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Curriculum Vitae

Paul Alan Harris, O.D.

Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development
Fellow of the Australasian College of Behavioral Optometry
Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry

Home: 2212 Eastlake Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093 USA 410-252-8608
Office: 110 Old Padonia Road, Suite 300, Cockeysville, Maryland, 21030 USA 410-252-5777
Fax: 410-252-1719 E-Mail: Paul.HarrisOD@gmail.com

Paul Alan Harris, OD is a 1979 Graduate of the State University of New York, State College of Optometry and is currently in private practice in Baltimore, MD. He was board certified as a Fellow in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) in 1983.  He became one of only two US Optometrists to become certified as a Fellow in the Australasian College of Behavioral Optometry (ACBO) in 1994 and in 1999 also became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO).

In 1983, his series written for the Optometric Extension Program (OEPF) Unique Services and Your Success was given an award by the Optometric Editors Association for best series.  He served as the Clinical Director of the Optometric Center of Maryland from 1987 to 1988, during which time he also headed a research program which published the JAOA article, "The Prevalence of Visual Conditions in a Population of Juvenile Delinquents." He has gone on to publish many articles in both the Journal of Behavioral Optometry (JBO) and the Journal of Optometric Vision Development (JOVD) and was recognized in 2003 by his peers at the Annual COVD Meeting by being given the Skeffington Award, which recognizes excellent in writing in the profession.
 
In 1991, Dr. Harris brought together a group of likeminded behavioral optometrists and founded the Baltimore Academy for Behavioral Optometry (BABO).  The purpose was to facilitate the dissemination of the clinical expertise and skills that allows an optometrist to help his/her patients attain their goals in life.  The idea proved to be a success and has grown tremendously over the years.  Soon after the millennium celebration Dr. Harris became a board member of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF) and the courses were brought into the OEPF and BABO was dissolved.  The courses are now called the OEP Clinical Curriculum and Dr. Harris continues as an instructor for the courses as well as facilitating the constant updating of the curriculum.    
 
Dr. Harris spent one year living in Denmark, from July of 1997 to July of 1998 during which time he helped to implement much of the OEP Clinical Curriculum in the school of optometry in Copenhagen. During this time, he worked with four groups of students on papers which were all published in the JOVD. 
 

Dr. Harris currently serves on the OEPF board of directors. From 2005-2009 he served as the Secretary Treasurer and currently holds the office of Vice-President. He served as the principal investigator of a 5-year research program, funded by the Abell Foundation of Baltimore, which looked at how behavioral vision care and vision therapy could help inner city children. He reported on the data at a conference held in April of 2001 at the Harvard Graduate School of Education to much acclaim and published his results in the JOVD. Dr. Harris is a vibrant speaker and enjoys sharing his knowledge. 

Date of Birth: January 9, 1954
Wife's Name: Katherine Lenore McKearn
Children: Emily McKearn Harris, Anna McKearn Harris, Peter McKearn Harris

Education

  • 1970-1972 Interlochen Arts Academy, Diploma 1972
  • 1972-1975 Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
  • 1975-1979 State University of New York, State College of Optometry, received O.D. June 3, 1979

Activities and Awards, Secondary School

  • Achievement Awards, Science, Mathematics, Trombone
  • Graduated in top 10 of senior class

Activities and Awards, Professional School

  • 1975-1977 Class President
  • 1977-1978 Student Council President
  • 1975-1976 Alternate Trustee, AOSA
  • 1976-1978 Trustee, AOSA
  • 1978-1979 National President, AOSA
  • 1979 AOSA Past President's Award

