2026 Gold Coast Educational Retreat
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Pauline K. Buck, O.D., FCOVD
Pauline K. Buck, O.D., FCOVD, is a fellowship trained optometrist with the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), who served as chairperson of the membership and state coordinators committees.
She is an adjunct and clinical professor at Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry, Western College of Optometry in California; Midwestern Chicago College of Optometry; MCPHS college of Optometry in Massachusetts, and FIU’s Occupational Therapy Department. She is the Dade County Clinical Director for Special Olympics Lion’s Club International Opening Eyes Program and donates her time throughout the year to participate at the Special Olympics State Games and local healthy community screenings.
Dr. Buck developed and is the optometric director of Behavioral and Developmental Optometrists, in Miami, Florida. The clinic focuses on improving the efficiency of the visual system in individuals of all ages, from children with visually based learning dysfunction to teens with concussion to post stroke adults. Dr. Buck utilizes tried and true vision therapy technologies and techniques and has been known to occasionally create her own. However, her strength is in the collaborative way she works with allied health professionals, teachers, and tutors. Her relationships with these professionals and their numerous information exchanges over the years has cultivated an awareness and understanding of how vision and the therapeutic disciplines of occupational, physical and speech therapy complement each other for improved patient outcomes.
Dr. Buck graduated from the New England College of Optometry in 1994 and the University of Florida in 1990. She returned to her hometown of Miami Beach, Florida to begin her private practice. Within 5 years of graduating from NECO, she achieved fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry in pediatric and binocular vision. After 10 more years of post-graduate study, she obtained her Fellowship with the COVD and is presently working towards fellowship in the Neuro Optometric Rehabilitative Association, NORA.
Most recently she joined together with Tiffany Zakka, OTR/L to create Reset Rewire Restore, LLC with the goal of improving the balance of the autonomic nervous system using the synergy of syntonics and movement. Together they have created The Autonomic Protocol and The Kids AP programs, they have written several workbooks and guides to go with the program, and have lectured internationally to bring awareness in the education and medical communities. She is also a founding partner in The Brilliant Babes, LLC which serves the pre and post-natal population of families in supporting the parents and helping guide the development of the children.
There is one more thing that allows you to look at the whole person and that is their family. Dr. Buck is married to her childhood friend, Evan, and they have two adult children whose own developmental needs started her on the path that she avidly follows.
Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO
Dr. Steven Ferrucci is currently Chief of Optometry at the Sepulveda VA Ambulatory Care Center and Nursing Home. He is also the Residency Director at his sight, and a Professor at the Southern California College of Optometry/Marshall B. Ketchum University. Dr. Ferrucci has lectured and published extensively, with a special interest in Diabetes, Diabetic Eye Disease, AMD, OCT and Fluorescein Angiography. He is a fellow in both the American Academy of Optometry and the Optometric Retinal Society, as well as Past President of the ORS and Founding Chair of the Retina Special Interest Group of the American Academy of Optometry.
Chad Kaplan, OD
Dr. Kaplan is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in cataract and glaucoma surgery. He performs laser cataract surgery, using premium intraocular lenses to provide distance and near vision with the goal of not needing glasses after surgery as well as medical, laser, and surgical treatment of glaucoma.
Dr. Kaplan received his medical degree and completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Florida, serving as Chief Resident and Chairman of the Resident Graduate Medical Education Committee. He then moved to New York for a Surgical Glaucoma Fellowship at Columbia University. During his years in New York he held faculty positions at Columbia University and New York University with responsibility for medical and surgical education of ophthalmology residents. His academic pursuits involve research of aqueous fluid dynamics to better understand the pathophysiology of glaucoma.
Dr. Kaplan is a member of the Chandler Grant Glaucoma Society, the American Glaucoma Society, the New York Glaucoma Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Dr. Kaplan returned home to south Florida in 2021 to be closer to family and to start a family of his own.
Ian Benjamin Gaddie, OD, FAAO
Dr. Ben Gaddie earned his Doctor of Optometry from the University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry. Dr. Gaddie then completed a Residency in Ocular Disease through Northeastern State University College of Optometry at the Triad Eye Medical Clinic and Cataract Institute in Tulsa, OK. Currently he practices at the Gaddie Eye Centers in Louisville, KY which was founded by his father in 1968. He is a co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Keplr Vision, a private equity backed group of over 285 offices in 36 states. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Past President and Past Executive Vice-President of the Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS). Dr. Gaddie is the immediate past Co-Chairman of the International Vision Expo Meetings. He is also a Past President of the Kentucky Optometric Association.
