Introducing Optometric Education’s New Associate Editors

Keshia S. Elder, OD, MS, MS, FAAO

I am pleased to announce that Optometric Education has appointed two new Associate Editors to join the editorial team, Dr. Marc Taub and Dr. Parres Wright.

Dr. Taub is a Professor of Optometry at Southern College of Optometry. The 2001 Pennsylvania College of Optometry graduate serves as the Residency Supervisor for the Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Residency and the Residency Co-Supervisor for the Residency in Pediatrics and Vision Therapy.

Dr. Wright, a 2007 graduate of Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, is an Associate Professor at Midwestern University-Chicago College of Optometry. She serves as the Clinic Care Lead for the Low Vision and Advanced Care Departments.

The Optometric Education team is excited to have filled these positions. We know our new Associate Editors will be help lead the Journal into our next 50 years!

Drs. Taub and Wright will share their priorities and vision for the journal below.

Marc B. Taub, OD, MS, EdD, FAAO, FOVDR, FNAP, Dipl AAO

I picked up the writing bug in optometry school when I teamed up with a classmate to write a paper with my mentor, Andry Gurwood. When I saw the article in print and the feedback was positive, my endorphins started pumping. I was immediately hooked. After 20-plus years, that feeling still has not worn off. I still love writing. This love transferred to editing when I realized that I could help others develop their work and find their voices. There is nothing more satisfying than helping a fellow author.

I love being an educator. For me, this does not end in the classroom, lab, or clinic. Writing and editing are an extension of teaching. One of the reasons I completed an educational doctorate was to learn more about teaching and to understand how I could improve my teaching. The articles in Optometric Education offer readers the same opportunity and cannot be found in any other journal. The research centers around the pedagogy and andragogy of optometry. The case reports are not simply case presentations; they are steeped in teaching and include educational guidelines. The Journal’s uniqueness is a treasure for the entire field of optometry, and I am thrilled to be part of its storied journey.

Parres M. Wright, OD, FAAO

I’ve always been a proponent of innovative educational approaches and varied teaching strategies. As Associate Editor of Optometric Education, I hope to help the Journal offer educators actionable insights that meaningfully enhance optometry’s curriculum design and clinical reasoning.

The Journal is an invaluable resource for the next era of optometric education. As an editorial team, we are committed to supporting innovative pedagogical models that prepare faculty for the evolving demands of the field. I plan to focus on bridging theory and practice to help ensure the Journal serves as both a trusted resource and a catalyst for innovation.

I look forward to continuing the mission of the journal as it stands as a reflection of our field’s progress and looks forward as we imagine what comes next. We have a great opportunity to facilitate the cultivation of a scholarly community where educators, clinicians and researchers can engage in meaningful dialogue and shape the future of optometric training.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Taub and Dr. Wright to the Optometric Education team!