SERVICE TO OUR PATIENTS AND COMMUNITY New Clinical Faculty Dr. Daria Borah ’16 Dr. Daria Borah was born in Moscow and moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of 10. She completed an ocular disease and primary care residency in the VA Boston Healthcare System after graduating from the College. “Ocular disease is complicated and intertwined with the patient’s systemic health, and it forces the clinician to integrate the entirety of the patient as opposed to isolating and focusing on the eyeball alone. I find it to be a rewarding challenge of putting together puzzle pieces that, in their final product, shed light on the complete picture of the patient’s health.” Dr. Irene Frantzis ’16 Assistant clinical professor Dr. Irene Frantzis ‘16 spent a year working with the U.S. Air Force as a clinical and research optometrist investigating quality of vision outcomes in patients undergoing corneal cross-linking before joining the University Eye Center’s Myopia Control Clinic. “Myopia control is one of many fields in optometry where we can play an enormous role in helping our patients—even potentially preventing eye diseases such as glaucoma that have a higher prevalence in myopes.” Dr. Shelby Leach Assistant clinical professor Dr. Shelby Leach is a graduate of Arizona State University and UC Berkeley School of Optometry. The Calgary-native specializes in pediatrics, including serving children with special needs. “I enjoy my work with children at PS 180 in Harlem and Birch Early Childhood Center in Long Island City. Birch is a special needs preschool and serves multicultural children with disabilities from all over the City. It’s really gratifying to play a role in maximizing the children’s independence.” Dr. Azinda Morrow ’17 Assistant clinical professor Dr. Azinda Morrow ’17 returned to teach at the College in August, and the decision was a natural extension of the time she spent as an OD student. “I was heavily involved in the tutoring programs, and really enjoyed being able to help fellow students and lowerclassmen in understanding concepts. During my residency training, I was afforded the opportunity to be a clinical preceptor in both the cornea/contact lens and urgent care clinics, where my passion for teaching grew.” Dr. Mandy Polacco Assistant clinical professor Dr. Mandy Polacco’s came to the College in 2017 for a residency in vision therapy and rehabilitation after graduating from the Southern California College of Optometry. She works in head trauma and neuro-optometric rehabilitation. “It’s an incredible environment where I can continue to learn from the extremely experienced faculty and have high-volume exposure to unique and challenging cases.” Dr. Alexandria Tilley ’16 Assistant clinical professor Dr. Alexandria Tilley ’16 completed her vision therapy and rehabilitation residency at the College before joining the faculty to teach a binocular vision lab, an optometric procedures course and an acquired brain injury elective. She also supervises fourth-year students and residents in vision therapy and rehabilitation. “Nothing brings me more joy than seeing a child with a binocular vision issue, who avoids reading because it provides discomfort, start to read more and succeed academically after having trained them in our vision therapy clinic.” 20 SUNY OPTOMETRY
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