Andrés Pagán, O.D., M.P.H.

TEACHING/RESEARCH INTEREST

• Contact Lens
• Public Health in Optometry
• Ocular Pharmacology
• Primary Eyecare Procedures

EDUCATION

• Master’s in Public Health (MPH), Medical Center Campus, University of Puerto Rico, June 1995.
• Treatment and Management of Ocular Diseases Certification, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, 1992.
• Doctor in Optometry (OD) from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry, May 1987.
• Bachelor’s in Sciences Degree (BS) from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus, 1980.

RECENT COURSES TAUGHT/CLINICAL INSTRUCTION

• 2007-present Dean of the IAUPR School of Optometry

PUBLICATIONS, POSTERS, AND PRESENTATIONS

Lectures/ Special Presentations

• The urgent necessity to provide Primary eyecare to the community.  Lecture presented in the University of La Salle, School of Optometry. Bogotá, Colombia. 2011.
• The Urgent Necessity to Provide Primary Eyecare to the Community.  Lecture presented in “Congreso Suramericano de Optometría y Óptica”. Santiago, Chile, 2010.
• Presentation to the Puerto Rico Health Care Commission of the Chamber of the Common Wealth of Puerto Rico about bill 562 to authorize the Optometrist to use pharmacology’s agents in the optometric practice. Presentation made in conjunction with Dr. Héctor Santiago. June 2008.
• The Challenges for the Profession of Optometry in Latin America. Second World Conference on Optometric Globalization. London, UK. April 2008.
• The Latin America Optometric Education Status. Lecture presented in the First World Congress Meeting of the Associations of Schools and Colleges of Optometry and the World Council of Optometry. Tampa, FL. October 2007.
• The Primary Eyecare by the Optometrist, a Public Health Project. Lecture presented in the Latin America Association of Optometrist and Optics. México, May 2007.
• The Research in the Practice of Optometrist, lecture presented in the Latin America Association of Optometrist and Optics, Lima, Peru, October 2006.
• Essentials Public Health Concepts. Lecture presented to Optometrist from Latin America as part of the Public Health Fellow sponsored by the Inter American University of Puerto Rico and the Latin America Association of Optometrist and Optics (ALDOO), Quito, Ecuador. July 2006.
• The Public Health in the Profession of Optometrist. Lecture presented to Optometrist from Latin America as part of the Public Health Fellow sponsored by the Inter American University of Puerto Rico and the Latin America Association of Optometrist and Optics (ALDOO), Quito, Ecuador. July 2006.
• Epidemiological Concepts in the Optometry. Lecture presented to Optometrist from Latin America as part of the Public Health Fellow sponsored by the Inter American University of Puerto Rico and the Latin America Association of Optometrist and Optics (ALDOO), Quito, Ecuador. July 2006.
• Presentation to the Puerto Rico Health Care Commission of the Senate of the Common Wealth of Puerto Rico about 562 bills to authorize the Optometrist to use pharmacology’s agents in the optometric practice. June 2006.
• The Important of the vision in the learning process. Lecture presented to parents and teachers from the school’s public system of Puerto Rico, as part of the NIH funds, granted to the IAUPR School of Optometry and Puerto Rico Exchange Club. This lecture was presented in more than 10 Schools throughout the Island. 2003-2004.
• The Fitting of the Soft Contact Lenses. Lecture presented to the second Latin America Association of Optometrist and Optics. San Salvador, El Salvador. November 2005.
• The Primary Eyecare, Optometry, and the Public Health. First South America Congress of Optometry and Contact Lenses. Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 2005.
• The academic program to produce primary eyecare professional. Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, 2005.
• Lecture “ver para aprender” (See to Learn). Given to teachers, students, and parents from Puerto Rico Public School, sponsored by NIH and Club Exchanges of Puerto Rico, November to February 2003.
• The Infant Eye Examination. Lecture presented in the University of LaSalle, School of Optometry. Bogotá, Colombia. 2003.
• The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. Lecture presented to faculty members of the San German, Metro, Bayamón, and School of Optometry campus. 2000-2001.
• The anatomic and refractive basic knowledge of the eye. Lecture and workshops, given to nurses and teachers from the public school system in the “Nuestros Niños Primeros” (Our Children First) Congress. La Fortaleza, (the Governor’s house) PR. 2000.
• The Human Subject Protection in the Research. IAUPR 2000, 2001.
• The status of the profession of Optometry in Puerto Rico. Continuing Educational Program IAUPR School of Optometry June 1999.
• The visual effects associated with computers. Lecture presented to teachers and students. Carolina, PR. 1999.
• The Systemic Diseases with High Prevalence of Ocular Manifestations. Lecture at Venezuelan Optometry Congress, 1999.
• The Pharmacological Agents in the Optometry Practice. Second Symposium of Anterior Segment and Contact Lenses. Venezuela, 1999.
• The Integration of the Optometric Services to the Community. Lecture presented to faculty, students, and optometrist from the Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain. 1999.
• The Integration of the Optometric Services to the Community. Lecture presented to faculty, students, and optometrist from the “Instituto Politécnico”, Barcelona, Spain. 1999.
• The Optometry Manpower Demand in Puerto Rico. Lecture presented to Optometrist of Puerto Rico, as part of the IAUPR School of Optometry Continuing Educational Program. “El Zipperle Restaurant”, 1997.
• The Eye and Systemic Diseases. Lecture presented to the medical faculty members of the Hospital San Carlos. 1997
• The Optometry Manpower Demand in Puerto Rico. Lecture presented to Optometrist of Puerto Rico, as part of the IAUPR School of Optometry Continuing Educational Program. Los Chavales Restaurant, 1996.
• The Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in the Loiza Population. Thesis dissertation for the master’s degree in Public Health. Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, 1995.
• The prevention of infectious Diseases in the Optometric Practice. Lecture presented in the International Association of Contact Lens Educators meeting. Mexico City, 1994.
• The Ocular Emergency. Lecture presented in the International Association of Contact Lens Educators meeting. Mexico City, 1994.
• Immunology Characteristics of Acquired Immunology Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Patients. Lecture presented as part of the program of the International Day of Acquired Immunology Deficiency Syndrome. IAUIPR School of Optometry. December 1, 1994.
• The Eye and Systemic Diseases. Lecture presented to the medical faculty members of the Patillas Primary Eyecare Center. June 1994.
• Ocular Emergency. Continuing Educational Program IAUPR School of Optometry, 1994.
• Ocular Manifestation of Systemic Diseases, Continuing Educational Program IAUPR School of Optometry, 1994.
• Fitting of Bifocal Contact Lens. Lecture presented in the International Association of Contact Lens Educators meeting in Bogotá Colombia 1993.
• The Eye and Refractive Problems. Lecture presented to students from the “Universidad Central de Bayamon”, 1993.
• Ocular Manifestation of Systemic Diseases, Continuing Educational Program IAUPR School of Optometry.1993
• Ocular Emergency. Continuing Educational Program IAUPR School of Optometry, 1993.
• Ocular Emergency. Continuing Educational Program IAUPR School of Optometry, 1992.
• The Instructional Module in the Optometric Education. Simposio “Latinoamericano de Educación Optométrica”, 1992.
• Ocular Manifestation of Systemic Diseases, Continuing Educational Program IAUPR School of Optometry, 1992.
• Ocular Emergency. Continuing Educational Program IAUPR School of Optometry, 1991.
• Ocular Manifestation of Systemic Diseases, Continuing Educational Program IAUPR School of Optometry, 1991.

