CURRICULUM VITAE
John Elliott Conto OD
John Elliott Conto OD
Associate Professor
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
OFFICE ADDRESS: |
Eye Institute |
925 N 87 St |
Milwaukee, WI 53226 |
EDUCATION: |
09/15/1978 - 06/08/1982 BS Chemistry, Allegheny College, Meadville, PA |
08/15/1982 - 05/15/1984 BS Visual Science, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia, PA |
08/15/1982 - 05/15/1986 OD, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia, PA |
POSTGRADUATE TRAINING AND FELLOWSHIP APPOINTMENTS: |
07/01/1986 - 06/30/1987 Resident Certificate, Primary Eye Care, Primary Eye Care, Eye Institute, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, 1200 West Godfrey Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19141 |
FACULTY APPOINTMENTS: |
07/01/1988 - 06/01/1993 Assistant Professor of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry |
07/01/1993 - 08/01/2002 Associate Professor of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry |
01/1997 - 01/2002 Adjunct Faculty, The Pritzker School of Medicine, Biological Sciences, University of Chicago |
05/2012 - 05/2019 Adjunct Faculty, College of Pharmacy, Concordia University of Wisconsin |
01/01/2017 - 06/30/2020 Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Medical College of Wisconsin |
05/2020 - Present Adjunct Associate Professor of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry |
07/01/2020 - Present Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Medical College of Wisconsin |
CENTER/INSTITUTE AFFILIATIONS: |
08/01/1988 - 08/01/2002 Member, Illinois Eye Institue, Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL |
09/01/2002 - 09/30/2010 Member, Cedar Creek Eye Associates, Cedarburg, WI |
08/01/2005 - Present Member, Eye Institute, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, Milwaukee, WI |
ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS: |
01/1998 - 08/2002 Chief of Medical Staff, Illinois Eye Institute, Illinois College of Optometrry, Chicago, IL |
09/2002 - 09/2010 Managing Member, Cedar Creek Eye Associates, Cedarburg, WI |
04/01/2019 - Present Section Chief, Optometry Services, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
SPECIALTY BOARDS AND CERTIFICATION: |
Board Certified | Issue Date | Expiration |
ABCMO | 2013 | 2025 |
Certificates | Issued By | Issue Date | Expiration |
The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative Certificate | Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative | 2013 | None |
Clinical Investigator Certificate | American Academy of Optometry Foundation | 2020 | None |
Diplomate, Anterior Segment Disease | American Academy of Optometry | 2021 | None |
Controlled Substance Registration Certificate | US DOJ DEA | 07/12/2023 | 08/31/2026 |
Licensure | Number | Issue Date | Expiration |
Wisconsin Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Certificate | 2917-035 | 2021 | 2023 |
AWARDS AND HONORS: |
07/2023 Externship of the Year, Illinois College of Optometry |
04/2025 Nominee, Distinguished Mentorship Award, Medical College of Wisconsin |
MEMBERSHIPS IN HONORARY AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES: |
1987 - Present American Academy of Optometry (Diplomate) |
2015 - Present The Tear Film Ocular Surface Society (Member) |
2017 - Present Anterior Segment Section, American Academy of Optometry (Member) |
2018 - Present Academic Optometry SIG (Member) |
2018 - Present American Medical Center Optometry SIG (Member) |
2025 - Present American Academy of Optometry Foundation (Member) |
EDITORSHIPS/EDITORIAL BOARDS/JOURNAL REVIEWS: |
Journal Review |
2002 - Present Optometry and Visual Science |
2019 - Present Journal of Ocular Surface and Dry Eye Disease |
2022 - Present Clinical Insights in Eyecare |
Ad-Hoc Reviewer |
