Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Linda Casser

Dr. Linda Casser has had a career of service — to three Colleges of Optometry, the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry.  Her career concluded with being granted Professor Emerita status in August 2022 from Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry.  She’s an author, mentor, and industry leader, and someone I consider having established the bedrock foundation for modern Optometry.  Dr. Casser has always championed the powerful, positive impact of women in Optometry.

 

Her many stories weave together to demonstrate her commitment to patient safety, advancement of the profession of Optometry, and a steadfast view that Optometric education should continue to advance to best serve the patient.  Whether it’s hearing about her being part of one of Optometry’s first residency programs, or her role in leadership of the Indiana Optometric Association, or her efforts to lead interprofessional health care education programs, Dr. Casser has been a part of incredible teams that advanced eye care.

 

In this episode, you will hear about her long and winding road from graduation from IU in 1978, to PCO, back to IU, to Pacific University, and then back to PCO.  She shares insights about some of her colleagues with whom she partnered in various endeavors, a list that is truly a “who’s who” of Optometry.  Dr. Casser is certainly one of those!  As a current member of the AOA Optometric Historical Society Committee, this set of stories are truly a series of important steps in the advancement of the profession, as influenced so positively by her involvement.

 

The Stories within The Story Include:

1:09  The Retired but Contributing Story

2:29  The NBEO Story

7:15  The Advancing Education Story

9:53  The Upbringing Story

11:47  The Path Into Optometry Story

18:09  The Early Optometry Residency Story

23:56  The Start in Academics at PCO Story

28:01  The Headed Back to IU Story

31:00  The Pacific Story

32:56  The Advancing PCO/Salus Story

41:59  The Academy Story

45:49  The Indiana Volunteerism Story

48:51  The ASCO Story

52:37  The Mentorship Story

 

Runtime:  1 hr 1 min