Having published extensively in the ophthalmic literature, Dr. Gaddie serves on the editorial boards of Review of Optometry, Optometric Management, Primary Care Optometry News and Optometry Times. In 2011, Dr. Gaddie was inducted into the Oklahoma Pioneers in Optometry Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was selected as one of the Most Influential Doctors in the last 50 Years by the industry publication Optometric Management and was awarded the Kentucky Optometric Association Optometrist of The Year Award.
David Rouse, OD, FAAO
Dr. David Rouse attended the University of Iowa and pursued his optometric training at the Illinois College of Optometry. He subsequently completed his residency at the Illinois Eye Institute and is in private practice in Weston, Florida.
Dr. Rouse is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and Board Certified by the American Board of Optometry. He has served as President of the Broward County Optometric Association, the Florida Optometric Association and is currently the Vice Chairman of the Florida Board of Optometry. Dr. Rouse presided over the FOA in 2012-2013 when the prescriptive authority for oral medications was signed into law. He is currently a Treasurer of the Southeastern Council of Optometrists, Florida’s Federal Advocacy Representative to the American Optometric Association, and serves as legislative key person for over a dozen state and national legislators. On a local level, Dr. Rouse serves as the Chairman of the Cooper City Planning and Zoning Board.
Dr. Jessica Steen, FAAO, Dipl. ABO
Dr. Jessica Steen is an Associate Professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry where she serves as Director of the Glaucoma Service and as an attending optometric physician at the College’s Eye Care Institute. Dr. Steen teaches the courses in glaucoma and ocular pharmacology at NSU. Dr. Steen also serves as the Primary Care with Emphasis in Ocular Disease Residency Coordinator. Dr. Steen graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science and completed her residency in Primary Care with Emphasis in Ocular Disease at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Steen’s main clinical interests include glaucoma, retinal disease, neuro-ophthalmic disease with an emphasis in medical and surgical management. Dr. Steen’s research interests are centered on artificial intelligence applications in the management of glaucoma. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and is Past President of the Palm Beach County Optometric Association.
LaCendra Morrison (Penny), CPC AAOE
LaCendra Morrison (Penny) is the owner and operator of Morrison Credentialing Specialists, LLC, a company that provides assistance to all provider types with joining the networks of hundreds of insurance companies; and Morrison Billing and Coding LLC which provides support to providers for, EHR AND EPM implementation, proper coding, claims billing as well as appeals and collections. She has over 25 years in the healthcare field, from Front Desk to Practice Management to Billing Call Centers and Billing Management. She is an experienced medical billing professional, a Certified Professional Coder and a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives.
Her companies also provide assistance to providers who are looking to open their own practices and do not know where to start with the set up of office policies and procedures and specializes in the fields of Ophthalmology, Optometry, Primary Care and Sports Medicine.
Stephanie Frankel, OD
Dr. Stephanie Frankel currently utilizes a technology-based scleral lens only practice in an academic setting, targeting visual rehabilitation and treatment of ocular disease using scleral lenses. She completed her undergraduate education at University of Central Florida with dual bachelor’s degrees in biology, as well as Molecular and Micobiology. She then moved on to complete her Doctor of Optometry degree at Nova Southeastern University with honors and voted as Optometry Student of the year.
Shortly after the completion of her doctorate degree she accomplished her residency in ocular disease at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and joined an MD/OD private practice, where she established a successful dry eye clinic that focused on recalcitrant dry eye and began her research in ocular surface disease.
In 2018 she was approached to join the ocular surface team at Bascom Palmer and given the challenge of starting a scleral lens program within the University of Miami/Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Currently, Bascom Palmer is providing scleral lens services in Miami, Plantation and Naples using the newest technology, completes about 600 fittings annually and is continuing to thrive. She now obtains the titles of Director of the Scleral Lens program and Associate Medical director of the Ocular Surface Center of Excellence at the University of Miami/Bascom Palmer Eye Instutute. Her clinic is a rotation for optometry students, optometry residents, PGY3 ophthalmology residents, and is also frequently observed by international ophthalmologists and optometrists.
