College of Optometry
Focused on Excellence in Optometric Education and Vision Research

The Buckeye Advantage in Action

Leading with Vision on a National Stage
By Sarah Cupples, MA, Kathy Rudolf (OD’09) and Thomas G. Quinn (OD’79, MS’81)
James Chung, Dr. Jeff Walline, and Dr. Mark Orso standing together smiling in the Hamilton Hall Atrium

Mark Orso (OD’86), President of the National Optometric Association, James Chung (’26), President of the American Optometric Student Association, and Jeff Walline (OD, MS’98, PhD’02), President of the American Academy of Optometry, are three Buckeyes who embody the values, vision, and drive that define what it means to lead in optometry. 

Mark Orso (OD’86)

President of the National Optometric Association

By Sarah Cupples, MA, Director of Marketing and Communications

Mark Orso portrait

As a leader, Mark Orso (OD’86) balances the weight of history with hope for the future.

Dr. Orso recently began his term as president of the National Optometric Association (NOA), a role he will hold through 2027. Though he is modest about the title, “In my mind, I’ve never labeled myself as a leader,” those who know him would disagree.

Widely respected and deeply admired, Dr. Orso has spent nearly four decades as a dedicated clinician, mentor, and advocate. His leadership style is rooted in humility, empathy, and a deep commitment to the mission of the NOA: advancing the visual health of underserved and underrepresented populations.

“I believe I am a good listener and gatherer of people from all walks of life,” he says. “I lead by always listening to others and formulating plans of action that incorporate many different perspectives.”

Dr. Orso’s connection to the NOA stretches back to 1984, when he first became involved as a student member of the National Optometric Student Association (NOSA). Now one of NOA’s longest-serving members, he says his turn to lead feels natural. “At this time, the NOA needs to reach out to other optometric organizations to continue our mission,” he explains. “The NOA is a family. We welcome all students and optometrists who support our mission.”

It’s that sense of family and purpose that has kept Dr. Orso connected to the organization for over 40 years. And it’s personal. “I am proud and honored that students and optometrists feel that I am an open and easy-to-communicate-with leader. That’s the best compliment I could receive.”

 

Leadership is developed by watching other leaders perform. I’ve had the privilege of learning from the best.
Mark Orso (OD’86)

Dr. Orso credits his mentors, Jacqueline Davis (OD’81, MPH), Clayton Hicks (OD’70), and NOA founders John Howlett, OD, and C. Clayton Powell, OD, for shaping his approach to leadership. “Watching how these great doctors interact with others taught me how to communicate openly and lead,” he says.

But one mentor among those stands out most: Dr. Jackie Davis. A recent graduate herself when she met him in the early 1980s, Dr. Davis took Dr. Orso under her wing as he navigated undergraduate life at Ohio State. “She held my hand through the completion of undergrad and optometry school,” he says. “Without her, I would not have become an optometrist. She quite literally changed the trajectory of my life.”

Dr. Orso’s deep reverence for African American optometrists who came before him is evident in every conversation. He reflects with admiration on H. Edward Welton (BS’38), the first African American graduate of Ohio State’s College of Optometry, and Marvin Poston, OD, the first African American graduate of Berkeley’s optometry program.

Today, Dr. Orso is semi-retired and lives in Fairfield Township, Ohio, where he dedicates significant time to the NOA. He remains grounded in his core values: listening, empathy, and perspective. “As I’ve aged, I realize that everyone has different opinions, and all opinions matter,” he says. “I stay positive by remembering that my ancestors were never given the opportunities I’ve had. Many of them were superior to me in character and intelligence but were denied success because of the color of their skin.” That awareness fuels his commitment to equity and inclusion—and gives him hope. “I believe treating others as you would like to be treated automatically fosters a positive and inclusive culture. Leadership is easy if you believe in the organization’s mission.”

