2012-2013 Board of Directors
 

President: Mona Carpenter, BS, COMT

For the past 31 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 Technologist at the Kentucky Eye Institute in Lexington, KY. “I look forward to the opportunity to take these varied experiences and put them to use for the membership of ATPO. During my time on the Board, I would like to see an increase in membership of ATPO, but also see better communication with, more involvement from, and greater service for its members. We are always glad to get input from our members, so please feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas."

Email: mcarpenter@insightbb.com

Immediate Past President : Martha Finch Moos, BS, COMT, OSA

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.”

Email: mfmoos@earthlink.net

President-Elect: Bobbi Ballenberg, COMT

Over the past 32 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. “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.”

Email: bbeyetek@gmail.com

Vice President: Michelle “Mickey” Kaminski, COT

Mickey has worked in ophthalmology for over 31 years. She has served in many capacities in ophthalmology including technician, refractive coordinator and scrub technician, lead trainer, retinal photographer, and clinic manager. She is currently employed as clinic and technician manager at Cokingtin Eye Center in Kansas City. She is also involved in ATPO with coordinating a regional continuing education symposium in Kansas City for technicians. “I have mentored and trained many technicians throughout my ophthalmic career and I have a passion for ophthalmology. I look forward to serving on the Board for ATPO and helping others to consider or enhance their career as ophthalmic personnel.”

Email: mkaminski@cokingtineye.com

Treasurer: Susan 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.”

Email: skbusch@flash.net

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.”

Email: cmm122@msn.com

JCAHPO Representative: Sergina 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.

Email: ophthsem@gmail.com

JCAHPO Ex-officio Representative to ATPO: Karl 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.