Meet The Board

Kathy credits the University of Iowa Orthoptic training program for providing her with a strong base of knowledge and the necessary skills to help her examine both pediatric and adult patients with a variety of complex strabismus conditions.  She enjoys all aspects of being an orthoptist; from her interactions with patients to the international work that she does on the International Orthoptic Council.  She sees FOREA as the ideal organization to support orthoptic students in their research endeavors.

Kyle is the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Binocular Vision and Ocular Motility and is the orthoptic program director at the Ross Eye Institute. Her vision of FOREA is to create a foundation that will inspire and facilitate clinical research in orthoptic science, done by orthoptists and published in orthoptic journals, for the goal of improving the lives of patients.

Claire's exposure to orthoptics began at 5 months of age when she became a patient of world-renowned pediatric ophthalmologist, Dr. Gunter von Noorden. Through this exposure, she knew at the age of 10 that she wanted to be an orthoptist. With this unique perspective on eye motility disorders, she has a particular interest in helping adults with a history of childhood strabismus.

Megan Furlong completed her Orthoptic training at the Ross Eye Institute in Buffalo, NY with Kyle Arnoldi, CO.  She is currently the Ophthalmology Clinic Manager at Children’s Hospital Colorado.  Megan loves being a Fusionista and is dedicated to the treatment of pediatric vision disorders of binocular vision.      

Married to fellow FOREA board member and orthoptist, Jorie Jackson, Brian joined FOREA to help promote the education of new orthoptists so that future generations have the best eye care possible. His business expertise provides a unique and valuable addition to the FOREA board where he helps manage the financial operations of the organization.

FOREA is the brain child of Jorie, who wanted a way to provide more financial resources to students in the field of orthoptics. Through the creation of the foundation, she hopes to help grow the profession and in doing so, help more adults and children with strabismus and binocular vision disorders.

Linda has a special interest in aiding pediatric and adult patients with visual disturbances, especially in traumatic brain injury.  After doing her orthoptic training at The Hospital for Sick Children (Sickkids), she joined the staff to train future orthoptists, serving as the Program’s Director for several of her years there.  She then joined the Sickkids Eye Movement lab in 2004, with focused research on eye movements and amblyopia.  She joins the FOREA Board with hopes of promoting mentorship in orthoptic research.

As the daughter of ophthalmologist and orthoptist parents, Leslie has been immersed in the eyecare profession from a young age. She has a particular interest in amblyopia and the impact accommodation has on vision development. Her hope is that FOREA will grow  to support clinical research in her areas of interest.

Aaron's first exposure to orthoptics was as an ophthalmology resident when he was taught the sensory components to binocular vision by fellow FOREA board member, Claire Hennessey. This experience combined with his partnering in practice with fellow FOREA board member, Jorie Jackson, has allowed him to help many adults and children with binocular vision disorders and strabismus.

Despite being retired from her position at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, Carole continues to be active in the orthoptic profession and has a particular interest in visual electrophysiology. Through FOREA, she hopes to raise funding for orthoptic science research that will allow orthoptists and orthoptic students to pursue their own research interests.

Gill is a Professor of Ophthalmology at Saint Louis University Medical Center where she specializes in complex adult strabismus and neuro-ophthalmology. Her goal is to create an endowment through FOREA that can provide grants to orthoptists and orthoptic students and see the results of their scientific research presented and published.

Born in England, Rachael Jenkins was introduced to orthoptics as a child when she was treated for amblyopia by an orthoptist. This exposure helped her choose orthoptics as her career. She considers herself blessed to be working in the field of pediatric and neuro ophthalmology and being able to help patients with gaining binocular vision and treating amblyopia. She is passionate about improving orthoptic education, growing the field of orthoptics and providing support for orthoptic clinical research.

100 years ago, orthoptics advanced a vision that centering ophthalmology around childhood eye care would have a lasting impact.  50 years later, Nobel-winning scientists Huber and Wiesel discovered the existence of a limited, critical period within which practitioners such as orthoptists can research, detect and restore vision in almost every child.  Today, science-fueled orthoptics prepares its members to build on these considerable successes.  We pursue new, pressing challenges in big data, health inequity and the communication of research, all domains of interest to Dr. Nyong’o. There has never been a time in ophthalmology, where so much opportunity to help so many visually impaired children reach their full potential, depended on the support of so small and specialized a profession. 

Judy’s career in orthoptics began in the mid-1980s under the direction of Arlene Stearns, CO from the Kresge Eye Institute in Detroit, MI.  Arlene was an inspiring mentor for Judy, instilling a dedication to developing astute clinical orthoptic skill with great regard for the binocular sensory status of strabismic children and adults.  Although now retired from full time work, over the years Judy has served the field of orthoptics as an Orthoptic Training Program Director and senior orthoptic staff member at Children’s Eye Care of Michigan, as well as an involved member of the American Association of Certified Orthoptists.  She is eager to work within FOREA to help grow the profession by supporting promising, eager orthoptic students.

Yeana was introduced to orthoptics through her early interest in eye care. She pursued the field and completed her orthoptic training at the Ross Eye Institute in Buffalo, NY under the guidance of Kyle Arnoldi, CO. She herself received support from FOREA as a student and hopes to provide the same support to more orthoptic students. She strives to help FOREA grow to allow more students and orthoptists pursue their passions and expand the profession.

Jaime received her BS in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Philadelphia and currently is the founder and creative director for the marketing agency Woodlands Creatives. Through her friendship with Jorie Jackson, she joined the FOREA Board with a passion to help non-profit organizations succeed to affordable and compelling marketing, website production and graphic design initiatives. 

Hilary received her law degree from South Texas College of Law and is currently the Vice President and Trust Advisor at Regions Financial Corporation. She advises individual and special needs clients on complex estate planning and financial planning matters and foundation clients on long range planning from legal and financial perspectives. Because of her longterm friendship with Claire Hennessey, Hilary has volunteered her professional services and guidance to FOREA.