When students and young optometrists ask what the NOA can do for them, Dr. Orso turns the question on its head. “It’s not what the NOA can do for you, but what it has already done,” he says. “Thanks to the NOA, we’ve gone from five African American graduates over 32 years (from 1938 to 1970) to approximately ten Black students in the college right now. And over 40 African American optometrists from Ohio State are now practicing. That’s wonderful.”

Born in Cincinnati in 1961, Dr. Orso attended Walnut Hills High School before enrolling at Ohio State in 1979. He entered the College of Optometry early, inspired and guided by Dr. Davis. Today, he is a proud father of five children and two stepchildren and husband to Amber Philpot Orso. His first wife, Priscilla Windham Orso, passed away in 2006.

Now, as president of the NOA, Dr. Orso continues to pay it forward, just as others did for him.

“Leadership,” he says simply, “is developed by watching other leaders perform. I’ve had the privilege of learning from the best.”

James Chung (’26)

President of the American Optometric Student Association 

By Kathy Rudolf (OD’09)

James Chung portrait

James Chung (’26), the current president of the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA), is a fourth-year student at The Ohio State University College of Optometry pursuing his OD/MS degrees. An accomplished student, he was selected as a Beta Sigma Kappa scholar, awarded two J. Pat Cummings Scholarships from the American Academy of Optometry, and recognized as the 2024 Ohio Optometric Association Student of the Year. We talked about his leadership role and what he hopes to accomplish for the AOSA.

We started by discussing extracurricular activities during his undergraduate years at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and he had a wonderful story about a group he formed. “I was one of the co-founders of a music outreach club called “Giving Bach” at UCSB. As a Spanish major and a music minor (viola performance), I delighted in playing chamber music and pop music with my friends. Inspired by the namesake from our middle school music club, my best friend from middle school, Catherine Zhu, and I founded Giving Bach to give back to the local communities with classical music. Giving Bach consisted of string players from all levels who performed around the Santa Barbara community in retirement homes, women’s shelters, and hospitals. At the end of each performance, players would break the fourth wall and walk into the audience to give people a quick tutorial on how to play a string instrument.” As with many leaders and visionaries, the joy and energy that come with such projects led James to a greater interest in growing, learning, and leading others.

James has drawn inspiration from numerous leaders he’s read about or encountered. “Being a student leader may come with unique challenges, as we may not be taken seriously because the ‘student’ title somehow makes our opinions unimportant. Young Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg comes to mind as a leader I admire. At age 15, Greta fearlessly addressed the United Nations about climate issues—issues that had been dear to her heart from a young age. Her radical integrity, strong sense of vision, and fearless attitude are things I admire dearly.”

Another source of inspiration for James has been Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek. James says: “Because becoming a leader is a long, complicated, but exciting journey, it is important to go back to your ‘why.’ Why did I take on a leadership role? Why do I do things the way I do? Why me? These questions—and the subsequent answers—are the guiding principles that help me stay on track.”

His path to AOSA leadership started with membership, then trustee, and now president. He credits his predecessors, former AOSA trustee Juliana Mazzotta (OD’25) and past AOSA President Emily Benson (OD’24), with inspiring him to grow.

“These incredible women demonstrated to me that leadership was not only accessible but also extremely fun. Their leadership at The Ohio State University College of Optometry led to great student advocacy efforts, which inspired me to partake in this AOSA endeavor with integrity and a sense of joy.”

One of the things James says he loves about the AOSA is the fact that it represents approximately 7,000 students from schools all over the U.S. and Canada, which creates great diversity in geography, thought, and opinions. As a former trustee of the AOSA, he enjoyed getting to know leaders in the optometry student world who were intentional about community-building—bringing students who were once strangers together to build fellowship.

Expanding your horizon and learning more about the world can only make you a better leader, a better human being.
James Chung ('26)

“Being in a community with people and sharing new ideas and thoughts are things that I cherish as a leader. A leader has to be around the people they serve, whether that is through in-person meetings or online interactions. Inclusivity may be a challenge for an organization as big and diverse as the AOSA; however, it is truly through intentional leadership and investment that people feel heard. At the end of the day, it is only the human connections that will make a lifelong impact on our students’ lives.”

