2025 ACVO Slate of Officers Vote

Please help us thank the following outstanding ACVO Members, Drs. Daniel Dorbandt, and DJ Haeussler, who have accepted nominations made by their peers to serve as Regent on the ACVO Board. All candidates are highly qualified, have been vetted by the Nominating Committee, and recommended to the Board of Regents for a vote of the Members. Please plan to become familiar with these candidates, their background and future goals, and vote for your next Regent electronically. Electronic ballots will be sent directly to members’ email addresses by Simply Voting. Voting will be open Monday, September 1st until 11:59pm (MST) on Wednesday, October 1st.

ACVO Member, Dr. Mark Nasisse, has also been presented to the ACVO as a nominee for Emeritus Member by three or more of his peers. This is an esteemed position provided to those who meet the qualifications outlined below in the organization’s Policies & Procedures document. Please review the recommendation letters and their bios provided at the links below, prior to voting.

Candidate for Regent - Dr. Daniel Dorbandt
Candidate for Regent - Dr. DJ Haeussler
Candidate for Emeritus Member - Dr. Mark Nasisse

CANDIDATES FOR REGENT

Dr. Daniel Dorbandt, DVM, MS, DACVO
(Nominee for the ACVO Board of Regents)

I am originally from Shreveport, Louisiana and currently work in private practice in Connecticut. I obtained my undergraduate and veterinary degrees from Louisiana State University, graduating with my DVM in 2011. My rotating internship was completed at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine followed by an ophthalmology internship at the University of Georgia. My ophthalmology residency and Master of Science degree were completed in 2016 at the University of Illinois where I had the privilege of being honored with the Resident Teaching Excellence Award. I became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2016. From 2017-2023, I served on the ABVO credentials committee, serving as Chair from 2019-2023. My clinical interests include ocular oncology, complex cataract surgery, and clinical education.

What experiences and skills will I bring to the Board that will enhance the leadership of our college?

The nomination to represent my colleagues on the ACVO Board of Regents is truly an honor, and I deeply appreciate your consideration. I consider myself an approachable individual and want to understand the issues and concerns within the college. Understanding individuals’ priorities allows me to be a voice to represent the membership at an organizational level where foundational solutions can be created that serve the entirety of the ACVO.

Since completion of my residency in 2016, I have been actively involved in the ACVO. In 2017, I was invited to serve on the ABVO Credentials Committee, serving as Chair from 2019-2023. During that time, I worked closely with the Residency Committee, Exam Committee, ABVO Board, and ACVO Office to construct and implement the 5-year examination completion time frame in addition to developing ways to streamline communication between ABVO committees, which is vital to resident success. Throughout my committee involvement, I was able to build strong relationships that helped me deeply understand the residency credentialing and training process as well as the unique needs of residency training programs. My experience also solidified my belief that all decisions have unintentional consequences, so I actively work to understand both the planned outcome as well as anticipate possible issues so that negative consecquences can be mitigated.

My initial focus early in veterinary school was a career in academia, so I invested heavily in understanding the need, requirements, and responsibilities of the position. I was fortunate to complete my advanced training in academic environments, which allowed me to further understand and contribute to the pillars of a career in academia – Teaching, Service, and Research. However, circumstances led me down a different path of private practice where I was presented with the opportunity (and challenges) of building the ophthalmology service into what is now a busy two-doctor, two-location practice. Throughout this process, I have occasionally taught interns, veterinary student externs, and veterinarians, hopefully some of which will be the future of our college. My experiences have undoubtedly led to some challenges, but I see challenges as a way to pursue positive and often necessary change.

What are the major issues of our college and how should they be addressed?

Two opportunities to pursue that will assure our continued success as an organization are: (1) disengagement among ACVO diplomates as our college grows and (2) maintaining high-quality education in a challenging environment. In addressing these issues, we (the ACVO) can maintain a forward-thinking approach that can sustain our strength as innovators, educators, and collaborators.

