Employee Focus on Erica Shelton

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Name: Erica Shelton OD, PhD, FAAO
Current Title: Assistant Professor - Practice
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hometown: Avon Lake, Ohio
Degrees and Institutions Attended: University of Dayton BS'14, The Ohio State University College of Optometry OD/MS'18, PhD'25
Years of Employment at the College: Eight

Q&A

What brought you to the College of Optometry?

The world class education opportunity!

Describe your typical day at work or describe your position/role.

Currently, a standard day varies, which is part of the fun! Typically, I arrive at the college early in the morning and prepare for my patients for the day. Then I will work on lecture preparations for the VS 6100 course and send some emails. Some days I work on manuscript writing and prepare for upcoming research studies by reading the study protocol or emailing some community partners. Then I spend the other half of the day examining patients in either the pediatric, binocular vision, or vision therapy clinic.

Photo of Erica, her husband, and their two dogs (yellow lab named Karla and a black and white golden retriever mix named Olive) — Erica, her husband, and their two dogs (yellow lab named Karla and a black and white golden retriever mix named Olive)

Photo of her husband, Kevin, and Erica in Times Square NYC — her husband, Kevin, and Erica in Times Square NYC

Photo of Erica, her niece, and her husband — Erica, her niece, and her husband

Photo of Erica, her parents, and her sister at Erica’s PhD graduation last fall — Erica, her parents, and her sister at Erica’s PhD graduation last fall

What advice would you give to a new employee at the college?

Take time to learn optometry if it is new to you. If you are familiar with optometry, meet as many of the staff and faculty as you can! We are all here to help and the more people you meet the easier it is to find friends willing to help with day-to-day questions.

What do you do for fun outside of work?

I enjoy going camping with my family.

What is your go to Columbus/neighborhood eatery?

I really enjoy Mazah Mediterranean in Grandview.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Probably buy a house on Kelleys Island for my family and my sister’s family too.

What was your first job?

I worked as a camp counselor.

What is the first item on your bucket list?

Go to Europe.

Which letter in the iconic O-H-I-O photo op pose do you prefer to be and why?

Usually an H or I probably, but I cannot really say I know why; it is just what my gut says!

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