Leading an organization, for James, means guiding team members, providing support, feedback, and encouragement to help others grow and develop. When asked if he has developed a leadership style, he noted that growing into one’s own style is a long process that takes time and intentionality—and that he is discovering it every single day.

“I am honored to be in a unique position as a student leader of a national organization where I get to learn and grow with my fellow students. Throughout this process, I have learned that it is important to lead with authenticity. Leading authentically means to lead with your whole being—incorporating your life experiences, cherished values, and human connections into decision-making to serve those you get the honor to lead. It’s important to engage and listen to different opinions and perspectives. Serving such a diverse group of students means there are so many different opinions that can inspire you to create greater change. While this is also a source of conflict, listening is key. It is important to take a step back and always remember the common goal of the organization, which is to empower our students to thrive as future doctors. Therefore, give your team members all ears and work out the differences. Many times, stress and life can get in the way of things, and we can easily get lost in the process. So, reminding people of their ‘why’ can spark the joy in it all to work toward our shared goal.”

To future leaders, he says, “Take action and step out of your comfort zone. If there is even an inkling of a desire to lead, I’d say do it. Remember, you have unique thoughts and ideas the world can’t wait to hear. It will be a little awkward at first but remember that growth is uncomfortable. It is like learning a new skill: riding a bike or using a slit lamp for the first time. Practice makes perfect, even when it comes to leadership. And don’t forget to make some friends throughout the journey. These people will become your friends for life! Read books like you are at an all-you-can-eat buffet— read all kinds of books, from romance novels to non-fiction. Expanding your horizon and learning more about the world can only make you a better leader, a better human being. I had the privilege of representing the AOSA at an international optometry student summit led by OPTOGLOBE. Interacting with optometry students from all around the world and sharing with them the incredible joy it is to be an optometry student in the U.S. right now gave me a sense of the global reach optometry has in eye care. Though there is so much to be done, it was such an honor to bridge the gap between American optometry students and the rest of the optometry world globally.”

As for his personal mission as AOSA president, he says, “I am learning every day as a leader how I am empowering students to become the best future optometrists. The years in optometry school set the tone for practice philosophy, outlook, and leadership for many years to come. At the AOSA, I hope to continue to empower students to reach their potential as physicians and leaders in their respective communities.”

Jeff Walline (OD, MS’98, PhD’02)

President of the American Academy of Optometry 

By Thomas G. Quinn (OD’79, MS’81)

Jeff Walline portrait

Few individuals have been as engaged in advancing their profession as Jeffrey J. Walline (OD, MS’98, PhD’02) Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at The Ohio State University College of Optometry. Many of you will recognize him as the recent acting dean of the college. Others may know he currently serves as President of the American Academy of Optometry. Still others may associate his name with landmark research in myopia management. The recipient of a long list of awards, in 2017 Dr. Walline received the Garland W. Clay Award for authoring the manuscript published in Optometry and Vision Science most widely cited in the world of scientific literature in the preceding five years. That’s what I call having an impact.

You may also recall that Dr. Walline was chosen as 2024 Optometric Educator of the Year by the American Optometric Association. How does he do it all?
Knowledgeable, passionate, and ever so approachable, Dr. Walline agreed to share some insights with me during a recent conversation. 

Let’s start with your path from growing up in Colorado to becoming a very enthusiastic Buckeye. Would you walk us through that journey?

I made all of the right decisions for all of the wrong reasons. I chose to attend the University of California, Irvine because they had a shirt that said, “I dare to be an Anteater.” I chose to attend optometry school at Berkeley because they had the seventh-ranked football team in the nation. I finally made the right decision for the right reason when I decided to follow Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD to The Ohio State University College of Optometry for graduate school. I have been a Buckeye for 29 years, and I couldn’t be happier!