Since my rotating internship, I have made it a priority to attend the ACVO conference yearly, with the exceptions of 2020 and 2021. Attendance has benefited me with a vast amount of knowledge as well as introductions to both new and seasoned diplomates whom I am proud to call my colleagues. However, at each conference, I encounter members either frustrated with one another or downplaying the benefits of the ACVO. The Membership Promotion and Outreach Committee has done a phenomenal job in highlighting membership benefits, and we can build upon their success to further understand evolving membership needs. These needs will often differ amongst generations. The ACVO is made of many individuals and personalities, but we are ONE College. I am confident that we can make decisions for the collective good, but in order to achieve that goal, we must listen honestly to understand the individual concerns so that the entirety of the college benefits from decisions.

High quality education and training of veterinary students, veterinarians, and residents has built the ACVO into a well-respected organization worldwide with members and conference attendees from across the globe. It is widely acknowledged that academic positions often remain open due to lack of applicants, and with veterinary schools increasing student numbers and at least 11 newly proposed veterinary colleges approved or in development (Larkin M. 2023 AVMA News. Article 1 and Article 2), hiring for university faculty positions will become even more challenging. This has the potential to leave a significant void in education and training, and this is not isolated to the ACVO. This presents the opportunity for the ACVO to once again become a pioneer in addressing an issue within specialty colleges by defining alternative avenues of education and training.

What should be the major goals or initiatives of the ACVO for the next 5 years?

The landscape of veterinary medicine is undergoing broad shifts, and, as a college, we must engineer a cohesive strategy to address concerns that will undoubtedly arise. Change is often a dynamic process that takes time, and accomplishing initiatives frequently extends beyond 5 years. However, understanding concerns of the membership will allow the ACVO to develop a pathway forward that can successfully build upon change as it occurs. There are four priorities I strongly feel should be addressed:

1) Demographic and generational shifts that may change how veterinarians work

2) Development of specialists trained through fellowships as well as the role of a mid-level practitioner/Veterinary Professional Associate that may alter the workforce

3) Artificial Intelligence and how it can be reliably incorporated into veterinary ophthalmology

4) Telemedicine and its role in veterinary ophthalmology

Veterinary medicine is constantly undergoing demographic changes as new graduates enter the workforce while others retire, and the veterinary ophthalmology community is no exception. Each new generation brings unique personal and professional priorities as well as ideas, yet no generation should be considered monolithic. Understanding these priorities and accurately translating them among generations of veterinary ophthalmologists will aide in achieving the employment needs, whether that be academia, private practice, or industry. The foundation to a solution may be to commission a methodically sound survey of ACVO diplomates as well ABVO-approved residents to understand their priorities and concerns.

Expanding upon the changing landscape of veterinary medicine is the proposal of new positions such as fellowship training within the ABVP specialty as well as the creation of the Veterinary Professional Associate through Colorado Proposition 129 (passed) and Florida House Bill 1245 (failed in Rules). It is not yet understood how these positions will affect veterinary medicine, and there is currently no proposed ABVP fellowship as it relates to veterinary eye care, but it is important to understand the background and develop a forward-thinking policy that would enable the ACVO to find a collaborative way to work with these organizations and take part in molding the outcomes.

Telemedicine and artificial intelligence have both made astounding leaps over the past five years and will likely become further integrated into veterinary medicine over the coming years. Artificial Intelligence has the potential to improve lesion identification and disease outcomes through assimilation of images and text, but a significant challenge is the opaque decision-making process. An imperative role we must have in this process is data validation to reduce bias and aide in clinical accuracy, as inappropriately harvested data can lead to misinformed veterinarians and clients.

Developing a roadmap for each of these priorities is paramount to the continued success of the ACVO. In doing so will allow us to maintain our status as innovative leaders in the field of specialty medicine.

