Biography

Dr. Veerappan earned her Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology and Physiology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and her Doctor of Optometry and Master of Vision Science degrees at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry in 2012. She completed a residency in Ocular Disease and Primary Care at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Hudson Valley, New York.

Following her residency, Dr. Veerappan expanded her research expertise through a one-year postdoctoral fellowship in Dry Eye Research at the Singapore Eye Research Institute. Upon returning to the United States, she practiced in Connecticut in a range of settings, including a refractive surgery center and with MyEyeDr. She was also among the first optometrists to pioneer patient care in the emerging field of telemedicine.

In 2022, Dr. Veerappan joined the University of Houston College of Optometry as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences. She currently serves as Service Director of the Perioperative Clinic at UHCO’s on-site Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC), the only one of its kind at an optometry school. In addition to her leadership in the ASC, she provides patient care and instruction in the Contact Lens and Family Practice Clinics. Her clinical interests include the treatment and management of ocular diseases, with a particular focus on keratoconus and myopia control. She has played a key role in the UHCO’s Corneal Crosslinking Service since its launch in August 2024.

Beyond her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Veerappan actively participates in teaching and mentorship, contributing to both didactic and laboratory instruction. She lectures in the third-year Lasers Course, teaches optometric procedures and contact lens laboratories for second-year students, and contributes to UHCO’s Continuing Education programs. Committed to student well-being, she co-founded a weekly mindfulness meditation series aimed at promoting balance and resilience among optometry students.

A member of the American Optometric Association and the World Council of Optometry, Dr. Veerappan is recognized for her dedication to teaching and patient care. In 2024, she received the Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award, an honor bestowed upon her by the students of the Beta Sigma Kappa (BSK) Optometric Honor Society.