Innovation Vision Conference of NY 2024

We are excited to invite you to the NYSOA Innovation Vision Conference, to be held at the Woodcliff Hotel in Rochester, NY from April 4th to 7th. This year’s conference promises to be an exciting and enriching experience, filled with opportunities for professional growth and networking.

Early Bird Registration ends 3/18!

This year's conference will include:

  • 11+ hours of CE
  • Exhibit Hall
  • Social Events
  • Annual NYSOA Celebration Dinner
  • Scleral Workshop
  • Amniotic Membrane Workshop
  • Resident Grand Rounds
  • Cooper Manufacturing Facility Tours
  • Misight Workshop
Click here to view the agenda
Click here to register
Click here to sponsor/exhibit at IVC
Book your room at the Woodcliff Hotel
Meet the Speakers!
Social Activities 

 To book a room online, click here or call the Woodcliff Hotel at 585-248-4810.
The booking will be under "NYSOA 2024 Conference"

We have secured the following group room rates:

Wednesday, April 3rd: $189 plus taxes and fees

Thursday, April 4th: $189 plus taxes and fees

Friday, April 5th: $189 plus taxes and fees

Saturday, April 6th: $189 plus taxes and fees

Sunday, April 7th (only 10 rooms available - higher rate due to eclipse): $359 plus taxes and fees


 

Social Activities

** indicate Young OD/Student Activities 

Do not miss the chance to join us for an exclusive viewing of the rare solar eclipse on Monday April, 8th 2024.
Reserve your spot today and be part of this extraordinary event!
 
The Rochester Region is in the path of totality! 
Learn more about the Eclipse here!
Where: TRATA: The Restaurant at the Armory
When: 7:00-9:00pm on Friday, April 5th



Winery Tour 
Where: Crush Beer and Wine Tours
When: 2:00-5:00pm on Saturday, April 6th
Spots are limited! Register by March 13th to secure your spot!

 

**Candle Pouring
Where: Scents by Design
When: 2:30pm on Saturday, April 6th


 
**Young OD/Student Happy Hour

WhereThe Revelry
When: 3:30-5:00pm on Saturday, April 6th

 

 
Cooper Manufacturing Facility Tour
When: 9:00-11:00am on Monday, April 8th 

 

*limited spots, register now to secure your spot!

 

 
Rochester Resident Grand Rounds
When: 12:00-2:00pm on Monday, April 8th
A Case Report Series from Residents of Rochester
Regional Healthand the University of Rochester Medical Center.
2 hours of NYS Approved CE
 

 Solar Eclipse Viewing Party 
When: 3:00-5:00pm on Monday, April 8th

limited spots, register now to secure your spot!

 

 
Woodcliff Spa


More Activities in Rochester:

 


 

Meet the speakers!

Raman Bhakhri, OD, FAAO

Dr. Bhakhri is an associate professor at the Illinois College of Optometry. He currently teaches the ocular pharmacology and advanced retina courses. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science degree and received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. Dr. Bhakhri completed a post-graduate residency at the Illinois College of Optometry/Chicago Lighthouse in low vision and ocular disease. He then taught at the Southern California College of Optometry where he was responsible for the low vision and retina courses. He is a member of the Illinois Optometric Association, American Optometric Association, and a fellow of the Optometric Retina Society.
Dr. Bhakhri is also a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and has served on the admissions committee while previously serving as the vice chair of the faculty-student liaison committee. He is the associate editor of the AAO’s case report journal, Clinical Insights in Eyecare.

Jerry Robben, OD

Dr. Robben graduated from NOVA Southeastern University College of Optometry in 2009 .  He is currently the Chief Optometrist and Director of Clinical Research at Bowden Eye & Associates in Jacksonville, FL which is a OD/MD primary and specialty care practice specializing in cornea, anterior segment, glaucoma, refractive surgery and dry eye disease. Dr. Robben is also an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Midwestern University, College of Optometry in Glendale, AZ and Chicago, IL. He serves as a founding member and contributor to Dry Eye University (dryeyeuniversity.com) and is a founding member of the Medical Advisory Board and is the current Clinical Director for Dry Eye Access (dryeyeaccess.com).  Dr Robben has served on multiple industry advisory boards, lectures nationally in educational and promotional settings and is a primary investigator overseeing numerous clinical trials and research studies being done in his practice ranging from dry eye, neurotrophic corneal disease, presbyopia medications, glaucoma, contact lenses and surgical outcomes and devices. He is on the editorial board for the Journal Of Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease, he is the founder and director of 90 Days to Dry Eye provided for PECAA members and he is a loving husband and a proud father of two young boys who both play baseball, football and excel in karate which occupies any of his time outside of his professional career.


Marc Deeley, OD, FAAO, FSLS

Dr. Marc Deeley grew up in Rochester, New York and graduated from the New England College of Optometry in 2018. Following Optometry School, he completed a residency in Ocular Disease at the VA Maine Healthcare System, followed by a one year fellowship in Medically Necessary Contact Lens at the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary. He is currently working at Rochester Regional Health/Reed Eye Associates in Rochester, NY, which is a hospital based OD/MD practice. Within the practice, Dr. Deeley offers primary eye care and the management of anterior and posterior ocular disease. Utilizing this fellowship training, Dr. Deeley provides advanced contact lenses services to his patients with an emphasis on Scleral Lenses to treat corneal ectasias, complex refractive error, and ocular surface disease. Since 2020, he has been a faculty member for the Ocular Disease Residency Program at Rochester Regional Health for which he attends residents in the clinic and participates in weekly didactics, presentations and grand rounds. Dr. Deeley is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry FAAO and a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Society (FSLS).