Article 1 link: https://www.avma.org/news/proliferation-newly-proposed-veterinary-colleges

Article 2 link: https://www.avma.org/news/us-veterinary-colleges-increase-seats-accelerating-rate

Dr. DJ Haeussler, Jr., BS, MS, DVM, DACVO
(Nominee for the ACVO Board of Regents)

Dr. D.J. Haeussler, Jr., BS, MS, DVM, DACVO, is a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and the founder of The Animal Eye Institute, a multi-location referral practice serving the communities of Cincinnati and Dayton Ohio, Florence, Kentucky, Charleston, South Carolina, and very soon Lexington, Kentucky. A graduate of The Ohio State University, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in 2002, his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006, and his Master's of Science in 2011 with a thesis on The Effect of Hyaluronic Acid on Lens Epithelial Cell Migration and Proliferation In Vitro. Following two internships in small animal medicine, surgery, and critical care at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in New Jersey, he completed a residency in Comparative Ophthalmology at The Ohio State University before earning board certification with the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2014. Since founding The Animal Eye Institute in 2011, Dr. Haeussler has grown it into a leading referral and training center. He has mentored numerous residents through board-certification as well as numerous specialty interns for the last 10 years. He has also played a central role in professional leadership, serving as President of the Cincinnati Veterinary Medical Association, Chair of the ACVO Membership Promotion and Outreach Committee, and as director of EyeFest, a continuing education conference designed to enhance general practitioners’ ophthalmic skills.

In addition to his clinical and leadership roles, Dr. Haeussler is an accomplished educator, lecturer, and author with a truly international footprint. He has presented extensively at conferences and training programs across North and South America, Europe, and Asia, lecturing on cataract surgery, corneal disease, glaucoma, retinal disorders, and ophthalmic emergencies. His publications include numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, textbook chapters, and clinical guides in outlets such as Veterinary Ophthalmology, Veterinary Research Communications, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, and Clinician’s Brief. His research has been recognized with awards from the ACVO and the Vision for Animals Foundation, and his innovative spirit led to the co-creation of the VetEye App, a platform offering ophthalmic images, webinars, and interactive quizzes for practitioners. In addition, he co-founded the Veterinary Ophthalmology podcast, where he discusses current themes in veterinary ophthalmology and interviews fellow ophthalmologists, interns, residents, and individuals in the veterinary ophthalmology field. By blending clinical expertise, scientific research, and mentorship, Dr. Haeussler has made lasting contributions to veterinary ophthalmology, advancing both patient care and the education of future specialists.

What experiences and skills will you bring to the Board that will enhance the leadership of our college?

I bring a strong blend of leadership, experience in veterinary associations, and management skills to the Board of Regents of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO). My time as a member of the Membership Promotion and Outreach Committee from 2015 to 2021, and as Chair of the committee in 2019, has equipped me with valuable insights into member engagement, communication strategies, and promoting the growth and visibility of our professional organization both within the active membership, but also with the public. These experiences honed my ability to collaborate with diverse groups and strengthen membership involvement, which will be beneficial in fostering ACVO’s mission and expanding its impact.

In addition, my role as a member of the Cincinnati Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Board of Trustees from 2017 to 2022, and as President of the CVMA Board of Trustees in 2021, further solidified my understanding of the dynamics of professional governance and leadership. I played an instrumental role in advocating for the veterinary community at the local level, and I understand the importance of maintaining strong relationships with both members and other groups in an evolving field and community.

Moreover, managing a staff of 50 employees has helped me develop a good sense of organizational leadership, team building, and resource management. There are various needs of different employees within their employment and listening effectively to their needs and pragmatically implementing them, where appropriate, can be a challenge. This experience enables me to effectively oversee complex projects and make decisions that will benefit the ACVO’s long-term success. I believe these skills will complement the work of the Board and help further ACVO’s vision to lead and elevate the field of veterinary ophthalmology.

