Stephanie Schmiedecke Barbieri, O.D., F.A.A.O, A.B.C.M.O., Dipl Low Vision
Professor / Chief of the Low Vision Service at the Bowden Eye Care and Health Institute
Dr. Stephanie Schmiedecke is a graduate from the University of Houston, College of Optometry, where she also obtained her residency degree in low vision rehabilitation. In 2014, she received her Diplomate in the American Academy of Optometry, a designation less than 100 doctors in the world have earned.
She has been an invited lecturer for various engagements, including national and international meetings to teach doctors about low vision and vision loss. She also has spoken at many local events here in our local communities.
In the VA, Dr. Schmiedecke has been recognized as an expert in low vision. She was called upon to develop low vision programs across Florida and was a contributing author for continuing education in the national VA Employee Education System (EES). She spearheaded the 4th VICTORS program in the country, the Visual Impairment Center to Optimize Remaining Sight, in 2006. This interdisciplinary, outpatient program was the first of its kind in the southeast. She has received numerous awards for the program that trained optometry students and residents as well as ophthalmology residents from the University of Florida. Other low vision programs she has developed include Shands UF Hospital, and here at RSO.
Dr. Schmiedecke served as Residency Director at the Lake City, FL VAMC and Extern Site Coordinator for five colleges of optometry. Just recently, she developed the low vision rehabilitation residency at RSO where she serves as the coordinator. She holds memberships on both state and national low vision committees and received her American Board of Clinical Medical Optometry in 2010. Dr. Schmiedecke has also served as an examiner for the National Board of Optometry.
Currently, she is a professor and Chief of Low Vision Services at the Rosenberg School of Optometry. Her passion is to increase awareness and education about vision loss and the visually impaired.