Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO

Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO, Diplomate and FNAP has been President and CEO of the New England College of Optometry (NECO) since July 2018.  Before assuming his leadership role at NECO, he served as Senior Vice President at Essilor of America and Senior Director at Johnson and Johnson Vision Care.  A second generation graduate of the New England College of Optometry, Dr. Purcell also participated in a group optometric practice for eleven years with his father in Miami Beach, FL.

Beginning in June 1991, Dr. Purcell joined the faculty of Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry.  During his career at the college, he was a principle in the development of the Department of Cornea and Contact Lenses.  Reaching the rank of Associate Professor, Dr. Purcell was responsible for both the didactic and clinical components of the program, serving as the Deputy Dean of the college. 

Dr. Purcell is a Diplomate in the Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies Section of the American Academy of Optometry

His energetic and enthusiastic style has made Dr. Purcell a popular lecturer internationally.  Purcell’s unique philosophies and practices have often attracted the media to focus attention on current optometric issues and research in the industry.