Faculty/Staff Focus

Megan Shirey, OD, joined The Ohio State University College of Optometry as an Assistant Clinical Professor on June 16, 2025. Dr. Shirey received her Doctor of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry and completed a VA residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Following residency, Dr. Shirey spent two years in private practice before beginning a career in academia at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute Department of Ophthalmology, where she was an Assistant Professor. At UAMS, Dr. Shirey was involved in adult primary care, acute care, ocular disease, soft contact lens care, some low vision rehabilitation, and a tele-retina service. She also taught ophthalmology residents basic eye examination procedures, holds certifications in laser and surgical procedures, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and has participated in mission trips abroad.

Chad Killen, OD, joined The Ohio State University College of Optometry as an Assistant Clinical Professor on May 12, 2025. Dr. Killen comes to Columbus from Salus University – The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (now Drexel University), where he earned his OD degree in 2019, completed a Low Vision Rehabilitation/Ocular Disease Residency in 2020, and served as the On-Campus Residency Director and Assistant Professor. Dr. Killen is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. His background includes teaching experience in environmental and sports vision, low vision rehabilitation, and clinical problem solving. At Salus, he was also a stand-out leader in committee and board service as well as volunteer activities. 

Rebecca A. Deffler (OD, MS’19, PhD’24) was appointed as an Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, effective May 8, 2024. She earned her OD from the New England College of Optometry in 2017, followed by her MS (2019) and PhD (2024) from The Ohio State University College of Optometry. Her research interests include the delivery of low vision rehabilitation care and interactions among vision and driving. She teaches VS 6500: Geometric Optics in the first-year didactic curriculum and supervises fourth-year interns as a clinical attending in the Low Vision Rehabilitation Service. Dr. Deffler is a two-time American Academy of Optometry Foundation Ezell Fellowship recipient, was awarded a Young Investigator Student Fellowship Award for Female Scholars in Vision Science from the Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness, and received the National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program Award twice, among many other awards that recognized her excellence, diligence, and intelligence.