 

 


Emily Gottschalk, OD, FAAO

 

Dr. Emily Gottschalk graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science and completed a Cornea and Contact Lens Residency at the Michigan College of Optometry. She is originally from Toronto, Canada, and currently practices at Rochester Regional Health/Reed Eye Associates, a hospital-based OD/MD practice in Rochester, NY. There she utilizes her residency training to fit the full range of medically necessary contact lenses, manage ocular surface disease, and provide myopia management including orthokeratology lenses.

Dr. Gottschalk is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and was recognized by the AAO with the George Mertz Contact Lens Residency Award. She is currently working towards her fellowship of the Scleral Lens Society. Dr. Gottschalk serves on the Gas Permeable Lens Institute Rising Stars Advisory Committee.


 

Matthew Bovenzi, OD, FAAO, Dipl(ABO)

Dr. Bovenzi, a native of Rochester, NY, is the Chief of Advanced Care at the University Eye Center (UEC) and Associate Clinical Professor at the SUNY College of Optometry. A 2014 SUNY graduate, he completed a residency in ocular disease & family practice at the East NY Diagnostic & Treatment Center and was nationally recognized as the 2015 recipient of the American Optometric Foundation's Douglas W. Hopkins Primary Care Residency award. Prior to optometry school, he served as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy after receiving bachelor's degrees in both biological sciences and music from Cornell University, where he attended on a Navy ROTC scholarship.

Dr. Bovenzi has a history of optometric leadership and service; he is an active member of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) and is the Treasurer of the Optometric Society of the City of New York (OSCONY). He is board certified as a diplomate of the American Board of Optometry (ABO) and was recognized by the NYSOA as New York State Educator of the Year in 2021.


Richard Soden, OD, FAAO, CPC

Richard M. Soden brings a wealth of experience to the field of optometry and healthcare. As a Clinical Professor at SUNY College of Optometry, he currently serves as the Director of Health Care Development. With a career spanning over four decades, Dr. Soden’s journey began at SUNY College of Optometry, where he graduated in 1979. Following graduation, he completed a residency program at the Northport VA Medical Center on Long Island, where he later served as the Associate Chief of Optometry Service for 26 years. During this time, he also contributed his expertise to a large optometric practice in Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y., focusing on pediatrics, children with special needs, and low vision rehabilitation for children and adults. Dr. Soden is recognized as a low-vision specialist and has been dedicated to assisting the Commission for the Blind throughout his optometric career.
Dr. Soden’s influence extends beyond clinical practice. He serves as a third-party consultant for the New York State Optometric Association and has made extensive contributions to third-party reimbursement and practice management. His involvement in optometry organizations includes being a member of the AOA’s Coding Committee and the AOA Third Party Center Executive Committee. With his wealth of experience and dedication to optometric practice, Dr. Soden continues to shape the landscape of eye care and vision services.


Rebecca Marinoff, OD, FAAO, Dipl AAO

Rebecca Marinoff is an Associate Clinical Professor and Low Vision Rehabilitation residency supervisor at SUNY College of Optometry. She completed a residency in Low Vision Rehabilitation at Southern College of Optometry and is a graduate of SUNY College of Optometry. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), a Low Vision Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), and a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry (ABO). She serves as co-chair of the Low Vision Committee of the New York State Optometric Association (NYSOA).

 

 


 Tanya Bloom, OD, FAAO

 Dr. Tanya Bloom graduated magna cum laude from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Anthropology. She then spent three years in clinical research at Weill Cornell in their Hematology/Oncology Department. She attended optometry school at the SUNY College of Optometry, where she worked as a student research assistant and completed fourth year rotations in the areas of Ocular Disease, Contact Lenses, Head Trauma, Pediatrics, and Vision Therapy. Upon graduating, she completed a Residency specializing in Vision Therapy and Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation at Eyecare Associates, PC in Connecticut and went on to train the upcoming Resident, optometry school interns and Vision Therapists in the diagnosis and treatment of binocular, accommodative, oculomotor and visual perceptual disorders in the pediatric, brain injury and general population.

She has completed post-graduate training and is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), which comprises only 10% of optometrists in the country. She is also a member of the New York State Optometric Association (NYSOA/AOA), College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), College of Syntonic Optometry (CSO) and is a Clinical Associate of the Optometric Extension Program (OEP).


 Justin Kwan, OD, FAAO

Dr. Justin Kwan is a 2009 graduate of Berkeley Optometry and went on to do a contact lens and dry eye residency at SCCO. He taught and saw patients there for eight years before moving to Chicago in 2018, joining a private practice. In April 2020, he transitioned to CooperVision full time and is now Head of Myopia Management. He has given over 100 hours of continuing education. Dr. Kwan is the current president of the Chicago North Side Optometric Society, past Editor in Chief of Clinical & Refractive Optometry, past chair of the Fellows Doing Research SIG of the Academy, and a member of the Intrepid Eye Society.