VM Global Leadership Summit Speakers

Christopher Brady, MD
Assistant Professor
Ophthalmology Division at the University of Vermont

Christopher Brady is an assistant professor in the Ophthalmology Division at the University of Vermont. Clinically, Chris is a  vitreoretinal surgeon and manages complex eye diseases in the office and operating room. He completed his undergraduate training at Columbia and then went to Medical School at Johns Hopkins. He then completed ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal fellowship at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. Following completion of his training, Chris was on the faculty of the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins for three years. While there he completed a Master in Health Science degree at the Bloomberg School of Public Health in Clinical Epidemiology as a part of a KL2 Clinical Research Scholars Awards. 

Chris’s research interests include public health ophthalmology and expansion of eye care services to underserved areas around the globe. In particular, he is interested in remote detection and management through telemedicine, and ensuring that novel technologies lead to improved public health. To that end he recently served as the chair of the ocular telehealth special interest group of the American Telemedicine Association and oversaw the publication of the 3rd edition of the ATA’s influential Practice Guideline for Ocular Telehealth Practice in 2020.

Jacqueline Evans, OD
Optometrist
Independent

Dr. Jacqueline Evans is a Licensed Optometrist who lives in Denver, Colorado, and practices as an independent Doctor of Optometry. Born and raised in San Francisco, California, Dr. Evans completed her undergraduate studies in Biological Anthropology at the University of California Los Angeles, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. She then went on to obtain her Doctor of Optometry degree at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. She began her career practicing in corporate Optometry for over 6 years in the Denver area before joining the DigitalOptometrics team as a remote tele-optometric provider in 2019. Dr. Evans specializes in contact lenses, dry eye treatment, as well as comprehensive optometric care. She is currently a member of the American Optometric Association and looks forward to integrating innovative telemedicine tools to aid in the advancement of global optometry. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her husband and son.

Deanna Ippolito, OD
Optometrist
Digital Optometrics

Graduated from SUNY Albany in 1991, SUNY College of Optometry in New York City in 1995. Spent the first few years practicing in busy commercial settings before opening Ippolito Eyecare in 1999.  Sold the private practice in May 2019, and started with Digital Optometrics in June, 2019.

Lives in Summit, NJ with optometrist husband and three daughters.

Kirk Lauterback
Chief Operating Officer
Shopko Optical

As Chief Operating Officer for Shopko Optical, Kirk Lauterback oversees the company’s retail optical centers, merchandising and its manufacturing facility in De Pere, WI. Lauterback started at Shopko Optical as an optician in July 1993 and has been with the company for over 26 years. Prior to becoming Chief Operating Officer in June 2019, he served as optical manager, district manager, regional optical supervisor, manager of merchandising and marketing, and director of optical services. His diverse experience within Shopko Optical adds to Lauterback’s vast lens manufacturing and clinic expertise. Lauterback completed his opticianry program and apprenticeship at Northern Virginia Community College. He is American Board of Optician Certified (A.B.O.C.), is a member of the Opticians Association of America (OAA) and a fellow of the National Academy of Opticianry (NAO). In addition to these qualifications, he also volunteers with Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH), Special Olympics and Kids In Focus through the Lions Club.

Wally Lovejoy
Consultant and Founder
Lovejoy Eyecare Consulting

Mr. Lovejoy is an independent health care consultant, specializing in eye care and optical retailing. He founded Lovejoy Eyecare Consulting in January 2012. His clients include the
National Association of Optometrists and Opticians (the NAOO), many of the top optical retailers in the US, private equity and venture capital organizations exploring investment
opportunities in the ophthalmic goods and services sector, eye care technology and ocular telemedicine companies and other health and wellness companies affected by state and federal regulation of health care services and prescription products.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the NAOO and on the Advisory Boards of OcuDoc Mobile (https://www.ocudocmobile.com) and Spect (https://www.getspect.com). He is also a member of the Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry Advisory Board and of the Board of Advisors for Per Scholas, a philanthropic educational organization whose mission is to open doors to transformative technology careers for individuals from often overlooked communities.

He was previously the Senior Vice President, Eye Care Development at Luxottica Retail North America (LRNA). In this role he oversaw the support for the optometrists and opticians affiliated in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. He was chair of the Board of Directors of EYEXAM of California, a licensed vision health care service plan, and was responsible for the operation of over 300 optometric offices owned and operated by Luxottica Retail companies.

He is the past chair of the Board of the Foundation for Eye Health Awareness & the original “Think About Your Eyes” coalition. He also served for over ten years as a member of the
OneSight Foundation Board of Directors.

Prior to joining LensCrafters in 1986, Mr. Lovejoy was regulatory counsel at Pearle Vision and an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission. He has a JD from the University of Texas, a MA (economics) from Northwestern & a BA from SMU. He is a licensed attorney in Ohio and Texas (inactive).

Harvey Moscot
Chief Executive Officer
Moscot

Dr. Harvey Moscot, fourth generation, is CEO of MOSCOT- a 106-year-old eyewear company. He has guided the evolution of The MOSCOT Brand from a neighborhood optical shop to a global fashion eyewear brand which operates globally in both B2C and B2B channels. As a graduate with honors from The New England College of Optometry his expertise spans many aspects of the eyecare and optical industries. He spearheaded the MOSCOT Mobileyes (501c3) eye care mission for underprivileged New Yorkers in 2008.  Additionally, as a lifelong guitarist/songwriter, Dr. Moscot developed MOSCOT Music which continues to delight MOSCOT fans at their privately hosted NYC “in shop” events. He still, when he has a moment, loves to strum his guitars, sip wine, and play golf but not at all the same time.

Sukumar Pandit, OD
Tele-Optometrist
20/20NOW

Sukumar Pandit graduated from the New England College of Optometry in 2003. Dr. Pandit has worked as a private practitioner/business owner, nursing home eyecare provider and now primarily works as a tele-optometrist with 20/20NOW. In addition, he provides nursing home eyecare and sees patients in person at Philadelphia Eyeglass Labs. He enjoys biking and playing spikeball with his wife and kids in his leisure time.

Julian Roberts
Executive Director
National Association of Vision Care Plans

Julian Roberts is the Executive Director of the National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP). NAVCP was founded in 2003 to serve the vision care industry as a forum for information exchange and a unified industry voice advocating for policies and legislation that increases consumer and employer access to affordable, quality eye care. NAVCP members cover 188 million of all Americans by partnering with eye care providers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

NAVCP is an affiliate association of American Association of Payers, Administrators and Networks (AAPAN), a national health industry association providing a unified, integrated voice for payers, TPAs, networks and care management in both commercial/government health and workers’ compensation. Roberts has served as President and CEO of AAPAN since 2016. Prior to stepping into these leadership roles, Roberts served for many years as Executive Vice President for the American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations (AAPPO).

A seasoned healthcare industry executive, Roberts previously held Vice President, Sales and Marketing positions for ppoNext and Preferred Plan.

He serves on the DeKalb County (metro Atlanta) Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a very active volunteer with the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation.

Michael Rothschild, OD
Founder
Leadership OD

Mike Rothschild, OD is founder of Leadership OD, a company dedicated to excellence in optometric practice. He is an international practice management speaker and presenter, most well-known for his innovative "Leadership Team" approach towards practice management (focusing on developing the leadership skills of staff to collectively manage the practice). He lectures frequently on team building and practice communications, and consults with practice owners in every phase of business growth, from startups to seasoned veterans.

Mike also founded a new eyecare practice focused on delivering comprehensive exams with distance providers and is an authority on delivery of eye care through all forms of
telemedicine.