TEACHING/ RESEARCH INTEREST
- Public Health Optometry
- Epidemiology
- Social aspects influencing health status
EDUCATION
- MPH University of Puerto Rico, RCM- Rio Piedras (2005)
- OD Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry (2001)
- BS University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, General Sciences (1997)
- Fellow of American Academy of Optometry (November 2016-present)
RECENT COURSE TAUGHT/CLINICAL INSTRUCTION
Clinical Appointments
- 08/2011-present Assistant Clinical Professor- IAUPR- School of Optometry
- 08/2006-07/2010 Full-Time Clinical Instructor
- 2003-06 Part-Time Clinical Instructor, Primary Eye Care IAUPR-School of Optometry
Administrative Appointments
- 07/2010-present Dean of Clinical Affairs -IAUPR School of Optometry
- 08/2009-6/2010 Patient Care Director, IAUPR School of Optometry
Teaching Experience
- EPH0 Epidemiology and Public Health Course IAUPR School of Optometry
(1/2013- present) - OPTO-6060 Geriatric Optometry & Special Population IAUPR, School of Optometry (During 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2011)
- OPTO 4015 Public Health Optometry IAUPR, School of Optometry (08/2004-
06/2012)
PUBLICATIONS, POSTERS, AND PRESENTATIONS
- Pagan, D. Santiago, H., “Student’s Perceptions of Enhanced Clinical Skills and Cultural Competence Through Volunteering Services”, Accepted Poster Presentation for Academy of Optometry Meeting November, 2024 Indianapolis.
- Pagan, D. Santiago, H., Rodriguez, N., Platero, N., Oliveros, J. American Academy of Optometry Meeting Oct. 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Lecture Presentation Cultural Competence: Serving the Needs of Native American Patients
- Pagan, D. Santiago, H., Rodriguez, N., Platero, N., Oliveros, J. American Academy of Optometry Meeting Oct. 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Poster Presentation Refractive Error, Visual Impairment and Ocular Pathologies in Guna Indigenous Population of Panama
- VOSH Annual Meeting Oct 2022 in San Diego, USA: Towards
- Vision for All: speaker at SIG IPE: Interprofessional Collaboration in Research in Optometry: IAUPR/UDELAS Guna Nega experience
- VOSH Annual Meeting Oct 2022 San Diego California: Optometric Education: The importance of collaboration and cross learning. Speakers: Beatriz Gomez Serna, Mark Rakoczy, & Damaris Pagan
- Pagan, D., Santiago H. Poster Presentation Assessment of Cultural Competence at IAUPR School of Optometry Curriculum at American Academy of Optometry Boston Meeting November 2021
- Pagan, D. Poster Presentation Mejorar las Destrezas de Comunicación Del Idioma Español a Estudiantes Extranjeros no Proficientes en Español de la Escuela de Optometría UIPR at The Central Office of Inter American University of Puerto Rico, (05/2017)
- Lecture Challenges in Clinic Administration, Deans and Administrators Meeting at University of West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago, Asociación Latinoamericana de Optometría y Optica (ALDOO) (10/2014)
- Santiago HC, Pagan D, Rullán M, Ortiz K, Rodríguez N, Ruiz L, De
- Jesús JM. Refractive Error Study in Children of Puerto Rico. Poster at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Puerto Rico Optometric Association (October 2013).
- Uso de Lentes de Contacto Para Toda la Vida: CE Course for Opticians; Colegio de Ópticos de PR Annual Convention, Ponce, 09/2011
- The Ideal Cornea, Presentation for Optometrist from Virgin Island, Sponsored by the Vision Care Institute, (TVCI) Johnson & Johnson 10/2011
- Santiago, H., Pagán, D., Platero, N., Oliveros, J.
- Prevalence of Refractive Error and Visual
- Impairment in the Guna Indians of Panama Journal of Community Medicine & Public Health Volume 8: Issue (3)467, Sept.12, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29011/2577-2228.100467
- Pagan, D. Santiago, H., Rodriguez, N., Platero, N., Oliveros, J. Primer Estudio De Errores Refractivos E Impedimentos Visuales En Poblacion Indigena De Panama Revista Franja Visual 193, Enero 2024.
- Santiago, H.C., Pagan, D., Acevedo, A. Obesity and Hypertension in School Children of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Health Science Journal, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico March 2021, 40(1)
- Rodriguez, Gómez, J.R., Pagán-Torres, D. The Importance of Treatment Adherence in the Well
- Being of the Patient: A Brief Literature Review. American Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 2018, 8(11): 318-323.
- Pagán, D. Posibles usos y efectos del 9Δ-tetrahidrocannabinol. Hospitales 2002, Año 15, 53, 14-18.
- Pagán D. Tópicos en Genética: Ventajas y Limitaciones del Mapa Cromosómico. Hospitales 1997, Vol. 43 (11), 8-9. 1997
Lay Publications
- 01/2018 “¿Quién es y Qué hace el Optómetra?” Semanario Presencia Page 15.
- 05/2017 “Misión de Amor: con motivo de la Clínica de Salud Visual Humanitaria en Monte Cristi”. Dominican Republic, Semanario Presencia Page 14
- 01/2017 “Examen Visual a Temprana Edad: Herramienta Preventiva.” Semanario Presencia Page 14
- 07/2012 “Visión Optima: Mantén una buena salud visual.” Revista Buena Vida, page 82
- 8/2011 “Cuide Sus Ojos” Newspaper: Primera Hora
- 11/2010 “Enfermedad Diabética del Ojo” Newspaper: El Expreso
- 4/2006 Diabetic Retinopathy: Health Supplement. Newspaper: El Vocero de Puerto Rico
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL DISTINCTIONS
Service to the Institution
- 08/2024 Academic Senate University Council- President of Faculty Affairs Committee
- 08/22- present Academic Senate Delegate to the IAUPR University Council- IAUPR- Faculty Committee
- 05/2018-19 Committee Member, Summative Evaluation- UIPR
- 05/2018 Member of Entrepreneur Project – UIPR-Metro Campus
- 08/2009- present Chair of Clinical Affairs Committee, IAUPRSO
- 8/2008-05/2009 Vice President Academic Senate IAUPRSO
Professional Memberships
- 2022- present American Public Health Association
- 2020-present Public Health Committee Member at ALDOO
- 2012- present American Optometric Association- International Member
- 2002-present Colegio de Optómetras de PR- Local Optometric Association Member
COMMUNITY SERVICE
- 10/2024 Humanitarian Mission at Herrera, Dominican Republic
- 11/2023 Special Olympics Vision Screening: Down Syndrome population adults.
- 10/2022 Special Olympics Vision Screening: Down Syndrome population adults.
- 05/2018 San Jorge Hospital Foundation in association with VSP- Vision Screening for pediatric population
- 05/2018 Health Fair: Vision Screening Guacio San Sebastián, PR San Juan Presbytery, Rise & Shine Activity.
- 02/2018 Health Fair Vision Screening sponsor by Lions Club at Plaza Las Américas Shopping Mall.
- 01/2018- present Faculty Advisor for IAUPR VOSH Student Chapter
- 2022 Faculty Advisor for IAUPR Public Health Students APHA Student Chapter
- 04/2017 International Mission Vision Screening in Montecristi, Dominican Republic.
BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Damaris Pagan born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico and completed a Bachelor’s degree in General Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. Dr. Pagan completed a Doctorate in Optometry from the School of Optometry of the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. In 2005, she obtained a Masters’ Degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Center Campus. She is currently the Dean of Clinical Affairs in charge of the six clinic system of the Inter American University, School of Optometry.
