2026 Thomas J. “Tommy” Pham GPLI-NKCF Keratoconus Practitioner of the Year

Presented to Dr. Julie DeKinder

About the Recipient

Dr. DeKinder serves as Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Director of Residency Programs. She graduated from Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry and completed a Cornea and Contact Residency at the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry prior to joining the faculty.

Dr. DeKinder’s primary teaching responsibilities are in the contact lens courses and clinics. Dr. DeKinder conducts contact lens research with residents and students. She is both a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Diplomate in Cornea, Contact Lens and Refractive Technologies. She is a fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society, and a member of the American Optometric Association and the Missouri Optometric Association. She is currently serving as immediate past-chair for the Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators (AOCLE) and is the Vice-chair of the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE). She has previously or currently serves on committees for the AOA, ACOE, ASCO and NBEO.

Julie DeKinder, OD, FAAO
UMSL College of Optometry
(314) 516-6534
dekinderj@umsl.edu