SANDRA S. BLOCK, OD, M Ed, FAAO, FCOVD

Professor of Optometry
BA, North Park College
BSVS OD, Illinois College of Optometry
M Ed, National Louis University

Dr. Block received her optometry degree in 1981 from the Illinois College of Optometry, after which she completed a Pediatric Residency at the same institution.  She has been on faculty at ICO since 1982 when she completed her residency.  In 1988, Dr. Block completed her Master of Education from National Louis University.  She has been a consultant to the Special Olympics Lions Clubs\International Opening Eyes program since 1995 and has instrumental in developing the vision screening program that is now conducted globally.  As a part of her involvement with the eye care of persons with intellectual disability, Dr. Block has been intimately involved in the development of aN educational program for optometry and ophthalmology which has already been translated to Mandarin.  The financial support for this educational tool has been provided through a generous grant from Lions Foundation (LCIF).

Dr. Block is an active member of the faculty and is an attending optometrist in the Pediatric / Binocular Vision Service.  Her interests lie in primary eye care for children of all ages and persons with disabilities, as well as, the process of diagnosis and treatment of visually related learning problems. Dr. Block has been supervising the Maryville Academy Satellite Clinic since 1989 where eye care is provided for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. 

Dr. Block has authored numerous publications and conducted presentations to students and peers.  She has been invited to present all over the world.  Dr. Block has been an active member of the American Academy of Optometry and American Optometric Association and sits on 2 committees for Prevent Blindness America. She is a fellow and has achieved the level of Diplomate in Public Health and Environmental Optometry at the American Academy of Optometry, as well as, achieving a Fellow in College of Optometrists in Visual Development.  She is currently working on a degree in Public Health with an emphasis in Epidemiology and Maternal and Child Health. 

T. JOEL BYARS, OD

Dr. Byars is an optometrist practicing in Morrow, Georgia. A Graduate of Southern College of Optometry, Dr. Byars is a past president of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and current Chairman of the Insurance Committee of the AOA. He has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Southern College of Optometry and has served as a member of the board of directors of Prevent Blindness America. He is a former recipient of the Georgia Optometrist of the Year award and the Georgia Optometric Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

MILDRED M.G. OLIVIER, MD

Associates Clinical Professor
Midwestern University

Assistant Clinical Professor
University of Chicago Rosalind Franklin Medical Center

Mildred M.G. Olivier, MD is an Associate Clinical Professor at Midwestern University at the St. James Osteopathic Hospital at Olympia Fields Osteopathic Hospital and Assistant Clinical Professor at John H. Stroger Jr., Hospital of Cook County.  She is currently the CEO of Midwest Glaucoma Center, P.C.   She received her undergraduate degree from Loyola University and her medical degree from Finch University Of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School.  She completed her Ophthalmology residency at Columbia University at Harlem Hospital Center in New York.  She completed her Fellowship in Glaucoma at the Kresge Eye Institute at Wayne State University under the direction of Dr. Dong Shin, M.D, PhD.

Dr. Olivier has served on the Advisory Council of the National Eye Institute, the Women’s Task Force and Women and Diversity Committee at the Association for Vision and Research in Ophthalmology, is a delegate for the AAO to the American Medical Association.  She also serves on the Commission to End Health Disparities and is the Chair of the Physicians Awareness Committee.  She serves as well on the Sullivan Alliance.  Dr. Olivier serves on the Board for Prevent Blindness America.  She is past President of the Chicago Chapter for the Haitian Physician’s Association (AMHE) and the Midwest Association of Haitian American Women which she founded in Chicago.  She is currently the President of the Chicago Glaucoma Society.  She is an active member of the American Glaucoma Society.   Dr. Olivier is the Membership Chair of the Women in Ophthalmology Meeting and the past chair of the last two conferences.  The last conference was a Leadership Summit held in Sedona Arizona. 

Dr. Olivier has published in major peer-reviewed journals and is one of the co-authors for Maintaining the Target Intraocular Pressure: African American Glaucoma Specialists  and the Glaucoma section in Clinical Eye Atlas.  She conducts regular medical mission to Haiti and serves on a number of voluntary health organizations. 

J. Timothy Stout, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.

Vice President, Commercialization Strategies, Oregon Health & Science University

Dr. Stout is the Vice President for the Commercialization Strategies program, which addresses OHSU’s interest in translating its research into products that benefit human health. Dr Stout is also an associate professor of ophthalmology at OHSU's Casey Eye Institute, where he specializes in pediatric vitreoretinal diseases and surgery. As the Director of the Clayton Genetics Laboratory his research interests include novel therapies for proliferative and inherited ocular disease, retinal disease genotype-phenotype correlation and ocular disease gene mapping and discovery.