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Dr Penny D'Ath

Senior Lecturer

School of Health Sciences Division of Optometry and Visual Sciences

Contact details

Address

Dr Penny D'Ath C247, Tait Building
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

Personal links

About

Overview

Background
Penny qualified as an optometrist having completed her pre-registration training at Moorfields Eye Hospital. She became a lecturer at City, University of London in 2004. She is responsible for the Clinical Skills modules for the BSc second year and Introduction to Optometry programmes. Penny's first degree was in Psychology and she spent a number of years working as a Research Psychologist in the NHS. Penny completed her pre-registration training at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London passing all ten Professional Qualifying Examinations at the first sitting before initially accepting a research position with Professor David Thomson in the Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Vision Sciences, Applied Vision Research Centre at City, University of London. Her PhD entitled: “Optimising computer displays for normal and visually impaired users” was completed in 2008 under the supervision of Professor David Thomson. She became a lecturer in 2004 and is responsible for the 2nd year Clinical Skills and Introduction to Optometry Clinical Skills modules. In 2012, Penny was the initiator and joint Clinical Lead for organising and delivering the eye care at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Interests:
The Olympics and Paralympics at London 2012
Visual problems amongst homeless people
Optometry
Medico-legal work

Qualifications

  1. SFHEA, Higher Education Academy, 2018
  2. FHEA, Higher Education Academy, 2016
  3. PhD in Visual Science, City University London, United Kingdom, Jan 2008
  4. MCOptom, The College of Optometrists, United Kingdom, Jan 2003
  5. MCOptom, The College of Optometrists, 2003
  6. BSc (Hons) Optometry, City University, United Kingdom, Jan 2002
  7. FBDO, Association of British Dispensing Opticians, United Kingdom, Jan 1999
  8. FBDO, Association of British Dispensing Opticians, 1999
  9. BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, Jan 1989

Administrative roles

  1. Module co-ordinator for 2nd year Clinical Skills
  2. Module co-ordinator for Introduction to Optometry Clinical Skills

Employment

  1. Senior Lecturer, City, University London, Feb 2016
  2. Lecturer, City, University London, Sep 2004 – Feb 2016
  3. Research Optometrist, City, University London, Sep 2003 – Sep 2004
  4. Pre-registration optometrist, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Jul 2002 – Jul 2003
  5. Trainee dispensing optician and locum dispensing optician, Specsavers, Sep 1997 – Apr 2001
  6. Trainee dispensing optician, Lydon and Shirazi, Sep 1996 – Aug 1997
  7. Research psychologist, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Jan 1993 – Sep 1996
  8. Research analyst, St Albans City Hospital, May 1991 – Dec 1992

Fellowships

  1. Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy, 2018 – present
  2. Fellow, Higher Education Academy, 2016 – present
  3. Fellow, Association of British Dispensing Opticians, 1999 – present

Memberships of committees

  1. Member, The User and Carer Involvement Strategy Committee
  2. Member, Senior Personal Tutors Forum
  3. Member, Admissions Tutor Forum

Memberships of professional organisations

  1. Member, College of Optometrists, Jul 2003 – present
  2. Member, General Optical Council, 2003 – present
  3. Member, Association of Optometrists, 2002 – present

Awards

  1. School of Health Sciences (2019) Winner of ‘Enhancement of Student Experience’ SHS Rep Awards
  2. City, University of London (2019) Academic Impact Awards: ‘Outstanding Support - Academic Staff’ (nominations)
  3. City, University of London (2018) University’s ‘WOW! You’re an Inspiration’ (runner-up)
  4. City, University of London (2018) Academic Impact Awards: Outstanding Support - Academic Staff (runner-up)
  5. School of Health Sciences (2017) Winner of March WOW! award
  6. School of Health Sciences (2016) WOW! Awards: Most Nominated Lecturer
  7. School of Health Sciences (2016) Winner of School of Health Sciences' July WOW! award
  8. School of Health Sciences (2015) 'WOW! award: Nominations for 2015, 2016, 2017
  9. School of Health Sciences (2014) Highly commended in Health's Got Talent
  10. City, University of London (2011) Teaching Recognition Award
  11. AOP (2011) AOP Lecturer of the Year (runner-up)
  12. City, University of London (2009) Student Voice Award nominations 2009, 2011, 2012

Teaching

Modules taught on

- OV2004: Clinical Skills (module co-ordinator)
- OV3021: Research studies
- OV2004: Clinical skills: Refraction techniques
- OV2004:Clinical skills: Investigative techniques
- OV1012/OV2207: 01 Clinical skills
- OV1012:OV2207: FD Clinical skills
- MSc Primary Eye Care

Research

Research overview

Penny is currently involved in research regarding the eye care clinic at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She is also involved in identifying visual problems amongst homeless people.

