y Esgrima la Plata club. Currently he is an optometrist for the Argentine Deaf Basketball Team.
He coaches elite athletes in numerous sports such as football, hockey, motorsports, tennis, boxing, sky, among others. He is also Advisor for the Federal Snipers Course of the Special Security Division Halcón of the Police of the Province of Buenos Aires (Halcón Special Forces), and BMW Motorrad Argentina. He was part of the Fox Pro Line development group, creating eye protection systems for high-performance equine athletes and Optometrist director of the “Cerebro Deportivo” group.
Dr. Canegallo is a professor in the Chair of Sports Visual Therapy in the Master's Degree in Optometry at the Galileo University of Guatemala and a professor in the diplomat courses in Neurosciences and Sports at the Gran Rosario University and the Favaloro University of the Argentine Republic.
Kathryn Coleman, OTR/L
Kathryn Coleman, OTR/Lis a Neuro-IFRAH certified Occupational Therapist at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Memphis Tennessee. She received a BFA in Dance from The University of Memphis and a Master of Occupational Therapy from Texas Women’s University in Dallas Texas. At Encompass Health, Katy works as a preceptor to OT staff and host to OT and SCO students. Katy is fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with Southern College of Optometry in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for the individuals she serves on a daily basis.
Kathrynn Collins, OD
Kathryn Collins, OD is an Advisory Board Member of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities as a result of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life.
Dr. Collins is in private practice in Lititz, PA. The practice offers comprehensive examinations for adults and children, contact lenses, treatment of ocular disease, and dry eyes. She opened the practice in 2001.
In 2013 Dr. Collins trained at the Visual Institute of Medicine with Dr. Debby Feinburg in Michigan to become a neurovision rehabilitation specialist. At that time, she opened Neurovision Rehabilitation Center of PA adjacent to her primary care office. She has a special interest in treating patients with concussions, dizziness, vestibular issues, and migraines. She works with several multidisciplinary concussion centers in Lancaster County and the greater Philadelphia area.
Dr. Collins obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware in 1988 and her Doctor of Optometry degree at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1993. She is a member of NORA, and a certified brain injury specialist.
Jarrod Davies, OD, FCOVD
Jarrod Davies, OD, FCOVD currently practices in South Jordan, Utah as the clinical director of Utah Vision Development Center. He specializes in vision rehabilitation and sports vision performance training. Dr. Davies has worked with many athletes including baseball, tennis, hockey, golf, football and ski team members on both a professional and amateur level. He also frequently lectures on topics including sports vision training, concussion rehabilitation, binocular vision, and vision therapy.
Dr. Davies is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Southern College of Optometry where he was honored with numerous awards and scholarships.
In addition to being a founding member of the International Sports Vision Association, Dr. Davies is Past-President of the Utah Optometric Association. In 2013, he was voted the Utah Optometric Association Young Optometrist of the Year. In 2015 he was awarded the Utah Optometric Association Optometrist of the Year, and in 2018, was honored by this organization with an ISVA Award of Service.
DeAnn Fitzgerald, OD
DeAnn Fitzgerald, O.D. is Immediate Past President of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities as a result of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life.
Dr. Fitzgerald has been providing eye care to eastern Iowa since graduating from Pacific University School of Optometry in 1984. She runs a busy primary care clinic where she diagnoses and treats ocular disease and evaluates patients with brain injury. In 2007, she opened a multi-disciplinary clinic, Cedar Rapids Vision in Motion, which provides low vision services and vision skills rehabilitation, with an emphasis on vestibular and visual skills. She recently launched her sports vision and concussion clinic, Active Evolution Studio.
Dr. Fitzgerald has a special interest in sports vision performance and concussion. She attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa where she played softball and basketball. At Pacific University, she went to the NCAA softball nationals two years in a row. She taught pitching and batting clinics and was umpire in chief of softball tournaments for high school students. Dr. Fitzgerald also played semi-professional softball in the 1980’s.
She has helped facilitate over 17,000 baseline testings for concussion in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding communities. Active Evolution Studio utilizes their Sports Vision Performance protocol to train the area amateur and professional teams in hockey, basketball, arena football, and soccer. Working with Metro Youth Football, which has 1,400 young people playing football annually, Dr. Fitzgerald has helped implement a baseline screening protocol with nearly 100% athlete participation. Her pre-season baseline and post-concussion care protocol has attracted attention from the National Football League.
Dr. Fitzgerald has lectured nationally about neuro-rehabilitation and concussion. She is CIC certified in ImPACT, which is a web-based product used in concussion management.
Dr. Fitzgerald is a member of American Optometric Association (AOA), Iowa Optometric Association (IOA), College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF), and International Association of Functional Neurology and Rehabilitation (IAFNR).
Denise Helle, CPOC
Denise Helle, CPOC has over 20 years of billing and coding experience. She worked as a respiratory therapist for 15 years, and was trained as a biller/coder. She worked for 5 years at a rehabilitation billing company, worked for a major insurance company, and now works for Dr. DeAnn Fitzgerald managing vision and medical billing claims.
