2026 GCER | Schedule & Speakers - Broward County Optometric Association

2026 Gold Coast Educational Retreat

Schedule & Speakers

Schedule & Speakers

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Saturday January 17th, 2026

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7:00 am – 8:00 am

Registration and Breakfast – Exhibit Hall Opens

8:00 am – 9:40 am

The Best Way to Manage the Case: Who Said It Best?

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COPE: 101952-GO
FL, SC: 20-1345532
TX: 20-1347519

Image of Rebecca Miller, OD

Rebecca Miller, OD

Diana Shechtman, OD

2/TQ

9:40 am – 10:00 am

Break and Exhibit Hall

10:00 am -10:50 am

Eye on Myopia Control Management

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COPE: 101556-GO
FL, TX, SC: 20-1340733

Brianna Rhue, OD

1

10:50 am – 11:40 am

Eye on Nutrition

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COPE: 101525-GO
FL, TX, SC: 20-1344640

Steven Newman, OD

1

11:40 am – 1:00 pm

Lunch and Exhibit Hall

1:00 pm – 2:40 pm

Cataract Co-management “Hype or Help” Who Said It Best?

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COPE: 101950-PO
FL, SC: 20-1345788
TX: 20-1346119

Image of Rebecca Miller, OD

Rebecca Miller, OD

Carlos Buznego, MD

Marc Bosem, MD

2/TQ

2:40 pm – 3:10 pm

Break and Exhibit Hall

3:10 pm – 4:50 pm

Eye on Aesthetics

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COPE: 101953-TD
FL, TX, SC: 20-1345192

Beatta Lewandowska, OD

Dan Georgescu, MD

Aliza Epstein, MD

2/TQ

4:50 pm – 6:00 pm

Exhibit Hall Closes for the Day and Happy Hour

Sunday, January 18th, 2026

7:00 am – 8:00 am

Registration and Breakfast – Exhibit Hall Opens

8:00 am – 9:40 am

Breaking the Retinal Vascular DaVinci Code

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COPE: 101949-TD
FL, TX, SC: 20-1345196

Aaron Gold, OD

Marco Gonzalez, MD

Gary Sheinbaum, MD

2/TQ

9:40 am – 10:00 am

Break and Exhibit Hall

10:00 am -11:40 am

Cranial Conundrum: Clinical Pearls for Intracranial Disease

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COPE: 101951-NO
FL, TX, SC: 20-1344603

Joseph Sowka, OD, FAAO, Diplomate

2/TQ

11:40 am – 12:40 pm

Lunch and Exhibit Hall

(Exhibit Hall Closes at 12:40)

12:40 pm – 2:20 pm
Concurrent

Prevention of Medical Errors

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COPE: 99980-EJ
FL, TX, SC: 20-1327093

12:40 – 2:20pm
2hrs

Joseph Sowka, OD, FAAO, Diplomate

Delegate to Elevate: Getting More by Doing Less

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COPE: 101534-PM
FL, TX, SC: 20-1344586

12:40 – 1:30
1hr

Ben Thayil, OD

Eye on HIV

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COPE: 101535-SD
FL, TX, SC: 20-1344922

1:30 pm – 2:20pm
1hr

Jessica Steen, OD

2:20 pm – 2:30 pm

Break and Exhibit Hall Closes (2:30)

2:30 pm – 4:10 pm

Florida Jurisprudence Update

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FL, SC, TX: 20-1336745

David Rouse, OD

2hrs

4:10 pm

Conference Ends

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.

Diana L. Shechtman O.D., F.A.A.O

Dr. Diana Shechtman is a board-certified optometrist who obtained her degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1998. She completed an ocular disease residency at Fox Medical Center in Miami in 1999. She later obtained her oral prescription certification and DEA. She has worked within ophthalmology practices for nearly a decade and was a full-time professor for 18 years at Nova Southeastern University. Among her many roles, she served as the coordinator of the Diabetes & Macula Clinic and the Director of Interdisciplinary Education Program. She completed a 6-month retinal clinic shadowing sabbatical. She worked at Retina Macula Specialists of Miami, as well as Eye Centers of South Florida, as a consultative optometrist, practicing in full scope medical optometry. She also served as an adjunct professor for several colleges of optometry, through her participation in externship educational programs. She is currently the consultative optometrist at Loh Ophthalmology & Associates and Retina Consultants of Miami.