Research areas

- The Olympics and Paralympics at London 2012
- Visual problems amongst homeless people
- Optometry; Medico-legal work

Completed research

- 2012: Pocklington Trust
- 2012: College of Optometrists Summer Scholarship

Principal collaborators

- Dr Penny D'Ath (Principal Investigator)
- Thomas Pocklington Trust
- Words and Pictures
- Vision Care for Homeless People

Publications

Featured publications

  1. D'Ath, P.J., Keywood, L.J., Styles, E.C. and Wilson, C.M. (2016). East London's Homeless: A retrospective review of an eye clinic for homeless people Healthcare needs and demand. BMC Health Services Research, 16(1). doi:10.1186/s12913-016-1295-8.
  2. Wilson, C.M., Thomson, W.D. and D'Ath, P.J. (2013). Seeing you through London 2012: eye care at the Paralympics. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 47(13), pp. 869–872. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2013-092614.

    [publisher’s website]

  3. D'Ath, P.J., Thomson, W.D. and Wilson, C.M. (2013). Seeing you through London 2012: eye care at the Olympics. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 47(7), pp. 463–466. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2013-092152.

Publications by category

Conference papers and proceedings (11)

  1. Nagra, M., Wilson, C.M., Ceccon, S., Thomson, W.D. and D'Ath, P.J. (2017). Distribution of mean refractive error for London 2012 competitors and support teams. The Associaton for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 1 May, Seattle.
  2. D'Ath, P., Keywood, L.J., Styles, E.C. and Wilson, C.M. (2015). East London’s Homeless: Causes and prevalence of preventable vision impairment and eye disease. British Congress of Optometry & Visual Science 2015 7-8 September, City University London.
  3. D'Ath, P.J., Keywood, L.J., Styles, E.C. and Wilson, C.M. (2015). East London’s Homeless: Causes and prevalence of preventable vision impairment and eye disease. Optometry Tomorrow 2015, Brighton.
  4. D'Ath, P.J., Keywood, L.J., Styles, E.C. and Wilson, C.M. (2014). East London's Homeless: An insight. Optometry Tomorrow 2014 16-17 March, York racecourse.
  5. D'Ath, P.J., Keywood, L.J. and Styles, E.C. (2014). East London's Homeless: an insight. Optometry Tomorrow 2014.
  6. D'Ath, P.J., Thomson, W.D. and Wilson, C.M. (2013). Seeing you through the Olympics: an audit of the eye care clinic at London 2012. XXXVII UKISCRS Annual Congress 5-6 September, Old Trafford, Manchester.
  7. D'Ath, P.J., Thomson, W.D. and Wilson, C.M. (2013). Seeing you through the Paralympics: an audit of the eye care clinic at London 2012. XXXVII UKISCRS Annual Congress 5-6 September, Old Trafford, Manchester.
  8. Thomson, W.D., Wilson, C.M. and D'Ath, P.J. (2013). Vision at the Olympics - London 2012. XXXVII UKISCRS Annual Congress 5-6 September, Old Trafford, Manchester.
  9. Wilson, C.M., Thomson, W.D. and D'Ath, P.J. (2013). Seeing you through the Olympics: an audit of the eye care clinic at London 2012. 3rd annual London School of Ophthalmology Conference 20 March, London.
  10. D'Ath, P.J., Thomson, W.D. and Wilson, C.M. (2013). Seeing you through the Olympics: an audit of the eye care clinic at Stratford. Optometry Tomorrow 2013 17-18 March, Nottingham.
  11. D'Ath, P.J., Thomson, W.D. and Wilson CM, (2013). Seeing you through the Olympics: an audit of the eye care clinic at London 2012. Optometry Tomorrow 2013 17-18 March, Nottingham.

Journal articles (24)

  1. D'Ath, P.J., Ceccon, S., Thomson, W.D. and Wilson, C.M. (2018). Normative data for optic disc vertical cup-to-disc ratio and intraocular pressure in London 2012 competitors and support teams. BAOJ Ophthalmology, 1(2), pp. 1–10.

