J. Daniel Twelker, OD, PhD, 2024 Ron & Karen Pust Faculty Global Health Award Recipient
J. Daniel Twelker, OD, PhD, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry and Vision Science with a Doctor of Optometry degree in 1992 and went to work at a clinic in the Mission District of San Francisco. Being fluent in Spanish was very helpful in caring for the ophthalmic and visual needs of patients in this immigrant neighborhood. Some years later he was drawn to pediatric vision research and completed a Ph.D. in Vision Science at UC Berkeley in their Graduate Program. In 2002, Dr. Twelker joined the faculty at the University of Arizona, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science and worked for a decade with the Tohono O'odham Nation looking at the need for vision correction in children and developed a vision screening project in the schools. During this time he visited La Guacamaya, Honduras for several years working in a small clinic and training promotoras de salud visual. Dr. Twelker designed a vision screening program in Kino Bay, Sonora and trained UA ophthalmology residents in an annual 4-day clinic, which after the pandemic has been reinitiated in Aguaprieta, Sonora. For two years (2019-2021) Dr. Twelker was the President of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, International which develops educational enhancement programs to improve ophthalmic and vision care all over the world, including Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Kenya, Ghana, and Vietnam.