David Katz, MSOT, OTR/L, CBIS
David Katz, MSOT, OTR/L, CBIS is an Advisory Member to the Board of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients living with physical and/or cognitive disabilities as a result of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation, visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life. He is the leader of program development for vision rehabilitation throughout a hospital-based outpatient system, inspiring evidenced-based practice. He is the elected point person and considered an expert in vision rehabilitation in the division of outpatient services. He focuses on establishing strong, interdisciplinary teams of professionals across several disciplines in an effort to provide customized, patient-centered care. His passions include educating his colleagues regarding executing vision screens as well as implementing Occupational Therapy interventions for patients with visual deficits from a neurological injury.
Dave earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences as well as his Master's of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at Seton Hall University. He is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist.
Gina Kim, MOT, OTR/L, CBIS, CSRS
Gina Kim, MOT, OTR/L, CBIS, CSRS is an Advisory Member to the Board of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities as a result of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life. She has lectured at universities and conferences to highlight occupational therapy services, motor recovery, neurological rehabilitation, and neuro vision rehab both on national and international levels. She has spearheaded a nationwide Hospital-Based Interest Group for Neuro Vision Rehabilitation (HBIG-NVR), with support from Johns Hopkins Hospital, NORA, numerous clinicians and researchers. The HBIG-NVR aims to elevate interdisciplinary collaboration between optometrists and allied health professionals to harmonize clinical frameworks that are patient-centered, efficacious, and research-driven.
Gina is the Neuro Occupational Therapist, Clinical Specialist for outpatient services at Johns Hopkins Hospital's Sheikh Khalifa Stroke Institute, an outpatient rehabilitation program located in Baltimore, Maryland. She previously served as the Lead Therapist/Occupational therapist at the Centre for Neuro Skills, a post-acute brain injury clinic in Encino, CA. Gina received her BS in Microbiology from San Diego State University, and earned her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and a Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist.
Cheryl Letheren, B.Sc. OD FAAO
Dr. Cheryl Letheren is an Advisory Board Member of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities as a result of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life.
Dr Letheren graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1987 with a degree in physiology and then went to Optometry school at the University of Waterloo. After completing some clinical training at a hospital connected to Salus University in Pennsylvania, she graduated with her Optometry degree in 1991. She immediately started practicing in London, Ontario where she took over a practice of a retiring OD. She became a Fellow of the American Academy in 1996. Since COVID, she has also completed the Clinical Investigator Certificate in 2021, and the Flom Leadership Program in 2022. Dr. Letheren was one of the first Canadian Optometric Coordinators for TLC Laser Centres from 1995-2000.
Dr. Letheren has had more than 20 years of experience with visual rehabilitation. She helped to form the first multi-disciplinary team to assess and treat brain injury patients in a hospital setting in Canada. Cheryl has been on staff at Parkwood Hospital, a rehabilitation facility, for the last 18 years, seeing acute in-patient and out-patient brain injury, complex care and stroke patients. She also acts as a consultant for adult concussion patients. In her private office, Dr. Letheren does consults for patients with chronic conditions, motor vehicle injuries, head injuries, developmental conditions, learning disabilities and concussions in adult and children.
Together, with her highly qualified vision therapist, who is an internationally trained Optometrist herself, Dr. Letheren provides assessment and treatment for binocular vision problems, strabismus, amblyopia, learning difficulties, autism and sports vision, as well as concussions and head injury. In her regular practice, Dr. Letheren has a full scope Optometry office with specialty contact lenses, myopia control and co-management of ocular disease, especially diabetes. Dr. Letheren has spoken Internationally and is currently finishing two Fellowship programs, a Psychology degree at Western and recently completed the Vision Therapy Canada, Practical Vision therapist program. She also completed her Optometric Extension Plan Curriculum in 2014.
She has been a board member for the Ontario Association of Optometrists in 1996-1998 and has served on numerous committees for the OAO, including the Insurance Committee at the present time. Dr. Letheren has also served on committees for VTC, the Canadian Board of Examiners and local volunteer organizations. She continues to serve as a mentor to Optometry students.
William V. Padula, OD, SFNAP, FAAO, FNORA
Dr. Padula, who practices in Guilford, Conn., is the founding president of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) and the founding chairman of the Low Vision Section for the American Optometric Association. Dr. Padula founded the first low vision clinic at the Zhongshan Eye Research Hospital in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China, which was named in his honor. He has lectured and consults internationally. He has received the Distinguished Medal of Science Award from the National Academy of Practices (NAP). Dr. Padula is the recipient of the President’s Award and the Distinguished Science and Research award from the NORA. He has been awarded 12 US Patents. Dr. Padula also has authored numerous publications including three books.
Tamara Petrosyan, OD
Dr. Tamara Petrosyan is an associate clinical professor at SUNY Optometry and New York Health and Hospitals in the Primary Care, Ocular Disease, Pediatrics, and Vision Therapy departments. Dr. Petrosyan lectures internationally and has published articles and book chapters on various topics. Dr. Petrosyan helped implement free pediatric exams for over 40,000 children through the Armenian Eyecare Project, developed over a dozen vision therapy workbooks, and helped start and previously worked with Anteo Health to develop all the vision therapy content. She is the InfantSEE liaison for New Jersey, head of the clinical care committees for pediatrics and vision therapy, and previously on the board of directors for the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians (NJSOP). Among others, Dr. Petrosyan has been awarded the Young Optometrist of the Year and Optometrist of the Year from NJSOP and the Young Optometrist of the Year award from the AOA.