She is active as a co-investigator in several research studies sponsored by the NIH, with a focus on Phenotypes of Inflammatory and Neuropathic Ocular Pain Conditions using Morphologic Measures and Functional Brain Imaging, as well as Corneal Inflammatory diseases. She is a member of the American Academy of Optometry and is actively undergoing her fellowship in cornea and contact lens. She has also completed several lectures at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute as well as the Inter-American Course in Clinical Ophthalmology. She has completed numerous publications and serves on the medical advisory board of several pharmaceutical companies.
Dr. Frankel is happily married to a fellow optometrist and they have two sons together. She has special interests in long-distance running, reading, and overall mental and physical health.
Edward Boshnick, OD
Dr. Boshnick developed a passion for helping patients who suffered vision loss due to trauma while I was serving as an optometrist in the Army. This was during the height of the war in Vietnam when injured troops were being sent to our base which was in Savannah Georgia. Being the only optometrist at his base with one ophthalmologist, he felt that he had the duty and privilege of helping members of the military who suffered eye injuries.
Upon entering private practice this experience convinced Dr. Boshnick to build a contact lens practice and ultimately one of the premier scleral lens practices in North America. His practice is dedicated to helping patients who have lost quality vision and comfort due to corneal disease, surgical complications, and ocular trauma. Dr. Boshnick uses a variety of specialty contact lenses and scleral lenses to accomplish this – his only mission.
Albert D. Woods, MS, OD, FAAO
Dr. Albert Woods is an Adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University, College of Optometry. Dr. Woods graduated from PCO and completed a hospital-based residency at the Baltimore VAMC/Wilmer Eye John Hopkins Hospital. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Cellular Biology from the Florida Institute of Technology. As past director of the NSU Electrodiagnostic Service he has been a co-investigator for NIH retinitis pigmentosa studies. Dr. Woods for over 29 years taught the third-year courses in neuro-eye disease, ocular manifestations of systemic disease, and continues to teach post-graduate Master’s courses in research and advanced ocular disease. Dr. Woods has lectured nationally and internationally on neuro-eye disease, systemic disease, and electrodiagnosis.
Ben Thayil, OD
Dr. Ben Thayil is a native of South Florida. He received his Doctorate of Optometry from Nova Southeastern University if 2013 and went on to complete a residency in Ocular Disease at the Bill Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, NC. During his residency, he was named the Floridian most likely to get his car stuck in the snow.
In 2016, Dr. Thayil started his first private practice, Lifetime Vision and Eye Care, in Miami, FL. He serves as immediate Past President and Chairman of the Board for the Broward County Optometric Association. He is also a member of the Florida Optometric, American Optometric Associations, Fellowship of Christian Optometrists.
Dr. Thayil is also a certified speaker, trainer and coach with the Maxwell Leadership Team. He takes special interest in helping fellow Optometrists grow their businesses by implementing strategies for reducing staff turnover, increasing sales, and helping you create a life of freedom by achieving work/life balance. He founded MindSight, Inc., a growth and strategy company to help practitioners ‘See Things Differently.’
Dr. Thayil enjoyed traveling with his lovely wife, Sarah. Recent travels have been on the back burner as Dr. Thayil and his wife welcomed their firstborn into the family in February of 2023.
Aaron Gold, OD, FAAO
After receiving a bachelor's of science degree in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida and a bachelor's of science degree in Vision Science from Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Gold earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from Nova Southeastern University. He then worked and taught within the ocular oncology clinic at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute for several years, where he was involved in mentoring optometric students and residents.
Currently Dr. Gold is the director of optometric services at Murray Ocular Oncology & Retina, the largest private ocular oncology practice in the southeastern United States. Dr. Gold is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a fellow in the Optometric Retina Society, and a member of the American Optometric Association, the Florida Optometric Association, the Broward County Optometric Association, and the Miami-Dade Optometric Physicians Association. Additionally, Dr. Gold has authored dozens of peer-reviewed articles in the field of ocular oncology and vitreo-retinal diseases, is a peer reviewer for multiple academic journals, and continues to mentor optometric students and residents.
Gary Shienbaum, MD
Gary Shienbaum, MD is a specialist in Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery at Hollywood Retina Consultants and is dedicated to providing exceptional retina care to individuals and families living throughout South Florida.
Dr. Shienbaum received his Doctor of Medicine degree and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He performed his medical internship at Albert Einstein Medical Center and his ophthalmology residency at the prestigious Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then completed a two-year fellowship in Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida. Dr. Shienbaum is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists.
