Neisha M. Rodríguez, O.D., M.P.H.-G, PhD

TEACHING/RESEARCH INTEREST

• Low Vision and Blindness
• Geriatrics
• Visual Rehabilitation
• Epidemiology
• Visual manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease.

Teaching Experience

• Taught classes in the basic and clinical sciences department including Geriatric optometry, Applied Pharmacology I-II, Neuro-optometry rehabilitation, Optometric case discussions I, Professional Optometry and Ethics, Primary care low vision, and Advanced low vision.

EDUCATION

• Ph.D. Biomedicine Salus University, Philadelphia, 2018 – present.
• Master’s Degree in Public Health with a subspecialty in Gerontology at the Medical Science Campus from the University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, 2009 – 2012.
• Residency Training, Geriatric and Visual Rehabilitation from San Juan Veteran’s Medical Hospital, San Juan P.R., 2005- 2006.
• Optometry Doctor Degree, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry, 2001 – 2005.

RECENT COURSES TAUGHT/CLINICAL INSTRUCTION

• Courses taught: Geriatric Optometry, Primary Low Vision, Profession Optometry
• Clinical Instruction
• Director of Low Vision and rehabilitation clinic.
• Director of patient care clinic for third-year interns

PUBLICATIONS, POSTERS, AND PRESENTATIONS

• 2018, Intraocular pressure and Central Corneal thickness measurement workshop.
• 2018, Age-related Macular Degeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease in a Sample of Puerto Rican Adults.
• 2016,2018, Cyclopegics, Mydriatics and Anesthetics in Primary Eye Care.
• 2016, Ophthalmic antibiotics; From A to Z
• 2013, 2015, 2016, Primary Care Management of the Older Adult
• 2013, 2015, 2016, Visual Manifestations of Acquired Brain Injury
• 2011, Neuro-optometric Rehabilitation
• México 2009, Evaluación Visión Baja y Rehabilitación
• Mexico 2009, Geriatric Optometric Evaluation, Lecture
• 2006, Case Report: Hypertensive Optic Neuropathy
• 2006, Case Report: Pancoast Tumor with SIADH
• 2005, Basics of CCTV for Low Vision patients, lecture
• Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in a Clinic Population from Puerto Rico. Optom and Vision science. 2016 Jul 93(7): PAP 4/2016
• The prevalence of refractive conditions in Puerto Rican adults attending an eye clinic system. J Optom. 2014 Jul-Sep;7(3):161-7. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2013.06.001. Epub 2014 Jun 19.
• Poster at the American Academy of Optometry, 2017 Chicago, US: Self-Reported Visual Perception in Hispanic Population
• Poster at the American Academy of Optometry, 2017 Chicago, US: Eating Habits and Health Status among optometric students: Phase II
• Poster at the American Academy of Optometry, 2016, California, US: Eating Habits and Health Status among Optometric Students: Phase I
• Poster at the American Academy of Optometry, 2016, California, US: Central Corneal Thickness in a Hispanic Population
• Poster at the V Conferencia Puertorriqueña de Salud Pública y Encuentro Iberoamericano de Escuelas de Salud Pública, San Juan PR: Eating Habits and Health Status among Optometric Students
• Poster at the American Academy of Optometry, 2015 Louisiana, US: Visual impairment and blindness among a Clinical Population from Puerto Rico
• Poster at the American Academy of Optometry, 2014 Denver, US: Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in a Clinic Population from Puerto Rico.
• Poster at the American Academy of Optometry, 2014 Denver, US: Prevalence of Refractive Errors in a Population from Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic”.
• Poster at the American Academy of Optometry, 2014 Denver, US: Prevalence of Visual Impairment and Blindness at a Rural Population in the Dominican Republic
• Poster at Simposio Salud Mental Universidad Carlos Albizu, 2014 San Juan PR: Association Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
• Poster at the American Academy of Optometry, 2013 Seattle, US: Preventing visual loss: an eye-opening challenge.
• Poster at the IV Conferencia Puertorriqueña de Salud Pública y VI Congreso

Internacional de Universidades Promotoras de la Salud Pública, 2013, San Juan, Puerto Rico: Preventing visual loss: An eye opener challenge.

• Oral presentation at the 32nd Annual Research and Education Forum Medical Science Campus from the University of Puerto Rico 2012, San Juan, Puerto Rico: Health Educational Strategies to Mitigate Environmental Noise Exposure: A Strategy to Prevent Hearing Loss in Older Adults.
• Poster at the 9th International Conference on Low Vision, 2008, Montreal, Canada: Optometric Low Vision Manpower Study for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Leader volunteer in Boys Scouts of America since 2013.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Neisha Rodriguez Ruiz completed a Degree in Doctor of Optometry at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry. In 2009, Dr. Rodriguez obtained a Master’s in Public Health with a subspecialty in Gerontology from the Medical Science Campus from the University of Puerto Rico. In 2018, she started her studies towards a Ph.D. in Biomedicine from Salus University, Philadelphia. Dr. Rodriguez taught Geriatric optometry, Applied Pharmacology I-II, Neuro-optometry rehabilitation, Optical cases discussions I, Professional Optometry and Ethics, Primary care low vision, and Advanced low vision. She is currently a full-time professor, Director of Low Vision and rehabilitation clinic, and Director of patient care clinic for third-year interns in the IAUPR, School of Optometry.