Jack Richman headshot

Jack Richman, OD, FAAO, FCOVD

  • Professor Emeritus

Dr. Richman, Professor Emeritus, has been a faculty member of the College since 1984. He has lectured widely both in the United States and internationally to optometrists on the roll of vision attention in reading, drugs of abuse and their effect on the eyes and the central nervous system, and eye movements and reading. He has published over 65 publications including research, review articles and book chapters. Dr. Richman serves as an editorial reviewer for Optometry & Vision Science, The Journal of Behavioral Optometry, and Journal of Vision Development & Rehabilitation. He served for many years on the consulting staff at several hospitals including the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Traumatic Brain Injury Unit and the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape and Islands. In July 2010, Dr. Richman retired from full time didactic teaching and clinical practice.

In addition to his broad academic and clinical career, Dr. Richman has been active in law enforcement for more than 27 years. His work has been focused on the effects of drugs on central nervous system impairment and driving, especially involving the visual system. He received advanced training and certification in alcohol and drug abuse related to driving impairment from the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training program and International Association of Chiefs of Police. Currently, he is a Standardized Field Sobriety instructor, a Drug Recognition Expert, and a Drug Recognition Expert instructor. He served as the medical consultant to the National Highway Safety Committee’s Technical Advisory Panel of the International Association of Chiefs of Police for more than sixteen years. This committee oversees impaired driving enforcement curricula nationwide and facilitates the continuing advancement of impaired driving training through research and best practices. Dr. Richman remains active in training police officers and continues to lecture nationwide to a diverse audience of professionals, including prosecutors, optometrists, toxicologists, physicians, on the signs and effects of drug impairment and their effect on vision and driving performance.

Credentials

OD, Pennsylvania College of Optometry
BS, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science

Areas of Expertise

Professional Honors & Awards

2023 Festschrift Lifetime Achievement Award, in Tribute to a Prolific Career in Developmental and Rehabilitative Optometry, College of Optometrists in Vision Development
2015 Behavioral Optometry Scholar-In-Residence Award, New England College of Optometry
2014 Commendation Award, Pennsylvania State Police
2010 Public Service Award, New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians
2006 Richard Tarney Annual Memorial Award, Citizens Against Drug Impaired Driving
1999 Best Technical Article National/ International, Optometric Editors Association
1998 AM Skeffington Award for Excellence in Scientific Contributions to the Professional Literature
1981 Fellow, Vision Therapy, College of Optometrists in Vision Development
1974 Diplomate, Binocular Vision & Perception, American Academy of Optometry
1972 Fellow, American Academy of Optometry

Professional Memberships

American Academy of Optometry (AAO), Diplomate, Pediatric Optometry, Binocular Vision and Perception Section
American Optometric Association (AOA)
College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), Fellow, Vision Development
Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA)
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Police Physician Section and Drug Recognition Section
North American Brain Injury Society (NABIS)

Research Interests

Children’s Vision
Eye Movements and Reading
Neuro Rehabilitation
The Effect of Nervous System Impairment on Eye Movements
Visual Attention Dysfunction
Vision Therapy

Academic Appointments

2015-2019 Adjunct Professor, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Optometry
2010-present Professor Emeritus, New England College of Optometry
1988-1991 Director, International Student Program, New England College of Optometry
1984-2010 Professor of Special Clinical Services, New England College of Optometry
1978-1984 Adjunct Professor of Speech and Language, Central Michigan University
1977-1984 Professor, Ferris State University, College of Optometry
1973-1977 Associate Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry

Clinical Appointments

2004-2007 Associate Director, Individuals with Disability Services, New England Eye Institute
1994-1997 Chief, Pediatric Optometry/Binocular Vision Services, New England Eye Institute
1977-1984 Chief, Pediatric Optometry/Binocular Function Services, Ferris State University, College of Optometry
1973-1977 Chief, Pediatric Optometric Services, Pennsylvania College of Optometry