Activities and Awards, Professional

  • 1975- Member, AOA
  • 1977-1981 Member, New York State Optometric Association
  • 1979-1981 Member, Suffolk Optometric Society
  • 1980-1981 First Vice-President, Suffolk Optometric Society
  • 1979- Member, COVD
  • 1979- Clinical Associate, OEPF, Inc.
  • 1979- Member, American Public Health Association
  • 1980-1983 Abstracts & Bibliography Committee Chairman AOA Sports Vision Section
  • 1981- Member, Greater Baltimore Optometric Society
  • 1981- Member, Maryland Optometric Association (MOA)
  • 1982-1984 MOA, Developmental Vision Committee
  • 1982-1984 MOA, Public Relations Committee
  • 1983 First Prize, Optometric Editors Association for the Best Non-technical Article
  • 1983- Fellow, COVD
  • 1984-1986 President, Greater Baltimore Optometric Society 1984-1986
  • 1984-1986 Chairman, COVD, Public Relations Committee
  • 1985-1986 Member, AOA Task Force on Vision Development
  • 1986-1987 Vice President, Maryland Optometric Association
  • 1984-1995 Cochairman, Baltimore Institute for Behavioral Vision, An OEPF Study Group
  • 1986- Adjunct Clinical Professor for PCO, SCO
  • 1987-1989 Clinical Director Optometric Center of Maryland
  • 1988-1989 Chairman, COVD Juvenile Delinquency Committee
  • 1991- Founder & Director Baltimore Academy for Behavioral Optometry
  • 1994- Fellow, ACBO (Australian College of Behavioral Optometry)
  • 1994- Co-chair of Conference on Clinical Vision Care (CCVC), combined OEPF/Southern College of Optometry meeting, held in July of each year.
  • 1996- Board of Directors of the Kraskin & Skeffington Institute
  • 1996- Moderator European Kraskin Invitational Skeffington Symposium on Vision
  • 1997-1998 Consultant/Guest Lecturer/Researcher at FTS Optometry School in Denmark
  • 1998- Chief Investigator VT Research in Baltimore City Public School
  • 1998-1999 At-Large Regional Director, COVD
  • 1999- Fellow American Academy of Optometry, FAAO
  • 1999- 2005 Director/Trustee, Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF)
  • 2003- Skeffington Award for Optometric Writing at the COVD Annual Meeting
  • 2003- Mel Waxman Award from the Maryland Optometric Association
  • 2003- Staff member of Rehab Unit at the Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI) in Baltimore, MD
  • 2003- At KKI staff Plagiocephaly and Torticollis Clinic for children under the age of 5 
  • 2005-2009 Secretary/Treasurer Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF)
  • 2006  Co-chair of Program for 5th International Congress of Behavioral Optometry in Sydney Australia
  • 2009- Chair of Program for the 6th International Congress of Behavioral Optometry, Ontario, CA
  • 2009- Vice President Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF)

Articles Published

  • "O.D. in China, A Vision Care Report", Optometric Management, December 1980, pp. 45-51
  • "A Partnership Blend", Journal of the New York State Optometric Association, Winter 1981, Vol. 7, # 1, pp. 12-13, 18
  • "Myopia Control in China", OEP Curriculum II, Spring 1981
  • "A Partnership Blend", The Winners Circle, OEP Curriculum II, June-July 1982
  • "Unique Services and Your Success", OEP Curriculum II, October 1982-September 1983
  • "Computerized Optometry", OEP Curriculum II, 12 Month Series, October 1983 - September 1984
  • "AOA Sports Vision Section Screening of Basketball Officials.", Journal of the AOA, Vol. 55, # 2, February, 1984
  • "A Perspective on Behavioral Optometry", Journal of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, 12/86
  • "Visual Conditions of Symphony Musicians", Journal of the AOA, 12/88. Volume 59, Number 12.
  • "The Prevalence of Visual Conditions in a Population of Juvenile Delinquents", Research Reports and Special Articles, Curriculum II, Vol. 61, # 4, January 1989, OEPF, Inc.
  • "Unique Services and Your Success", Introduction to Behavioral Optometry, OEPF, Inc., ISBN 0-943599-01-6
  • "Toward a Unified Theory of Vision", Journal of Optometric Vision Development, Vol. 24, #4, Winter 1993, pp 26-39
  • "Current Thoughts on the Neurology of Vision", Journal of Optometric Vision Development, Vol 26, Number One, Spring 1995 pp 23-32
  • "The Behavioral Use of Prisms", Vision Therapy, Tools of Behavioral Vision Care, Prisms, OEPF Vol 37, Number 4, 1996, pp 1-32
  • "Comparison of Danish and American Children on the Groffman Visual Tracing Test", JOVD, Volume 29, Number 2, Summer 1998 pp 78-82.
  • "Comparison of Danish and American Children on the Wold Sentence Copy Test", JOVD, Volume 29, Number 2, Summer 1998 pp 83-88.
  • "Comparison of Danish and American Children on the New York State Optometric Association King-Devic Saccadic Test", JOVD, Volume 29, Number 2, Summer 1998 pp 89-92.
  • "The Non-Malingering Syndrome -- Catching it Twice", JOVD, Volume 30, Number 3, pp 142-151.
  • "Vision and Driving in the Elderly", JOVD, Volume 30, Number 4, pp 188-197.
  • "Learning Related Visual Problems in Baltimore City: A Long-Term Program", JOVD, Volume 33, Number 2, Summer 2002, 75-115.
  • "The Binocular Continuum", JBO, Volume 13/2002, Number 4, 99-103
  • Co-edited "Lens Power in Action" by Robert Kraskin with Greg Kitchener released by OEPF February, 2003
  • Editor, "Perspectives on Vision", by OEPF August 2003
  • Editor, "Perspectives on Vision II", by OEPF 2004
  • Editor, "Psycho-Behavioral Vision Enhancement", by Albert Shankman, OEPF, 2005
  • "Changes In Scores on the COVD Quality Of Life Assessment Before & After Vision Therapy; A Multi-Office Study", JBO, February 2007
  • "The Stopwatch Used an a VT Instrument", JBO, May 2008
  • Editor, “Visual Analysis”, by Leo Manas, published by OEPF, 2009

