Meet Dr. Dorothy Hitchmoth
Dr. Hitchmoth retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs and moved her Hanover private practice to New London in 2018, where she has lived for the past 30 years. She is excited to practice close to home and looks forward to seeing patients and working from “Studio D” for many years to come.
Her career in academic medicine and product innovation has led her colleagues to dub her "America's Eye Doctor". She is a nationally recognized, award-winning professor, lecturer, and patient advocate who has worked as a physician executive in large hospitals and multi-practice networks for over 30 years. She has authored countless scientific papers, editorials, and book chapters. She continues to be featured on television, radio, and across social media. She has also appeared in two documentary films, one of which was released in 2022. The film, “Losing Sight Finding Hope,” was designed to support those living with macular degeneration. You can link to the film here: https://www.macular.org/resources/video-presentations/losing-sight-finding-hope
She is a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience as a health systems data and quality analyst and has expertise in government policy, health insurance regulatory forces, and payment modeling in product development. She travels to Washington, D.C., often to work with politicians and policymakers to ensure patients come first in our healthcare system.
She also owns a healthcare consulting business that focuses on innovation in telehealth, artificial intelligence, and healthcare quality outcomes. She has been a leader in national professional organizations and the ophthalmic industry for over 30 years. She is a VA residency-trained, dual-board-certified diplomate, a Fellow of the Academy and the Optometric Retina Society, and served as a residency director for the Department of Veterans Affairs for over two decades. She is the wife, mother, daughter, and granddaughter of veterans and continues to advocate on behalf of our nation's finest. Her publications and research interests are in ocular biomarkers of neurodegenerative disease. Dr. Hitchmoth is also a nationally recognized expert in retinal imaging and has dedicated her life's work to advancing science and technology that support the prevention of blindness and brain injury, and that improve overall health and quality of life.
She is the mother of three grown boys and just learned she will be a grandmother for the second time. She enjoys hiking and making healthy recipes in her free time.
Dr. Hitchmoth is the recipient of many awards, including the following:
2021 Project Cure International "Hero" Award for editorial publications on COVID
2017 American Optometric Association Advocate of the Year
2013 Vision Monday as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Optical
2005 New Hampshire Union Leader’s “Top Forty under Forty” for work on behalf of New Hampshire citizens.
2003 American Optometric Association’s Young Optometrist of the Year
2002 New Hampshire Optometrist of the Year
Disabled American Veterans Distinguished Service Award
NECO/ALCON Award for Excellence in Clinic Teaching
NECO Young Alumnus of the Year