LEADERSHIP
SLOS LEADERSHIP
St. Louis Optometric Society is led by deeply experienced and caring leaders dedicated to helping our members advance their education to better support the communities they serve.
George Dowdy, O.D.
2026-2027 President
Dr. George Dowdy serves patients at Optical Expressions in Creve Coeur and Clayton. He treats patients of all ages and enjoys teaching them to better understand their eyes. He completed his doctoral training at the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry in 2020. On rotation, Dr. Dowdy has served patients at Saint Louis University Hospital, Affinia Healthcare in St. Louis, Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada, Oklahoma, and Norton Sound Regional Hospital in Nome, Alaska. In addition to the St. Louis Optometric Society, Dr. Dowdy is an active member of the Missouri Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. A St. Louis native, Dr. Dowdy graduated from John F. Kennedy High School. He received his biology degree and competed on the swim team at Truman State University.
Dr. Dowdy currently resides in Chesterfield with his wife Julia and their Siberian husky. They are expecting their first child in the fall of 2023. He enjoys the outdoors and roots for our hometown St. Louis Cardinals, Blues, and Billikens.
Rachel Merriman, O.D.
President-Elect
Dr. Merriman is a native of St. Charles. She graduated from St. Charles West High School and then stayed in the St. Louis area and attended and graduated from Missouri Baptist University.
Dr. Merriman is a 2007 graduate of the University of Missouri St. Louis College of Optometry. She joined the team at Bogey Hills Vision Center in 2009. One of her passions is treating and providing pediatric vision care.
Sean Mulqueeny
Vice President
Dr. Sean P. Mulqueeny, a Saint Louis native, has practiced optometry in the region since 1991. He earned two honors degrees from the University of Missouri–Saint Louis and has served as an externship preceptor and Associate Clinical Professor at the UMSL College of Optometry since 1993. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University.
A respected speaker and educator, Dr. Mulqueeny has lectured internationally on refractive procedures, premium cataract surgery management, ocular disease, glaucoma, and dry eye syndrome. His clinical expertise includes corneal disease and the co-management of refractive and cataract surgeries. He has received several honors, including the Award for Clinical Excellence in Ocular Disease and the Vision Service Plan Scholarship for Clinical Excellence.
Dr. Mulqueeny has held leadership roles across the profession and the Saint Louis community, including President of the Heart of America Eye Care Congress and President of the M.D./O.D. Contact Lens Foundation of Saint Louis. He currently serves on the Board of the Saint Louis Optometric Society and maintains affiliations with the American Optometric Association, Missouri Optometric Association, St. Louis Optometric Society, and AOA Contact Lens Section.
He is active in dry eye clinical research, including service as Principal Investigator for the DREAM, PROOF, and ONIT studies. He has also advised companies such as Allergan, Novartis, Alcon, and EyePromise on products that support healthy vision.
A former College Soccer All-American and professional player for the Saint Louis Steamers, Dr. Mulqueeny lives with his wife, Lisa. Their son, Dr. Brendan Mulqueeny, joined Mulqueeny Eye Centers in 2022 after completing his optometry training at UMSL.
Matt McCoy, O.D.
Secreatary
Dr. McCoy received his Doctor of Optometry degree in 2020 from the UMSL College of Optometry and earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Missouri at St. Louis in 2016.
During optometry school, Dr. McCoy received additional training from the University of Kentucky Department of Ophthalmology in specialty contact lenses. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Contact Lens Faculty Clinical Excellence Award for contact lens patient care and the Excellence in Clinical Skills Award for primary care optometry.
Dr. McCoy brings experience in specialty contact lenses to improve the vision of patients who cannot see well with standard glasses or contact lenses due to conditions such as keratoconus, corneal transplants, corneal dystrophies, and injuries.
Dr. McCoy is a member of the American Optometric Association, Missouri Optometric Association, and the St. Louis Optometric Society.
Lauren Dermody, O.D.
Treasurer
Dr. Lauren Dermody Falconer is from Swansea, Illinois, and attended Truman State University for her undergraduate biology degree. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri, St. Louis College of Optometry, class of 2021. She sees patients of all ages at two locations, Cherry Hills Family Eye Care in Wildwood and Sullivan Eye Care in Sullivan. While in school, Dr. Dermody completed clinical rotations at St. Louis University Ophthalmology and Cardinal Glennon Ophthalmology, and she has interests in pediatrics and rural eye care. Dr. Dermody is a member of the American Optometric Association, and serves as a member of the Leadership Class of 2025 for the Missouri Optometric Association.
Dr. Dermody is married to Dr. Matthew Falconer, also an optometrist. They met at a school event. She enjoys spending time with her goldendoodle and her family in her free time.
Carli Hays, O.D.
Sergeant At Arms
Dr. Carli Hays earned her undergraduate degree in Exercise and Movement Science from Missouri State University before going on to receive her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Missouri–St. Louis College of Optometry in 2021. After graduating, she joined Midwest Eye Associates, where she provides comprehensive eye care for patients of all ages at the Wentzville location. Dr. Hays is a member of the Missouri Optometric Association (MOA) and the American Optometric Association (AOA), and she completed the AOA Leadership Institute in 2026.
Originally from Kirksville, Missouri, Dr. Hays now lives in the St. Louis area with her husband. Outside the office, she enjoys staying active, spending time with family and friends, and cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals.
Tareq Nabhan, O.D.
Immediate Past President
Dr. Tareq Nabhan is an optometrist with teaching, research, and entrepreneurial experience in hardware-software telehealth solutions seeking to democratize eye care via more portable and affordable solutions. He is a faculty member in the College of Optometry at the University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) and developed the college’s first-ever Telehealth course. He is also lead attending optometrist at Affinia Healthcare and led the development, implementation, and execution of teleretina services in primary care. Dr. Nabhan also serves as a Special Government Employee for CMS MEDCAC and on multiple clinical advisory panels to global eye care nonprofit organizations.
He joined the St. Louis Optometric Society as a board member in 2022. Dr. Nabhan has been awarded the UMSL Optometric Educator of the Year Award in 2017 and 2023.
Erin Cleary Sullivan, O.D.
MOA Trustee
Dr. Erin Cleary Sullivan attended Boston College before returning to train at UMSL- College of Optometry in her hometown. She graduated in 2003 and immediately joined Ophthalmology Consultants where she practices comprehensive medical optometry. She stays involved in the eyecare community as a past Board member and President of SLOS, current MOA leadership committee member and serves on the board of directors for the St. Louis Society for the Blind. She lives in Maplewood with her husband and two daughters.
Renee Lane, O.D.
Trustee to the State Board
Dr. Renee Lane graduated from UMSL College of Optometry in 2012. She currently works as an associate OD in the DeSoto Walmart Vision Center. Renee has been an active member in St. Louis Optometric Society and the Missouri Optometric Association since optometry school. Renee has served in leadership positions while in school and since graduation.
She resides with her family in Lonedell, Missouri where they have started to raise club calves for her children to exhibit in local livestock shows. Her two sons, Logan and Levi, are active in FFA. Her daughter, Rylee, is just active in everything right which keeps Renee on her toes and very busy!
reneeklane@gmail.com
Jan Oliver
Executive Director
Jan Oliver is an experienced professional in all aspects of medical business development with well-rounded experience in medical office administration, supervision and customer service. BA degree from the University of San Diego with over 35 years of professional medical administrative and marketing experience specializing in ophthalmology. She is a certified ophthalmic executive and certified ophthalmic assistant. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives, American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators and the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology.
She resides in Affton and loves to spend her free time with her three sons and their families.