PRESIDENTS' PEARLS SPEAKERS 

Speaker: Dr. Brenda Montecalvo, OD, FOVDR, FAAO, FCSO 

Topic: Assessment and Treatment of Complicated Neurological Disorders: PPPD, Visual Snow, Long COVID & Lyme Disease

Brenda Montecalvo, OD, FOVDR, FAAO, FCSO is an optometrist, author and sought-after international lecturer who is passionate about the areas of neuro-optometric rehabilitation (NOR), strabismus and amblyopia, and vision and learning.

She is Past-President of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association and is the 2015 recipient of the Advancement of Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Award.

Dr. Montecalvo is the author of Visual Secrets for School Success, co-author of the American Optometric Association (AOA) Brain Injury Manual, and conducts seminars on optometric vision therapy, NOR, and practice management. She is a member of the AOA InfantSEE Committee and the AOA Vision Therapy Task Force, and is President of the College of Syntonic Optometry. She is Past-Chair of the AOA Vision Rehabilitation Section and Past-President of the Ohio Optometric Association.

Speaker: Dr. DeAnn Fitzgerald

Topic: Brain-based Therapies: Multisensory Treatment

DeAnn Fitzgerald, O.D., Immediate Past President of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), is dedicated to providing ocular health evaluations and visual rehabilitation for patients with acquired brain injuries. She has been serving eastern Iowa since 1984 and currently runs a busy primary care clinic. In 2007, she opened Cedar Rapids Vision in Motion, a multi-disciplinary clinic specializing in low vision and vestibular rehabilitation. Dr. Fitzgerald recently launched Active Evolution Studio, focused on sports vision and concussion care.

With a background in sports, including semi-professional softball, Dr. Fitzgerald has facilitated over 17,000 concussion baseline tests in Cedar Rapids. She also provides sports vision training for local amateur and professional teams and works with Metro Youth Football to implement baseline screening for young athletes. Her protocols have attracted attention from the NFL.

Dr. Fitzgerald is CIC certified in ImPACT concussion management and has lectured nationally on neuro-rehabilitation and concussion. She is a member of several professional organizations, including AOA, IOA, COVD, OEPF, and IAFNR.

Speaker: Drs. Ayra Sayyed and Damien Gietzen (representing Dr. Bill Padula)

Topic: Visual Challenges in Complex Illnesses: Lyme Disease and Mold Toxicity

Dr. Ayra Sayyed

Dr. Ayra Sayyed, a graduate of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, completed her Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation residency in 2020 at the Padula Institute of Vision. During her residency, she presented at multiple conferences and has lectured on Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation. Dr. Sayyed earned her Fellowship from the American Academy of Optometry in 2021 and is a candidate for the Fellowship of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.

She serves as a Research Coordinator for Padula Rehabilitation Technologies, assisting with the development of new Optometric Rehabilitative Technologies, including her work with VeyeZERTM and SphereGen Technologies on Mixed Reality and Virtual Reality devices.

Dr. Sayyed has been active in volunteer work, including organizing a medical trip to Nicaragua and participating in Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Optometry, Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, and Connecticut Association of Optometrists.

Dr. Damien Gietzen

Dr. Damien Gietzen, originally from metro Detroit, earned his bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Wayne State University and graduated in 2020 from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) with Beta Sigma Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honors. During his training, he served as an optometric tutor and treasurer of the Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity group, providing care to underserved populations in Worcester, MA.

After graduation, Dr. Gietzen completed the National Institute of Health-funded RJ Apell / C Nelson Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Fellowship at the Padula Institute of Vision Rehabilitation. His fellowship focused on treating visual-spatial processing dysfunctions, including those related to brain injuries, Lyme disease, and neuro-degenerative disorders. He also led research on the correlation between visual evoked potential changes and visuospatial deficits in post-trauma vision syndrome, completing the fellowship in 2021.

Dr. Gietzen now practices at  Great Lakes Vision Rehabilitation in Michigan and is pursuing the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) Fellowship. He is also contributing to the World Health Organization’s Myopia Task Force and looks forward to future research in neuro-optometry alongside Dr. Nichols.

Speaker: Dr. Vince Vicci, Jr., O.D., D.P.N.A.P., F.N.O.R.A

Topic: Progressive Neurological Disease and Visual Consequences There of

Vincent R. Vicci Jr., O.D.P.A. is a 1981 graduate of Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He is in private practice located in Westfield NJ and has worked extensively in the area of visual deficits associated with traumatic brain injuries, stroke, learning disabilities, and other neurologically impairing conditions. He is the co-founder and staff consultant of Vision Clinics: Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.

Dr. Vicci provides consultations for the Extended Recovery Unit of the Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Rehabilitation Institute at the John F. Kennedy Hospital in Edison, NJ. Dr. Vicci is the 1991 recipient of the “NJ Optometric Association Scientific Award” for his work in the field of traumatic brain injuries; the 1997 recipient of the “Advancement of Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation” Award in San Diego, California; Dr. Vicci served as the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF) NJ. State Director from 1985-1992, Secretary of the Neuro- Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) from 1990-1993, and as the President of the NORA from 1993-1998. He currently serves on the Advisory Board and is a Council Member of NORA. He is a fellow of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association International. He was elected to the National Academy of Practitioners (NAP) in August of 2006 as a distinguished member.

Speaker: Dr. Curt Baxstrom, MA OD

Topic: Dizziness and Visual Motion Sensitivity: Visual-Vestibular-Cervical (VVC) Triad 

Ever since receiving his first pair of glasses in 6th grade, Dr. Baxstrom felt he wanted to be in a profession that made a difference in people’s lives. During completion of his Doctorate in Optometry in 1984, he became very interested in the development of vision and it’s relationship with reading and learning. With his interests deepening, he completed a Master’s degree in Reading at Seattle Pacific University in 1987.

Professionally he is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. He is a consultant to several school districts as well as Good Samaritan, St. Joseph’s, Highline Community and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospitals. He has lectured nationally and internationally on visual development, reading, dyslexia, head trauma, amblyopia and strabismus. He has also published original papers in a number of journals.