Deakin University appoints Weisinger as head of new optometry department

Following interviews conducted in early Decber, Dr Weisinger wasofficially advised of his success the week before Christmas, beforeresigning from Specsavers, where he has been director of professionalservices for the past three years.
Professor Weisinger told Insight: “I am extrely pleased and mosthonoured to be appointed to this exciting and important role. Theprofession of optometry is transforming in so many ways – from changesin the eye-care needs of Australian communities with issues such aschronic disease and ageing, to major reform of our regulatory syst toan overall shift in the setting that optometry is practised.
“I am passionate about developing an innovative optometry program thatreflects these changes, while concentrating on producing graduates whoare skillful, knowledgeable and motivated to work in the community -particularly in regional and rote areas. While I acknowledge there issome controversy about the supply of optometrists, there is absolutelyno doubt that we need more to work in the country.
“Obviously, this is quite a change from my most-recent role, but I feelwell-equipped by experiences and a strong network developed over manyyears. I’ve had a wonderful time with Specsavers. And for Australians,whether they go to Specsavers or not, access to affordable eyewear andeye care, and awareness of optometry in general, has never been better.”
Professor Weisinger was rumoured to have been involved from thebeginning of Deakin’s consideration of optometry as a potential offeringwithin the School of Medicine.
“Optometry at Deakin to date has been the work of a great number ofpeople, of which I have been one. Doug Perkins, the founder ofSpecsavers, had the vision and generosity to grant me time and resourceto work with Deakin,” professor Weisinger said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, however, I submitted my application likeeveryone else and was interviewed among several others unknown to me by apanel of nine very senior Deakin people, including the Vice Chancellor(Professor Jane den Hollander).
“It must also be recognised that Chris Beer and his team at Luxotticahave been equally important in this whole thing. Without their support,there is little chance that Deakin would have decided to go ahead.
“The Dean (Professor John Catford) called Chris to inform him of myappointment and he was unperturbed, despite my previous role. This is atestament to the value that Luxottica places on this initiative. I’mreally looking forward to working with th.
“And with the in-principle support of these two large groups, it is myintention to build partnerships with independent, community-health andsmall-chain practices – as well as the various non-governmentorganisations. I would love for these people to play a major part in ouroptometry teaching and training, and I’d like to think that Deakinoptometry graduates will repay the favour in time.
“There is scope for dozens of optometrists in practice to take conjointappointments and affiliate roles with Deakin. We want our students tohear it from the horse’s mouth”.
Deakin had previously announced that it would develop an accelerated program – producing graduates in under four years.
Professor Weisinger explained that the use of Deakin’s 20-week ‘medicalsesters’ actually enables compression of a five-year program intounder four years.
“We think it’s a really important aspect of our offering. It’s probablygoing to be a bit tougher on students than when I went throughoptometry!”, he said.
The optometry program is expected to take its first cohort of studentsin 2012, and will be operating from Deakin’s (planned) $47-million REACHbuilding at the Waurn Ponds campus in Geelong, alongside its 3-year oldmedical school. REACH is a purpose-built, four-level health-educationfacility, within which optometry will occupy an entire floor.
“It’s going to be sensational. We will have a state-of-the-art facilityfor our students to live and breathe optometry from day one. Includedin our plans for the department are eight multi-purpose,multi-media-equipped tutorial rooms (each kitted with chair and stand)for case-based learning and other activities, a 400m2 clinical skillslaboratory, a fully-furnished mock practice for simulation, examinationsand research, and a 200-seat lecture theatre doubling as a Team-BasedLearning space,” Professor Weisinger said.
“With this, atop of Deakin’s existing distance-learning infrastructure,we expect to give students (and teachers) a fantastic experience”.
Professor Weisinger is an optometrist and medical practitioner, havingfirst graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1992. He undertookpost-graduate studies in dietary manipulation of visual developmentunder Melbourne’s Professor Algis Vingrys, prior to winning severalresearch awards and grants, including the National Health and MedicalResearch Council and Australian Research Council post-doctoralfellowships.
He has worked in a variety of acadic and research settings includingRMIT University, the University of Melbourne, the National Institutes ofHealth (USA), the Howard Florey Institute and La Trobe University. Hispublications, including those appearing in Nature Medicine, Science andPNAS have been widely cited. He completed his medical training andresidency at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, and continues topractise one day per week in a suburban community medical centre, aswell as regularly working in