2020 - Present Continuing Education Course Reviewer
Council on Optometric Practitioner Education |
2021 - Present Cochrane Database of Systemic Review |
NATIONAL ELECTED/APPOINTED LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS: |
11/01/2021 - Present Board Memeber, Leadership Committee, Anterior Segment Section, American Academy of Optometry |
11/2021 - 11/2024 Chair, Diplomate Exam Committee, Anterior Segment Section, American Academy of Optometry |
12/2021 - Present Contributing Member, Systemic Review, Cochrane Database of Systemic Review |
09/2023 - Present Contributor, NBEO Test Item Contibutor, National Board of Examiners in Optometrry |
06/2024 - Present Co-Chair, Research Committee, Anterior Segment Section, American Academy of Optometry |
11/01/2024 - Present Chair Elect, Leadership Committee, Anterior Segment Section, American Academy of Optometry |
03/2025 - Present Member, President's Circle, American Academy Optometry Foundation |
INTERNATIONAL ELECTED/APPOINTED LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS: |
12/2022 - Present Co-Administrator, Ocular Surface Collaborators (OSDocs) |
RESEARCH GRANTS/AWARDS/CONTRACTS/PROJECTS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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INVITED LECTURES/WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS: |
National |
ASOCT in Ocular Surface Disease, Ophthalmic Photographer Society Webinar, Virtual, 07/2021 |
J Conto, Beyond Tears: Complicated Cases in Ocular Surface Disease, Eyecare Beyond Eyedrops/University of Houston, School of Optometry Continuing Education, Houston, Texas, 07/2022 |
J Conto, R Weisenburg, Diplomate, Slide Challenge, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, 07/2022 |
J Conto, Clinical Assessment of Anterior Segment Disorders: Case Challenges, Ophthalmic Photographers Society Annual Educational Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 11/2023 |
J Conto, Imaging Techniques and Management of Ocular Surface Disease, Ophthalmic Photographers Society Annual Educational Meeting, Chicago, IL, 10/2024 |
J Conto, The Cryptids of Anterior Segment Disease, Anterior Segment Section Symposium, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, 11/2024 |
J Conto, Anterior Segment Select Diplomate Cases, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, 11/2024 |
J Conto, Advance Management of Anterior Segment Diseases, California Optometric Fall Symposium, Monterey, CA, 11/2025 - Present |
Regional |
J Conto, Blood Derived Therapies, Ocular Surface Disease Symposium, 1st Annual, Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL, 01/2018 |
J Conto, DEWS II, Review and Discussion, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 02/2018 |
J Conto, Selected Complicated Anterior Segment Cases, Resident Conference
Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, Illinois, 11/2019 - 06/2022 |
J Conto, Beyond DEWS II, Innovations in Ocular Surface Disease, Eye Institute Grand Rounds, MCW, 01/2024 |
Conto JE, The Hidden Culprit of Ocular Discomfort: Demodex Blepharitis, MCW Fall Symposium, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Milwaukee, WI, 09/13/2025 |
Local |
J Conto, Dry Eye and Aging, Medical College of Wisconsin/Marquette Alumini, Milwaukee, WI, 03/2017 |
J Conto, Senior Living/Tips for Aging Eyes, WTMJ Radio Interview, Milwaukee, WI, 04/2018 |
J Conto, Ocular Graft versus Host, Review and Discussion, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 09/2018 |
J Conto, Ocular Surface Complications of Autoimmune Disease, Department of Rheumatology Conference Series, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 2018 |
J Conto, Dry Eye and You, MCW Community Continuing Lecture Series, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2018 - 2020 |
