Celebrating Our Alumni
The strength of SUNY College of Optometry is reflected in the accomplishments and contributions of its alumni. As part of our celebration, we are pleased to recognize alumni whose professional achievements, leadership, service, and commitment to the College community represent the enduring impact of a SUNY education.
The SUNY College of Optometry Foundation presents the Lifetime Service & Leadership Award to Dr. Siret D. Jaanus
Siret D. Jaanus, Ph.D. is a highly respected educator, researcher, author, and advocate whose career has had a lasting impact on the profession of optometry. An internationally recognized expert in ocular pharmacology, she is best known as co-author of the leading textbook Clinical Ocular Pharmacology, a foundational resource used by generations of optometrists and eye care professionals. Throughout her career, Dr. Jaanus has served as a faculty member and academic leader, mentoring countless students while advancing research and public understanding of eye care and pharmacology
Meet the Alumni Award Recipients
Alumni of the Year - Anshu Chandra ’08, R’09
Dr. Anshu Chandra has worked in Haiti for the last 15 years building and advancing eye care for the poor. She is working to end disparities in eye care globally by bringing this service to remote areas and giving them health equity. She's leading our efforts in Haiti and has built a permanent eye clinic in Fond-des-Blancs which provides client care and training for local residents. She’s also collaborating with other institutions in Haiti, providing care via mobile clinics to address the immediate need as well as working on more permanent solutions by helping to further develop the Haitian ophthalmology residency program in Port-au-Prince. This would provide advanced training and access to equipment and supplies so ALL Haitians can have high-quality eye care.
She holds a Doctor of Optometry degree and did her residency at SUNY College of Optometry in New York. She was raised in India and the USA, where her mother worked as a social worker with underserved communities and created programs to strengthen various skills to make members more independent. These influences have given Anshu an understanding of the needs of disadvantaged populations as well as practical, simple solutions to address those needs. Anshu has also provided eye care to communities in Nepal, Haiti, Peru, Lebanon, Tanzania, Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Indonesia, and India.
Alumni Rising Stars - Marianna Butera ’21, R’22 and Ora Esfahani ‘16
Dr. Marianna Butera is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry and is the Interim Chief of Pediatrics at the University Eye Center. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree at SUNY College of Optometry and completed the Dr. Irwin B. Suchoff Residency in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation. She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and the Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association. Dr. Butera is involved in clinical care, teaching, and clinical research. Her areas of interest include cerebral visual impairment, binocular vision, strabismus, amblyopia, and traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Ora Esfahani is an optometrist at Richlin Eye in Los Angeles, committed to delivering exceptional patient care through innovative technologies and advanced treatments. Previously, as Director of Optometric Services at Southern California Eye Institute, she led the development of the optometry division at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, creating a multidisciplinary approach to patient management between optometry and ophthalmology. She also worked as a volunteer optometrist at the Ellis Eye Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, providing comprehensive eye care to underserved patients.
Since graduating from SUNY in 2016, Dr. Esfahani has distinguished herself as a leader in organized optometry through the Los Angeles County Optometric Society. Rising through executive board positions to serve as President, she has led initiatives that expanded continuing education, strengthened member engagement, and supported the professional growth of optometrists throughout Los Angeles.
Committed to service, Dr. Esfahani partnered with the National Optometric Association to establish a scholarship recognizing future leaders in optometry in 2021, helped organize LACOS's 2025 wildfire relief efforts, and actively mentors pre-optometry and optometry students.
In recognition of her leadership and service, Dr. Esfahani received the California Optometric Association Young OD of the Year Award in 2025, was named one of Beverly Hills Living Magazine's 40 Under 40 in 2024, and received the LACOS Outstanding Leadership & Dedication Award in 2019.
Alumni Mentor of the Year - Kyriakos (Ken) Mandadakis ‘01
Dr. Kyriakos (Ken) Mandadakis was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. He earned an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition and Disease from the University of Toronto, with minors in Microbiology and Immunology, before receiving his Doctor of Optometry degree from the SUNY College of Optometry in New York City.
After graduating, Dr. Mandadakis returned to Toronto with a passion for serving the community that helped shape him. As the founder of Dr. K. Mandadakis & Associates, he has built a practice known for combining advanced diagnostic technology with compassionate, personalized care for patients of all ages. Fluent in both English and Greek, he is committed to promoting lifelong ocular health through education, prevention, and clinical excellence.
A dedicated advocate for the profession, Dr. Mandadakis has served as a Board Director for the Ontario Association of Optometrists. He is especially passionate about mentoring future optometrists, supervising fourth-year interns, and helping guide the next generation of eye care professionals.
Inspired by the mentorship he received from Dr. Haffner during his four years at SUNY, he strives to provide the same encouragement, guidance, and support to his students and colleagues. His commitment to leadership, mentorship, and outstanding patient care continues to positively impact both his profession and the community he proudly serves.
Alumni Resident of the Year - Michael DelGiodice R’09
The American Health Council has cordially appointed Michael DelGiodice, OD, PhD, FAAO as “Best in Medicine.” With over a decade of service to the healthcare industry, Dr. DelGiodice, from Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, is distinguished in his role of Medical Science Liaison of Ophthalmology at Sun Pharma.
As a child, Dr. DelGiodice had gone through vision therapy and was intrigued by the doctor’s ability to help him. Following this experience, Dr. DelGiodice felt as though he could make an impact on others’ lives in the same capacity, and it inspired him to pursue his studies in healthcare. In addition, Dr. DelGiodice’s mother was very involved with vision therapy. Her and his father were his biggest supporters. His mother was a huge inspiration to him and helped him learn how to study, which ultimately led to his success in school.
Having completed his OD in Optometry in 2004, Dr. DelGiodice embarked on his Residency at New Jersey Veterans Hospital in 2008.
Subsequently, he spent seven years working at Associated Eye Physicians, followed by the role of Clinical Specialist at Bio-Tissue. Dr. DelGiodice currently holds the position of Medical Science Liaison of Ophthalmology at SUN Pharma.
SUN pharma is the world’s fourth largest speciality generic pharmaceutical company in the world with global revenues of over US$ 4.5 billion. Supported by more than 40 manufacturing facilities, SunPharma provides high-quality, affordable medicines, trusted by healthcare professionals and patients, to more than 100 countries across the globe.
Dr. DelGiodice has experience treating patients with medical concerns and the other thirty percent of his day is made up of patients with visual impairments. Dr. DelGiodice manages conditions such as dry eye, neurological eye diseases, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, glaucoma, traditional contact lenses, contact lenses for keratoconus, and amblyopia.
Over the course of his career, Dr. DelGiodice has achieved professional accolades. These include being an author of the Neuro-Clinic section for Review of Optometry journal, receiving the America’s Top Optometrist Award in 2016 and the American Health Council’s Award in 2018. He is an esteemed member of the Jesuit Honor Society and regularly writes and lectures on Ocular Disease.
Keen to remain at the forefront of his industry, Dr. DelGiodice is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and maintains membership to the New Jersey Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, and Physician Scientist Association. In addition, Dr. DelGiodice is clinical director of the student-doctor externship program associated with Salus University.
Dr. DelGiodice holds a PhD in Biomedical Science with a sub-focus in Neuroscience under the tutelage of Dr. George P. Einstein (Physicist) and is currently working towards his MD degree. Having this degree would extend Dr. DelGiodice’s reach and he would be able to make a larger impact by serving more patients.