2024 NOA Convention Speaker Biographies

Dr. Kefla Brown practices pediatric optometry at Ochsner Health. She is certified by the National Board of Examiners in optometry and the Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners for treatment and management of ocular disease. She holds an optometric license with therapeutic privileges in Louisiana. A proud New Orleans native, she graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana summa cum laude and The Ohio State University College of Optometry. She completed her primary care residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation.Dr. Brown joined the Ochsner Health staff in 2001, and she has been in practice for over 20 years. As the only full-time pediatric optometrist in the New Orleans area. Dr. Brown provides services to children of all ages and abilities. She has extensive experience with the ocular system as it relates to systemic, metabolic, neurologic, craniofacial and genetic conditions. Her services also provide a necessary component to concussion care, in addition to a variety of eye injuries and ocular diseases. Dr. Brown’s office, style of care, and exams are tailored to the pediatric population, including teenagers and young adults. She has a passion for the special needs population and enjoys caring for those who are differently-abled.

Joy Harewood, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, is the Chief Diversity Officer at SUNY College of Optometry, where she also holds the title of Associate Clinical Professor. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley Optometry and completed a residency in ocular disease at SUNY College of Optometry. Dr Harewood spent a decade working and teaching in academic medical centers in medically underserved areas of New York City prior to starting her role at SUNY Optometry.

She serves on the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) Diversity and Cultural Competency Committee (DCCC) and the American Academy of Optometry’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee and is the Chair of the New York State Optometric Association’s Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence Committee. She was a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s (AAO) Task Force on Disparities in Eye Care, which was recently recognized with the AAO Secretariat Award. Dr Harewood lectures nationally and internationally on a wide range of topics including ocular disease and access to eye care.

Dr. Breanne McGhee is a full-time clinical optometrist in New Orleans, Louisiana where she is a native. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Science (B.S.) degree in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana. Upon graduation from Xavier, she continued onto Pacific University College of Optometry where she obtained her Doctorate of Optometry (O.D.), Masters in Education (MEd), and PhD in Education and Leadership (PhD). She also earned the prestigious top honor, the Dean’s Award, for her years of service and scholarship during her optometry school years.

She completed a Family Practice Optometry residency at Bond Wroten Eye Clinic in Louisiana affiliated with the Southern College of Optometry. Later, she earned a Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO). Dr. McGhee is a part time assistant associate professor and clinical adjunct at Pacific University College of Optometry. She is also an active member of the Optometry Association of Louisiana (OAL), American Optometric Association (AOA), American Academy of Optometry(AAO) and National Optometric Association (NOA) where she serves on various committees. Dr. McGhee has authored several scientific posters and lectured clinical presentations at various optometry conferences. Some of her clinical and professional work have been featured in the Review of Optometry, Optometry & Vision Journal, AOA Focus, and Women in Optometry.

In 2020, Dr. McGhee was the recipient of the Women In Optometry Young Optometrist of the Year Theia Award, as well as the Emerging Leader Award at Pacific University. In 2021 and 2022, Dr. McGhee was awarded the William C. Ezell Fellowship by the American Academy of Optometry Foundation

Jonathan A. Stevens, OD graduated from the original Pennsylvania College of Optometry.  He completed his residency in Primary Care at the prestigious Eye Institute in association with the Department of Ophthalmology at Hahnemann University.  Dr. Stevens holds the pioneering distinction of being the first, male, African American residency trained optometrist in the United States.

He has been Assistant Clinical professor and Associate professor at three colleges of optometry, as well as Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Brooklyn Hospital Center & Jacobi Medical Center affiliate, North Central Bronx Hospital. He is currently in private practice in New York and is an associate at the Barnes & Carter Eye Group.

​Dr. Ashley Tucker graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Cell Science in 2006 before going on to graduate from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2010.

Dr. Tucker completed a Cornea and Contact Lens Residency at the University of Houston where she received extensive training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of corneal diseases, in complex contact lens fits, and myopia management primarily focused on orthokeratology.

Dr. Tucker is a partner at Bellaire Family Eye Care and The Contact Lens Institute of Houston, a private practice in the Houston, TX area where she primarily cares for patients in need of specialty contact lenses and myopia management. She is also a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry where she is the course master for the Ophthalmic Optics Laboratory. Through her affiliation with the University of Houston, she regularly provides continuing education on the topics of anterior segment disease, specialty contact lenses, myopia management and ophthalmic optics.

Dr. Tucker is a lecturer for the STAPLE (Soft Toric and Presbyopic Lens Experience) program. She also serves as the Public Education Chair for the Scleral Lens Education Society, is a member of the advisory board for the Gas Permeable Lens Institute, serves on the AOA Contact Lens and Cornea Section and is on the Program Committee for the Global Specialty Lens Symposium. She has the pleasure of speaking on behalf of Bausch & Lomb, CooperVision and Alcon. Lastly, she is a regular columnist for Contact Lens Spectrum, Optometry Times, and Review of Myopia Management.

​Dr. Ashleigh V. Yates, a Prairie View A&M University and Illinois College of Optometry alumna, earned her Doctor of Optometry in 2020. Co-founder of ICO’s Black Student Union, she’s a member of various optometric associations and has received leadership awards. Residency trained in pediatrics and vision therapy, her passion for developmental optometry stems from personal experiences with learning disorders. Dr. Yates is now a Senior Clinical Instructor and Chief of the Pediatric Service at the Rosenberg School of Optometry.

Vincent Young, MD has been a comprehensive ophthalmologist for 35 years.  He is chairman of the Division of Ophthalmology at Einstein Medical Center of Philadelphia/Thomas Jefferson University and has served as a preceptor for optometry externs from Salus University as well as ophthalmology residents from Wills Eye Hospital since 1995.  He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and has served on advisory boards for Transitions and Vision Expo.