    [publisher’s website]

  2. Wilson, C.M. and D'Ath, P.J. (2017). A case of sixth cranial nerve palsy and suspected giant cell arteritis. BAOJ Ophthalmology, 2(1).

    [publisher’s website]

  3. Wilson, C.M. and D'Ath, P.J. (2017). A case of dementia and cataract in the UK. BAOJ Ophthalmology, 2(1).

    [publisher’s website]

  4. D'Ath, P.J., Edgar, D.F., Rajah, C.S., Warburton, T.J., Sparrow, K.N. and Wilson, C.M. (2015). Fitness to practise amongst UK optometrists. Optometry in Practice, 16(1), pp. 33–42.
  5. Wilson, C.M., D'Ath, P.J., Parmar, D.N. and Sykakis, E. (2014). Keratoconus and granular dystrophy. BMJ Case Reports. doi:10.1136/bcr-2014-205584.
  6. Dr. Penny D'Ath, and Prof David Thomson, (2014). Memory Lane. Optometry Today, 54, pp. 32–33.
  7. D'Ath, P.J. (2012). 2012: On reflection. Optometry Today, 52(24), pp. 28–28.
  8. D'Ath, P. and Thomson, D. (2012). World-class eye care at London 2012. Optometry Today, 52(19), pp. 26–28.
  9. D'Ath, P. and Thomson, P. (2012). Superficial spreading melanoma. British Medical Journal, 344(1-52), pp. 48–49. doi:10.1136/bmj.e2319.

    [publisher’s website]

  10. D'Ath, P.J., Thomson, W.D. and Wilkins, A.J. (2007). Memory for the color of non-monochromatic lights. Color Research and Application, 32(1), pp. 11–15. doi:10.1002/col.20281.
  11. D'Ath, P.J., Kirthivasan, R., Katona, C.L.E. and Finlay, A.L. (2004). Pre-operative psychiatric morbidity in people undergoing cataract surgery. Polish Journal of Old Age Psychiatry: Psychogeriatria Polskay, 1(2), pp. 73–84.

    [publisher’s website]

  12. D'Ath, P.J. (2002). “Tut, tut, tut... Armani?”
    Eyecare in the Land of the Eagles.     Optometry Today pp. 37–38.
  13. D'Ath, P. (2001). Watch out for the shooting specs! Optician, 222(5809), pp. 16–16.
  14. Stansfeld, S., Orrell, M., Mason, R., Nicholls, D. and D'Ath, P. (1998). A pilot study of needs assessment in acute psychiatric inpatients. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 33(3), pp. 136–139. doi:10.1007/s001270050034.
  15. Allen, R.L., Walker, Z., Shergill, S.S., D'Ath, P. and Katona, C.L.E. (1998). Attitudes to depression in hospital inpatients: A comparison between older and younger subjects. Aging and Mental Health, 2(1), pp. 36–39. doi:10.1080/13607869856911.
  16. Luttrell, S., Watkin, V., Livingston, G., Walker, Z., D'Ath, P., Patel, P. … Katona, C. (1997). Screening for alcohol misuse in older people. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, 12(12), pp. 1151–1154.
  17. Katona, C., Livingston, G., Manela, M., Leek, C., Mullan, E., Orrell, M. … Zeitlin, D. (1997). The symptomatology of depression in the elderly. Int Clin Psychopharmacol, 12 Suppl 7. doi:10.1097/00004850-199712007-00004.
  18. Zeitlin, D., Katona, C., D'Ath, P. and Katona, P. (1997). Attitudes to depression in primary care attenders: Effects of age and depressive symptoms. Primary Care Psychiatry, 3(1), pp. 17–20.
  19. Luttrell, S., Watkin, V., Livingston, G., Walker, Z., D'Ath, P., Patel, P. … Katona, C. (1997). Screening for Excessive Alcohol Consumption in Older People. Age and Ageing, 26(suppl 1). doi:10.1093/ageing/26.suppl_1.p18-a.
  20. Allen, R.L., Walker, Z., D'Ath, P.J. and Katona, C.L.E. (1995). Risperidone for psychotic and behavioural symptoms in Lewy body dementia. The Lancet, 346(8968), p. 185. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(95)91245-2.
  21. Walker, Z., Leek, C.A., D'ath, P.J. and Katona, C.L.E. (1995). Psychiatric morbidity in elderly attenders at an accident and emergency department. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 10(11), pp. 951–957. doi:10.1002/gps.930101107.
  22. Mullan, E., Katona, P., D'Ath, P. and Katona, C. (1994). Screening, detection and management of depression in elderly primary care attenders. II: Detection and fitness for treatment: a case record study. Family practice, 11(3), pp. 267–270. doi:10.1093/fampra/11.3.267.
  23. D'Ath, P., Katona, P., Mullan, E., Evans, S. and Katona, C. (1994). Screening, detection and management of depression in elderly primary care attenders - I: The acceptability and performance of the 15 item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS15) and the development of short versions. Family Practice, 11(3), pp. 260–266. doi:10.1093/fampra/11.3.260.
  24. Shergill, S., Mullan, E., D'ath, P. and Katona, C. (1994). What is the clinical prevalence of lewy body dementia? International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 9(11), pp. 907–912. doi:10.1002/gps.930091107.

