CooperVision expands its professional affairs teams

CooperVision has appointed three optometrists to its professional affairs teams across the global, US and specialty divisions, supporting the evolving needs of customers.

Dr Karen Walsh has taken on the newly-created role of global professional affairs director, 1 Day and frequent replacement product (FRP) brands.

She will be responsible for engaging and collaborating with eye care professionals (ECPs), global brand managers and global and regional teams in order to shape professional messaging for CooperVision’s 1 Day and FRP soft contact lens brands.

Before joining the contact lens company, Walsh spent six years at the Centre for Ocular Research and Education (CORE), and eight years with Johnson & Johnson Vision as professional affairs manager for the UK and Ireland.

Walsh is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, the International Association of Contact Lens Educators, and the British Contact Lens Association.

Meanwhile, two members of CooperVision’s global professional affairs team, Gary Orsborn (global head of post-market clinical studies), and Anna Sulley (director of medical affairs), have joined the company’s research and development organisation, supporting its focus on clinical research collaborations to accelerate innovation in the company’s portfolio.

In the US team, Dr Arti Shah has stepped into a new role as senior manager, US professional and academic affairs – West, taking on responsibility for promoting collaborations between the company and ECPs.

Before joining CooperVision, Shah worked in a private ophthalmology-optometry practice and was on the medical staff of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Shah is a member of the California Optometric Association, Los Angeles County Optometric Society, American Optometric Association, the International Keratoconus Academy, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She has also held a faculty position at the State University of New York and was on the medical staff of the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute.

Justine Siergey has joined CooperVision Specialty EyeCare in a new position as manager of professional affairs, irregular cornea, where she is responsible for advocating for the company in the segment, with a focus on scleral contact lenses and services.

Prior to joining, Siergey created and managed a number of specialty contact lens clinics in private practice and group settings. She is a fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society and former fellowship chair of its international board.

Finally, Dr Kelly Voltz has been promoted to senior manager, professional and clinical affairs for CooperVision Specialty EyeCare.

Commenting on the appointments, Simon Seshadri, senior vice president of global marketing at CooperVision, said: “As the industry continues to evolve, so too do the needs of our customers.”

Investing in the company’s teams, he said: “adds to an already incredibly talented professional affairs organisation, resulting in even higher levels of peer-to-peer practice support and education.”

He continued: “I can’t wait to see how Drs Walsh, Shah, and Siergey will continue to help ECPs and staff enhance their knowledge and grow their practices.”