Major Speaking Engagements

  • 1979 "The Affective Non-Cognitive Components of an Optometric Education", American Academy of Optometry, Boston
  • 1982 "How to Add Vision Therapy to an Existing Optometric Practice", AOSA convention, New York
  • 1982 "Unlocking the Hidden Goldmine in Your Practice.", MOA Convention, Baltimore, MD
  • 1983 "How Vision Therapy Can Make Your Practice Grow.", New Jersey OEP Seminar
  • 1985 "The Use of Computers in Optometric Practice.", OCNCR's Optometry Day & MOA State Convention
  • 1986 "Functional use of Visual Evoked Potentials in a case of Streff Non Malingering Syndrome" Skeffington Symposium
  • 1986 "Visual Conditions of Symphony Musicians", 1986 Eastern States Congress, New York
  • 1987 "Artificial Intelligence/Expert Systems and Behavioral Optometry" Skeffington Symposium
  • 1987 "Electrodiagnostic Testing for Clinical Practice" and "Visual Conditions of Symphony Musicians", Summerville, SC
  • 1988 "The Relationship Between Posture and Vision" and "Unlocking the Hidden Goldmine in Your Practice", Sun Valley Vision Conference, Phoenix
  • 1988 "The Similarities Between the Behavioral, Functional and Skills Approaches to Vision Care", COVD, SC
  • 1989 "Behavioral Optometry Diagnosis and Treatment", Colorado Study Group. 9 hours, Dillon, CO
  • 1990 14 hours for the Central California Optometric Association and the local Fresno OEP Study group on behavioral optometry from testing to vision therapy.
  • 1990 9 hours for the Colorado Vision Therapists Association, Denver, CO, on vision therapy procedures.
  • 1990 4 hours for the Maine Optometric Association on Behavioral Optometry for the Primary Care Optometrist.
  • 1991 6 hours for Japanese Opticians (Optometrists) on Behavioral Optometry
  • 1991 10 hours in Scandinavia on Behavioral Optometry and Vision Therapy.
  • 1991 6 hours for OEPF at the Heart of America Congress
  • 1992 10 hours in Norway for Scandinavian Optometric Society
  • 1993 8 hours for OEPF at South East Vision Forum, Gatlinburg, TN
  • 1993 32 hours for OEPF in England, Vision Therapy 1
  • 1993 10 hours in Sweden for Scandinavian Optometric Society
  • 1994 50 hours at the Danish Optometry School in Copenhagen
  • 1994 Astigmatism, 2nd International Congress for Behavioral Optometry in Sydney Australia
  • 1995 The Skeffington 4 Circles and the Neurology of Vision, COVD 25th Annual Convention
  • 1995 Intro to Behavioral Vision Care, Dutch Optometric Association, Maastricht, Holland
  • 1996 Great Lakes Congress, OEPF, Chicago, Illinois
  • 1997 Behavioral Vision Care, 8th Vision in Vehicles Conference, Marseilles France
  • 1997 Eastern States Congress, OEPF, Catskills, New York
  • 1998 Vision and the Elderly Driver, ICBO III, Washington DC
  • 1998 Northeast Vision Conference, OEPF, Boston, Massachusetts
  • 1998 Esotropia, Panel & Workshop, COVD 28th Annual Meeting, San Diego
  • 2000 4 hours for the Kentucky Optometric Association, Examining the 6-month and 3-year old.
  • 2000 42 hours for the Kansas Optometric Association, Vision therapy for Learning Related Vision Problems.
  • 2001 Learning Related Vision Problems in Baltimore City, Symposium at Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • 2001 Co-presenter with Oliver Sacks, MD at San Diego Vision Forum
  • 2002 The Neural Substrate of Vision and Behavior, at OEP Middle Atlantic Congress
  • 2002 Learning Related Vision Problems in Baltimore City, at OEP Middle Atlantic Congress
  • 2002 Language and Communication as Integral Parts of Vision and Visual Thinking, COVD Annual Meeting
  • 2002 The Role of Communicating the Beliefs of the Clinician - Using the Placebo Effect in Clinical Practice, COVD Annual Meeting
  • 2003 Vision Therapy for the Adult Patient, South East Council of Optometrists, Atlanta, GA, February
  • 2003 Managing Progressive Myopia, South East Council of Optometrists, Atlanta, GA, February
  • 2004 M cell P cell Pathways and Reading, Stress Point Retinoscopy, Quebec Optometric Association, Montreal, May
  • 2005 Sports Vision, Athens Greece, September
  • 2006 Behavioral Vision Care, Australasian College of Behavioral Optometry, Hong Kong, February
  • 2006 Nature Nurture in Myopia, International Congress of Behavioral Optometry, Sydney Australia, April
  • 2009 SECO Education Program on Autism and Strabismus