Optometric Insights Media

About  Dr. Julie Rodman

Is the Chief of the Broward Eye Care Institute in Fort Lauderdale, FL and a
Professor of Optometry at Nova Southeastern University. She also is the Instructor of Record
for Posterior Segment Disease at the College. Her research interests include OCT/OCTA and
Vitreoretinal Disease. Dr. Rodman has authored over thirty publications with an emphasis on
retinal disease. She recently published “Optical Coherence Tomography Atlas: A Case Study
Approach”, the first reference book on this topic written by an optometrist. Dr. Rodman is a
member of the AOA, AAO, FOA, and ORS. She has been the recipient of numerous teaching
awards, was recognized as a Primary Care Optometry News “Top 300” Optometrists and
“Newsweek Best Optometrists of 2023”.

About Kaleb Abbott

Is an optometrist and assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is faculty in both the Dry Eye Clinic and the Center for Ocular Inflammation where he specializes in complex ocular surface disease and participates in clinical trials/research pertaining to ocular surface disease. 

In addition to his clinical and research duties, he is on the board of directors for the Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society; Vice Chair of the Nutrition, Disease Prevention, and Wellness SIG for AAO; on the advisory council for the Academic Medical Center Optometry AAO SIG; and on the editorial advisory board for Optometry360. He will be graduating from the AAO Flom Leadership Academy at AAO 2024. In 2024, he became host of the Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease section of the Clinical Podcast Series through the American Academy of Optometry Foundation. 

In 2019, Kaleb co-founded a start-up company called SunSnap Kids which took 1st place in the inaugural Bright Ideas Pitch Competition in 2022 and 3rd place in the Optometry Innovation Awards in 2023. Recently he sold the majority of this company to focus more on his clinical and research responsibilities at the University of Colorado. 

When not seeing patients, conducting research, or working on SunSnap Kids, Dr. Abbott lectures on ocular surface disease, writes articles, and is a medical reviewer for multiple medical journals including The Ocular Surface and Optometry and Vision Science. He resides in Denver, CO with his wife, daughter, and newborn twins. 

About Mike Cymbor

Is a dynamic and engaging speaker.  He lectures frequently on the topics of glaucoma and advanced diagnostic procedures.  He also speaks on diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, dry eye and ocular surface disease.  He has a growing interest in the intersection between health, diet and ocular disease.  Dr. Cymbor is a managing partner in one of the largest optometric practices in the country.  He directly oversees a million dollar-plus contact lens practice.  Dr. Cymbor and his wife, Autumn, have three grown children.  He loves being a husband and a father.  Recreationally, he bikes, hikes, swims, runs and generally prefers to be in motion.

About Dr. Lighthizer

Born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota, Dr. Nate Lighthizer, O.D., F.A.A.O., is a graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry.  Upon graduation, he completed a residency in Family Practice Optometry with an emphasis in Ocular Disease and Laser and Surgical Optometry through Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry (NSUOCO).  Dr. Lighthizer has since joined the faculty at the Oklahoma College of Optometry and has served as the Chief of Specialty Care Clinics and the Chief of Electrodiagnostics Clinic.   In 2014, he founded and now heads the Dry Eye Clinic at the College of Optometry.  Also in 2014, he was named the Director of Continuing Education as well as the Assistant Dean for Clinical Care Services at the Oklahoma College of Optometry.  Starting in 2020, he was named the Associate Dean of the NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry.  In July 2024, he was named the Dean of the Oklahoma College of Optometry.  He is a founding member, and currently serves as Immediate Past President, of the Intrepid Eye Society which is a group of emerging thought leaders in optometry.  He was named a member of PCON 250 – A list of the top 250 optometrists in the country who practice progressively, provide innovative patient care, conduct optometric research or excel in academia and share what they have learned with other optometrists to advance the profession.  Dr. Lighthizer lectures nationally and internationally on numerous topics, most notably advanced ophthalmic procedures, electrodiagnostics, and ocular disease.