Surgical Procedures/Injections Refresher Course

Dr. Nate Lighthizer

Dr. Nate Lighthizer

Surgical Procedures & Injections Essentials Workshop
Drs. Nate Lighthizer, Neal Whittle, Joseph Shetler, and Jeff Miller

Jeff Miller, O.D., F.A.A.O., is a Professor of Optometry at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. He is the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs and serves in the Glaucoma and Laser Clinics. Dr Miller teaches Clinical Microbiology and Immunology; General Pharmacology; Glaucoma and Uveitis; and Differential Diagnosis of Ocular Disease. He has lectured in the U.S. and Canada on topics such as glaucoma, laser procedures, retinal imaging, and ocular nutrition.

Dr. Miller is married to Terri Miller, O.D., and they have a daughter, Maia, who is a Siberian Husky. In addition to being an optometrist and a professor, Dr Miller is a certified sommelier.

Joseph Shetler, O.D., currently serves as an associate professor at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry where he teaches practice management, health systems, and gerontology courses, as well as supervision of students in the clinic. Prior to accepting this position, Dr. Shetler was the senior partner in a multi-doctor, multi-location practice in western Nebraska and South Dakota. Dr. Shetler served in this area for 25 years.

Dr. Shetler graduated from Indiana University with honors and is a lifelong Hoosier basketball fan. Dr. Shetler has served his local, state, and national organizations, serving as the president of the Nebraska Optometric Association as well as a member of various committees within the American Optometric Association. Dr. Shetler has been recognized as Nebraska’s young optometrist of the year (1994), optometrist of the year (2001), and received Nebraska’s distinguished service award (2011). Dr. Shetler has been recognized by numerous graduating classes of NSUOCO as an outstanding professor. Dr. Shetler has served on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians.

Dr. Shetler has played an integral role in providing laser education and scope expansion as a member of NSUCO’s advanced procedures and laser team.

Dr. Shetler is a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry and is currently the clinic chief of on-campus clinical facilities.

Neal Whittle, O.D., received his B.S. in Chemistry from Arkansas Tech University in 2008 and his O.D. from Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry in 2012. After completing a Residency in Family Practice and Ocular Disease, he joined the faculty of NSUOCO in 2013. Dr. Whittle teaches Geometric and Physical Optics and Vision Science I: Optics. He serves as the Electrodiagnostics Clinic Chief and works in ocular disease, contact lens, and primary care clinics.

He is involved in NSUOCO’s Advanced Procedures and Laser Course that is offered by the continuing medical education department in Tahlequah, around the US, and abroad. He is also the author of four chapters in The Ophthalmic Laser Handbook and one chapter in The Ophthalmic Office Procedures Handbook.

Nate Lighthizer, O.D., F.A.A.O. , was born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota, and is a graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry. Upon graduation, he completed a residency in Family Practice Optometry with an emphasis in Ocular Disease and Laser and Surgical Optometry through Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry (NSUOCO).

Dr. Lighthizer has since joined the faculty at the Oklahoma College of Optometry and has served as the Chief of Specialty Care Clinics and the Chief of Electrodiagnostics Clinic. In 2014, he founded and now heads the Dry Eye Clinic at the College of Optometry. Also in 2014, he was named the Director of Continuing Education as well as the Assistant Dean for Clinical Care Services at the Oklahoma College of Optometry. Starting in 2020, he was named the Associate Dean of the NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry. In July 2024, he was named the Dean of the Oklahoma College of Optometry.

He is a founding member, and currently serves as Immediate Past President of the Intrepid Eye Society, which is a group of emerging thought leaders in optometry. He was named a member of PCON 250 – A list of the top 250 optometrists in the country who practice progressively, provide innovative patient care, conduct optometric research, or excel in academia and share what they have learned with other optometrists to advance the profession.

Dr. Lighthizer lectures nationally and internationally on numerous topics, most notably advanced ophthalmic procedures, electrodiagnostics, and ocular disease.