Dr. Shienbaum’s clinical interests include advanced treatments for diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, macular hole, macular pucker, retinal vascular disease, retinal detachment, complications of cataract surgery, and ocular infection & inflammation. He has authored numerous scientific peer-reviewed publications on vitreoretinal diseases and has presented his research at both local and national meetings.
Dr. Shienbaum opened Hollywood Retina Consultants with the goal of utilizing the most advanced technology to bring his patients the highest level of retina care. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Shienbaum has treated the full spectrum of retinal diseases.
Dr. Shienbaum and his team are all fluent in Spanish.
Dr. Natalia Villate, MD, FASRS
Natalia Villate, M.D., F.A.S.R.S. is a retina specialist in South Florida. She specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with medical and surgical diseases of the retina. Dr. Villate is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American Society of Retina Specialists and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She is a skilled surgeon that has performed more than 1,000 complex vitreo-retinal surgeries since herself in private practice in the United States in 2008. At two state-of-the-art facilities in Broward County, Dr. Villate performs weekly surgeries, including retinal detachment repair, macular holes, epi-retinal membrane peeling, diabetic retinopathy and intraocular lens exchanges after complex cataract surgery.
Outside of the operating room, she has a special interest in macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, and the ocular manifestations of systemic diseases. At Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute, Dr. Villate's patients have access to the most advanced imaging diagnostic techniques, the latest intra-vitreal injections of FDA approved medications to treat common macular conditions and the unique opportunity of participating in clinical trials. She also performs in-office laser surgery for retinal tears, detachments and diabetic retinopathy.
Dr. Villate's work has been published in several peer review journals, and she has been a presenter at numerous national and international ophthalmic meetings. She co-authored several book chapters of the Optical Coherence Tomography of Ocular Diseases and has been an investigator in several FDA approved clinical trials. Currently, Dr. Villate teaches students and residents as a Clinical Instructor for the NOVA Southeastern University School of Optometry and is a Clinical Assistant Professor for the NOVA. Southeastern University College of Medicine.
Dr. Villate is fluent in English, Spanish, and French and is a compassionate physician who enjoys patient care. She strives to communicate effectively and treat every patient in a comprehensive and individualized fashion. To learn more about Dr. Natalia Villate, go to www.flei.com.
Stuart Burgess, MD, FACS, FASRS
Stuart Burgess, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.R.S, Director of Clinical Research at Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute, specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of retinal diseases, including the management of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears and detachments, macular holes, uveitis, ocular tumors, and ocular trauma. Dr. Burgess is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Society of Retinal Specialists.
Dr. Burgess was one of the first retinal specialists to offer advanced treatments for macular degeneration, including the various anti-VEG F agents, Lucentis®, Avastin, Eylea®, and Vabysmo (R). He was involved in the clinical studies that led to the approval of some of these agents and is currently involved in research for future more advanced agents to treat a variety of retinal diseases. His work has been published in pee:--reviewed journals and he has been a presenter at national ophthalmic meetings.
Dr. Burgess attended college at Tulane University and then the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he earned an M.D. degree in 1991. Dr. Burgess completed his residency in ophthalmology at Cornell University's North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, where he was chief resident in ophthalmology. After residency, Dr. Burgess completed a two-year subspecialty fellowship in the medical and s1:l!rgical treatment of retinal and vitreous diseases at the University of California San Diego, Shiley Eye Institute. He was involved in innovative research studying diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and macular holes during the fellowship.
Dr. Burgess joined the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute in 1999 as the group's retinal subspecialist and has grown the department since that time. In addition to his contributions to the retina department, he also founded and directs our clinical research department. Dr. Burgess is a skilled and compassionate physician dedicated to preserving and restoring his patients' vision. To learn more about Dr. Stuart Burgess, go to www.flei.com.
Michael Venincasa, MD
Michael Venincasa, MD was born and raised in Orlando, Florida before moving to Miami, where he graduated summa cum laude in Neuroscience and Classics from the University of Miami. He continued his training at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where he received the Mendelson Family Retina Research Fellowship and was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Venincasa then stayed at the University of Miami to complete his residency training in ophthalmology at the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
Dr. Venincasa joined Loh Ophthalmology Associates as a comprehensive ophthalmologist who treats many conditions of the eye, but he has a special interest in cataract surgery and refractive cataract/premium lens replacement surgery, using cutting-edge technology to give his patients their best possible vision. He also treats diseases of the ocular surface—including pterygia and dry eye syndrome—as well as general eye care including the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, diabetic eye exams, and routine eye exams.
