Career Symposium 2022

Dr. John D. Gelles, is the director of the specialty contact lens division of the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute, P.A. in Teaneck, NJ. He is a Specialty Contact Lens provider and PROSE Clinical Fellow. He graduated from University of Oregon and received his optometry degree from the prestigious Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He is a clinical assistant professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and an adjunct clinical professor at State University of New York College of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry and New England College of Optometry. He is a board member of the Contact Lens Society of America, an executive board member of the International Keratoconus Academy, and an advisory board member for the Gas Permeable Lens Institute. He serves as the education chair of several of the aforementioned societies and academies. He is invited regularly to lecture nationally and internationally on specialty contact lenses and keratoconus. He is a frequent author in several medical journals and professional publications. As part of his academic positions he teaches optometry students and ophthalmology residents about specialty contact lenses and their role in visual rehabilitation and therapeutic treatment of ocular disease. Dr. Michael Hosford is a Senior Manager with Luxottica Licensed Recruiting and Professional Services. In this role, Dr. Hosford’s team is responsible for the recruiting of both Optometrists and Licensed Opticians for nearly 500 practice locations in the Northeast region of the US. Dr. Hosford attended Michigan State University for his undergraduate work before earning his BS and Doctorate from the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University. Dr. Hosford started his career with Luxottica as a practicing Associate Optometrist. During his time with Luxottica, Dr. Hosford has expanded his career development and training as a practicing Optometrist to include roles in Market and Regional Operations Management, co-chair of the Optometric Advisory Council and as a Doctor Recruitment Specialist with the eyecare team. Dr. Hosford has a great passion for networking and most enjoys helping new and experienced Optometrists in their search for the right practice. His work also includes partnering with the Luxottica brand leaders and field teams to ensure the success and access of care to patient focused doctors who deliver personalized, quality care to their patients across our many Luxottica practice locations.

As a 2002 graduate of State University of New York College of Optometry Dr. Lee brought over 12 years of hospital-based and private practice optometry experience to her Johnson & Johnson Vision (JJV) position. Prior to joining JJV, Dr. Lee opened a private practice in Irvine, California, spoke to doctors across the country as a Professional Affairs Consultant, and served as program director at the Johnson & Johnson Institute. In her role now leading the Professional Group, Dr. Lee oversees Johnson & Johnson Vision Care’s support of Professional Advocacy, Education and Relations and serves on the North American Leadership Team. She is a strong supporter of allyship and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within and external to JJV. Outside her role as a mom and wife, Dr. Lee is also a proud member of the AOA, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and recently completed her MBA from USC Marshall School of Business. Dr. Nguyen was raised in California and received his bachelors from the University of California at Berkeley and his Doctor of Optometry from the SUNY State College of Optometry. Upon graduation, he worked in a variety of modalities, but spent three years at an ophthalmology practice in Richmond Hill, New York and provided on call consultations at Wyckoff Hospital in Brooklyn. Currently, he is the Executive Director of Career Planning and Development and Minority Enrichment for SUNY College of Optometry. He spends his time writing and lecturing to help optometry and pre-health minority students on topics related to career development. He also conducts workshops for schools and organizations on topics that include eye care, communication skills, and academic and career success. With free time during the COVID-19 pandemic, he dedicated his time creating “Weyed,” a frame line for large styles, both as a way to help his patients and as a way to create a platform to help future eye doctors.