J Conto, Therapeutic Strategies Update, oGVHD, Department Hematology/Oncology Grand Rounds, Medical College of Wisconsin, 09/2022 |
PEER REVIEWED WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS: |
International |
J Conto, The Challenge of Success: Ocular Graft versus Host, 3rd World Congress of Optometry, Orlando, Florida, 10/2019 |
Morrow M, Piryani N, Jerkin J, Conto J, Pre-Transplant Screening for MMP-9 in HSCT Candidates, Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium, Carlsbad, CA, 08/2024 |
National |
Conto J, Gray L, The Eyelid and Motility Disorders of Ocular Myasthenia Gravis, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, 12/1987 |
Conto J, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Orbital Metastatic Sarcoma, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, Columbus, OH, 12/1988 |
Conto J, Retinopathy of Toxemia, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 12/1989 |
Conto J, Messner L, Cilioretinal Artery Occlusion with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN, 12/1990 |
Bachman J, Conto J, Postoperative Complications of Holmium Laser Sclerostomy, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, 12/1993 |
Conto J, A New Course Teaching Ophthalmic Procedures to Medical Students, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 12/2000 |
Conto J, Chan D, Medical Students Perspective of the Profession of Optometry, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, 12/2002 - 02/2002 |
Messner L, Conto J, Atypical Presentation of Ocular Syphillis, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 12/2002 |
J Conto, C Hogan, J Harthan, T Wells, Recalcitrant Ocular Surface Disease, Advanced Therapy, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, 10/2017 |
J Conto, Ocular Graft versus Host Disease Improves with use of Ruxolitinib, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, 11/2018 |
J Conto, Blood Derived Therapies in Resistant Ocular Surface Disease, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, 11/2018 |
J Conto, Triple Trouble- Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia, Exposure Keratopathy and Demodex, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida, 10/2019 |
J Conto, Academic Medical Center Optometrists SIG, Selected Cases, American Academy of Optometry, Orlando, Florida, 10/2019 |
J Conto, R Johnson, J Bogaard, Significance of Timely Referral for oGVHD and NIH Stage at Presentation, American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN, 10/2020 |
Conto J, Persistent Postoperative Hyphema, American Academy of Optometry of Optometry, Nashville, TN, 12/2020 |
Sii AC, Conto JE, A Drilling Dilemma: Retinal tear after osseodensification for a dental Implant, Women in Ophthalmology, Summer Symposium, Amelia Island, FL, 08/2025 - Present |
Regional |
Johnson R, Conto J, Significance of Timely Referral for oGVHD and NIH at Presentation, Wisconsin Learner's Day Symposium, Milwaukee, WI, 06/2020 |
Johnson R, Conto J, Use of InflammaDry for MMP-9 Detection in oGVHD, Wisconsin Learner's Day Symposium, Milwaukee, WI, 06/2021 |
Habbe E, Conto J, Meibomian Gland Structure in oGVHD, Wisconsin Learner's Day Symposium, Madison, WI, 06/2022 |
Thiel B, Conto J, Accuracy of Clinical Diagnostic Tests for Ocular Surface Disease in Patients with oGVHD, Wisconsin Learner's Day Symposium, Milwaukee, WI, 06/2022 |
Godwilla R, Conto J, Vuppala A, Anandarajahl H, Etiologies of Neuropathic Pain in Ocular Surface Disease, Wisconsin Ophthalmology Research Day, Madison, WI, 06/2023 |
Godwilla R, Conto J, Vuppala A, Suntheja T, Neuropathic Pain in Ocular Surface Disease, Treatment and Response, Wisconsin Ophthalmology Research Day, Milwaukee, WI, 06/2024 |
