Alumni Focus on Jeff Hovis (OD/MS'80, PhD)
DR. HOVIS' STORY
Hometown
Elmore, Ohio
Which institution did you attend for your undergraduate degree? What was your major?
The Ohio State University – no major. It was still possible to enter the College of Optometry after two years of undergraduate studies. (It was a long time ago.)
Which degree(s), related to optometry, did you earn at Ohio State?
OD/MS'80
Who were your mentors at the College of Optometry?
There were two, Dr. Warren Morris, who was in private practice, but he introduced me to optometry and supported me through the application processes and during my time at the College. The other was Dr Ronald Jones, who was my MS advisor. He was instrumental in my development as vision researcher.
Who had a positive effect on your education?
There are several, but the first to mention is Dr. Robert Jacobs. Rob was doing a post-doc at the college, and he suggested that although the graduate program at the college was among the best, pursuing my studies at another institution would be in my best interests. I am glad I took his advice. Drs. Jim Sheedy, Kevin Alexander, and Kent Daum were a tremendous help in showing me how to combine scientific reasoning with clinical care for better outcomes, and also keeping entertained in their lectures. Drs. Greg Good, Greg Stephens, and Gary Androsko help keep me motivated in working on the master’s degree, but also helped me maintain my sense of humor.
DR. HOVIS' CAREER IN OPTOMETRY
Name of your employer(s) and title, including location.
The University of Waterloo, Associate Professor, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Give us a glimpse of your typical day as an optometrist.
I am approaching retirement, so I am finishing some research projects, helping my MSc student prepare for her thesis defense and still supervising one day a week in the binocular vision clinic.
Which optometric issues concern you the most?
Government funding for eye care and optometric education financing.
Why did you choose a career in optometry?
It sounded like a good idea at the time.
Where do you hope to see your optometric career in five years?
Retired, sitting on a beach, likely somewhere in the Mediterranean.
What is one piece of advice you can give OPT-IV students as they prepare to graduate and begin their optometric careers?
The patient sitting in your chair is now the most important person in the world. Treat them that way, but also have fun while you are doing it.
What does eye health, and eye care, mean for you?
Making sure that patients continue to have the best possible vision.
DR. HOVIS' OHIO STATE EXPERIENCE
What were your most memorable moments at Ohio State?
My first home football game, my first patient, my master’s thesis defense and graduation.
What do Ohio State and the College of Optometry mean to you and your family?
The university is a place of unlimited opportunity, with the college provides a close-knit community within the vast university environment.
How do you stay connected with the College of Optometry?
I visit when I can, usually before a football game, and I talk with alumni at different meetings.
DR. HOVIS' FUN FACTS
What are your current hobbies, volunteer work and interests?
Spring and summer are my favorite seasons for riding my bicycle. I try to ride on one of the rail trails in the area every weekend. Our family is also planning to travel to Europe this summer. Making wine in the fall.
What is a fun, random fact about you?
My loyalties are divided between Ohio State and Indiana University, where I did my PhD. Usually this isn’t a problem, Ohio State for football and Indiana for basketball.
What’s the best eye pun you’ve ever heard?
Not a pun, but as part of a lecture, the instructor started the topic of pupil abnormalities and proceeded to summarize the anatomy of the pupil as “The anatomy of the pupil is really simple, there is nothing there.”
If not an optometrist, I would be …
This is a tough one. Working in the university environment has allowed me to see patients, teach and do research. I might still choose to work in the university setting in another discipline related to human factors, or since my latest hobby is winemaking, maybe in the wine industry.