Lecturers

Ian Benjamin Gaddie, OD, FAAO

Dr. Ben Gaddie earned his Doctor of Optometry from the University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry.  Dr. Gaddie then completed a Residency in Ocular Disease through Northeastern State University College of Optometry at the Triad Eye Medical Clinic and Cataract Institute in Tulsa, OK. Dr. Gaddie completed both his Residency and also a Fellowship in Glaucoma and Laser Therapy at NSU College of Optometry.  Currently he is the owner and director of the Gaddie Eye Centers, a multi-location full service practice in Louisville that was started by his father over 40 years ago. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and Vice President of the Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS).  Dr. Gaddie is currently the chair of the Continuing Education Committee for the American Optometric Association. He is also the President of the Kentucky Optometric Association.  Having published extensively in the ophthalmic literature, Dr. Gaddie serves on the editorial boards of Review of Optometry and Optometric Management and Optometry Times.  In 2011, Dr. Gaddie was inducted into the Oklahoma Pioneers in Optometry Hall of Fame.

Walter O. Whitley, O.D., MBA, FAAO

Dr. Walter Whitley is the director of optometric services at Virginia Eye Consultants and serves several important roles including consultative eye care, clinical research, practice development and the supervision of an extensive referral network. He is a 2002 graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry and completed a residency in ocular disease, refractive and ocular surgery at Eye Care Associates of Nevada. In 2009, he completed his master’s in business administration for the University of Nevada, Reno. Prior to joining Virginia Eye Consultants, Dr. Whitley served as medical optometrist for Eye Care Associates of Nevada in the Reno and Las Vegas offices and helped develop one of the largest optometric referral centers in Nevada.