You are rightly regarded as one of the great optometric researchers of our time. Did you always know you wanted to do research?

When I entered optometry school, I wanted to open a pediatric practice in my hometown of 1,200 people; however, I participated in a research program for professional students between my first and second years of optometry, and that inspired my desire to conduct clinical research. 

How did it come about that you set your sights on myopia management?

I originally wanted to use quality of life surveys – a new concept at the time – to assess all types of eye and vision abnormalities. I first wanted to develop a quality of life survey to compare contact lens wear to refractive surgery, but the National Eye Institute was developing that internally, so I decided to consider other avenues for research. Don Mutti, OD, PhD, and Karla proposed the idea of examining gas permeable (GP) contact lenses for myopia control, and the rest is history. I love working with children and managing contact lenses, so it was the perfect marriage of clinical interests and research questions that ultimately fueled my career path. 

Your leadership roles at the college, the American Academy of Optometry, and elsewhere have been impressive. How do you balance conducting research with your numerous leadership responsibilities?

There is no such thing as “balance.” I careen from one need to another, trying to navigate research and leadership opportunities. Luckily, I love what I do, so I don’t mind the constant feeling of being behind, and I thrive on the energy and anxiety of trying to manage two disparate, yet related, forces. 

You get more done in one day than most of us get done in a month. How do you do it all? Any tips on how to effectively manage a schedule?

My goal in life is to accomplish half of what Karla Zadnik does. I am failing miserably, but striving to attain that goal helps push me to greater heights. I never feel that I effectively manage a schedule. I generally wait until my phone tells me what to do next, then I focus on completing that task. For example, I have an annual review with the Provost later today, and I am wearing business casual attire for an event that requires business attire. I didn’t effectively manage that schedule, but I will still attend the annual review.

Can you describe your leadership style? How has it evolved over time?

I try to lead with encouragement and empowerment of others. If you enable them to be their best selves, then they will often exceed your expectations while also gaining self-satisfaction and confidence. The snowball effect then begins, and you can accomplish great things.

What do you do to foster a positive and inclusive culture?

I always try to model that work and play are not mutually exclusive. If you have fun at work, then it never feels like work. I genuinely look forward to going to work each day. There are always frustrations, but the frustrations are often the stories that you tell years down the road because you come out on the other side of the frustration with a sense of accomplishment. 

How do you handle conflict or differing opinions on your team?

I try to handle conflict with direct conversation. I firmly believe in being direct and tackling the solution, rather than letting the problem fester, waiting for a solution to magically appear, or using written communication. Often, a misunderstanding is just that. A conversation directly aimed at solving the problem generally leads to a faster, longer lasting solution.

What advice would you give to someone stepping into their first leadership role?

One of many things that I learned from Karla is to move to solution as quickly as possible. Ruminating about a problem or procrastination never solves an issue, so try to identify a problem or answer a question as quickly as possible so that you can move on to the next issue and continue to move forward.

Let’s close with a fun fact. Anything you’d like to tell us about yourself that others may not know?

In high school track, I was a middle-distance runner until I gained enough girth to become a weight man (shot put and discus thrower). As a weight man, I was bored during the district meet, so I asked the coach to put me in the 110-meter high hurdle race. There were two heats of four people, and the top three in each heat went to the finals. In the preliminary race, one person false started, so I got third and advanced to the final. The top three people in the final went to state and two people false started, so I only had to beat one person. When the starter yelled, “On your marks! Set …” I clicked my tongue, trying to get another person to false start. Unfortunately, nobody did so I earned fourth (last) place and didn’t get to go to state in the 110-meter high hurdles. I believe I may have knocked over every single hurdle though.

Anything else you’d like to share before we sign off?

After the hurdle story, I think I will just end there.

Another example of your wisdom and sound judgement. Thank you for sharing and Go Buckeyes!

Go Buckeyes!

You also might like