Morrow M, Conto J, Prevalence of MMP-9 in HSCT Candidates, Wisconsin Ophthalmology Research Day, Milwaukee, WI, 06/2024 |
COMMITTEE SERVICE: |
Medical College of Wisconsin |
2018 - 2022 Member, Library, MCW |
2018 - 2022 Representative, Faculty Council, Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Medical College of Optometry |
2021 - Present Member, Marketing Committee, Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Medical College of Wisconsin |
07/2024 - Present Member, Triage Review Committee, Ophthalmology and Visual Science, MCW |
12/2024 - Present Member, Wellness Task Force, Ophthalmology and Visual Science, MCW |
Hospital |
2019 - Present Voting Member, Value Analysis Subject Matter Expert Group, Froedtert Hospital |
MCW TEACHING ACTIVITIES: |
Medical Student Education |
2010 - Present M1 Bench to Bedside |
2018 - Present M4 Elective Clinical Mentor |
2019 - Present M3 Elective Mentor |
09/2021 - 06/2023 Summer Academic Program for Medical Students/Medical Student Summer Research Program |
Resident and Fellow Education |
2007 - Present Rotating Clinical Resident Conferences |
EXTRAMURAL TEACHING: |
Graduate Student Education |
2019 - Present Illinois College of Optometry, O4 Student Preceptor |
Nursing Student Education |
10/2015 - Present Froedtert Hospital, Ophthalmic Technician Continuing Education |
MCW STUDENTS, FACULTY, RESIDENTS AND CLINICAL/RESEARCH FELLOWS MENTORED: |
Medical Students |
04/2022 - 05/2025 McKenna Morrow, Research Advisor, MCW, Learners Day Presentation |
11/2024 - Present Adileen Sii, Research Advisor, MCW, Learner's Day Presentation |
Residents |
01/01/2020 - 06/30/2020 Ryan Johnson, Research Advisor, MCW, Learner Day Presentation |
01/01/2021 - 06/30/2021 Ryan Johnson, Research Advisor, MCW, Learners Day Presentation |
01/2022 - 06/2022 Eric Habbe, Research Advisor, MCW, Learners Day Presentation |
04/2022 - 06/2022 Brian Thiel, Research Advisor, MCW, Learners Day Presentation |
05/2022 - Present Roxane Godiwalla, Research Advisor, MCW, Learners Day Presentation |
EXTRAMURAL STUDENTS, FACULTY, RESIDENTS, AND CLINICAL/RESEARCH FELLOWS MENTORED: |
Medical Students |
1998 - 1999 Beth Healy, Preceptor, Illinois College of Optometry, Internship Certificate |
05/15/2019 - 08/15/2019 Alexandia Beachnau, Preceptor, Illinois College of Optometry, Externship Certificate |
Residents |
07/01/1988 - 06/30/1989 Scott Robison, OD, Illinois College of Optometry, Residency Certificate/Fellow AAO |
07/01/1993 - 06/30/1994 Jane Bachman, OD, Illinois College of Optometry, Resident Certificate/Fellow AAO |
OTHER MENTORING ACTIVITIES: |
11/2021 - Present American Academy of Optometry, Anterior Segment Section, Diplomate Mentor |
03/2025 - Present American Academy of Optometry, Fellowship Mentor |
PROGRAMMATIC DEVELOPMENTS: |
Educational Programs |
Student |
01/2018 - Present Optometry External Program |
Clinical Programs |
02/2017 - Present Advanced Ocular Surface Disease Clinic |
DIPLOMATE CANDIDATE PAPERS: |
05/2018 Limbal stem cell deficiency in silicon hydrate lenses |
11/2018 Ocular surface disease and autologous serum |
03/2019 Impact of systemic biologics in ocular graft versus host disease |
10/2019 Corneal perforation in oGVHD |
02/2021 Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia and Demodex marginal disease |
04/2021 Biologics and atopic keratoconjunctivitis |
05/2021 Neurotrophic keratitis treated with cenegermin |
BIBLIOGRAPHY |
Refereed Journal Publications/Original Papers |
1. Messner LV, Messner SS, Conto JE. Coats' disease Clinical Eye and Vision Care. 1989;1(3):157-162. |
2. Conto JE, Chaglasian E, Schmidt KR. Giant papillary conjunctivitis Eye Update. . |
3. Conto JE. Soft tissue sarcoma metastatic to the orbit Clinical Eye and Vision Care. 1991;3(3):126-134. |
