OPT Visionary - Fall 2016

26 • NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Faculty Focus Ava K. Bittner , O.D., Ph.D., FAAO (Dipl.), associate professor, was awarded Research Diplomate status in the Low Vision Section of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) at the organization’s annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, in October. Approximately 7 percent of AAO Fellows have achieved Diplomate distinction, while less than 10 percent of practicing optometrists are AAO Fellows. “Becoming an American Academy of Optometry Research Diplomate is one of the highest honors I have earned as a researcher in the field of low vision,” said Bittner. “It is very meaningful to receive this honor from my peers, and I am grateful for the support NSU has provided me to be able to achieve this level in the optometry profession.” Professionals who become Fellows must complete a rigorous candidacy process that includes submitting extensive written work and passing an oral examination. A panel of leading optometrists and vision scientists must approve both the written work and oral examination. “Nova Southeastern University is proud to have research- ers of Dr. Bittner’s caliber on our faculty,” said David Loshin, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO, who serves as NSUCO dean. “Reaching this stature in her career is a testament to her remarkable work in the field of optometry.” Bittner, who joined the NSUCO faculty in 2014, received her optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2001 with clinical honors in pediatrics and low vision. She earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Investigation from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2011. Bittner completed a clinical research postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute’s Lions Low Vision Research and Rehabilita- tion Center from 2002 to 2007 and then joined the Wilmer Eye Institute faculty before coming to NSU. Her research interests include the psychophysical assessment of the healthy and diseased visual system, both to increase the understanding of this system and to develop tools to monitor disease and therapeutic out- comes. Bittner is also interested in complementary and alternative approaches to sight preservation and disease/ symptom attenuation in retinal degenerations. In addition, Bittner has received funding from the National Institutes of Health (K23 and R21 awards) through the National Eye Institute and is currently working on research evaluating electro-acupuncture and transcorneal electrical stimulation as potential Researcher Earns Noteworthy National Designation