Current Officers

Chancellor:
James O. LaMotte, Ph.D., O.D., F.A.A.O.
Dr. LaMotte received his OD from New England College of Optometry and PhD from U of Arizona.  He is currently Professor, Division of Basic and Vision Science at Southern California College of Optometry. He also served on faculty at Illinois College of Optometry and University of Waterloo.  His research and publications are in the area of biology, chemistry, endocrinology, animal physiology, biochemistry, physiology and reproductive physiology.  In addition to numerous awards, Dr. LaMotte has been awarded SCCO Teacher of the year nine times.

Chancellor-Elect:
Janet L. Leasher, OD, MPH
Dr. Leasher received her OD degree from Pacific University and her MPH from Tulane University. She is currently the Director of Community Outreach for Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry. She is the Regional Coordinator for the UNESCO Chair in Visual Health and Development for North America and Vice Chair of the Public Health and Development Committee for the World Council of Optometry (WCO). She was instrumental in founding the Assoc of Latin American Educators and Faculties. She is editor and chapter contributor to a bilingual CD-Rom and textbook “Visual Health and Development”, a training course to teach these topics globally in eye care professionals schools.

Vice Chancellor:
Robert S. Duszak, OD, FAAO
Dr. Duszak received his OD from Pennsylvania College of Optometry with a degree in Economics from LaSalle University. He is currently co-director of the residency program at the Philadelphia VAMC, holds staff positions at the Nemours Health Clinic, The Eye Institute in Philadelphia, PCO and SUNY. He is also in private practice and provides eye care to the Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership. He is member of numerous organizations and has written and lectured extensively on various ophthalmic subjects including treatment and management of ocular disease.

Secretary/Treasurer:
James M. Kluckman, O.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.O.

Dr. Kluckman graduated from the Southern College of Optometry and holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas, Health Science Center. Currently, he is a senior life scientist with Science Application International Corporation supporting the Department of Defense and the U.S. Army Medical Command. He retired from the Army with over 30 years as an Army optometrist. His tours included assignment as the Optometry Consultant to the U.S. Army Surgeon General and as Executive Officer, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. His overseas tours included Tehran, Iran; Landstuhl, Germany; and Saudi Arabia during Operations Dessert Shield and Dessert Storm. Dr. Kluckman served on the volunteer structure of the American Optometric Association (Membership Services and Federal Relations Advisory committees) for 16 years and is a two-time past president of the Armed Forces Optometric Society (AFOS). He is a former adjunct faculty member for the New England, Pennsylvania, Southern, and University of Houston colleges of optometry. His honors and military awards include the AFOS Orion award, the Order of Military Medical Merit, the Army Surgeon General's "A" designator for professional excellence and the Legion of Merit medal.

Executive Director:
Todd Fleischer, BA
Todd Fleischer is a 1994 graduate of Kansas State University with dual degrees in Journalism and Marketing. He has served as the communications director for the Kansas Optometric Association in Topeka since 1995, and he has had the opportunity to work in a variety of aspects with the optometric association, including desktop publishing, web development, grant-writing and administration, accounting, database management, public speaking, media relations and other activities.

Todd is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications through K-State and the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation through the American Society of Association Executives.

In addition to having served as president of the Public Relations Society of Topeka, Todd has just completed his term as chair of the United Way of Greater Topeka’s Success By 6 Coalition Steering Committee and is a board member of the Heights of Learning Pre-School. He is a member of the Kansas Society of Association Executives, the International Association of Optometric Executives, and the United Way of Great Topeka’s Communications Committee. Todd and his wife, Staci reside in Topeka with their two children.

Board of Regents

The Board of Regents reviews applications for Beta Sigma Kappa research grants and makes recommendatios to the CWC.


Willard B. Bleything, O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O., F.C.O.V.D., F.N.A.P.O.
Chair
Dr. Willard B. Bleything holds the rank of Distinguished Professor of Optometry and Public Health and is assigned additional administrative duties as Director of Graduate and International Programs within the College of Optometry, Pacific University, Oregon. Prior to this he served for 17 years as dean of Optometry at Pacific University that practiced in Central Oregon for 16 years. His research interests center around health care delivery issues including international optometry as well as pediatric optometry. He has over 40 publications in various professional journals and has lectured widely in countries such as China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and Germany. Along with serving as the president of his state optometric association, he has been a state board president and president of the schools and colleges of optometry. He currently holds the position of Secretary-General, Asia-Pacific Council of Optometry and as Member, Education committee of the World Council of Optometry. The WCO named him 2002 International Optometrist of the year.

Siu G. Wong, O.D., M.P.H., D.O.S., F.A.A.O.
Graduate of the University of California School of Optometry, Berkeley.  She retired from the US Public Health Service - Indian Health Service where she served as the Chief of Optometry, Area Optometrist of the IHS Albuqerque Area and COO of the NM Tribal Health Care Alliance. She has been awarded several medals including the USPHS Distinguished Medal, the AOPAC Samual Lin Award and the APHA Distinguished Service award.  She is a member of the NM Optometric Association, AOA, AAO, American Public Health Association, the Commissioned Officer Association, Women of Vision, and the American Academy of Practices.  She has been active in all of these professional associations and has served in many officer and committee positions.  She has been adjunct clinical professor at the University of Houston and the Colleges of Optometry at Southern California, Pennsylvania and New England.  Her area of interest are public health and quality assurance and has published and lectured in these areas. She and her husband, William L. Jones, OD, have one daughter, Yung.

