SPEAKER INFORMATION

Derek Cunningham, OD, FAAO

Dr. Cunningham’s research covers a wide spectrum of eye care and neuroscience including; dry eye treatments, glaucoma medications and surgeries, retinal diseases, cataract surgery and LASIK surgery, cosmetic treatments and products, vision enhancement and sports vision. In addition to having been an associate professor at Texas Tech School of Medicine, Dr. Cunningham also held adjunct professor status at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, University of Waterloo, University of Houston, and University of Incarnate Word. Dr. Cunningham is an internationally recognized educator, having provided continuing education lectures to eye doctors throughout the world. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and was one of the first optometrists to be Board Certified by the American Board of Optometry. He is also the founding Chair of the Integrated Ophthalmic Task Force for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Dr. Cunningham is the director of the Dell Eye Institute for Dry Eye Research at Dell Laser Consultants in Austin, Texas and is well published in the areas of advanced dry eye treatments. Many of Dr. Cunningham’s dry eye protocols are used by academic institutions around the country.

Jennifer Deakins, OD, FAAO

Dr. Deakins is the Co-Director for the University of Houston College of Optometry's North Texas Community Eye Clinics where she is also the Clinical Assistant Professor and supervisor of the Ocular Disease Residency. She is a graduate of the University of Houston College of Optometry and completed an Ocular Disease Residency at Cedar Springs Eye Clinic. Dr. Deakins currently serves on the board of directors for the Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth and the new Alcon Children's Vision Clinic. She is the Legislative Chair of the Texas Optometric Association (TOA), a President Elect of that organization, past recipient of the Texas Educator of the Year and Young Optometrist of the Year, and current Optometrist of the Year awarded by the TOA. Dr. Deakins was also recently awarded the Distinguished Service Award for the Vision Care Section of the Texas Public Health Association.

David Dinh, OD, FAAO

Dr. Dinh hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. He then received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Houston College of Optometry where he received multiple honors and awards from his colleagues and professors in recognition for his excellence in pediatrics, as well as his leadership. Following optometry school, Dr. Dinh underwent an intensive residency in Ocular Disease at Cedar Springs Eye Clinic in Dallas Texas, where he gained advanced training in the areas of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and dry eye syndrome. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and maintains active memberships in the Texas Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, the local Dallas County Optometric Society and the International Gold Key Honor Society.

Andrew Kemp, OD, FAAO

Dr. Kemp graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2010 and the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2014. Dr. Kemp completed an Ocular Disease residency at the Cedar Springs Eye Clinic in Dallas, Texas, a UHCO-affiliated community clinic. Currently, Dr. Kemp is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Cedar Springs Eye Clinic and the Community Eye Clinic working with fourth year optometry externs and residents.  He serves as an Adjunct Professor for the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry.  Additionally, Dr. Kemp is an Associate Optometrist at Kleiman Evangelista Eye Center and the Optometry Medical Records Quality Assurance Director for Lone Star Circle of Care in Austin, Texas.  His research interests include the application of OCT-Angiography in the detection of retinal changes in diabetics, as well as, the management of glaucoma.  Dr. Kemp’s memberships include the TOA, AOA, and the Texas Public Health Association.  He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and serves as a consultant for the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.

Natalie Pirrone, MBA

Natalie serves as the Education and Outreach Director for Poiema Foundation, a non-profit that fights human trafficking. Natalie holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Dallas Baptist University. While in school, she interned for RescueHer helping spread awareness about sex-trafficking. After earning her degrees, she went on to work as a Voice and Choice Advocate for Traffick911, where she assisted minors recovered from sex-trafficking in North Texas, walking alongside them on their healing journey. In her current role, she passionately uses her background with education and first-hand experience to bring the public together to fight human trafficking.

Pat Segu, OD, FAAO,  ABO Diplomate

UHCO Conference Course Director

Dr. Segu graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science in 1988. She continued her education at the University of Houston College of Optometry receiving a doctorate degree in 1992.  Dr. Segu completed a residency in hospital-based optometry at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center Tacoma, WA and holds a therapeutic license in the state of Texas with glaucoma privileges. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), and a diplomate of the American Board of Optometry and a member of the Texas Optometric Association and American Optometric Association.  Dr. Segu holds several leadership positions and continues to be actively involved in several professional and non-profit organizations. Previous leadership positions include chair for the American Public Health Association’s Vision Care Section, chair for the Texas Public Health Association’s Vision Care Section, chair for the American Academy of Optometry Vision and Aging Sig, and board chair for Prevent Blindness of Texas.  In 2021, Dr. Segu was appointed to chair the Faculty Liaison Committee for the American Optometric Association. She currently serves on the governing council for the Texas Public Health Association. Dr. Segu is currently a clinical professor, director of the clinical teaching fellowship program, clinic director for the Houston vision collaboration project-See to Succeed for the University of Houston College of Optometry. Dr. Segu is the recipient of the, 2020 Texas Optometric Association Mollie Armstrong Leadership Award, 2020 Texas Public Health Association Vision Care Section Distinguished Service Award, 2015 American Public Health Vision Care Section Distinguished Service Award, 2014 University of Houston Teaching Excellence Award under the Community Engagement category, 2013 Texas Optometric Association Educator of the Year Award. Dr. Segu's interests include community service outreach, primary care optometry and ocular disease.

Michael Twa, OD, PhD, FAAO

Dr. Twa is a clinician scientist and Dean of the University of Houston College of Optometry since June 1, 2019. He previously served as a faculty member at the college from 2007 to 2014. From 2014 to 2019, Dr. Twa served as the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. His undergraduate training in biology was completed at UC San Diego and his clinical doctoral training in optometry was completed at UC Berkeley. He practiced for more than 10 years in the department of ophthalmology at UC San Diego before pursuing a Ph.D. in machine learning, data sciences, and biomedical image analysis at the Ohio State University. Dr. Twa is also the Editor in Chief of Optometry and Vision Science.  

Ashley Wallace-Tucker, OD

Dr. Ashley Tucker graduated from UHCO where she also completed a Cornea and Contact Lens Residency. During her residency, she received extensive training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of corneal and anterior segment diseases, in complex contact lens fits and myopia management. Dr. Tucker spends the majority of her clinic time managing patients who are in need of specialty contact lenses or myopia management. Dr. Tucker is a partner at Bellaire Family Eye Care and The Contact Lens Institute of Houston. She is also a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry where she is the course master for the Ophthalmic Optics Laboratory. Through her affiliation with the University of Houston, she regularly provides continuing education on the topics of anterior segment disease, specialty contact lenses, myopia management and ophthalmic optics. Dr. Tucker is a member of the Speaker’s Bureau for the Specialty Division of Bausch Lomb, a consultant for CooperVision and SynergEyes, and a lecturer for the STAPLE (Soft Toric and Presbyopic Lens Experience) program. She currently serves as the Public Education Chair Elect for the Scleral Lens Education Society and is on the advisory board for the Gas Permeable Lens Institute (GPLI).