Professional activities

Events/conferences (9)

  1. The Associaton for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). Seattle (2016).
    Description: Distribution of mean refractive error for London 2012 competitors and support teams.
    Manbir Nagra, Clare M Wilson, Stefano Ceccon, W David Thomson and Penny J D'Ath
  2. British Congress of Optometry & Visual Science 2015. City University London, London (2015).
    Description: East London’s Homeless: Causes and prevalence of preventable vision impairment and eye disease.
    Dr. Penny J D’Ath, Mrs. Laura J Keywood, Ms Elaine C Styles and Dr. Clare M Wilson
    City University London, Vision Care for Homeless People and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
  3. Optometry Tomorrow 2015. Brighton Centre, Brighton (2015).
    Description: East London’s Homeless: Causes and prevalence of preventable vision impairment and eye disease. Dr. Penny J D’Ath, Mrs. Laura J Keywood, Ms Elaine C Styles and Dr. Clare M Wilson
  4. Optometry Tomorrow 2014. York Racecourse, York (2014).
    Description: Poster presentation:
    East London's Homeless: An insight
    Dr. Penny J D’Ath, Mrs. Laura J Keywood, Ms Elaine C Styles and Dr. Clare M Wilson
    City University London, Vision Care for Homeless People and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
  5. XXXVII UKISCRS Annual Congress. Old Trafford, Manchester (2013).
    Description: Vision at the Olympics - London 2012
    Prof. W David Thomson, Dr. Clare M Wilson and Dr. Penny J D'Ath, City University London, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
  6. XXXVII UKISCRS Annual Congress. Old Trafford, Manchester (2013).
    Description: Seeing you through the Paralympics: an audit of the eye care clinic at London 2012
    Dr. Penny J D'Ath, Prof. W David Thomson and Dr. Clare M Wilson
    City University London, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
  7. XXXVII UKISCRS Annual Congress. Old Trafford, Manchester (2013).
    Description: Seeing you through the Olympics: an audit of the eye care clinic at London 2012
    Dr. Penny J D'Ath, Prof. W David Thomson and Dr. Clare M Wilson
    City University London, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
  8. 3rd Annual London School of Ophthalmology Conference. Kensington (2013).
    Description: Poster presentation:
    Seeing you through the Olympics: an audit of the eye care clinic at London 2012
    Dr. Clare M Wilson, Prof. W David Thomson and Dr. Penny J D’Ath
    1UCL Institute of Ophthalmology & Barts Health, 2City University London
  9. Optometry Tomorrow 2013. Nottingham, 17-18 March 2013 (2013).
    Description: Poster presentation:
    Seeing you through the Olympics: an audit of the eye care clinic at London 2012
    Dr. Penny J D’Ath, Prof. W David Thomson and Dr. Clare M Wilson
    City University London, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology & Barts Health

Media appearances (3)

  1. Santa Barbara Arts TV: London Olympics 2012 Athlete Village Polyclinic Opened Global News. Part of a news feature on the Olympic and Paralympic Polyclinice. I represented Optometry.
  2. BBC News: Polyclinic for London Olympics athletes unveiled,. Part of a news feature on the Olympic and Paralympic Polyclinice. I represented Optometry.
  3. ITN News: London 2012 Olympic Games: Medical centre to open in Olympic Village. Part of a news feature on the Olympic and Paralympic Polyclinice. I represented Optometry.