Meet Our Newest Board Members
ABO is excited to introduce our newest board members, who were officially installed and began their terms at our annual meeting on November 6, 2018. We look forward to the contributions they will most certainly make in the coming years and appreciate their willingness to serve the optometric profession through the support of board certification.
Dr. David Sterna
Dr. Sterna currently practices in Northeastern Ohio with a focus in medical optometry and disease management. He was among the first group to take the board certification exam and has been a valuable part of our volunteer network ever since. He has served on various committees including item writing, exam review, and standard setting and also serves as the ABO state ambassador for Ohio. Dr. Sterna is a member of the American Optometric Association, Ohio Optometric Association and is candidate in the American Academy of Optometry.
Dr. Matthew Gerstberger
Dr. Gerstberger is a graduate of Southern College of Optometry and is currently in private practice in Garden City, Kansas. He has been a Diplomate with the American Board of Optometry since 2013, is a member of the American Optometric Association and serves on the Kansas Optometric Association board, where he was named Outstanding Young Optometrist in 2017.
Dr. Kristen Thelen
As an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Emory University, Dr. Thelen brings both clinical and academic viewpoints to the board. A graduate of Southern College of Optometry, Dr. Thelen completed a residency in ocular disease and surgical co-management at Omni Eye Services in Atlanta and became an ABO Diplomate in 2015. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a member of the American Optometric Association and the Georgia Optometric Association, is the recipient of numerous grants and volunteers with various community and optometric organizations.
Russell Newman
Mr. Newman currently serves as the president of Healthtronics, Inc. and will fulfill the public director role on the board. He received his master’s in professional accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and is a licensed CPA with extensive experience in the health care market. Mr. Newman brings broad operational, financial and leadership skills to the board and will provide outside expertise with strategic planning and organizational growth.
I'M A DIPLOMATE/CANDIDATE
LEARNING BUILDER ACCOUNT ACCESS
Check Board Certification Status
By going through the voluntary process of becoming board certified, our Diplomates demonstrate competence beyond entry level.
Upcoming Events
Stay in the know about exams, training, and more by visiting our events page.
