Robert Owens, O.D.

Dr. Owens has been in private practice in New Holland since 1980. He received his BS, with honors, from Penn State and his doctorate from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He received the Irvin M. Borish Award for his clinical research while attending PCO. In addition to private practice, he has served as President of the Lancaster Co. Optometric Association, and on several state committees, including the POA Board of Trustees. In 2013, Dr. Owens was the President of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association. From 1992 – 2014, Dr. Owens served on Penn DOT’s Medical Advisory Board. Presently, he serves as Treasurer on PCO’s Alumni Board and on the Dean's Advisory Board at Salus University.

Dr. Owens is a member of the Pennsylvania Optometric, the American Optometric Association, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and is Board Certified with the American Board of Optometry. Some of his more interesting clinical rotations have included working in the Infant Research Labs at M.I.T., vision research in the Dept. of Ophthalmology at the University of Florida, and, during a sabbatical leave in 1994, Dr. Owens served as a clinical supervisor at the College of Optometry, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Dr. Owens has received numerous professional awards which have included: the Sigma Xi Honorary Research Society (1986), George Gottschalk, Jr. Memorial Award (POA, 2004), Optometrist of the Year Award (LCOS, 2010), and The Merit Award (POA, 2014). In 2018 Dr. Owens was honored as the Pennsylvania Optometric Association's Optometrist of the Year. He also currently serves on the Salus University Alumni Board, serving as the Board's President starting in 2022.

His community service has included serving as an InfantSee provider for ten years, chairing the founding board of Bridge of Hope, Lebanon (for which he was given The Appreciation Award [2006]), and serving on The Historic Poole Forge board from 2010-2019, serving as its chair from 2012-2018.

Dr. Owens is married and has three children; he enjoys working with his wife, Vicki, and oldest daughter, Sarah, in the office. Their other daughter, Colleen, lives in Florida and their son, Ryan, lives in California. For relaxation, Dr. Owens enjoys traveling, history, and entertaining his family and friends.