Bradford W. Wild, O.D., M.S., Ph.D., D.O.S., D.Sc.
Dr. Wild has held the position of dean, professor of optometry, School of Optometry/The Medical Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, dean, professor of optometry, Pacific University College of Optometry, member of the faculty council, The Ohio State University committee on continuing education, college of optometry. He was a research optometrist, general vision section U.S. medical research laboratories, U.S. naval submarine base, New London, Connecticut and in private practice of optometry. He has held many offices within his professional affiliations. He was on the cost study committee of the national academy of sciences, national institute of medicine, member of the national rural health association and member of the national academy of practice. Has over 40 publications in numerous journals and authored three books.

Alfred A. Rosenbloom, O.D., D.O.S., Ph.D.
Dr. Rosenbloom has been cited as a ”visionary leader”, his career is marked by stellar accomplishments as a teacher, writer, lecturer and administrator and is the recipient of numerous awards. In 1981 he was appointed as Illinois College of Optometry’s first and only Distinguished Professor. Previously he served as dean and the President. He has published more than 75 professional journal articles on topics of low vision rehabilitation, optometric gerontology, optometric education and public health, has co-authored three major textbooks and was a contributing author to nine textbooks. Dr. Rosenbloom has served as the founding Director of the Low Vision Service of the Chicago Lighthouse. He has established low vision clinics at the Homai College, New Zealand’s residential school for children who are blind and visually impaired, as well as at the School of Optometry, University of Auckland, New Zealand. As a leader in VOSH (volunteer Optometrists Serving Humanity), he has participated in over 20 humanitarian eyecare missions in developing countries and has organized low vision clinics for the Associations for the Blind in Hong Kong and Singapore. He is founding and current Director of Low Vision Services, The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are blind or Visually Impaired. He is a member, medical staff, department of ophthalmology, Rush North Shore Medical Center, Skokie, Illinois, Adjunct professor, department of ophthalmology, University of Illinois Medical Center and lecturer in ophthalmology, Rush St. Luke’s department of ophthalmology.

Paulette P. Schmidt, O.D., M.S.
Dr. Schmidt serves as chairman of the Curriculum Committee, is a member of the Graduate Faculty and Chief, Infant/Exceptional Child Vision Testing Laboratory at The Ohio State University. Dr.Schmidt holds a Master of Science (Physiological Optics) and is course instructor for strabismus and orthoptics, pediatric optometry, strabismus, visual perception, binocular vision, physiological optics – vision of children. She has more than 100 papers published and presented, several with co-authors, and since 1983 has received funding for fifteen research projects. she is on the Editorial boards and is a Referee for numerous optometric publications. Dr. Schmidt is also a reviewer for Butterworth-Heinemann Publishers, C. V. Mosby book Publishers and International Optometry Clinics.

Anthony P. Cullen, MSc., O.D., Ph.D., DSc., FCOptom., F.A.A.O., DipC.L.P.
Dr. Cullen is Associate Dean of Science and Professor, Biology (cross appointment) at the University of Waterloo, Canada. He has degrees from University of London, England; Saskatchewan, Canada; Pennsylvania College of Optometry (O.D.); and Northeastern State University (certificate in Ocular Therapeutics). Since 1961 Dr. Cullen has held positions in optometry at Canterbury, England; Aden, South Yemen; Northampton, England; University of Saskatchewan, Canada; University of Houston, and University of Waterloo, Canada. He has a wide experience in research and is an expert reviewer for United Nations and World Health Organization related to ultraviolet effects. Member UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel and member ACG1H physical agents committee. During the last three years Dr. Cullen has presented at 21 symposia, 148 lectures and 81 conference communications. He has written 81 refereed articles, 20 books, chapters, proceedings, 17 book reviews and 44 other articles and publications. Current teaching duties in the professional program are: history & orientation. Guest lectures in systemic disease, clinical techniques, ocular disease (anterior segment) case analysis and optometric therapies, clinical program ocular health clinic and primary care clinic.

Elizabeth Hoppe, B.S., O.D., M.PH., Dr.PH.
It is an honor to introduce you to our two new members of the Board of Regents. Dr. Elizabeth Hoppe received her B.S. and O.D. at Ferris State University College of Optometry, M.PH at Yale University, and Dr.PH at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Diplomate Public Health and Environmental Vision. Her teaching appointments took her to University of Houston College of Optometry, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, New England College of Optometry and then to Southern California College of Optometry as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor with Tenure Awarded. While at SCCO she was faculty advisor for student senior research projects. Dr. Hoppe is presently the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at The New England College of Optometry. She has presented an extensive number of papers to the AAO, American Public Health Association Annual Meetings and numerous other organizations and has authored material appearing in a long list of publications.

Bruce I. Gaynes, O.D., M.S., Pharm.D.
Dr. Gayness received his B.S. and O.D. from Illinois College of Optometry his M.S. from Indiana University and from the University of Illinois the Pharm.D. He has broad experience in research in the fields of vision and pharmacy. Dr. Gayness has authored and co-authored many papers for Peer Reviewed Journals on subjects concerning both vision and pharmacy. Professionally he has served as Assistant Professor of Optometry, Attending Staff Optometrist, Indiana University, School of Optometry. Dr. Gaynes is Research Coordinator, Director of Research Administration, Rush-College of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Research Director, Ophthalmology and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Pharmacology at Rush College of Medicine. He has been an invited lecturer by the American Medical Association, rush University, Office of Research Affairs and the International Conference on Aging.

Dr. Gaynes is a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry, Member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology and board member of the American Foundation for the Blind, Midwest National Technology Center.

Janet L. Leasher, OD, MPH

Siu G. Wong, O.D., M.P.H., D.O.S., F.A.A.O.