Keisha Elder, OD, FAAO
Dean
College of Optometry
331 Marillac Hall
Education
- OD – UAB School of Optometry
- MS / Instructional Design and Development – UAB School of Education
Academic distinctions and professional societies:
- DEI Certification
- Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
- American Optometric Association
- National Optometric Association
- American Academy of Optometry
University Eye Center
- Ocular Disease
- Primary Eye Care
Education
- OD – University of Missouri-St. Louis
Julie DeKinder, OD, FAAO
Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Director of Residencies
Clinical Professor
University Eye Center
- Specialty Contact Lens Fitting
- General Contact Lenses
- Myopia Control
- Primary Eye Care
- Dry Eye Management
Teaching/Research Interests
- Associate Dean of Academic Programs
- Director of Residency Programs
- Contact Lens clinic, Contact Lens course and labs.
Education
- BS – Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oklahoma State University
- OD – Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
- Residency – Cornea and Contact University of Missouri-St. Louis
Recent Courses Taught
- Clinical Topics in Contact Lenses
- Contact Lenses II
Academic distinctions and professional societies:
- Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO)
- Fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society (FSLS)
- Diplomate, American Academy of Optometry, Section on Cornea, Contact Lens and Refractive Technologies
Angel Novel-Simmons, OD
Associate Dean of Student Services and Alumni Relations
Associate Clinical Professor
University Eye Center
East St. Louis Eye Center
Community Services
East St. Louis Eye Center
Community Services
- Disease Management
- Primary Eye Care
Teaching/Research Interests
- Ocular Disease Management, Cultural Competence
- Case-Based Discovery
- Ocular Pharmacology
Education
- OD – University of Missouri-St. Louis
- Residency – Primary Care and Ocular Disease Management, VA Hudson Valley
Recent Courses Taught
- Ocular Disease Management Laboratories in 2nd and 3rd year
- Case Based Discovery
- Cultural Competence
Academic distinctions and professional societies:
- Missouri Optometric Association, Member and PR Chairperson
Linda Du OD
Assistant Clinical Professor
University Eye Center Mobile Eye Center
- Pediatric Services
- Primary Eye Care
- Ocular Disease
Teaching/Research Interests
- Pediatrics
- Ocular Disease
- Community Health Service
Education
- BS – University of California San Diego
- OD – The Ohio State College of Optometry
- MS – The Ohio State College of Optometry
- Residency – Primary Care and Ocular Disease, Marion Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center
Recent Courses Taught
- Ocular Motility
- Introduction to Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning
- Comprehensive Case Review and Analysis
Academic distinctions and professional societies:
- Diplomate, American Board of Optometry
- American Academy of Optometry
- American Optometric Association
- Missouri Optometric Association
- St. Louis Optometric Society
Coral Dundon, OD
Assistant Clinical Professor
University Eye Center Lindell Eye Center East St. Louis Eye Center
- Primary Eye Care
- Ocular Disease Management
Teaching/Research Interests
- Ocular Disease
- Pharmacology
- Primary Care Optometry
Education
- OD – University of Missouri-St. Louis
- Residency – Primary Care and Ocular Disease, Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Recent Courses Taught
- Foundations of Ocular and Systemic Disease Management I
Academic distinctions and professional societies:
- Missouri Optometric Society
- St. Louis Optometric Society
- American Academy of Optometry
Aaron Franzel, OD
Associate Clinical Professor
University Eye Center
- Pediatrics/Binocular Vision Services
Teaching/Research Interests
- Pediatrics/Binocular Vision Services
- Study of Sensory and Motor Aspects of Strabismus
Education
- OD – University of Missouri-St. Louis
Linda Marks, OD, FAAO
Associate Clinical Professor
University Eye Center Mobile Eye Center
- Primary Eye Care
- Pediatrics/Binocular Vision Services
Teaching/Research Interests
- Therapy and Treatment of patients with Amblyopia, Strabismus, and Learning-related Vision Disorders
- Pediatric Optometry
Education
- BS – Ferris State University
- OD – Michigan College of Optometry
- Residency – Pediatric / Binocular Vision, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Recent Courses Taught
- Clinical Topics in Pediatrics and Binocular Vision
- Binocular Vision Anomalies
- Pediatric Optometry
Academic distinctions and professional societies:
- Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry
- American Optometric Association
- College of Optometrists in Vision Development
Tareq I. Nabhan, OD
Assistant Clinical Professor
University Eye Center Community Service
- Primary Eye Care
- Ocular Disease
Teaching/Research Interests
- Primary Care and Ocular Disease Clinics
- Community and Public Health
- Hardware-Software Telehealth Solutions
- Teleretina Clinical Services
- Artificial Intelligence in Eye Care
- Humanitarianism
- e-Simulation Development
Education
- BS – Pittsburg State University
- Post Grad – University of Kansas
- OD – University of Missouri-St. Louis
Recent Courses Taught
- Telehealth
- Introduction to Optometry (co-instructor)
- Problem Based Learning (PBL)/Case Based Discovery (CBD)
Academic distinctions and professional societies:
- UMSL Optometric Educator of the Year, 2017
- UMSL Optometric Educator of the Year, 2023
- Board of Directors, VOSH International
- VOSH/I Franklin Harms Society
- Clinical Advisory Board, OneSight Essilor Luxottica Foundation
- Clinical Advisory Board, RestoringVision
- CMS Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee
- Vision Services Committee, Association of clinicans for the Underserved
- Board of Directors, St. Louis Optometric Society
- American Optometric Association
- Missouri Optometric Association
- GlobalSTL Community of Health Innovation Leader
- Missouri Telehealth Network
- Fellow, St. Louis University Taylor Geospatial Institute
- Fellow, UMSL Global International
- 2020 National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research
- International Optometric Educators Committee, ASCO
- Educational Technology Committee, ASCO
Casey Peterson, OD, FAAO
Associate Clinical Professor
University Eye Center East St. Louis Eye Center
- Ocular Disease
- Primary Eye Care
- Community Health
Teaching/Research Interests
- Ocular Disease
- Biochemistry of the eye
Education
- BA – Illinois Wesleyan University
- OD – University of Missouri-St. Louis
- Residency – Primary Care with emphasis in Ocular Disease, Nova Southeastern University
Recent Courses Taught
- Biochemistry with Ocular Emphasis
- Foundations of Ocular and Systemic Disease and Management II
- Interpersonal Communications
- Comprehensive Case Review and Analysis
Academic distinctions and professional societies:
- Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry
- Professional Member of the National Academies of Practice
- American Optometric Association
- Missouri Optometric Association
- St. Louis Optometric Society