DEBRA J. NELISSEN, O.D., FAAO

+49-175******* ada21h@r.postjobfree.com

CMR 402, Box 116 APO, AE 09180

linkedin.com/in/debramcnamaranelissen

LTC, U.S. Army Retired - Locum Tenens Optometrist

Licensure

Optometric Doctor

Colorado: License # OPT.0003292 - 2021

Hawaii with TPA: License OD 810 - 2021

National Provider Number: #109*******

U.S. Federal Governments System for Award Management (SAM): Nelissen, Debra J.

/ 080269987 / 7N8C5

Summary

Full-scope primary care optometrist with 21 years of diverse eye care experiences; diagnosing, treating

and managing disease and disorders of the visual system and ocular adnexa. Specialized optometric

background in: traumatic brain injury (TBI) vision rehabilitation, binocular vision, contact lenses,

refractive surgery pre/post-operative care, anterior and posterior segment disease, and multi-

disciplinary co-management of complex patients. Accomplished administrative and health care

professional, with diverse health care delivery experiences in remote and medical based facilities;

specialized in compassionate and patient-centered delivery of quality vision care.

* Military Health Care * Vision Therapy * Ocular Emergencies * Clinical Management * Adjunct

Professor PUCO * Diagnostic Testing/Interpretation * * Binocular Vision * Problem Solving * Ocular

Disease Management * Humanitarian Assistance * Teamwork * Contact Lenses * Ocular Therapeutics *

Work experience

29 SEP 2017 - Present Optometrist

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

Contract optometrist for Regional Health Command Europe. LRMC is a strategic military medical

platform delivering professional, reliable and innovative patient care by teams devoted to

excellence. I provide comprehensive eye care specializingn in: Bincocular vision, TBI vision

rehabilitation, refractive surgery pre/post-operative care, soft contact lenses, scleral lenses and co-

management of systemic disease that can impact ocular health.

40 - 50 hours per week 156,000/year

01/2017 - 03/2017 Contract Optometrist

Indian Health Services, Red Mesa Arizona

Second locum tenens contract at Four Corners Regional Health Center: diagnosed and managed

anterior/posterior segment disease, interpreted laboratory reports, and provided multi-disciplinary

care coordination for patients with complex medical needs.

40-46 hours per week 150,000/year

07/2016 - 12/2016 CompHealth Locum Tenens Optometrist

Indian Health Services, Four Corners Regional Health Center

http://www.comphealth.com/

Provided critical eye care services to members of the Navajo Nation: diagnosed, treated and

managed patients with ophthalmic manifestations of diabetes, hypertension and glaucoma. Daily

coordination of care with ophthalmology and co-management for patients requiring post operative

care for ocular disease. Primary care optometry including; eye injuries, binocular vision disorders,

visual rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury patients, pediatric vision and contact lens fittings.

40-45 hours per week 150,000/year

03/2016 - 07/2016 Volunteer Optometrist, TBI Subject Matter Expert-Vision Rehabilitation,

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, SOF Health Awareness

Credentialed provider and volunteer optometrist for Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC)

footprint:

* BLS certification

* Child Care National Agency Check with Inquires (CNACI)

* DODEA health care security clearance

08/2012 - 11/2015 Chief of Optometry Services, Wiesbaden Optometry, WRESP, LRMC TBI SME

Wiesbaden Army Health Clinic (WAHC), Wiesbaden Germany

Managed daily operations of busy, medical based optometry clinic. Diagnosed, treated and

managed eye injuries and binocular vision disorders, performed refractive surgery co-management

with Landstuhl Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program (WRESP), contact lens fittings, pediatric

eye care, and diagnosed and managed ocular disease. Member of multi- disciplinary traumatic

brain injury (TBI) team including one year functioning as TBI case manager; provided referrals and

coordinated medical care for 65 patients with TBI. Evaluated, diagnosed, and provided

rehabilitative vision care for 600 wounded warriors with Post Trauma Vision Syndrome (PTVS).

Provided locum tenens optometry support to deployed Service Members in Kosovo and locum

tenens TBI specialty care to the Vicenza Italy optometry clinic.

40-50 hours per week

120,000

05/2011 - 12/2011 Locum Tenens (Deployed), Optometry Team Commander

124th (MEDDET) Optometry, Task Force 44, Camp Phoenix Afghanistan

Provided 24 hour on call emergency eye care, planned and executed, mobile optometric care and

optical fabrication missions in the Kabul, Parwan, Paktika, Loghar, Nangahar, Balkh, Kunduz, Farah,

and Herat Provinces, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble

Eagle.

50-64 hours per week

02/2011 - 03/2011 Locum Tenens Optometrist (deployed), Subject Matter Expert, Cambodian

Ophthalmology Liaison

Joint POW/MIA Accountability Command(JPAC), USARPAC, Hawaii

Planned and provided essential humanitarian vision care, to 890 Khmer citizens, during the JPAC,

Women's Health Care Engagement Mission. Acted as liaison with Cambodian ophthalmologists at

the Phnom Penh Eye Surgery Clinic, to plan and organize surgical referrals for patients with ocular

pathology.