I am also the creator of EyeFest, a weekend lecture conference I have designed, organized, and implemented, with the aim of advancing education in veterinary ophthalmology for general practitioners. This conference has been hosted four times. EyeFest has served as an essential platform for disseminating knowledge and providing continuing education on veterinary ophthalmology topics to a diverse audience of veterinary professionals.

As the primary organizer of EyeFest, I have had the privilege of managing numerous aspects of the conference to ensure its success. Below is an overview of my responsibilities in designing, organizing, and executing the event:

Conference Design and Organization

I have curated and structured a conference that is centered around delivering educational value to general practitioners seeking to expand their knowledge in veterinary ophthalmology. This includes a series of lecture sessions, case studies, and interactive discussions aimed at addressing real-world challenges faced in general practice.

Branding and Marketing

I led the logo design and overall branding strategy, ensuring that the event's identity effectively conveyed professionalism while aligning with the academic focus of the conference. As part of the marketing efforts, I coordinated targeted email campaigns, social media outreach, and partnerships with key veterinary organizations to maximize attendance and awareness.

Lecturer Management

In my role, I have carefully selected and managed the lecturers who present at the conference, ensuring that they are leaders in the field of veterinary ophthalmology. I’ve facilitated communication between speakers, handled logistics, and collaborated with them to ensure their topics were relevant and engaging for our attendees. I have selected international lecturers but have also selected interns and residents to give selected lecturers in order to give them the experience of lecturing in front of a large audience (while being defended by their mentor!) and also have an experience to add to their Curriculum Vitae.

RACE Certification

Securing RACE certification for the conference has been a significant achievement. This process has involved ensuring that our educational sessions meet the necessary criteria to offer approved continuing education credits, thus adding value to the experience for all attendees.

Site Selection and Attendee Management

I have personally visited and selected the conference venues to ensure they provide the ideal setting for our educational content. In addition to coordinating venue logistics, I have managed the registration and attendee experience, facilitating a seamless process for both first-time and returning attendees.

Food and Beverage Coordination

Recognizing the importance of attendee comfort, I have managed all food and beverage logistics, including catering, coffee breaks, and meal planning to ensure a balanced and welcoming environment throughout the event.

Vendor and Sponsor Collaboration

In addition to the logistical and educational planning, I have also worked closely with vendors and sponsors to secure the necessary financial and material support for the event. I have developed mutually beneficial partnerships, coordinating sponsor visibility, promotional materials, and exhibitor spaces at the event. These relationships have been integral in providing the resources necessary to support both the educational content and the overall attendee experience at EyeFest.

I feel with the organization and implementation of EyeFest, this gives me a skill set which can help the Board of Regents with the national ACVO conference, and any other future conferences they may organize and carry out.

What are the major issues of our college and how should they be addressed?

The American Board of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ABVO) plays a crucial role in certifying veterinary ophthalmologists, ensuring high standards in the field. However, like many organizations, it faces several challenges:

1. Examination Procedures: The ABVO is constantly evaluating changes and needs to its examination procedures. There is always the discussion for providing an examination which adequately assesses the candidates’ skills to be a board-certified ophthalmologist, however, this test also needs to be defensible and consider reducing the burden on committee members to administer the examination.

2. Residency Training and Credentialing: The ABVO oversees credentialing, residency approval, and examination processes for veterinarians training to become ophthalmologists. Ensuring that residency programs meet high standards and that credentialing processes are rigorous and fair is an ongoing challenge. For instance, recent challenges include proper equine examinations, as well as the consideration for residents with various animal allergies and how to properly complete a residency program with species requirements. In addition, there is always consideration as to whether the current requirements of having two supervising diplomates is adequate to sustain resident development for the college.

3. Adequate Development of Residents to Sustain the College: There is an ongoing discussion as to the best measures to sustain the college while keeping our training of residents at an expert level. How will we continue to train residents adequately at an expert level while allowing our college to grow and replace a significant amount of the college as they explore retirement? Will we overtrain? Will we undertrain? It will be important to take a hard look at this scenario over the next 5 years and have adequate, honest, but civil discussions as to how to lead our college in the interest of all.

