
I am an Optometrist and Educational Focus Academic at the School of Optometry and Vision Science (SOVS). I obtained my PhD degree at UNSW, Sydney. I worked at University of La Salle- Bogota-Colombia as an Associate Professor for 18 years. Also, I was the Director of the Research Centre in Health and Vision (RCHV) and I formed part of the team that designed the curriculum for the first Master in Vision Science by research for Latin America and I undertook the role of its first director. I have been a peer reviewer for tertiary quality of education programs in health sciences, recognized by the Colombian Ministry of Education.
My research is focused on the field of occupational health and vision. This research seeks to understand how to assess different work risks that can impact the eye and the visual system, particularly how emergent work hazards such as exposure to chemical substances and biological toxins could alter the eye and the visual function. This research focuses on the following areas: 1) To have an eye-visual battery test to early detect neurotoxicity; 2) To designed and include eye-vision battery test as a part of guidelines and policies to prevent neurotoxicity; 3) To promote self-care interventions to prevent eyes’ work-related injuries and illness.
In the teaching area my interest of research has been vision health education using different pedagogical approaches and didactics. This research analyses the learning styles of students and vision health professionals based on the VARK model, and the application of other adult learning methodologies in vision health education. My particular interest is to increase student engagement and learning by including game-like elements in learning, podcasting and movie case analysis.
My Teaching
I have teaching expertise in different areas of Optometry and Vision Science such as: Optometry and Occupational Health, Public health, Visual Neuroscience, Optical Dispensing, Evolution and Vision, Administration and Marketing, Optical Enterprises Management. I am very comfortable teaching in these areas and have perspective regarding different international approaches to their teaching.
I am the course coordinator for:
Undergraduate- VISN 3111: Development and Ageing of the Visual System
Postgraduate- VISN 5531: Development and Ageing: Implications for Orientation and Mobility