08/2010 - 08/2012 Commander 124th Optometry Team, PACOM TBI optometry SME

124th Medical Detachment (MEDDET) Optometry, 18th MEDCOM, Fort Shafter Flats, HI

Resolved hand receipts, performed unit status readiness reports, ordered ophthalmic equipment,

prepared briefings for unit chief executive officers and staff. Performed peacetime mission of

diagnosing and treating visual system disorders. Prepared for wartime mission; plan, coordinate

support for, and participate in mobile optometry missions to provide eye care in a medical practice

setting, fabricate and dispense optical aids, and set up mobile vision clinics in austere environments

to support full-spectrum military operations. Coordinated and executed optometric participation in

Pacific Regional Medical Command TBI Program; provided pre/post-operative eye care for Tripler

WRESP program, trained providers on the signs/ symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of post

trauma vision syndrome.

08/2007 - 08/2010 Assistant Chief, Subject Matter Expert (SME) TBI vision rehabilitation, Liaison-

Warfighter Refractive Surgery Program

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) Optometry clinic, LRMC TBI Team, LRMC

Ophthalmology

Established TBI vision rehabilitation program to manage post trauma vision syndrome (PTVS),

making LRMC the premiere Department of Defense (DOD) site for first line vision intervention in TBI

patients; the standard operating procedures (SOP) of this program were utilized DOD wide, to

establish other TBI optometric vision care clinics. As staff optometrist, evaluated, diagnosed

and provided rehabilitative binocular vision care for 1400 wounded warriors. As liaison to the

Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program (WRESP), championed measures to improve quality of

care between refractive surgery clinic and referring optometrists. Produce newsletters and educate

referring optometrists on refractive surgery pre and post-operative care, to improve surgical

outcomes and standardize co-managed eye care.

08/2008 - 09/2008 Locum Tenens (deployed) Optometrist, Subject Matter Expert, Liaison Bulgarian

Military Ophthalmology

212th Combat Support Hospital, deployed to JTF-E, Nova Selo, Bulgaria

Humanitarian medical assistance mission: provided optometry support to 1000 local nationals.

08/2005 - 07/2007 Chief of Optometry Services, Armed Forces Athlete - Volleyball

Optometry Services, Raymond W. Bliss Army, Fort Huachuca, AZ

Treated visual system disorders using optical devices, vision training, therapeutic agents.

Established a WRESP referral center at Fort Huachuca; provided referral/co-management for WRESP

program at Lackland AFB, Texas. Created a post vision readiness program to promote vision

readiness. Utilized business analysis tools to increase clinical productivity, hire, train, mentor and

performed performance evaluations on optometry staff, managed optometry budget and provided

comprehensive eye care for 20,0000 beneficiaries. Selected for All Army and armed forces volleyball

teams and participated in the 2006 CISM volleyball championship.

08/2002 - 08/2005 Supervisor Optometry, Operations Manager Patient Administration and Laboratory

Services

Bamberg Health Clinic, Warner Barracks, Bamberg, Germany

Provided comprehensive eye care and treated ocular and visual system disorders through the use of

spectacles, contact lenses, prism, vision training, therapeutic agents and referral for specialty care.

Acquired specialized training in refractive surgery pre and post-operative care at Fort Bragg WRESP

center; corneal disease, punctual plug insertion and refractive surgery co-management

certification. Director of patient administration and laboratory services, overseeing operations

and mentoring and evaluating personnel.

11/2001 - 05/2002 Officer in Charge

Locum Tenens Optometrist (Deployed), 10th Mountain Division Optometry Services,

Task Force MED Falcon, Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo

Provided 24 hour on call emergency eye care, comprehensive visual health examinations and same

day spectacle procurement to over 10,000 U.S. and NATO Soldiers and civilians in support of

Operation Joint Guardian. Planned and conducted 41 humanitarian vision assistance missions and

organized weekly eye care outreach missions to Soldiers in outlying forward operating bases,

throughout Kosovo and Macedonia.

07/2001 - 07/2002 Supervisor, Optometry Services, Division Optometry Team Chief

Guthrie Ambulatory Health Care, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York

Supervised the daily operations of medical based optometry clinic, managed an optical fabrication

unit, trained, supervised and evaluated personnel and prepared optometry team for deployment to

Kosovo. Provided comprehensive eye care, vision readiness and optical fabrication services to

10,000 Soldiers deploying to Operation Enduring Freedom.

11/1998 - 07/2001 Staff Optometrist, Supervisor

Fort Leonard Wood Army Hospital Optometry Clinic, 43rd AG BN Reception Station

Optometry Clinic

Staff optometrist at GLWACH and Supervisor of Reception Station optometry clinic, responsible for

vision evaluations of 27,000 Soldiers annually. Evaluated refractive status and ocular health of

trainees, detected ocular pathology, wrote detailed ophthalmic medical waivers and produced

timely medical board reports on disqualifying eye conditions and diseases. Soldier/athlete/clinician

chosen to participate on, All-Army, Armed Forces and CISM Volleyball teams in 1999, 200 and 2001.

