TAOP Winter CE

6 hours COPE Accredited Synchronous Virtual

January 21 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. CENTRAL
January 22 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. CENTRAL

**Early Bird Pricing**

Day 1 (3 hours of CE)
$60 Member, $90 Non-Member

Day 2 (3 hours of CE)
$60 Member, $90 Non-Member

BUNDLE
Day 1 and 2 (6 hours of CE)
$90 Member, $150 Non-Member

January 18, 2025- late registration pricing
Day 1: Member $72, Non-Member $108
Day 2: Member $72, Non-Member $108
Bundle: Member $108, Non-Member $180

CE Lectures

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

6:00 PM CST “Neuro vs Glaucoma: You Make the Call” (2 hours) Speaker Walter Whitley, OD, MBA, FAAO and Katherine Rachon, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO; COPE #95642-NO

8:00 PM CST “Exploring the Ocular Surface Disease Pipeline” (1 hour) Speaker Walter Whitley, OD; COPE #94950-TD

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

6:00 PM CST “Technologies and Corneal Disease” (2 hours) - Speaker John Gelles, OD; COPE #TBD

8:00 PM CST “Tech Talk: Devices for the Contact Lens Practitioner” (1 hour) - Speaker John Gelles, OD; COPE #TBD

Registration Deadlines:

Please register by Friday, January 17, 2025, to avoid Late Registration Pricing.

No registration allowed after Monday, January 20, 2025.

Cancellation fee of $25; no refund after Friday, January 17, 2025.

Once you register, you will be emailed a link to the zoom webinar platform 1-2 days before the event.

PLEASE NOTE: We will send link to the email address used when registering.  If you don’t complete this step, you will not receive the live zoom link on the day of the event.

Course Descriptions:

Day 1 - Speakers Walter O. Whitley, O.D., MBA, F.A.A.O. and Katherine Rachon, O.D., F.A.A.O., Dipl ABO

“Neuro vs Glaucoma: You Make the Call” (2 hours)

TBD

“Ocular Surface Disease Pipeline” (1 hour)

TBD

Day 2 - Speaker John D. Gelles, OD

“Technologies and Corneal Disease” (2 hours)

TBD

“Tech Talk: Devices for the Contact Lens Practitioner” (1 hour)

TBD

About the Speakers

Walter O. Whitley, O.D., MBA, F.A.A.O.

Dr. Whitley is a nationally recognized lecturer and has given over 750 lectures and presentations on topics ranging from ocular disease, surgical co-management, pharmaceuticals and practice management topics. As an author, he has written dozens of articles for all the major optometric publications. Currently, he serves as co-chief medical editor of Collaborative Eye and Contributing Editor for the Review of Optometry.

Dr. Whitley chose to join VEC due to their reputation and involvement in clinical research. Over the past decade, Dr. Whitley has been involved in over two dozen clinical trials in pharmaceutical development and ophthalmic devices.

Originally from Nevada, Dr. Whitley and his wife Lindsay have been proud to call Virginia Beach their home for more than a decade. They have three boys, Beckam, Brock and Brady. In their free time, they enjoy going to the gym, going to Busch Gardens and Dave and Busters and spending time with their friends.

Katherine Rachon, O.D., F.A.A.O., Dipl ABO

Dr. Katherine Rachon is an optometrist at Virginia Eye Consultants with a special interest in managing ocular disease and post-operative care. Dr. Rachon took an active role in the American Optometric Student Association during her academic career, including serving as a delegate on the AOSA Board of Trustees. She received her Student Fellowship through the American Academy of Optometry and was a presenter at an Academy meeting to share her research on the visual acuities of lifeguards. Dr. Rachon served as Vice President of the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity chapter at Indiana University and traveled with them to Jamaica to assist in eye care missions for underserved patients. Her academic, leadership, and service pursuits were recognized by her peers who elected to award her the Jack Bennett Humanitarian Award.

Dr. Rachon completed a 13-month post-doctoral residency at Bennett and Bloom Eye Centers in Louisville, Kentucky, a competitive program where she trained intensively at glaucoma, retina, cornea, cataract and LASIK clinics. She pursued her passion for ocular disease by immediately joining the renowned doctors at Virginia Eye Consultants after the program’s conclusion.

A West Michigan native, Dr. Rachon participates in many water related activities, and no matter the weather, you may find her at the beach. Despite living in 3 different states for school, she remains a dedicated Indiana University football and basketball fan. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, tennis, traveling, volunteering, exploring historical sites, visiting museums and theaters, and building her creative skills.

John D. Gelles, O.D.

Dr. John D. Gelles, is the director of the specialty contact lens division of the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute, P.A. in Teaneck, NJ. He is a Specialty Contact Lens provider and PROSE Clinical Fellow.

Dr. Gelles is a world-renowned expert in specialty contact lens design, fitting, and management. Patients travel to our institute from all over the world for treatment due to his excellence in and dedication to the field of specialty contact lenses.

He graduated from the University of Oregon and received his optometry degree from the prestigious Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He is a clinical assistant professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and an adjunct clinical professor at State University of New York College of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry and New England College of Optometry.

He is a board member of the Contact Lens Society of America, an executive board member of the International Keratoconus Academy, and an advisory board member for the Gas Permeable Lens Institute. He serves as the education chair of several societies and academies. He is invited regularly to lecture nationally and internationally on specialty contact lenses and keratoconus. He is a frequent author in several medical journals and professional publications. As part of his academic position, he teaches optometry students and ophthalmology residents about specialty contact lenses and their role in visual rehabilitation and therapeutic treatment of ocular disease.