4. Bachman JA, Conto JE. Postoperative complications of subconjunctival THC-YAG (Holmium) laser sclerostomy. J Am Optom Assoc. 1994 May;65(5):311-20. |
5. Chan D, Steinmetz R, Fields c, Conto J, Steele G. Assessment of medical student's understanding of the profession of optometry: implications for the future Optometry and Visual Science. . |
6. Messner LV, Newman TL, Bartlett M, Conto JE. Cilioretinal artery occlusion with central retinal vein occlusion. Optom Vis Sci. 1999 Nov;76(11):741-6. |
7. John E. Conto. A Review of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency Journal of Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease. J Dry Eye Ocul Sur Dis 2(1):e4–e11; June 10, 2019 . |
8. Chhabra S, Jerkins JH, Conto JE, Zellner K, Shah NN, Hari PN, Hamadani M. Lifitegrast ophthalmic solution for treatment of ocular chronic graft-versus-host disease. Leuk Lymphoma. 2020 Apr;61(4):869-874. |
9. Jane Bachman Groth, John Conto, Marcello Pasquini. Chronic Ocular Graft Versus Host Disease: An update and review Journal of Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease. J Dry Eye Ocul Sur Dis 3(1):e6–e26; March 19, 2020. |
10. John Conto, OD
Ryan Johnson, MD
Joseph Bogaard, MD, PhD. Significance of Timely Referral for oGVHD and NIH Stage at Presentation American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting Supplement 2020. . |
11. Conto, JE
Bachman Groth J. Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia and Ocular Surface Complications. JMedOpt 1(2) Journal of Medical Optometry. . |
12. Pucker AD, Rueff E, Ngo W, Tichenor AA, Conto JE. LipiFlow for the treatment of dry eye disease Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. . |
13. Morrow M
Johnson R
Jerkins J
Conto J. Use of InflammaDry for MMP-9 Detection in Ocular Graft versus Host Disease Journal of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. DOI: 10.46765/2675-374X.2023v4n3p204. |
14. Yim TW, Pucker AD, Rueff E, Ngo W, Tichenor AA, Conto JE. LipiFlow for the treatment of dry eye disease: A Cochrane systematic review summary. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2025 Apr;48(2):102335. PMCID: PMC11911098 |
15. Pucker AD, Yim TW, Rueff E, Ngo W, Tichenor AA, Conto JE. LipiFlow for the treatment of dry eye disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024 Feb 05;2(2):CD015448. PMCID: PMC10840070 |
16. Conto JE, Hogan JN, Lim SJ. Case report of corneal ulceration associated with dupilumab Clinical Insights in Eyecare. . |
17. Morrow M, Piryani N, Jerkins J, Conto J. Pre-Transplant screening for MMP-9 in allogenic HSCT candidates Journal of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy. . |
18. Hogan CL, Conto J. Mixed connective disease with bilateral mid-peripheral corneal thinning Optometry and Visual Science. . |
19. Conto J, Bachman Groth J. Persistent corneal defect in chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia Journal of Medical Optometry. . |
Books, Chapters, and Reviews |
1. Conto JE. Arnold-Chiari Malformations Primary Eyecare in Systemic Disease. . |
2. Conto JE. Guillan-Barre Syndrome Primary Eyecare in Systemic Disease. . |
3. Conto JE. Scleroderma Primary Eyecare in Systemic Disease. . |
4. Conto JE. Spamus Nutans Primary Eyecare in Systemic Disease. . |
5. Conto JE. Ocular manifestations of cardiovascular disease Ocular Manifestations in Systemic Disease. . |
6. Conto JE. Psoriatic Arthritis Primary Eyecare in Systemic Disease. . |
7. Conto JE. Co-Management of the Cataract Patient Ocular Disease. . |
8. Trachimowicz R, Conto JE. Pupillary Disorders Ocular Disease. . |
9. Conto JE, McMann J. Guillan-Barre Syndrome Primary Eyecare in Systemic Disease, 2nd Ed. . |
10. Conto JE. Psoriatic Arthritis Primary Eyecare in Systemic Disease, 2nd Ed. . |
11. Conto JE. Spasmus Nutans Primary Eyecare in Systemic Disease, 2nd Ed. . |