Dr. Shechtman continues to serve as a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and numerous local and national organizations. She is an active board member for Women in Eyecare (WIE) and Latino en Optometry (LEO). She is also a member of numerous professional committees, including the Broward County Optometric Association. She is the CE director for Gold Coast meeting and host of the upcoming “Dueling Perspective (Facebook/Fluorence Media) Podcast.” She is currently also the host of “AOECE Master Series.” She participated on numerous research projects, Industry Advisory Boards and Professional Speakers Bureaus. Dr. Shechtman has also participated as a member of several Editorial Review Boards and had co-authored various columns. She continues to participate in journal publications and poster presentations. She’s been named by Newsweek “One of the Best Eye Doctors.” Dr. Shechtman has lectured extensively at a local, national & international level in ocular disease. She is fluent in Spanish.

Dan Georgescu, MD

Dr. Dan Georgescu (Dr. DAN) is an oculofacial plastic surgeon specialized in the cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the eyelids and the face. He is, however, a comprehensive oculofacial surgeon with great expertise in orbital (eye socket) and lacrimal (tear duct) surgery. He is dual board certified by the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery (ABFCS) and the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS). He is the Hon. Secretary of the European Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ESOPRS).

A graduate of Yale University, Dr Dan Georgescu trained at Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake City, the Nr. 1 ophthalmology residency training program in the West followed by a 2-year ASOPRS fellowship at The Center for Facial Appearances with Drs Richard Anderson and John McCann, the most sought-after oculofacial plastic surgery training program in the country. In 2010, Dr DAN became a clinical professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore followed by 5 years of international work in Europe and Asia. Dr DAN has been in private practice in Fort Lauderdale since 2016.

Dr Georgescu has performed over 10,000 eyelid and facial surgical procedures and has worked in 6 countries (USA, France, Spain, Romania, Andorra, Cambodia and Lebanon) on 3 continents. He is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Romanian and can communicate in Portuguese, Creole, Italian, Catalan and German.

Dr Dan Georgescu is a frequent lecturer at national and international meetings where he presents his innovative techniques for facial rejuvenation. His leading research is focused on brow fat and orbital fat transposition around the eyes for correcting age-related volume loss at the time of eyelid lift surgery. Dr Georgescu is the author of over 50 peer-reviewed publications in the most prestigious journals in the field, such as: Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (OPRS), The Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, Orbit, The Journal of Neuroscience and Cell.

Dr DAN loves living in South Florida with his family, but he remains a World traveler and gastronomic enthusiast. He is also an outdoors lover, with surfing, skiing, hiking, mountain biking and climbing being among his favorite sports.

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.

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.

Carlos Buznego, MD

Carlos Buznego, MD is a founding partner of the Center for Excellence in Eye Care in Miami, Florida, a 14 MD/ 2 OD Multi-specialty ophtalmology center in South Florida, where he specializes in Refractive Cataract surgery, Minimally Invasive Glaucoma surgery and laser refractive anterior surgery. He is an active faculty staff member at Baptist Hospital of Miami. He is also a voluntary Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Florida International University College of Medicine and at the Univerity of Miami's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

Dr. Buznego earned his bachelors and medical degrees from Washington University in St. Louis where he accumulated various honors including being named a "Scholar in Medicine". Dr. Buznego was awarded "Grand Prize in Ophthalmology" for his accomplishments at the Washington University Medical School. He completed his training in Ophthalmology at the prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in 1991.

Highly respected by his peers, Dr. Buznego has been named one of the "Best Doctors in South Florida" in Miami Metro magazine's poll of physicians. Dr. Buznego served as President of the Dade County Medical Association in 2002, as the youngest President in the history of the DCMA. He also served as the President of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO), establishing himself as a leader amongst Florida's Eye Physicians and Surgeons. In 1996, the FSO named Dr. Buznego, "Young Ophthalmologist of the Year". Dr. Buznego served on the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s OPHTHPAC Committee Board. He received the AAO’s Secretariat Award in 2004, the AAO Achievement Award in 2008 and the Senior Achievement award in 2022. He is active on the Board of Directors for several other medical and ophthalmology organizations.

Dr. Buznego has been a principal investigator and a sub-investigator for various FDA phase III and IV studies for topical steroids, NSAIDs, antibiotics, glaucoma and dry eye therapies as well as IOLs and glaucoma surgical implants.

Dr. Buznego is married with two adult children and is an avid professional and collegiate sports fan. He enjoys skiing, boating and politics.