Skip to Content
Berkeley Optometry Continuing Education promotional banner. Text reads "Neurodegenerative Disease & the Eye. Golden Conference: September 24, 2023. Featuring Randy Schekman, PhD, 2013 Nobel Laureate. Lecture title: Tackling Parkinson's Disease With Basic Science. optometry.berkeley.edu/ce
Our 2023 Sheldon M. Golden Conference will focus on neurodegenerative disease and offer 6 COPE-accredited hours of CE. The program will feature panel discussions and Q&A with experts from the fields of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Glaucoma — including our special guest Noble Laureate Randy Schekman, PhD!

September 24, 2023
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM PT (breakfast at 8:15 AM and lunch included)
Stanley Hall, UC Berkeley campus
6 COPE-Accredited CE Hours (COPE Activity #126686)
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

Thank You

With profound appreciation and immense gratitude, we extend our sincerest thanks to the Golden family for their remarkable generosity and visionary support that makes the Golden Translational Conference possible. This transformative conference celebrates the legacies of the late Drs. Sheldon and David Golden, optometry colleagues whose contributions made indelible marks to the profession.

Neurodegenerative Disease and the Eye

The Golden Conference program will feature panel discussions and Q&A with experts from the fields of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and glaucoma — including our special guest Randy Schekman, PhD, 2013 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine.

Dr. Schekman is a professor of molecular and cell biology at UC Berkeley who researches the molecular and genetic causes of Parkinson’s disease and leads the collaborative research initiative Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) as scientific director. Learn more about Dr. Schekman’s work and research.

A composite image of Golden Conference speakers: Top row: Debora Lee Chen, OD, MPH, FAAO; Jennifer Fisher, OD, FAAO; Karsten Gronert, MS, PhD; Shane Liddelow, PhD; Bottom row: Yvonne Ou, MD; Randy Schekman, PhD; John Flanagan, PhD, DSc, FCOptom, FAAO, FARVO.

2023 Golden Conference Agenda & Speakers

Breakfast for Sunday, September 24 will be available from 8:00 – 8:45 AM at Stanley Hall.

Sunday, September 24, 2023 (Session One: 9:00 - 11:00 AM PT)

Tackling Parkinson’s Disease With Basic Science

Randy Schekman, PhD

2013 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Berkeley

COPE Course 85482-SD: In this lecture, Dr. Schekman will focus on Parkinson’s Disease with an emphasis on how basic science is being deployed to understand the molecular and cellular basis of the disease. He will share current knowledge of the molecules and cellular organelles that form the basis of certain genetic forms of Parkinson’s Disease and explain how a new effort, “Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s Disease,” seeks to mobilize an international collaborative research network to accelerate discovery in order to identify new targets for therapeutic intervention.

Clinical Presentation: Parkinson’s Disease for the OD

Debora Lee Chen, OD, MPH, FAAO

Co-Chief, Binocular Vision Clinic
Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

Jennifer Fisher, OD, FAAO

Co-Chief, Binocular Vision Clinic
Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

COPE Course 85439-NO: This course discusses clinically-relevant ocular manifestations of Parkinson’s Disease. Cases highlight how optometrists are integral in helping identify the condition, and how to use optometric tools to improve the quality of life of Parkinson’s patients. You will learn how to identify common ocular manifestations of Parkinson’s Disease, select which optometric tests to administer in evaluation of patients with Parkinson’s Disease, and understand helpful optometric management tools that will enhance patients’ activities of daily living.

Panel Discussion

Chaired and moderated by John Flanagan, PhD, DSc, FCOptom
Dean, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

Sunday, September 24, 2023 (Session Two: 11:15 AM - 12:10 PM PT)

Glaucoma as a Neurodegenerative Disease

Yvonne Ou, MD

Ophthalmologist and Glaucoma Specialist
University of California, San Francisco

COPE Course 85573-GL: In this course, Dr. Ou will discuss glaucoma from the perspective of a neurodegenerative disease, including pathological mechanisms and neuroprotective treatment strategies. Attendees will learn to understand glaucoma from the perspective of a neurodegenerative disease, including shared features with other neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS, gain an up-to-date scientific understanding of neurodegenerative processes in the glaucomatous retina and optic nerve, and learn about neuroprotective and neuroregenerative treatment strategies that are under study or in the pipeline.

