On January 26-27, 2024 the Annual Michigan Vision Therapy Study Group Educational Conference took place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, bringing together optometric colleagues and vision therapists from around the US and internationally with a focus on developmental vision and rehabilitation.
This year’s presentations had a wide range of fascinating topics centering around the effective treatment of child and adult Strabismus, Amblyopia, Visual Problems affecting Reading, Math, Handwriting and Attention and Concentration. In addition to the latest research, presentations covered the art and science and emotions of patient care that provide the best results.
Here is the line up of presenters:
Dr. David Cook – The Art and Emotion of Vision Therapy – Powerful Applications with an emphasis on understanding the emotional component of the vision therapy experience.
Dr. Brenda Montecalvo who presented to us virtually, live from the Philippines – The VO Star and Cheiroscopic Tracings gaining key insights in the management of your VT patients.
Drs. Dan Fortenbacher, Alyssa Parz, Alicia Bultsma, Sana Haque and Vanna Lowe -Accelerating Amblyopia Treatment… Faster and Better Than Ever Before with key behavioral management coaching strategies added to your vision therapy.
Dr. Curt Baxstrom – Vision and Math… Numerosity the Synergy of Visual Sequential and Simultaneous Processing with a fascinating approach to using visual imagery and visual spatial concepts to make math easy to learn!
Dr. Mohamed Moussa and Dr. Abeer Ahmed-The importance of oculomotor control in human performance, and creative artful applications, including music to help facilitate eye movement development in vision therapy.
Dr. Neil Renaud and Dr. Claire Michel – Magnocellular Training: Why Every Patient Needs It and Why We Should Own It… for better patient care! The importance of building visual system to have the smooth seamless integration between central and peripheral with all the benefits to the patient.
Dr. Steve Ingersoll – Exogenous and Endogenous Light, Photic Regulation of Subcortical Physiology- The beauty and eloquence of this presentation can not be overstated. First we need to understand the human visual system and the important role we have in developmental vision and rehabilitation. 
Dr. Aaron Nichols – Adult Strabismus and Amblyopia and Improving Functional Goals and Quality of Life – Showing that age is not a barrier to helping patients with adult strabismus and Amblyopia.
Resident Presentations Jacqueline Dang, Crystal Sin and Madeline Seidel plus Optometry 4th year student Leah Jipping – Case Presentations with Expert panel comments and suggestions.
Dr. Bradley Habermehl- Pain Management to help us be tuned into the conditions and pharmaceutical applications for patients who’ve sustained an eye injury or infection.
Our presenters for the 2024 MVTSG Educational Conference (absent is Dr. Cook) 
The Michigan Vision Therapy Study Group (MVTSG) begin in the early 1980’s and continues to grow. We offer 12 hours of CE approved by the Michigan Board of Optometry, under the auspicious of the Michigan Optometric Association. As we are continuing to grow, beginning next year, 2025, we will also be affiliated under the auspicious of the Optometric Educational Program Foundation (OEPF).
Dan L. Fortenbacher, O.D., FCOVD
The VisionHelp Blog 