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 an Ocular Disease residency in 2008 and was awarded board certification in 2009. Dr. Putnam was selected to attend University of Missouri-St Louis completing his PhD in Vision Science in 2014 winning 3 Graduate Research Fellowship awards. Currently, he is the Medical Education Training Campus Department Chair for Diagnostic and Public Health Services overseeing 9 programs across radiology, laboratory, preventative medicine and behavioral health technician training.
Daniella Rutner OD, MS, MBA, FAAO, FOVDR, FNAP
Dr. Daniella Rutner is an Associate Clinical Professor at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry and the Chief of Vision Rehabilitation at the University Eye Center. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from Brooklyn College, CUNY and earned both her Doctor of Optometry and Masters of Vision Science degrees from SUNY College of Optometry in 2002. In 2022, Dr. Rutner received her master’s in business administration in Healthcare Leadership from SUNY, Empire State College. Dr. Rutner attained her fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) in 2004, the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) in 2007 and achieved her Diplomate in the American Board of Optometry in 2013. In 2018, Dr. Rutner received the Optometrist of the Year Award from the New York State Optometric Association. She has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and continues to be involved in teaching, clinical care, as well as clinical research in the areas of pediatrics, vision rehabilitation and brain injury.
Charles Shidlofsky, O.D., FCOVD
Charles Shidlofsky, O.D., FCOVD is Vice President of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities as a result of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life.
Dr. Shidlofsky is Clinical Director of Neuro-Vision Associates of North Texas, a specialty clinic serving children and adults with neurological vision issues. He is a member of the medical staff at Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation-Frisco, Dallas and Ft. Worth.
Dr. Shidlofsky also serves as a consultant for several Texas-based rehabilitation centers, including the Centre for Neuro Skills and Pate Rehabilitation. He is residency director for a private practice residency in vision rehabilitation through Southern College of Optometry. He is also the team vision consultant for the Dallas Stars (NHL), Allen Americans (ECHL) and FC Dallas (MSL). In addition, he is Immediate President of the International Sports Vision Association (ISVA).
Cathy Stern, OD, FCOVD, FCSO, FNORA
Dr. Cathy Stern is a behavioral and neuro optometrist near Boston in the USA. Her practice is devoted solely to vision therapy, myopia control and vision rehabilitation including for both special needs and brain injury patients. She is currently a member of the Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) Fellowship Committee, consultant optometrist at Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children, Research director and Trustee of the College of Syntonic Optometry (CSO), and Treasurer of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF). She teaches and mentors optometrists worldwide and is passionate about neurooptometric vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, optometric phototherapy, sports vision and the use of assistive technology. Dr. Stern believes the eyes and vision are key players in prevention, enhancement, and rehabilitation for lifelong success.
Vincent R. Vicci, Jr. OD, DPNAP, FNORA
Dr. Vicci is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and is in private practice in Westfield, N.J. He is a co-founder of the vision clinics at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and the JFK / Johnson Rehabilitation Institute – Edison, N.J. – and consultant at a number of hospitals and rehabilitation centers for patients with stroke, concussion and other traumatic brain injuries. He is a co-founder of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association. Dr. Vicci is a biannual guest lecturer for Seton Hall University Graduate Medical Education (1999-present) Dr. Vicci has been accepted as an expert in the field of Neuro- Optometric Rehabilitation in all New Jersey county courts as well as out of state appointments.
Melissa Zarn, OD, FAAO
Melissa Zarn Urankar is an Assistant Professor of Optometry at Southern College of Optometry (SCO). She attained a BS in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Tech and an OD from Illinois College of Optometry. After completing residency training in Vision Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Pediatrics at Pacific University College of Optometry, she worked at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center where she helped to establish Optometry and Vision Therapy services in the multidisciplinary traumatic brain injury clinic.
Dr Zarn evaluates and manages patients with traumatic and acquired brain injuries (TBI/ABI) at the SCO clinics as well as at local rehabilitation hospitals. She has been a member of NORA since 2008 and is working toward her FNORA. She is the faculty advisor for SCO’s Student NORA Chapter and has coordinated the NORA poster session during the annual meeting since 2012. She has presented workshops on evaluating and managing TBI/ABI at the American Academy of Optometry meetings since 2015. At SCO, she is the Director of Interprofessional Education (IPE). She is the lead instructor for the Interprofessional Education series and is engaged in curriculum development to enhance IPE and collaborative practice opportunities for students at SCO.
Through this work she has helped create a network of health professions educators in the Memphis, TN area who are developing unique opportunities in health professions education. She is a member and founding Chair of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) IPE and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) Special Interest Group, Co-Chair of Tennessee Interprofessional Practice and Education Consortium’s (TIPEC’s) Membership and Communications Working Group, and previous Co-Chair of the American Interprofessional Health Collaborative Program Committee’s Mentoring Program Workgroup.