Sunday, September 24, 2023 (Session Three: 1:20 - 3:10 PM PT)

What We Know About Alzheimer’s Disease

Shane Liddelow, PhD

Neuroscience and Physiology & Ophthalmology
New York University

COPE Course 85438-NO: This course will discuss the role of astrocyte functions in maintaining brain health during normal physiology and during multiple neurodegenerative diseases and other pathological conditions. Dr. Liddelow will provide special focus on the multiple roles of reactive astrocyte phenotypes that are common across different disease states. You will learn to understand the role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases, investigate the impact of astrocyte dysfunction on disease progression, evaluate astrocyte-mediated mechanisms of neuroprotection and neurotoxicity, examine the molecular and cellular alterations in astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases, and explore therapeutic strategies targeting astrocytes for neurodegenerative diseases.

Clinical Presentation: Alzheimer’s Disease for the OD

Debora Lee Chen, OD, MPH, FAAO

Co-Chief, Binocular Vision Clinic
Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

Jennifer Fisher, OD, FAAO

Co-Chief, Binocular Vision Clinic
Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

COPE Course 85438-NO: This course discusses the primary care optometrist’s role in the evaluation and management of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias. Cases highlight exam modifications, helpful ancillary tests, and specific management considerations. You will be able to identify common ocular manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, select which optometric tests to administer in evaluation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementias, and understand helpful optometric management tools that will enhance patients’ activities of daily living.

Panel Discussion

Chaired and moderated by John Flanagan, PhD, DSc, FCOptom
Dean, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

Sunday, September 24, 2023 (Session Four: 3:25 - 4:30 PM PT)

An Immunologist’s View of Neurodegenerative Disease

Karsten Gronert, MS, PhD

Molecular & Cell Biology
Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

COPE Course 86135-NO: This lecture will cover regulation of immune cells and macroglia in retinal homeostasis and neurodegeneration by resident lipid
mediator pathways.

Commonalities & Differences: What Can We Learn?

Shane Liddelow, PhD

Neuroscience and Physiology & Ophthalmology
New York University

COPE Course 86262-NO: This lecture will explore the crucial role of astrocytes in health and across different neurodegenerative diseases in the eye and the rest of the CNS. Discover how astrocytes impact brain health and serve as a potential therapeutic target.

Panel Discussion

Chaired and moderated by John Flanagan, PhD, DSc, FCOptom
Dean, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

2023 Golden Conference Registration Options

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
[margin space="50"]

2023 Golden Conference Pricing

Registration for the Golden Conference includes 6 hours of COPE-accredited CE, breakfast, and lunch.
[margin space="25"] [accordion header1="Early Registration Pricing (until August 31, 2023)" tab1="

Berkeley Alumni Pricing: $180
Non-Berkeley Alumni Pricing: $210
"] [accordion header1="Standard Registration Pricing (starting September 1, 2023)" tab1="

Berkeley Alumni Pricing: $205
Non-Berkeley Alumni Pricing: $228
"]

Continuing Education Credits

Six CE hours are available for the COPE-accredited Golden Conference program (COPE Activity #126686). This activity meets the live, interactive CE coursework requirements of the California State Board of Optometry. For COPE, this activity is considered a ‘Synchronous In-Person’ activity.

Daily CE Breakdown*

Sunday, September 24, 2023: COPE Activity #126686

Tackling Parkinson’s Disease With Basic Science (MISC)
COPE Course 85482-SD
1 CE Hour

Parkinson’s Disease for the OD & Panel Discussion (MISC)
COPE Course 85439-NO
1 CE Hour

Glaucoma as a Neurodegenerative Disease (GLC)
COPE Course 85573-GL
1 CE Hour

What We Know About Alzheimer’s Disease (MISC)
COPE Course 86263-NO
1 CE Hour

Alzheimer’s Disease for the OD & Panel Discussion (MISC)
COPE Course 85438-NO
1 CE Hour

An Immunologist’s View of Neurodegenerative Disease (TPA)
COPE Course 86135-NO
0.5 CE Hour

Neurodegenerative Disease & The Eye – Commonalities and Differences: What Can We Learn (GLC)
86262-NO
0.5 CE Hour

*Total CE hours subject to change

Please note: Partial attendance of a COPE course does not count towards COPE CE.

Questions?

View our Frequently Asked Questions page for information on registration, CE credit guidelines, certification letters, cancellations, and refunds.