Elena Z Biffi OD, MSc, FAAO
Author and Founder of OCTaVIA app (Optical Coherence Tomography Visual Atlas); Associate Professor, New England College of Optometry, Boston, Massachusetts; Attending Optometrist, South Boston Community Health Center Eye Clinic, Boston, MassachusettsDr. Elena Z. Biffi is currently an Associate Professor of Optometry at New England College of Optometry (NECO) and an Attending Optometrist at NECO Center for Eye Care/South Boston Community Health Center Eye Clinic. Dr. Biffi is the instructor of record for Clinical Ocular Imaging Topics and Advanced Procedures, the courses offered in the third year of Optometry education at NECO. Dr. Biffi is the founder and the author of OCTaVIA, a novel smartphone app for Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Visual Atlas. Most recently, in 2019, Dr. Biffi was named as one of the “Most Influential Women in Optical” in Innovators category by Vision Monday.
Dr. Biffi received her Bachelor in Science from University of Massachusetts summa cum laude, and earned her Doctor of Optometry and Masters in Visual Sciences degrees from the New England College of Optometry in 2010. Shortly after completing her advanced residency training in Ocular Disease at State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry, she joined NECO as an Assistant Clinical Professor. Dr Biffi is the recipient of numerous educational awards, including NECO Merit Scholarship in 2006, Klein Family Scholarship in 2007, Dr. Foster Namias Scholarship in 2008 and the American Academy of Optometry Vistakon Student Fellowship in 2009.
Dr. Biffi’s professional interests include diagnosis and management of ocular diseases and the use of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to aid in the differential diagnosis of various ocular abnormalities. She is an invited lecturer at the Massachusetts Society of Optometrists, Rhode Island Society of Optometrists, American Academy of Optometry and American Optometric Association. Dr Biffi’s research work has generated multiple posters, oral presentations at national and international meetings, as well as peer-reviewed original articles. Dr Biffi was named the Preceptor of the Year in 2014 and 2019. She is the recipient of ASCO grant for innovative teaching in 2015 and American Optometric Foundation / Johnson & Johnson Innovation in Education grant in 2016.
Dr. Biffi is a Fellow of American Academy of Optometry (FAAO) and a member of the American Academy of Optometry, Massachusetts Society of Optometrists and American Optometric Association. Dr. Biffi’s time outside of work is mostly spent with her loving husband and children, learning about the world through their eyes.