The heart of Pacific University’s College of Optometry lives in our students, faculty, and the proud alumni who have become leaders in the profession. For the College of Optometry Advisory Council’s alumni spotlight, we spoke with Dr. Nate Lighthizer to hear how Pacific helped shape his journey as an optometrist.
Now serving as Dean at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry (NSUOCO), Dr. Lighthizer is mentoring the next generation, advancing clinical education, and playing a pivotal role in expanding the scope of optometric practice across the country. Thanks for all you do Nate!
Tell us about yourself
I’m an optometrist in Tahlequah, OK at the College of Optometry. I was born and raised in Mandan, ND. I’m an avid sports nut and played baseball, basketball, and football in high school. I played college golf at Jamestown College in Jamestown ND where I met my wife, Jenna Lighthizer, OD '08, where we both happened to be going into optometry. I followed her out to Forest Grove, OR where we both completed our OD degrees. She is a PUCO 2008 grad and I am a PUCO 2009 grad. I chose PUCO because Jenna went there first! :) Also, Pacific is the optometry school where most OD's in North Dakota have graduated from. I never really considered going anywhere else.
What is your current role?
I am currently the Dean at NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry. After graduating from PUCO in 2009, I completed a residency in Tahlequah, OK at NSUOCO. I did my residency in ocular disease and laser and surgical procedures. I’ve been in Tahlequah for 16 years teaching at the school which is hard to believe!
Why did you choose to go to PUCO?
PUCO offered me a great combination of didactic learning and clinical experience with the externship rotations that we had during our 4th year of school. I was able to spend three months at the Mayo Health System in Albert Lea, MN with Dr. Leonid Skorin Jr., OD, DO, as well as six months at the American Lakes VA in Tacoma, WA (where my wife Jenna did her residency). It was an amazing clinical experience in my 4th year of optometry school at Pacific. We had outstanding professors who really cared about us.
What is your proudest moment professionally?
My proudest moment professionally is probably on back-to-back weekends teaching training courses, first in Red Deer, Alberta to 600 optometrists on glaucoma, oral meds, and imaging, and the 2nd weekend to Louisiana docs on laser and surgical procedures. I look back at those back-to-back weekends in 2014 as one of the proudest moments of my professional life. To see the excitement on the faces of those 600 Albertan docs and 100 Louisiana docs was so very rewarding.
Why should alumni support Pacific?
Alumni support strengthens PUCO by giving back to current students who will become the next generation of optometrists. This generosity fosters a culture of giving that enriches PUCO, elevates our incredible profession, and ultimately benefits the patients we serve.