Education

1994 - 1998 Doctor of Optometry

Pacific University College of Optometry

Four year, military Health Profession Scholarship Program

1992 - 1994 Bachelor of Science

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Biology

05/2015 - 05/2015 Military Medical Support in the Humanitarian Arena

Bundeswehr Leadership Academy, Hamburg, Germany

Improve and professionalize the cooperation between military and non-military command

personnel in the arena of humanitarian assistance (HA), with special emphasis on medical issues.

Provide leaders with an overall understanding of GO/NGO HA entities, framework, conditions,

capabilities and approaches to HA, so military medical support is organized in an effective manner.

06/2008 - 06/2008 Military MedXcellence

Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences

Executive Skills Core Curriculum-Healthcare Management. Medical executives are accountable for

clinical effectiveness and efficiency in the use of health care resources at their facilities. This course

focuses on improvement in the quality and cost efficiency of clinical practice and population health

outcomes through evidence-based decision making. Reviews current approaches to the assessment

and improvement of health care delivery in the DoD and civilian managed care environments.

Emphasis is placed on the analytic methodologies that support decision-making by medical

executives, and the evaluation of processes that improve health status of the patient and minimize

resource costs.

07/2006 - 10/2006 Military graduate-level program/Intermediate Level Education

Command and General Staff College

Command and General Staff School provides Intermediate Level Education for United States Army

and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers.

ILE curriculum includes instruction on leadership philosophy, military history, and the military

planning and decision-making processes.

05/1988 - 03/1999 German Language Proficiency

Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center, Presidio of Monterey, CA

Culturally based foreign language education, training, evaluation and sustainment to enhance the

security of the nation.

Certifications

2015 - Present "A" Proficiency Designator

Army Medical Service Corps 9A proficiency designator Awarded by the Surgeon

General, the "A" Proficiency Designator is to recognize the highest level of professional

achievement within each AMEDD Corps' specialty. Officers selected for this honor are

leaders in their specialty and have made significant contributions to the advancement

of knowledge in their particular field through extensive publication and active

national professional organization membership. These professionals have worked

hard and dedicated a significant amount of time to become a distinct asset to the

AMEDD, both as an officer and an expert in their field. They are considered eminently

qualified to chair a department, division, or service; have attained full professional

status; and have obtained national prominence in their field.

2007 - Present FAAO

Fellow, American Academy of Optometry

Signifies to colleagues and patients that rigorous qualifications for fellowship have been met and

the optometrist is licensed to practice at the highest level permitted by law in their jurisdiction.

Professional Training

Tri-Service Vision Conservation and Readiness Program, US Army Public Health Center, Landstuhl Germany, 2016

Military Medical Support in the Humanitarian Arena, Bundeswehr Leadership Academy, Hamburg, Germany, 2015

The Visual Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury Certification, Germany, 2013

Refractive Surgery Management Course, Landstuhl, Germany, 2013

U.S. Air Force refractive surgery co-management certification, Air Education and Training Command, 2013

Exempt Research Certificate - Protection of Human Research Subjects, University of Miami, 2010

Department of the Army Professional Resiliency Residency Course, U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD), San Antonio, TX,

2010

Acquired Brain Injury/TBI Course, Optometric Extension Program (OEP), Baltimore, MD, 2009

MedXcellence: Critical Decision Making for Medical Executives: Keys to Improving Healthcare Delivery, Uniformed Services

University of Health Sciences, Garmisch Germany, 2008

USAF Refractive Surgery Certification, Lackland AFB, TX, 2007

Visual Consequences of Acquired Brain Injury, AMEDD, San Antonio, TX, 2007

Command and General Staff College/Intermediate Level Education, Augusta, GA, 2006

Aviation Vision Course, American Optometric Association, 2004

Refractive Surgery Management Course, Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center, Fort Bragg, NC, 2003

AMEDD Officer Advanced Course, Academy of Health Sciences, San Antonio TX, 2003

Vision Conservation and Readiness Course, U.S. Army Center for Health promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM),

Germany, 2002

Supervisor Development Course, The Army Institute for Professional Development, Fort Leonard Wood, MO, 2000

AMEDD Officer Basic Course, AMEDD Center and Schools, San Antonio, TX, 1998

Health Profession Scholarship Program, Extern, Schofield Barracks HI, 1993

German Command Language Program, Department of the Army, Berlin, Germany, 1990

Noncommissioned Officer Development Program, Berlin, Germany, 1990

Electronic Warfare Analyst Course, U.S. Army Intelligence Center and Schools, Fort Devens, MA, 1989

Signals Intelligence Analyst Course, U.S, Army Intelligence Center and Schools, San Angelo, TX, 1989

Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center, Presidio of Monterey, CA, 1989

U.S. Army Basic Training, Fort Jackson, SC, 1988

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