Addressing These Challenges:

To effectively address these challenges, the ABVO can consider the following approaches:

• Engage in Strategic Planning: Conduct comprehensive strategic planning sessions involving stakeholders at all levels (privately owned practices, corporately owned practices, research, and academic practices) to identify key issues and develop actionable solutions. This process can help align the organization's goals with the evolving needs of veterinary ophthalmology.

• Enhance Examination Processes: Review and refine examination procedures to ensure they are fair, comprehensive, and reflective of current practices in veterinary ophthalmology. Implementing a separation between exam construction and validation can strengthen the defensibility of the process. How do we make this equitable to all involved in resident training?

• Strengthen Residency Programs: Ensure that residency programs are of high quality by setting clear standards and providing support for both residents and supervising diplomates. This may include requiring a different minimum number of supervising diplomates to train a resident. Consider implementing more "teeth" to each Residency Training Program. Should we be more critical of each training program to evaluate if they are meeting the minimums of training a resident and if not, should they not be allowed to continue to train residents?

• Foster Continuous Improvement: Encourage a culture of continuous improvement by regularly assessing organizational processes and seeking feedback from various practices. This can lead to the identification of areas for enhancement and the implementation of best practices. Encourage civil discourse.

What should be the major goals or initiatives of the ACVO for the next 5 years?

1. Advancement in Research and Innovation

• Support Research: ACVO could encourage and fund research into new diagnostic tools, treatments, and surgical techniques in veterinary ophthalmology. This includes exploring advances in stem cell therapy, clinical trials, and/or artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostics as this will be a major consideration in the next 5 years.

• Collaboration with Human Ophthalmology: To accelerate innovation, fostering stronger collaborations with human ophthalmology research could open doors to knowledge exchange and cross-disciplinary advancements.

2. Expansion of Education and Training

• Continuing Education Programs: Offering more workshops, webinars, and continuing education opportunities can help practicing veterinarians stay updated on the latest techniques and advancements in veterinary ophthalmology. The ACVO has done a wonderful job of staying "ahead of the curve" in this manner and we should continue to move in this direction.

• Residency Program Enhancement: Increasing the number of adequate residency programs available and expanding their global reach would help develop future leaders in the field.

• Public and Owner Education: Creating educational materials aimed at the pet-owning public about the importance of eye health in animals can raise awareness, encourage preventative care, and promote early detection of eye diseases. Again, the ACVO's supported committees have already done a tremendous job of getting "ahead of the curve" with this topic.

3. Global Outreach and Accessibility

• International Collaboration: With the creation of various international ophthalmology colleges and training programs, we should strive to be great stewards of establishing these colleges. Establishing partnerships with veterinary ophthalmology organizations abroad, particularly in underserved regions, could help improve access to specialized care worldwide and improve the reputation and value of knowledge of the ACVO.

• Telemedicine and Remote Consultation: This is a consideration as we continue to move forward in the digital age. Although an in-person examination can never be substituted with not only an examination but with the client interaction, telemedicine cannot be denied. Focusing on telemedicine can help make specialized ophthalmic care more accessible to rural or underserved areas, reducing travel barriers for clients with limited access to veterinary specialists.

4. Improving Standards and Guidelines

• Developing Best Practice Guidelines: Creating or updating guidelines for common eye conditions, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal ulcers, can ensure consistency in care across the profession and improve patient outcomes.

• Accreditation and Certification: Strengthening the ACVO’s accreditation and certification programs to ensure high standards are maintained in the field of veterinary ophthalmology could also enhance the credibility and expertise of the profession.

5. Enhancing Animal Welfare and Quality of Life

• There will always be a need and focus point to make sure that all animals are cared for at an appropriate manner. Encouraging proactive eye health assessments for pets through annual exams or breed-specific screening can improve long-term health outcomes and reduce the need for costly treatments later on.

