EYE UPDATE

MARITAL STATUS:

Married Wife: Cheryl W. Thomas
Daughters: Lauren and Susan

 

EDUCATION:

O.D., Doctor of Optometry
Pennsylvania College of Optometry
1200 West Godfrey Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May, 1981

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M.P.H., Master of Public Health
Department of Health Administration School of Public Health
University of North Carolina
May, 1976

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B.S., Bachelor of Science
Biology
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina
May, 1973

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A.S., Associate in Science
Western Piedmont Community College
Morganton, North Carolina
May, 1970

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Successfully completed the National Board Examination in Optometry. April, 1981. 

• Successfully completed the International Association of Boards of Examiners in Optometry examination on "Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease". May, 1986.

• Licensed by the State Board of Examiners in Optometry in North Carolina, September, 1981; Oklahoma, August, 1983; Tennessee, July, 1988.

 

POSITIONS OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:

• Group practice of optometry and ophthalmology, Concord, North Carolina -- June, 1993 to present.

• Private practice of optometry, Thomasville, North Carolina -- March, 1990 to June, 1993.

• Group practice of optometry, Fayetteville, North Carolina -- June, 1988 to March, 1990.

• Private practice of optometry and associate practice with ophthalmology. Tulsa, Oklahoma -- August, 1984 to May, 1988.

• Clinical Optometrist, Bolling Air Force Base Medical Clinic, Washington, District of Columbia -- July, 1981 to July 1984.

• Consultant, Appalachian District Health Department, Boone, North Carolina, 28607 -- Summer, 1978

• Request: To develop guidelines for the delivery of primary health care services by area health departments, and participate in departmental administrative activities.

• Research Assistant, Department of Dental Ecology, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina -- July, 1976 to July, 1977.

• Policy Analyst, Department of Health, Education and Welfare: Medical Services Administration, Division of Program Planning and Evaluation, Washington, District of Columbia -- Summer, 1975.

• High School Biology Teacher, Anson County Board of Education, Wadesboro, North Carolina -- August, 1973 to June, 1974.

HONORS:

• Presented with the 2014 "Vincent Ellerbrock Clinician Educator Award" by the American Academy of Optometry.

• Appointed as "Civilian National Consultant for Optometry" by the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General, 2005.

• Granted medical staff privileges at Carolinas Medical Center – Northeast, Concord, NC 2004 till present.

• Honored by the Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency Program with the "Ambulatory Teaching Award" for 2006.

• Awarded "Glaucoma Educator of the Year" by the American Academy of Optometry, 1997.

• Granted Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry, 1984. 

• Appointed as a member of the Adjunct Faculty, Pennsylvania College of Optometry of Salus University 1988 through 2014

• Ocular Pharmacology Consultant, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, 1995-2000.

• Awarded the William C. Ezell Award "For the Best Article Based on a Lecture given at the Southern Congress of Optometry", 1984.

• Selected by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry as a consultant in constructing questions in ocular disease and ocular pharmacology for the National Board Examination, 1985.

• Recipient of the Optometric Recognition Award in Continuing Education by the American Optometric Association, 1985.

• Appointed as a Regional Consultant to the Council on Clinical Optometric Care of the American Optometric Association, 1986 through 1998.

• Selected "Outstanding Young Men of America", U.S. Jaycees, 1983.

• Appointed as a member of the Hospital and Nursing Home Practice Committee of the American Optometric Association, 1983 through 1993.

• Air Force Commendation Medal Recipient for Meritorious Service, 1984.

• Appointed as Captain, Biomedical Science Corps, United States Air Force, 1981 through 1984.

• Elected into the Gold Key Optometric Service Honor Society, 1981.

• Selected to serve as a member of the Student Optometric Service to Haiti (S.O.S.H.) Team, 1981.

• Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, 1973.

 

CONCURRENT EDUCATION TRAINING:

 

Externship Training:

Fourth Professional year, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1980 to 1981.

 

Private Practice of Steven Greenberg, M.D., Moshe Adler, M.D., and Bruce Pierson, O.D., Brookville General Hospital, Brookville, Pennsylvania.

 

Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage, Alaska, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Public Health Service Hospital, Bethel, Alaska.

 

W.W. Hastings Indian Health Service Hospital, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Lesley L. Walls, M.D. served as preceptor.

 

Internship Training:

Second Professional Year, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, 1976.

Health Committee of the House of Representatives, North Carolina General Assembly, Raleigh, North Carolina. This Study was taken entirely on location at the State Legislature Building. While an intern, I sat with the Committee and participated in most of the affairs of the Committee.

POST-GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL SHORT COURSE:

Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Course in Ophthalmic Pathology for Ophthalmologists, Washington, District of Columbia, 1982.

CONSULTATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL LECTURESHIPS:

I have lectured at over 800 continuing medical education conferences throughout the world. These lectures are all related to ocular pharmacology, ocular differential diagnosis, and medical management of eye diseases.

 

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS:

I have co-authored over 100 articles on widely Co-Authored with diverse topics in the field of medical eye care. (Ron Melton, O.D., F.A.A.O. - Charlotte, N.C.)
 

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

• American Optometric Association

• American Academy of Optometry

• North Carolina State Optometric Society

• Life Member of Alumni Association, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill