Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Gaiser

Introducing, Dr. Gaiser, another prominent figure during OD1 most notably the PPO (Principles and Practices of Optometry) series of classes. Dr. Gaiser for participated in the following interview:

Q – To open, as with many interviews it’s nice to know, who are you today?

Hello! I’m Dr. Hilary Gaiser, an associate professor at the New England College of Optometry who has been actively involved in the Principles and Practices of Optometry course series and co-author of the 5th edition of the Clinical Procedures for Ocular Examination textbook. Two things I cannot live without are a good espresso and Sunday morning yoga – not necessarily in that order.

Q – What led you to NECO and where were you prior to being here?

Prior to Optometry school and NECO I was anthropology major at Indiana University Bloomington and prepared to pursue a career in forensic anthropology. Long story short, I fell in love with Optometry after spending time shadowing a local optometrist and was beyond excited to come to NECO as a student. As you can see, I am still here and enjoy working at NECO as much as I enjoyed my time as a student.

Q – What moment(s) in your life/career helped you realize Optometry was the correct path for you?

I realized Optometry was the correct path for me when I realized I wanted my career to be broader than strictly research. Optometry has allowed me to work with patients, teach, work with industry and conduct research in a variety of settings. It is a very flexible profession!

Q – What’s one piece of advice you would give yourself if you were restarting your education/career today?

Don’t sweat the small stuff!

Q – What personal characteristic makes for the best OD?

A desire to never stop learning. Your optometric education doesn’t end the day you walk across that stage – it is a never ending process of questioning and discovery. I would also encourage you to participate in that process of discovery through clinical research in addition to always seeking out new knowledge through conferences and the literature.

Q – Optometry school is a major and stressful step for students. What is one piece of advice you would share for handling the adversity of first year and beyond?

Perspective. I like to remind myself that I am trying to become the kind of provider I would trust with not only my own eye care but that of my family and friends. At the end of the day it is not about the questions on the exam or the points on the rubric but about the care of the patient sitting across from you in that chair.

Q – What can incoming students expect from your classes and teaching style?

Analysis, connection and order. I would say the main goal is to take a large segment of what appears to be disjointed and confusing information, analyze it and build connections to other previously learned topics and build a framework and order for the information. I often think of this as painting a picture. You first sketch out the image, add in the first brushstrokes and then continue to expand on your knowledge and build connections until the image comes into focus.

Q – Is there anything else you would like to say to prospective students and incoming OD1’s?

Things will not always go as planned but embrace the journey and opportunities that come your way.

We would love to thank Dr. Gaiser very much for her participation and contribution to building the NECO community further! We are #NECOProud!