Natalya Pennington, OD, is a new faculty member at UNMC.
- Name: Natalya Pennington, OD
- Title and Department at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine: Instructor, UNMC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; optometrist, Nebraska Medicine
- Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Education:
- OD, Pacific University College of Optometry
- Residency in optometry, Portland VA Medical Center
Medical interests: As a clinical optometrist, my professional interests center on ocular disease management, with a particular focus on glaucoma care. I am also deeply committed to medical education and take pride in mentoring residents and interns. Helping to train the next generation of skilled, compassionate and trustworthy physicians is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.
How I fell in love with medicine and my specialty: I’ve always been drawn to numbers, math and medicine — optometry uniquely brings all of these together. What truly captivated me, however, was the human eye. Though it’s such a small part of the body, it’s incredibly complex and provides us with our most treasured sense: sight.
Memberships:
- American Academy of Optometry
- American Optometric Association
- Clinical volunteer for the Special Olympics
Three things people might not know about me:
- I’m an avid runner and once completed a marathon along the mountains in Oman.
- I have a passion for global exploration — I’ve skied in the Arctic Circle and sailed around Central America.
- I regularly practice hot yoga, which helps keep me grounded both mentally and physically.
Clinical location: Truhlsen Eye Institute
For appointments: 402-559-2020