PREVENTING NEARSIGHTEDNESS

As a seasoned physician executive, Barry has over 30 years of experience as an innovator, entrepreneur, healthcare executive, and practitioner with board-certification in ophthalmology. With formal training in Electrical Engineering at MIT, an advanced degree in Biological Engineering from University of Connecticut, and a Medical Degree from Washington University, this multidisciplinary skill set has been applied to solving clinical challenges. 

Barry has held senior positions in several medical device companies, most recently as CEO of EyedetecMedical and Reopia Optics, developing novel treatments for dry eye disease and optical solutions to prevent myopia progression. In these executive roles, Barry has guided the development and early commercialization of advanced ophthalmic medical devices. Through work with Scientific Advisory Boards, publications, as well as speaking engagements worldwide, Barry has earned respect both nationally and abroad, with strong Key Opinion Leaders relationships in ophthalmology and optometry.

 Dr. Thomas Aller is an internationally known optometrist in San Bruno, CA, offering your family comprehensive eye care, prescription glasses, complex contact lens care, co-management of LASIK and other refractive surgeries, Ortho-K for gentle overnight vision correction and his patented and proven methods to control myopia. Thoroughly committed to caring for his clients since 1983, Dr. Aller is the optometrist you can depend on for your family’s vision care.

Dr. Aller has conducted revolutionary research in the control of myopia through his CONTROL Study, a randomized clinical trial that proved the success of his method of myopia control. After being awarded one of the world’s first patents in myopia control treatments, Dr. Aller began collaborating with an international vision research consortium, to develop and bring to market new and improved methods of myopia control.

He also developed a software product, Exerceyes, designed to provide eye exercises to the computer user to reduce eyestrain. Along with his son Brian, they have developed Myappia, an Android app for projecting myopia progression with and without myopia control treatments.

Besides contributing regularly to the field of vision science and the development of innovative treatments, Dr. Aller sees patients regularly at his state-of-the-art optometry office in San Bruno, California.

Dr. Dwight Akerman is an internationally recognized senior healthcare leader with extensive experience in myopia management strategy, peer education & communications, medical marketing, innovation, financial management, and M&A/business development & licensing. Currently, he serves as the President of Global Visionary Consultants, LLC, and the Chief Medical Editor at Review of Myopia Management. 

Dr. Akerman was the Vice President & Global Head of Professional Affairs & Business Development for Alcon before retiring from this role in 2019. He has published widely and is a frequently invited peer educator on myopia management, cornea, contact lens, and business management topics.

Dr. Akerman graduated cum laude from the Illinois College of Optometry and earned an MBA degree from the University of Texas. He has achieved the status of Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies Section, Fellow of the International Association of Contact Lens Educators, and Fellow of the British Contact Lens Association. He currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Illinois College of Optometry. Dr. Akerman was elected to the World Optometry Foundation in 2017

Vance Thompson, MD is an internationally recognized specialist in Laser Vision Correction and Advanced Cataract Surgery. He is the Founder of Vance Thompson Vision Sioux Falls, SD  and the Director of Refractive Surgery he also serves as a Professor of Ophthalmology at the Sanford USD School of Medicine. As a leading international researcher he has played a key role in the development of the most advanced technologies and techniques for both laser and implant vision correction. He has served as the medical monitor lead or principal investigator in over 65 FDA monitored clinical trials studying laser and implant surgery. In addition, Dr. Thompson has published numerous papers and book chapters and is co-author of the textbook Refractive Surgery. He has lectured and taught advanced laser and implant surgery to thousands of surgeons all around the world. A Gregory, South Dakota native, Dr. Thompson received his BS in Chemistry and his MD degree from the University of South Dakota. After completing his ophthalmology residency at the University of Missouri/Columbia, he was accepted and completed a fellowship in Refractive and Cataract Surgery with Dan Durrie, MD and John Hunkeler, MD at Hunkeler Eye Centers in Kansas City.  Dr. Thompson and his wife Jana reside in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They have 3 children, Blake (and his wife Kayla), Joel, Lauren and one grandchild, Fitzgerald. His main interests include his family, cooking, and spending time in the outdoors. 

Dr. Michael A. Ross is a skilled businessman and physician with backgrounds in Industry and clinical practice. Dr. Ross has over 35 years of extensive experience in clinical practice, regulatory and FDA approvals, research, business development, M&A and JV activities, and university appointments at George Washington, University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University.  He was Chairman and CEO of Euclid Systems till he executed a successful sale to private equity in 2019 and remained as CEO until 2020. During his time at Euclid he took a struggling biotech and turned it into a an internationally known company and a leader in the field of myopia control. The company was awarded the Virginia State Award for Excellence in Export. As result of his work at Euclid he is a well-known expert on doing busy in China and the rest of Asia. 

Prior to becoming Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Euclid Systems, he was the President of E-P Therapeutics, a pre-clinical oncology company, and President of CPL Inc., the North American division of Cadila Pharmaceutical Ltd. As President of CPL Inc., Dr. Ross oversaw all aspects of North American operations and has been the force and face of all new products, joint ventures, FDA filings, and research.    Dr. Ross was a clinically active physician in the DC area, always listed as best doctor during his 27 years before entering industry. He served as an elected member of the INOVA Executive Committee from 2003 -2007; he served on the CDC committee for prevention of breast and cervical cancer as a presidential appointee; and was elected to the board of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association. He is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and currently holds 2 professorships in OB-GYN and Pediatrics. He currently sits on the boards of 3 other healthcare companies and is an operating partner at HAVENCREST Capital. Dr. Ross earned his Bachelor of Science at Dickinson University and attained his MD at The George Washington University.