Edward J. Revelli

Edward J. Revelli, OD, FAAO
Member, Berkeley Optometry Hall of Fame

Dr. Edward J. Revelli, was born on February 4, 1952 and raised locally in Oakland, California. His career at UC Berkeley started for him as a young boy of 11, selling soda in Memorial Stadium on game days, eventually attending Berkeley for undergraduate studies. Following in his two older brothers’ footsteps, Ed entered Berkeley Optometry and received his OD in 1977. Following graduation, Dr. Revelli was hired by the State of California Department of Corrections at the Sierra conservation medium security prison hospital. The same year, with a classmate, Dr. Revelli opened an optometry practice in Petaluma. The following year, he was hired as a part time clinical instructor at Berkeley Optometry and became a partner in practice with his brother in San Leandro that would continue for 30 years. In 1991, Dr. Revelli joined Berkeley Optometry as Clinic Coordinator, becoming the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Clinic Director in 1994 until his retirement in 2014.

Dr. Revelli taught students both in the clinic and in the classroom at Berkeley Optometry. He was an implementer of the 106 hour TPA course for California OD licensure expansion, and later implemented the Glaucoma Grand Rounds certification course for additional licensure expansion. He has lectured and participated at the majority of optometry schools across the country on clinic development and enhancing clinical training.

Dr. Revelli was selected as Director of Clinics for the main purpose of revitalizing the clinical training program and, most importantly, increasing and strengthening the patient base. He felt strongly that solid clinical training cannot exist with so few patient encounters, and as such, a tenfold increase in patients from the surrounding areas shortly followed. He expanded the on and off campus clinical experiences for optometry school interns, developing the Berkeley clinical experience program which lead Berkeley to be the strongest clinical training program in the country. He hired ophthalmologists who were willing to properly treat patients and train students on diagnosis and management of ocular disease. Dr. Revelli constructed and opened the first refractive surgical clinic owned and operated by an optometry school. He was responsible for the creation of the state-of-the-art Eyewear Center which was critical to maintaining dedicated patients. The success of the Berkeley Optometry clinic led other optometry schools across the country to solicit his assistance in developing similar programs for their communities. In short, Ed developed the model for excellence in clinical training.

Dr. Revelli has participated in community and professional service as President of the Lions Club, President of the UC Berkeley Alumni Association, and Vice President of the UC Berkeley Men’s Faculty Club. He was a member of the UC Systemwide Health Science Committee, an NBEO council member, has been involved with eyecare in the developing world, and with the Special Olympics. He was an organizer and provider of vision care shortly after hurricane Katrina.

Dr. Revelli has been recognized by the Roy Brandreth Award, Chancellor Community Service Award, Michael Harris Family Teaching Award, UC Alumni Association Recognition Award, and the UCB Alumnus of the Year award.