Curriculum Vita
Name: Taras W. Spivak
Born:
October 17, 1944
Newark, New Jersey
Marital Status:
Married
Wife: Barbara Christine
Children: Daughter: Amanda Cecelia
Son: Aaron Taras
Education:
Columbia High School, Maplewood, N.J.
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School,
Scotch Plains, N.J.
Distinctions:
1959
19601962
B.A. in Biology, Thiel College,
Greenville, Pa.
1966
B.S., Pennsylvania College of
Optometry, Phila., Pa.
1967
O.D., Pennsylvania College of
Optometry, Phila., Pa.
1970
Deans List - PCO
Faculty advisor-Project Haiti
1971
Letter of appreciation from
Dr. Norman Wallis
1973
Letter of recommendation from
Dr. Jerome Hirsch
1973
Letter of recommendation from
Dr. Lawrence Ragone
1973
Letter of appreciation from
Dr. Leon Candeub
1974
Letter of affirmation from
Dr. Jack Richman
1974
Letter of appreciation from
Dr. Norman Wallis
1974
Letter of recommendation from
Dr. Stanley Skolnick
1977
Letter of recommendation from
Dr. Thomas Lewis
1977
Letter of appreciation from
Dr. Jerome Strickland
1978
Appreciation expressed by Dr. Michael Spinell
in his book, "Hydrophillic Contact Lenses"
Acknowledgement of exposure tables in "Hand
Book of Optometry" for Slit Lamp photography
Examiner for the National Board of
Examiners in Optometry
Academic Rank:
1989Present
Peer Reviewer for Aetna US Healthcare
1/1998Present
Appeal Reviewer for Aetna US Healthcare
1/1998Present
Peer Reviewer for Consumer Health Network
1/1998Present
Assistant Professor-Pennsylvania College of
Optometry
Teaching Experience:
Clinical Instructor, PCO
Aug.19701975
Assistant Professor, PCO
1975Apr. 1979
Conducted seminars; instructional
periods which were scheduled but
self designed
19711979
Participation in IBS sequenceinstructed both students and
faculty in the use of the goniolens
1973
Laboratory instructor in binocular
functions
19731974
Advisor to Skolnick, Deluca and Forgacs
on their paper "Gonioscopy without the
use of Corneal Anesthetics"
19731974
Continuing education teaching participation:
"Pharmacology for the Practicing Optometrist #701"
(given throughout the United States)
19731980
Diseases of the Eye
1974
Instrumentation
1974
Hard Contact Lenses
1975
Conducted clinic sessions with
patient responsibility
19761977
Leave of absence from Pennsylvania College of Optometry
Apr.1979Apr.1981
Resignation from Pennsylvania College of Optometry
Apr.1981
Chief of Optometry, VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pa.
Feb. 13, 2000
Present
Lecture Presentations:
Peripheral Fundus
Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy
Direct Ophthalmoscopy
Biomicroscopy
Photography through the Biomicroscope
Gonioscopy
Tonometry
Glaucoma
Ocular Diseases and Inflammations
Clinical Laboratory Tests and Interpretations
Case Analysis
Extended Wear Lenses
Lectures Presented other than at PCO or PCO CE Department:
"Glaucoma" to the Clayton Kiwanis and Elmer
Rotary clubs
1971
"Gonioscopy and Glaucoma" to the N.J. Academy
of Science/N.J. Academy of Optometry
1975
"Gonioscopy" to the Southern N.J. Optometric
Association
1975
"Biomicroscopy" to Optometric/Ophthalmologic
group CE at West Jersey Hospital-Southern
Division
1977
"Biomicroscopy and Gonioscopy" for the
Camden Optometric Clinic CE Program
1978
"Differential Diagnosis of Ocular Inflammations
of the Anterior Segment"-Georgia Fall Conf.,
Athens, Ga.
1978
"Differential Diagnosis of Ocular Diseases"
Camden Optometric Clinic CE Program
1979
"Contact Lenses-OTC Products" to CumberlandSalem Pharmaceutical Association
1979
"Differential Diagnosis and Therapy of Anterior
Segment Diseases" to the New Jersey Optometric
Association
1980
"Extended Wear Contact Lenses"-The Eye Institute
of The Pennsylvania College Of Optometry
1980
Continuing Education Courses Taken:
Pharmacology (#701)
1973
Optometric Hypnosis
1973
Photoelectronic Keratoscopy
1973
PCO Early Detection of Hypertension
1974
PCO In Service Training
1975
PCO In Service Training(2 day seminar)
1976
Ocular Pharmacology Seminar: N.J.
1976
Use of Photography in Optometric Practice
1976
Fifty Credit Hours of CE in order to
maintain N.J. License
Fifty Credit Hours of CE in order to
maintain N.J. License
Fifty Credit Hours of CE in order to
maintain N.J. License
Fifty Credit Hours of CE in order to
maintain N.J. License
Ocular Diagnosis & Therapy for the
Professional Optometrist (100 hours CE)
Fifty Credit Hours of CE in order to
maintain N.J. License
Fifty Credit Hours of CE in order to
maintain N.J. License
Fifty Credit Hours of CE in order to
maintain N.J. License
Fifty Credit Hours of CE every two years
required by the N.J. State Board Of Optometry
until 1992. An additional twenty hours
in therapeutic CE required to maintain a
therapeutic license.
19761977
19781979
19801981
19821983
May 1982Dec.1983
19841985
19861987
19881989
19901992
Fluorescein Angiography & The Treatment
of Macular Diseases-Univ. of Penn.,Dept.of
Ophthalmology
1990
Current Concepts in Posterior Chamber
Lens Implantation-Univ. of Penn.,Dept. of
Ophthalmology
1990
Treatable Macular Disease-University of
Pennsylvania, Scheie Eye Institute, Department
of Ophthalmology
1994
Sixty credit hours of continuing education,
twenty of which were mandatory for therapeutic
relicensure in New Jersey.