Dr. Venincasa lives with his lovely wife, Emilie, a Miami-native pharmacist and travel enthusiast, and with his Australian Shepherd named Troy. In his spare time, he is a lover of all things food and cooking. If you don’t find him enjoying his favorite Cuban breakfast—una tostada con dos croquetas de jamón al dentro, y un cortadito con un poco azucar—you may find him in his kitchen trying to recreate a recent meal from a local restaurant. He loves to run, having previously completed the Miami Half-Marathon with aspirations to complete the full marathon in the future, as well as cheering on his favorite sports teams.
Dr. Venincasa’s main goal is to improve the vision and lives of all of his patients, and he looks forward to seeing you!
Faten Edriskhalaf, OD
Dr. Edris completed her optometry education at Southeastern University, followed by a specialized ocular disease residency at the esteemed Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. After her residency, she was appointed Director of Optometry at Humana, where she successfully established and managed innovative optometry practices.
Driven by a commitment to accessible, high-quality eye care, Dr. Edris founded Blinking Owl Eyecare™, a practice dedicated to expanding patient access. Blinking Owl Eyecare™ has since grown into multiple successful locations within Target Optical and LensCrafters, offering advanced services including ophthalmology co-management and continuing education.
Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Edris serves as a mentor OD for Target Optical and LensCrafters under Essilor Luxottica. She is also a speaker for CooperVision, a board member of the Civetta Group, and a consultant for several AI companies, further demonstrating her leadership in the field of Optometry.
Matthew Kay, MD
Dr. Kay received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Illinois, his medical training at Temple University, and his neuro-ophthalmoloy fellowship at the world renowned Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. He then served as a full-time faculty member at the prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami prior to inintiating the first full-time private practice devoted exclusively to neuro-ophthalmology to cover the tri-county area in Southeast Florida, Dr. Kay frequently teaches and lectures to practicing ophthalmologists, optometrists, residents, and students. Dr. Kay has helped create the neuro-ophthalmology study curriculum for practicing ophthalmologists who are studying to maintain their Board certification and annually co-teaches the neuro-ophthalmology portion of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's MOC Review Course.
Anne Kunkler, MD, Retina Specialist
Dr. Anne Kunkler is an Ophthalmology Specialist in Miami, Florida. She graduated with honors from Ohio State University College Of Medicine in 2018. Having more than 6 years of diverse experiences, especially in OPHTHALMOLOGY, Dr. Anne Kunkler affiliates with University Of Miami Hospital And Clinics, cooperates with many other doctors and specialists in medical group University Of Miami.
Alison Bozung OD FAAO
Alison Bozung OD FAAO graduated from Southern College of Optometry and later completed an ocular disease residency at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, FL. Dr. Bozung served as a clinical assistant professor in the University of Iowa's Department of Ophthalmology, practicing in both the Cornea and Comprehensive Ophthalmology services before returning to Bascom Palmer where she currently practices, primarily seeing patients in the hospital's 24/7 ophthalmic emergency department. She currently serves as the residency program associate director.
Dr. Bozung is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a member of local and national optometric associations. She is a regular contributor to optometric journals, lectures frequently, is a founding board member of Young OD Connect, and serves on the editorial boards for Review of Optometry and Eyes on Eyecare.
Joseph Sowka, OD, FAAO, Diplomate
Dr. Joseph Sowka is an attending optometric physician at Center for Sight in Sarasota, Florida, a large medical-surgical practice where he focuses on glaucoma management and neuro- ophthalmic disease. He was formerly Professor of Optometry at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry for 28 years where he served as Chief of The Advanced Care Service and Director of the Glaucoma Service at the College’s Eye Institute. He was the Program Coordinator and Supervisor for the Ocular Disease Residency. Dr. Sowka is a founding member of both the Optometric Glaucoma Society and Optometric Retina Society. He is also the Founder and Chair of the Neuro-
Ophthalmic Disorders in Optometry Special Interest Group for the American Academy of Optometry. Dr. Sowka is a Glaucoma Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry. He is a partner and co-owner of Optometric Education Consultants.