Aurora Denial

Aurora Denial, OD, Dipl AAO OE, is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Clinical Education and Clinical Sciences at the New England College of Optometry (NECO). She has been a full-time faculty member since 1997, overseeing clinical education and serving as an attending optometrist at the NECO Center for Eye Care in Roslindale. Her roles include teaching the Clinical Reasoning Course Sequence and mentoring 2nd, 3rd, and final-year students.

Dr. Denial holds an OD from NECO and completed a residency there. Her expertise focuses on Optometric Education, particularly clinical and critical thinking development, and faculty training. She served as Editor of the Journal of Optometric Education from 2009 to 2023, contributing extensively to academic discourse in optometry.

Her research emphasizes innovative teaching methodologies and the integration of technology in clinical training. Notable publications address electronic medical records in optometric education, active learning validation, and scholarly productivity metrics.

Dr. Denial has received numerous honors, including the 2014 Diplomate in Optometric Education and the 2010 Dr. Lester Janoff Award. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and actively participates in professional organizations like the American Optometric Association.

Her clinical work and administrative leadership reflect a commitment to advancing optometric education and patient care standards.