Adam Hickenbotham, OD, MPH, PhD is the Founding Dean of the College of Optometry. Dr. Hickenbotham has held diverse leadership positions in Optometry programs as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Chief of Surgery, and Assistant Dean for Research. He earned a Doctorate in Optometry from University of California, Berkeley. He also has a Master’s degree in Public Health and PhD in Bioengineering from University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Hickenbotham was the first optometrist to graduate from Harvard Medical School’s 1-Year Post-Graduate Medical Education Surgical Leadership Program and received Top 3 Distinction of 130 surgeons. He completed the Clinical Research Conduct and Management Program as well as the Clinical Scientist Development Program with University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Hickenbotham founded ThruFocus Optics, an ophthalmic medical device company based in Berkeley, California, which is developing innovative treatments for presbyopia, including a new laser surgical procedure currently undergoing clinical trials. Dr. Hickenbotham has been awarded numerous U.S. and international patents in laser medical devices.
During his career, he has owned and operated a private optometry clinic, overseen delivery of on-site medical care at more than 20 skilled nursing facilities, managed refractive surgery clinics, and managed clinical trials internationally. Dr. Hickenbotham currently holds the rank of Professor.