“Each set of eyes is connected to an individual with their own experiences and needs, so it is important to consider the whole person.”
What year did you join the Midwestern University faculty?
I joined the Midwestern University faculty in August 2025, and I am so excited to be in my first year here.
What are your current research interests or areas of scholarly focus?
My interests are in amblyopia, strabismus, general binocular vision function, and other areas of pediatric optometry.
What do you find most rewarding about working with students at Midwestern?
What I find most rewarding is seeing student growth over time. I have the opportunity to work with students both in the classroom and in clinic throughout their four years. It is especially gratifying to see them connect what they learn in didactic settings to hands-on patient care. Watching a student take a concept from our discussions and confidently apply it in vision therapy, while taking ownership of their learning, is incredibly rewarding.
What’s one lesson you hope students carry with them into their professional lives?
One lesson I hope students carry with them is that every patient is unique and should be treated holistically. Each set of eyes is connected to an individual with their own experiences and needs, so it is important to consider the whole person when making clinical decisions and care plans.
What’s something you wish more people understood about your field or profession?
Optometry is often seen as just glasses and contacts, which are important parts of what we do, but it is really a mix of medical and functional care. We diagnose and manage eye disease, prescribe medications, and treat conditions like binocular vision disorders such as strabismus, amblyopia, and convergence insufficiency, using noninvasive approaches like vision therapy.
I wish more parents and teachers understood that eye-tracking dysfunctions can contribute to difficulty with reading fluency. Early intervention through vision therapy can give children the tools they need to learn at their highest ability.
What do you enjoy doing when you're not on campus?
On weekends, you can usually find me with a latte in hand, walking along Lake Michigan for miles. I also love photography, both digital and film. It is mostly a creative outlet, but I have also spent the past several years second shooting weddings with one of my best friends (capturing moments of love will never get old).
