Leadership of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health

Donna Fishman is the Director of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health (NCCVEH) at Prevent Blindness. Donna coordinates the strategic programmatic efforts of the NCCVEH, including the work of its Advisory Committee, state level initiatives, national partnerships, professional development, communications, publications, and federal agency relationships. Donna advocates for public health and education systems that support a comprehensive vision and eye health system for children. She facilitated and managed the federally funded Better Vision Together Community of Practice and managed the development of the Small Steps for Big Vision toolkit for early childhood education and care agencies to increase family and caregiver education around children’s vision and eye health. Donna recently presented on children’s vision and eye health systems and policy to the National Academy of Sciences. Previously, Donna served as Director of Training at Healthy Schools Campaign and as Executive Director of a teen pregnancy prevention initiative where she educated, supported, and provided grants management for community-based coalitions and supported professionals in adolescent reproductive health across Minnesota.

Kira Baldonado is the Vice President of Public Health and Policy for Prevent Blindness. She is responsible for the mission-based work of the organization, focusing on program outreach, education, and policy directives. Kira and her team of 7 staff members are working to improve our nation’s vision and eye health system by leading consensus-driven initiatives, creating accountability and improved surveillance for vision, while promoting equity and patient engagement in each step of the continuum of vision care. She has overseen the successful launch of the ASPECT Patient Engagement Program- an advocate training program for patients and allies; the Center for Vision and Population Health at Prevent Blindness; and led the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health (NCCVEH) at Prevent Blindness until 2018. Kira was named as One of the Most Influential Women in Optical for 2023 by VisionMonday and is a member of the Society of Leadership Fellows at St George’s House, Windsor Castle as an International Fellow.

P. Kay Nottingham Chaplin serves as the Associate Director of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness. She has worked in vision screening for 23 years; co-authored articles regarding vision screening; and presented more than 250 vision screening lectures at local, regional, state, national, and international venues. She also participates in national vision screening webinars. Dr. Nottingham Chaplin provides technical assistance throughout the United States and oversees the Prevent Blindness Children’s Vision Screening Certification Course, which trains and certifies school nurses. She helped to create the Small Steps for Big Vision: An Eye Health Information Tool Kit for Parents and Caregivers and the Vision Screening Guidelines by Age webpage. Dr. Nottingham Chaplin hosts a monthly interactive virtual “Office Half-Hour” to answer questions and hear suggestions and success stories from participants. Her current primary interest is helping to close the gap between vision screening referrals and confirmatory eye exams and treatment. She has two preschool-age granddaughters with high hyperopia, one of whom also has esotropic strabismus.

Please contact Dr. Nottingham Chaplin with questions related to vision screening certification and with technical assistance requests.