Kenneth R. Seger, O.D., M.S., FAAO

Dr. Kenneth R. Seger is in his twentieth year as a member of the faculty at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry. Part of an optometric family (his father, brother, wife, nephew and two nieces are all doctors of optometry) Dr. Seger received the Doctor of Optometry degree in 1975 from the University of California Berkeley School of Optometry. He spent the next academic year as a Research Fellow of the University of California Professional Studies Abroad Program at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Science in the All-India Institute for Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. The following year was spent as a Demonstrator and graduate student at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Ophthalmic Optics, Manchester, England. His work on the effects of selected visual pathologies on chromatic and luminance functions led to a Master of Science degree.

Dr. Seger spent the next six years in private practice in his hometown, San Luis Obispo, CA. He was active in both his community and in his profession, including providing optometric continuing education and as an investigator for various new contact lens clinical trials, and was recognized as the “Young Optometrist of the Year” by the California Optometric Association in 1982.

In 1984 Dr. Seger returned to academia, joining the clinical faculty at the University of California Berkeley School of Optometry on a part-time basis. He served as an Associate Clinical Professor for sixteen years, with the appointment increasing from 20% full-time equivalence up to 70%. Dr. Seger divided his time between the third and fourth year primary care clinics and the cornea and contact lens specialty clinic. Among the highlights during this time was serving as Chief of the Tang Optometric Center at the university’s health center for five years, serving continuously on the faculty advisory committee since its inception and twice serving as a visiting lecturer for Beijing Medical University-University of California Berkeley School of Optometry Sino-American Optometric Conferences in 1996 and 1997 in Beijing, China. He also was selected as a Research Fellow for the joint American Academy of Optometry/American Optometric Association research Training conference. During this entire time Dr. Seger maintained a private practice in Berkeley, California.

After eighteen years in optometric education and twenty-three years in private practice Dr. Seger was ready for a new challenge. The college of Optometry at Nova Southeastern University certainly has provided that opportunity. Dr. Seger was hired as Associate Professor of Optometry, Coordinator of Optometric Theory and Methods Courses and Labs. He has taught in every one of the OTM courses as well as provided leadership, stability and a sense of ownership to the series of courses that prepare the optometry students for clinical practice. A logical extension of this concern leads to the primary care clinic. From April 2003 through August 2004 Dr. Seger served as the Primary Care Clinic Chief for the main university clinic (while continuing as the coordinator for the Optometric Theory and Methods series). He continued as the Module One Director for Primary Care Clinic through 2008 when he returned to his graduate work roots and took over the Monocular Sensory Processes courses. For several years, he has taught OTM IV (where the emphasis is thinking clinically and putting together the whole exam) so he now teaches a course every semester, including the summer term. The heavy didactic load has resulted in a discontinuance of precepting in the cornea and contact lens clinic although he still is active in contact lens workshops. He has received teaching awards nine times, honored as “Professor of the Year” and “Best Clinical Preceptor” by the students. In 2003, NSUCO established a graduate program in clinical research. Dr. Seger is honored to be a member of the graduate faculty. In 2004 NSUCO began a formalized Honors Program for the Optometry students. Dr. Seger served on the planning committee and is pleased to serve as an Honors Faculty member. These positions give Dr. Seger an excellent opportunity to use his talents and experience to positively affect the program at NSUCO.