New deans at optometry schools

Two schools of optometry recently announced changes in their leadership. The University of California at Berkeley School of Optometry appointed John Flanagan, MCOptom, PhD, FAAO, as its eighth dean, and The Ohio State University College of Optometry has named Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD, FAAO, as its first woman dean. 

Currently, Dr. Flanagan is professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, and the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto. In addition, he is director of the Glaucoma Research Unit at the Toronto Western Research Institute and a senior scientist at the Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network. Dr. Flanagan will succeed Dennis M. Levi, OD, PhD, who has held the position since 2001.

Dr. Zadnik currently serves as the Glenn A. Fry. Professor of Optometry Physiological Optics and associate dean at The Ohio State University College of Optometry. She will succeed Melvin D. Shipp, OD, MPH, who has been dean since 2004.

Drs. Flanagan and Zadnik will assume their new posts in June 2014.

In related news, Linda Casser, OD, dean of Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University, will be stepping down effective December 31, 2013. She will remain as interim associate dean for the Practice of Optometric Medicine from January 1, 2014, through at least June 30, 2014.