Dr Julie McClelland

Overview

Dr Julie McClelland qualified with a 1st class degree in BSc Hons Optometry in 1999 and completed her pre-registration year in an independent Optometry practice in Kent.  Julie became a member of The College of Optometrists in 2000.  She completed her PhD under the supervision of Professor Saunders and was appointed as a Lecturer in vision science in 2004.  She has a special interest in ocular therapeutics and is qualified as an optometrist independent prescriber.

Education / Qualifications

1996-1999            1st Class Honours degree in Optometry, Ulster University
2000-2004            Post-graduate Degree (PhD) in Vision Science at School of Biomedical Sciences. Ulster University
2005-2006            Post graduate certificate in Higher Education Practice (PgCHEP). Ulster University.
August 2013         Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
March 2014          Diploma in Therapeutics (Independent Prescribing). The College of Optometrists.
June 2014            CHERP Fellow Membership

Research Interests

Julie's research interests include investigating visual function in children both with and without complex neurological needs. Previous research has examined visual function in children with cerebral palsy, refractive development in albinism and treatment of binocular vision disorders in children with reading difficulties.

She is currently Vice Chair of The School of Biomedical Sciences Ethics Filter Committee and Treasurer of the Vision Translational Research Group Northern Ireland.

Teaching Interests

Julie is actively involved in teaching for undergraduate Optometry and is Module co-ordinator for, OPT508 Ocular Disease and Therapeutics and OPT309 Human Disease with clinical supervision in OPT505 (Patient Management), OPT305 (Advanced Examination Techniques).

She undertakes supervision of final year research projects for both undergraduate optometry students and students undertaking the MSc Clinical Vision Science.

Julie is Course Director for the Postgraduate Certificate in The Theory of Independent Prescribing for Optometrists, a GOC accredited programme.

She is also a question writer/editor and panel member for The College of Optometrists, Independent Prescribing Examination.

Conferences

Recent conference abstract presentations include;

The changing profile of children with infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS) attending a Paediatric Low Vision Clinic during a 24 year period.  Child Vision Research Society Meeting. Prague, June 2015. McClelland JF, Healey N, Saunders KJ, McEloone E, Jackson AJ.

Promoting active learning utilising the virtual learning environment. Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University, CHERP event. January 2015. McClure ME, McClelland JF.

Vision 2014. Melbourne, Australia.  April 2014. A Jonathan Jackson, J McClelland, K Saunders, N Healey.  Refractive Error and Visual Status in Albinism.

External Positions

Canterbury Christchurch University, Foundation Degree and BSc (Hons) in Ophthalmic Dispensing (in association with ABDO) 2014-2018.
The College of Optometrists – Question writer/editor for Independent Prescribing Examination
The College of Optometrists – Independent Prescribing Panel member