Medical Advisory Board

Dr. Michael Frankel
Dr. Michael Frankel is a world renowned physician specializing in Stroke Neurology. He is currently Chief of Neurology and Director of the Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center at Grady Memorial Hospital and professor of neurology at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Frankel has been working in the field of acute stroke research since 1992. He became a faculty member in the division of neurology at the Emory University School of Medicine in 1992. Under his leadership Grady Memorial Hospital has hosted major clinical trials in stroke therapies, and it was the first hospital in the Southeast to have a round-the-clock stroke team. Dr. Frankel's work at Grady's Stroke Center has favorably impacted the lives of many patients, achieving excellence in stroke care with a specialized team. Dr. Frankel received a BS in 1983 from Tulane University and graduated as an MD from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1987. He completed his internship in Internal Medicine and his residency in Neurology at Emory University Hospital. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

Dr. Kevin Lavery
Dr. Lavery is an ophthalmologist with TLC Eyecare and Laser Centers of Michigan where he is medical director. TLC has developed a statewide referral based network and is one of the largest providers of eye care services in the Midwest with 14 locations. Dr. Lavery was the development director and founding chairman for Blake Woods Medical Park Surgery Center, the largest provider of cataract surgery in the State. He is a consultant to several ophthalmic companies and has been an FDA investigator for many new Intra-ocular lens designs. Dr. Lavery has a teaching appointment at Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University and is a Visiting Faculty with ORBIS International where he has taught eye surgery around the world. Currently Dr. Lavery is chairman of the board to Jackson County Community Foundation and past chairman of the Jackson Fitness Council, the Department of Surgery at Doctor's Hospital, and on the board of the YMCA.

Dr. Mary S. Harris
Dr. Mary S. Harris is founder, president and CEO of BioTechnical Communications, Inc. (BTC), which specializes in the production and dissemination of health care information targeted to ethnic minorities. Dr. Harris received her Ph.D. in molecular genetics from Cornell University with postdoctoral training in molecular virology at the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School). Dr. Harris has a longstanding interest in preventive health care and health disparities. Her professional experience includes graduate and medical school teaching; publications in scientific and medical journals; director of Georgia’s genetics screening program; membership on NIH grant review committees; executive consultant with private research laboratories and health care organizations; television producer and radio producer and host. Dr. Harris’s company has been awarded several SBIR grant awards from the National Institutes of Health which focus on the use of technology to disseminate health information to minority populations to influence the adoption of positive health behaviors.

Holly Avey
Holly Avey is a Senior Research Associate at the Georgia Health Policy Center with 17 years of experience in public health program design, implementation, evaluation, and community organizing with hospital, collegiate, and community populations. She offers expertise in innovative research methods, such as data collection through participant photography and integration of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. Her research centers on health disparities, social determinants of health, and stress-related illness. Her interests include the intersection of health policy and social policy and the utilization of community based participatory research. Holly has a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona, a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan, and a PhD in Health Promotion from the University of Georgia.

Dr. Rick Weisbarth
Dr. Rick Weisbarth is currently the president of the American Academy of Optometry and serves as vice president, Global Head Professional Development & Partnerships for CIBA VISION Corporation, the eye care division of Novartis. Dr. Weisbarth received his O.D. degree from the Ohio State University College of Optometry. Following graduation, he served in the Contact Lens Practice Residency Program at the University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Optometry. He has conducted a private optometric practice and held several different positions in clinical research and professional services for CIBA VISION Corporation in the United States and Switzerland.

Dr. Weisbarth has published and lectured internationally on a variety of contact lens and lens care related topics. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a diplomat in its Cornea and Contact Lens Section. In 1996, Dr. Weisbarth was elected to the Academy’s Executive Council. In 2004, Dr. Weisbarth was inducted into the National Academies of Practice as a distinguished practitioner in optometry.

Dr. Rick Potvin
Dr. Rick Potvin is the sole proprietor of Science in Vision, an independent consulting company providing technology review, data analysis, writing and speaking services to the eye care industry. He holds two engineering degrees and an optometry degree, the latter from the University of Waterloo in Canada where he also spent time working in the Center for Contact Lens Research. His early career involved developing a computerized traffic accident record keeping system for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a database for safety reporting in the world’s largest oil company.

Since becoming an optometrist he has worked in the research clinic and in Lens Eye research for Bausch and Lomb. He held several R&D, Marketing and Medical Affairs positions at Alcon Laboratories in both the refractive laser and surgical business units, most recently as the Director of Surgical Medical Affairs.

Dr. Potvin has written and lectured widely on technology in eye care as well as on technological advances in intraocular lens technology. He has developed several database systems to analyze the outcomes of refractive and cataract surgery. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

Commercial Advisory Board