2011-2012 Board of Directors

President : Martha Finch Moos, BS, COMT

Martha serves as the Senior Clinical Technologist at Vitreoretinal Surgery, PA in Edina, MN. She develops and presents in-service and continuing education training for staff technicians, and has staff privileges as a first surgical assistant at six medical centers. “Although direct patient care is still closest to my heart, I strongly believe that I have an obligation to advance my profession and help newer ophthalmic technical personnel develop their knowledge, skills, and professional contacts. This includes working one-on-one with our new clinical personnel to help them understand the importance of certification and helping them to gain the knowledge they need to become certified.”

Immediate Past President: Michelle D. Willis, COMT, OSA

Michelle has 29 years of experience in ophthalmology and is currently the Clinical Coordinator at the Eye Associates of Tallahassee in Florida. She has held many roles in ophthalmology including: photographer, technician, clinical coordinator, surgical scrub, COT skills examiner, teacher, and COMT practical examiner. Michelle has served on the ATPO Board of Directors both as the Member-At-Large and the JCAHPO appointed representative. Michelle is ready for a larger challenge. She understands that education and excellence in ophthalmology are very important to all ophthalmic technicians and looks forward to a greater opportunity to serve ATPO members.

President-Elect: Mona L. Carpenter, BS, COMT

For the past 28 years, Mona has worked in a variety of ophthalmic settings and practices. She has worked in private practice and a university clinic; in a cataract/refractive practice and vitreo-retinal practice; as a surgical technician and a photographer; in contacts and low vision. Mona is a medical technician at the Kentucky Eye Institute in Lexington, KY. “I feel prepared to take these experiences and put them to use for the membership of ATPO. I have two goals for my time on the Board: to increase the membership of ATPO and to encourage more involvement and input from its members.”

Vice-President: Bobbi Ballenberg, COMT

Over the past 30 years, Bobbi has held numerous positions in several private practices as well as the university setting. She is currently the Clinical Manager of the Glaucoma Division at the Jules Stein Eye Institute (JSEI) at UCLA and a training consultant for Kaiser Permanente of Southern California. As the former Program Director of the JSEI Ophthalmic Assistant Training Program, she had the opportunity to teach and mentor hundreds of OMTs, something she continues to do as the ATPO Western Regional Mentor.  “I have wanted to become more active in our organizations and I will have that opportunity as I serve on the Boards for ATPO, JCAHPO, and CoA-OMP.”

Treasurer: Susan K. Busch, BA, COMT

Susan has worked in ophthalmology for over 25 years as an ophthalmic technician, and a photographer. She has also worked in clinical studies as a clinical research associate. “It has been an amazing and wonderful journey. With each position, I have gained an understanding of the challenges Ophthalmic Medical Technicians face today. I also recognize the importance of giving back to a career which has been very rewarding. It will be an honor to serve on ATPO’s Board of Directors.”

Director-at-Large: Denise Capretta, COMT, ABOC, NCLC

Denise began her career in Ophthalmology 34 years ago as a graduate of the Mt. Sinai Hospital Ophthalmic Assisting Program. She became certified with JCAHPO, earning her COMT certification in 1984 and then pursued an Associate Degree of Applied Science and established The Eye Express in 1988 as a spectacle/contact lens optician. In 1981, Denise founded the Cleveland Ophthalmic Personnel Society (COPS), whose mission is to provide quality continuing education on a local level. “I feel that I have a broad understanding of the educational and professional needs the Ophthalmic Medical Personnel face today. I welcome the opportunity to promote this organization through education and embrace the challenge of stressing the importance of membership.”

Director-at-Large: Christine McDonald, COA, ROUB

Christine began working in ophthalmology over 23 years ago. She has worked in nearly every position involved in an ophthalmic practice, beginning at the front desk and working her way to her current position as business manager. Her duties as an ophthalmic assistant have provided her the opportunity to visit many places; most notably Haiti, where she has worked alongside volunteers caring for patients and performing ophthalmic surgery and also worked with others to establish a permanent eye clinic in Haiti. “I currently work to promote the benefits of ATPO within our practice as well as with other ophthalmic technical personnel I meet and I will continue to do so as an ATPO board member.”

JCAHPO Representative: Sergina M. Flaherty, COMT

Sergina M. Flaherty, COMT, has 30+ years of clinical ophthalmic assisting, ophthalmic surgical, as well as ophthalmic photography experience. Sergina is a member of the Ophthalmic Personnel Society of San Antonio (OPSSA) and she has held the office of president and is currently the program director. She is founder and CEO of Ophthalmic Seminars of San Antonio (1996) and currently coordinates and speaks at seminars in San Antonio, Regionally, and Nationally. Sergina is also the full time Senior Ophthalmic Technician, Refractive Coordinator, and Research Coordinator at Stone Oak Ophthalmology in San Antonio, Texas.

JCAHPO Ex-officio Representative to ATPO: Karl C. Golnik, MD, JCAHPO President-Elect

Dr. Golnik is a Neuro-Ophthalmologist at the Cincinnati Eye Institute (CEI). He is also an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Neurology and Neurosurgery at University of Cincinnati and Residency Program Director for the Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Golnik received his Medical Degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and completed his Ophthalmology Residency at the University of Virginia. He returned to the Wilmer Institute at Johns Hopkins for his Neuro-ophthalmology Fellowship in 1990 and later joined the CEI in 1994. In 2005, he received his Masters Degree in Education from the University of Cincinnati to facilitate his involvement in continuing educational initiatives for physicians and ophthalmic personnel.

Secretary: Lynn Anderson, PhD

Dr. Anderson, JCAHPO's Executive Director since 1998 and current CEO, was instrumental in assisting ATPO through the steps for its alliance with JCAHPO and continues to be a strong supporter of ATPO and its benefits to OMT.