Sixty credit hours of continuing education,
twenty of which were mandatory for therapeutic
relicensure in New Jersey
Sixty credit hours of continuing education,
twenty of which were mandatory for therapeutic
relicensure in New Jersey
19931995
19951997
19971999
Service to the Profession:
Member-American Optometric Association
Member-N.J.Optometric Association
Member-Southern N.J.Optometric Society
Reporter-SNJ Optometric Society
Secretary-SNJ Optometric Society
Vice President-SNJ Optometric Society
President-SNJ Optometric Society
Lions Club coordinator for all vision
screenings in South Jersey
Amblyopia Screenings-Williamstown, N.J.
19661979
19701979
19711979
19711974
19721974
19741976
19761978
1974
19731980
Member-Task force to establish Optometry
School in New Jersey
1978
Member-Task force on NJOA membership
1978
Registrar-New Jersey Optometric Association
19781979
Leadership conference (2 day seminar)
1978
Examiner, National Board of Examiners in
Optometry
1989present
Managed Care Committees:
Member of the Eyecare Advisory Committee Aetna/US Healthcare
Member of the Peer Review Committee –
Consumer Health Network
January, 1998Present
January, 1998Present
Professional Qualifications:
Licensed Optometrist:
Pennsylvania (DPA's)
New Jersey (DPA'S & TPA'S)
Service to Pennsylvania College of Optometry:
President's Associate
1975
Member-Steering Committee for the Eye Institute
1977
Member-Liason Committee
19771978
Staff Reviewer-Preceptorship program
Instrumental in bringing about the introduction
of experimental Rynco Rx-56 CAB contact lenses
to The Eye Institute
19771978
1978
Attended 1978 Contact Lens Educators Meeting,
Atlanta, Ga.
Clinical Expertise:
Ocular Therapeutics
Ocular Disease Diagnosis
Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy
Slit Lamp Photography
Ocular Diagnostic Pharmaceutical Agents
Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy
Gonioscopy
Instrumentation
Contact Lens Fitting and Evaluation-Hard, soft and gas
permeable
Computer literate
Publications:
1. "Photography Through The Nikon Slit Lamp
Biomicroscope", Optical Journal and Review
of Optometry, November 1977.
2. "A Study of Ocular Findings in Chronic Psoriasis",
read before the American Academy of Optometry, Section on Pathology, Portland, Oregon, December 1976.
3. "Gonioscopy", Division of CE, PCO, 1974
4. "Coping with Adaptive Changes/Extended Wear Lenses",
Review of Optometry, April 1980, vol. 117, No.4.
Research Participation:
1978
1. Development of Slit Lamp Photography through the Bausch
and Lomb Slit Lamp Biomicroscope
2. Treatment of Psoriasis with UVA light and 8-methoxypsoralen for The Skin and Cancer Hospital of Temple
University, Phila.,Pa.
3. Phase II Investigation of Wesley-Jessen
Durasoft Soft Contact Lenses
4. Phase II Investigation of Rx 56 CAB Contact
Lenses for daily and extended wear
5. Clinical Trials for American Optical Corp.
Softcon extended wear soft contact lenses
1974
19751990
19761977
1977
19811985
Service to Community:
Member-Clayton Jaycees
19711973
Member-Clayton Lions Club
19711973
Sight Conservation Chairman-Clayton Lions Club
19711972
Board Member-Gloucester County American Red
Cross
1972
Vice President-Clayton Lions Club
1973
Conducted Eye/Vision Screening for Franklinville
Lions Club
1984
Appointed to Planning Board, Elk Township
1/933/93
Appointed to Elk Township Committee
(Committeeman)
Reappointed to Planning Board, Elk Township
Appointed to Industrial Commission, Elk
Township
Committee member, Boy Scouts of America,
Troop 55
3/9311/93
1/6/9412/31/99
1/2/0012/31/03
1/6/9412/31/98
1993Present
Optometrico-Legal:
Expert Medical Witness for defendant:
Lucille Barnette vs M.D. Stieglitz,O.D., etc,
et al
1982
Joseph A Martino vs Gilbert Lehr,O.D./
Stephen Rosenberg,O.D.
1984
Expert Medical Witness for Plaintiff:
Delores Johnson vs Hahnemann University
Medical Center and The Eye Institute of
The Pennsylvania College of Optometry
1995
Alvino Medina vs. Michael Allodoli, OD ,
Lenscrafters, et.al
1999
Employment:
Private Practice:
128 North Delsea Drive
Clayton, N.J. 08312
1971Present
Lancaster Avenue
Rosemont, Pa.
Practice Relocated to:
121 West Wayne Avenue
Wayne, Pa. 19087
Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center
University & Woodland Avenues
Philadelphia, Pa. 19104
19791985
1985Present
2/13/00Present
References:
Thomas Lewis, O.D., Ph.D., President, Pennsylvania
College of Optometry, 1200 West Godfrey Avenue,
Philadelphia, Pa. 19141
Norman Wallis, O.D. President ,National Board of
Examiners in Optometry, 4340 East West Highway, Suite
1010, Bethesda, Maryland 20814
David DeZan, R.Ph.,RT.6, Box 477, Gay St., Dandridge
Tennessee 37725
Barry Galman, M.D., 104 W. Red Bank Avenue, Woodbury, N.J. 08096
Nicholas Ruggeri, M.D., 191 Esplanade Avenue, Pitman, N.J. 08071
Herbert Nevyas, M.D., 1120 Tower Lane East, Narberth, Pa. 19072
Lee Yasgur, M.D., 304 Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill, N.J. 08002