• Palliative Care and Comfort: Fostering a greater understanding of pain management and quality of life issues for animals with chronic eye conditions or those undergoing long-term treatment for eye diseases.

6. Advocacy and Awareness

• Public Awareness Campaigns: Continuing with the annual ACVO Service Animal Event is an undeniable experience and value for service animals and their owners/handlers. This provides exceptional specialty care for working animals and the people that rely on these wonderful animals. In addition, it provides exceptional public exposure for the ACVO and the participating doctors.

7. Diversity and Inclusion

• Promoting Diversity in Veterinary Ophthalmology: Although this has become a bit of a partisan issue lately, it doesn't have to be. Encouraging diversity within the field, including more participation from underrepresented groups, can enhance innovation, provide a wider perspective, and contribute to the overall strength of the profession.

• Support for Mental Health: Veterinary medicine, like many other healthcare professions, faces challenges related to mental health and burnout. ACVO can consider initiatives aimed at supporting the mental well-being of its members, such as peer networks, counseling services, or mental health awareness programs. Through my own experience not only undergoing and completing a Residency Training Program, but also in the development of residents in my own practice, support for mental health is necessary. Although veterinarians provide adequate "lip service" to this issue, how can the ACVO help? How can we offer resources to help during these difficult and hard to manage situations?

In conclusion, thank you for allowing the time and space to answer these questions as I apply to be a member of the Board of Regents. I hope you give me high consideration as I truly live and breathe ophthalmology, and I love to be a part of this profession.

Professionally,

DJ Haeussler, Jr., BS, MS, DVM, DACVO

NOMINEE FOR EMERITUS MEMBER

Excerpt from ACVO’s Policies & Procedures outlining requirements of Emeritus Members:

SECTION 8: EMERITUS, RETIRED, AND HONORARY MEMBERS

8.01 Emeritus Members
(A) The Emeritus nominee must be a member of the ACVO for 30 years, have made continuous and substantive contributions to the ACVO during that time, and be nominated in writing by three members.

Dr. Mark Nasisse, DVM, DACVO

Dr. Nasisse is 1978 graduate of Kansas State University. After practicing small animal medicine and surgery from 1978-1980, he completed a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Tennessee and became board certified in 1982. Dr. Nasisse spent the next 11 years of his career at North Carolina State University. He then held an endowed professors chair at the University of Missouri from 1995-1998. In 1998 he moved to Greensboro to enter private practice and co-found Carolina Veterinary Specialists.

Dr. Nasisse has authored or coauthored more than 150 original articles, book chapters, abstracts, and review articles. He has lectured extensively to veterinary groups in the United States and internationally. He has received numerous teaching awards, including Outstanding Teacher, North Carolina State University (Classes of 1987 and 1989), the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award (1983 and 1993), and the Merck Agvet Award for Teaching Creativity (1993). Dr. Nasisse was elected to the North Carolina Academy of Outstanding Teachers in 1993. In 2001 he received the Omega Tau Sigma National Gamma Award for Distinguished Service to the Veterinary Profession. Dr. Nasisse was an active member of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) for 30 years, and has served as Chair of the ACVO’s Credentials, Residency Committees, and Professional Practice and Disciplinary Action Committees, and organized the first basic science course for veterinary ophthalmology residents in 1994. He served as President of the ACVO from 2000-2001, and subsequently as the ACVO’s representative to the American Board of Veterinary Specialties. Dr. Nasisse chaired the ACVO Governance Committee in the development of the American Board of Veterinary Ophthalmology on which he served as its first Chairperson. In 2008 Dr. Nasisse was the recipient of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Recognition Award for service to the veterinary profession.

Emeritus Nomination Letter of Recommendation - Dr. David Wilkie
Emeritus Nomination Letter of Recommendation - Dr. Robert English
Emeritus Nomination Letter of Recommendation - Dr. Susan Nelms

2025 ACVO Slate of Officers Vote