Assistant Professor

Director of Community Outreach

Dr. Mariana Ferraz earned her undergraduate degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2015. While earning her bachelor’s degree, Dr. Ferraz became involved in Retinitis Pigmentosa research at NSU’s College of Optometry with Dr. Ava Bittner. Following graduation, she attended the Illinois College of Optometry. While pursuing her optometric career, Dr. Ferraz and Dr. Bittner continued to work together and presented various posters and paper presentations on their current Retinitis Pigmentosa Research. Her work with Dr. Bittner was finally published in 2019. Dr. Ferraz completed her Primary Care and Ocular Disease residency at Nova Southeastern University in 2020. She is currently a full-time Clinical Instructor at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry. Her responsibilities include laboratory teaching as well as clinical supervision of third- and fourth-year students in primary care.