Katherine Clore, OD, professor at the UAB School of Optometry, is retiring after a career dedicated to the school and the optometric profession. Throughout her career, she has been an educator, clinician and leader who helped shape generations of optometrists.
Clore helped pave the way for generations of women in optometric education. Throughout her career, she advanced both academic and clinical programs while serving in key leadership roles, including 11 years as director of continuing education and director of the University Optometric Group faculty practice.
"Throughout her career, she has been an integral member of the Cornea and Contact Lens team, making significant contributions to both clinical care and didactic education," said Adam Gordon, OD, MPH, professor at the UAB School of Optometry. "Dr. Clore has also provided outstanding leadership and administration in two important areas of the school: the University Optometric Group, the faculty group practice within UAB Eye Care, and the Continuing Education Office."
As continuing education director, Clore planned, administered and evaluated numerous educational programs for practicing optometrists at the state, regional and national levels.
Her influence extended across teaching, patient care and service. Clore served as course director for contact lens courses and also taught in anterior segment disease and clinical management courses. She also supervised students in the optometry teaching clinic, where her expertise enhanced patient care while helping prepare generations of students for clinical practice.
In addition to her service at UAB, Clore held leadership roles at both the state and national levels. She is a past president of the Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators and the Alabama Optometric Association (ALOA). She remains the only full-time faculty member to have served as ALOA president, and during her tenure, Alabama passed its therapeutic prescribing law for optometrists.
"Dr. Clore previously served as president of the Alabama Optometric Association at a time when women were still underrepresented in leadership roles within the profession," Gordon said.
Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Alabama Optometric Association's Optometric Educator of the Year Award and a lifetime achievement award from the Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators.
Clore has also contributed to the profession through scholarly and educational review, serving as a manuscript reviewer for Review of Optometry and as a course reviewer for organizations including the Southeastern Educational Congress of Optometry, the Southwest Florida Optometric Association, PSS Eyecare and the Florida Optometric Association.
“Her legacy lives on through the countless students, residents and colleagues she mentored and through the programs she helped develop and sustain,” said Kelly Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO, dean. “She has been a trailblazer for women in the profession and academia. As she enters retirement, the UAB School of Optometry celebrates her remarkable career and the path she helped create for future generations of optometrists.”