About Dean

Scientist. Educator. Advocate. Humanitarian.

Dr. Dean Evan Hart is a New York–based optometrist, vision scientist, bioethicist, and lifelong advocate for public health and ethical leadership.

With more than four decades of experiences in healthcare, education, and community outreach, Dean has built a career defined by service, scientific integrity, and a commitment to making systems work better for the people they’re meant to serve.

A Life in Science and Education

Dean holds graduate degrees in biology, optometry, and bioethics, including a Doctorate in Optometry from the State University of New York College of Optometry, a Master of Arts in Biology from Hofstra University, and post-graduate studies at University of California at Berkeley. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts from the New York Institute of Technology and completed an Associates of Applied Science in Ophthalmic Dispensing at Erie Community College.

As a former Associate Research Scientist and Assistant Professor at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dean taught in the Department of Ophthalmology. He has published studies in peer-reviewed journals, contributed to scientific textbooks, and lectured internationally on microbiology, ethics, and vision science.

Champion for Justice and Ethical Accountability

Beyond the lab, Dean is a powerful voice for justice reform, institutional accountability, and transparency in healthcare and government. He has exposed conflicts of interest on state licensing boards and spoken out against policies that prioritize profit over people. His perspective is informed by both scientific evidence and ethical principles — with a focus on systems that restore, not punish.

Justice That Addresses the Root Causes of Harm

Dr. Hart advocates for justice systems that focus on prevention, not just punishment. By addressing issues like poverty, lack of access to healthcare, mental health struggles, and systemic inequality, he believes we can reduce harm before it happens and build stronger, more resilient communities.

Fairness and Transparency in Professional Regulation

Dean Hart supports rigorous oversight of medical and professional boards, with an emphasis on impartiality and public trust. He believes that licensing and disciplinary actions should be rooted in ethical review and scientific evidence — not politics, favoritism, or financial influence.

Community-Based Rehabilitation Over Over-Incarceration

Instead of warehousing individuals in overcrowded prisons, Dr. Hart advocates for restorative justice programs that focus on education, treatment, and reintegration. Community-based alternatives not only reduce recidivism, but also keep families intact and resources where they’re most effective — in support systems, not jail cells.

Integrity in Public Health Policy and Scientific Governance

With his background in bioethics and microbiology, Dean calls for evidence-driven public health policy that prioritizes truth and transparency. He believes government and scientific institutions must be held to the highest ethical standards — especially when their decisions impact lives at scale.

Humanitarian Work and Community Service

For more than 35 years, Dean treated patients at his award-winning practice, Woodbury Optical, in Hicksville, NY. But his impact extends far beyond his office walls.

Dean has served thousands of patients across Long Island and beyond — including those without access to affordable care. His humanitarian mission includes:

Free eye care for seniors, children, and underserved families
Educational outreach on eye health and hygiene
Workshops on health, aging, and self-advocacy for local communities

Guided by Ethics. Grounded in Service.

Dean Hart’s unique blend of scientific expertise, ethical advocacy, and compassionate service positions him as a trusted voice for real change — in healthcare, education, and justice systems alike. His work reflects a vision where science is responsible, leadership is accountable, and every individual is treated with dignity.

Personal Background

Dean is a lifelong resident of the Town of Oyster Bay and currently resides in Glen Head with his wife Gabriela and their children, Arion and Rifka.

A proud graduate of the Jericho School District, he is deeply rooted in the communities he serves and continues to advocate for a healthier, fairer, and more informed society.