RESEARCH SUPPORT AND PUBLICATIONS

• Permanent Member of the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Institutional Review Board (IRB) 1998 to 2010.
• The Ocular Consequence of the Diabetes. El Tigre, 2005.
• Optometric Manpower in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico: estimates and projections, 1982-2025. Journal of the American Optometric Association 69/#3, 161-179. March 1998.
• Alumni Survey: Perception about the School of Optometry Services, 1997.  
• The Optometry Manpower Demand in Puerto Rico. IAUPR School of Optometry, November 1996-1997.
• The Prevalence of the Diabetic Retinopathy in the Loiza Population. Thesis for the master’s in public health (MPH) University of Puerto Rico, Medical Center Campus, School of Public Health. 1995.

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL DISTINCTIONS

• Member of the American Public Health Association, 1995-2006.
• President of the Bayamón Exchange Club, 2002-2005.
• Vice-President of the District Exchange Club of Puerto Rico, 2003-2004.
• Member of the “Coalición Contra la Violencia Familiar”, 2003-2007.
• Permanent Member of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, 1998-2010.
• Member of the Consulting Board of The Puerto Rico Council of Higher Education for the Accreditation of the Assistant Optometric Program of the National College in Bayamon, 1996-1997.
• Member of the Consulting Board of the Puerto Rico Council of Higher Education for accreditation of the Optician Program of the EDIC College in Caguas. March 2006.
• Member of the International Association of Contact Lens Educator, 1989 to 1998.
• Member of the House Representative special Committee of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to make recommendations about the regulatory law of the practice in optometry, 2000.
• Executive Director of the Latin American Association of School and Faculties of Optometry (ALDEFO), 2003 to 2008.
• Consulting member of the “Colegio Educativo y Tecnológico de Puerto Rico” (EDUTEC), 2001-2005.
• Participation in the “Asociación de Servicios Voluntarios Optométricos” (ASVO) of the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry.
• Member of the American Public Health Association, Visual Science section. 1997 to 2006.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

• Participated in several humanitarian missions to the Dominican Republic.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Andres Pagan completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Sciences at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Metro Campus. He was admitted into the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry where he obtained his Doctor of Optometry degree. In the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, he obtained a Certification in Treatment and Management of Ocular Diseases. Dr. Pagan completed a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from the Medical Center Campus of the University of Puerto Rico. Dr. Pagan joined the faculty of the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry in 1987, after completing the Doctor of Optometry Degree. He has held different administrative experiences: Director of Contact Lens Clinic, General Clinic Director, Director of Patient Care Department, and Dean for Academic Affairs. Since 2007, he became the Dean of the School of Optometry. As the Dean, Dr. Pagan is responsible for both the academic and administrative aspects of the School, including all fiscal and academic management.  He receives directives and his power is delegated by the President of the Inter-American University System.