Alumni News

While we begin to gather together this spring and summer, I want to recognize the virtual efforts we worked so hard to achieve together, even from a distance.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

This past year has continued to challenge us in many ways, but it comes as no surprise that our Salus community remained resilient, compassionate, and committed to our mission. While we begin to gather together this spring and summer, I want to recognize the virtual efforts we worked so hard to achieve together, even from a distance.

Over the past year, board members, alumni, and Salus staff came together to strengthen the board’s core program initiatives that support our students and our broader community. Some highlights include:

• In partnership with the Admissions office, newly accepted students were contacted by board members and welcomed into the Salus family.

• Student grants continue to help offset registration costs and allow students to continue presenting at and attending conferences and workshops both virtually and in person.

• Alumni Association Awards recognized professional achievements and contributions of graduates and friends of the University.

• Salus Cares Raffle In Memory of Dr. Harry Kaplan continued to support the University’s educational and clinical programs.

Thank you for your continued support of all initiatives and the Salus community. In July we welcome president-elect Robert Owens, OD ’80, FAAO into his new position as board president, along with seven new board members. Dr. Owens has been in private practice in New Holland since 1980. He is an active member of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and is board certified with the American Board of Optometry

Thank you to our outgoing directors for your dedication to our work. With your support we were able to continue advancing not only the Association’s mission of enhancing the involvement of our alumni and future alumni, but Salus’ vision to impact the future of healthcare, education and professional practice.

With gratitude,

Merle Silverbook MEd, TVI ’08, O&M Specialist ’10

Class Notes

2020s

Danielle Emerick-Engle, MEd ‘19,

COMS, and her husband welcomed their first child, Dane, on Jan. 28, 2022.

Since graduating from Salus with her master’s in Orientation and Mobility, Angela Smith, MS ’18, has worked with the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Shore O&M, and Saint Francis de Sales School for the Deaf. She also presented at the 2021 International O&M Symposium, where she discussed visual skill assessment and instruction. Smith was recently engaged to her longterm partner and spent several months road-tripping across the U.S.

Matt Edwards,

OD ’13, and his wife Nancy welcomed their second child, Virginia Gail, on October 1, 2021. Finley, Matt’s son, is adjusting well to having a little sister. Edwards also won his first gold bracelet at the 2021 World Series of Poker.

2000s

Christina M. Fox, OD ’02, opened her own practice in 2008. After many years spent concentrating on the business, she expanded her family in December of 2021 when she adopted a son.

Robert M. DiSogra,

AuD ’02, retired from practicing audiology after 45 years in service to both children and adults with hearing loss. Dr. DiSogra was a founding member and first chairman of the Osborne College of Audiology’s (OCA) Advisory Board. He was also Salus University Alumni Association’s Alumnus of the Year in 2013. When the AuD Program was inaugurated in 2000, Dr. DiSogra planned and taught the pharmacology/ototoxicity course for five years.

Mindy Brudereck,

AuD ’05, was recently elected President-Elect of the Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology (PAA).

Sara K. Downs, MS, MBA, AuD ’05, was one of four new members to be elected to the American Tinnitus Association’s (ATA) board of directors to further advance its mission to improve evidence-based tinnitus treatments, educate healthcare providers on tinnitus management, and research potential cures. The ATA is the nation’s only nonprofit dedicated exclusively to improving the lives of approximately 26 million adults in the United States with tinnitus, a chronic condition often referred to as ringing in the ears. She is the owner of Hearing Wellness Center and Tinnitus Treatment Center in Duluth, Minnesota. Dr. Downs oversees tinnitus treatment services and provides audiological services to patients using a holistic approach that incorporates nutrition, communication coaching, and self-care techniques into traditional treatment regimens.

The Venango Area Chamber of Commerce has recognized David A. Wagner, OD ’00, as the 2021 Citizen of the Year. Dr. Wagner specializes in pediatrics, low vision, and medical eye care, including glaucoma, dry eye, and macular degeneration. Maximizing the learning ability of children is very important to Dr. Wagner due to the drastic change that improved focus and eye teaming skills can make in one’s life. Another passion of his is preventing ocular diseases by working with diet lifestyle, and dietary supplements. Dr. Wagner has also been active in mission trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, participating in medical and vision clinics. He helped diagnose and treat eye diseases, give eye exams, fit people with glasses, and provide education on

improving overall health and eye care. Today he continues to advocate for outreach in these areas.

1990s

Alan G. Kabat, OD ’90, FAAO, recently celebrated his one-year anniversary as medical director at Oyster Point Pharma, Inc., after retiring from teaching at PCO in 2020. He continues to serve as an adjunct professor at Salus University, teaching classes in both the College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER) and at PCO.

Bradley T.

Cross, OD ’93, was appointed to the State Board of Optometry Examiners for Alaska. Dr. Cross is a member of the National Board Examination Review Committee of the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry ARBO and was also recently elected board chairman of the Alaska State Board of Optometry at its March 2022 meeting.

Opening Ocean Eye Care fulfilled a longtime dream for local optometrist Jay Taylor II, OD ’94. After serving patients for 25 years at the Delaware Eye Institute, Dr. Taylor opened his new practice to provide a more flexible, personalized approach to service, similar to a concierge concept. He added it was heartwarming that many of his existing patients, some of whom he has watched grow up for 25 years, continue to see him.

Tenesha A. Bazemore, OD ’95, was featured in the American Association of Corporate Optometrists’ Summer 2021 issue for being a solopreneur, independently operating two Walmart optometry leases with a small staff. CO Summer 21 (flipsnack.com)

Christopher Lutz, OD ’99, joined the OCLI Vision team from Stahl Eyecare Experts in late 2021. OCLI Vision is a leading ophthalmology practice whose growth is supported by the management and administrative services of Spectrum Vision Partners (SVP), an organization serving many of the top ophthalmology groups and ambulatory eye surgery centers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Stahl Eyecare Experts is Spectrum’s 16th affiliation since 2017.

1980s

Jeffrey L.

Weaver, OD ’85, has returned to his hometown of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, to be the first optometry director for Cornerstone Care Community Health Centers. He will be leading the organization’s expansion into eye care on its mission to improve the health of patients and residents of the community with special concern for the underserved. Most recently, he was the associate chief of staff for education at the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System, where he had oversight of all clinical training programs serving health profession trainees across 13 disciplines. He retired from a 30-year career in the Army Reserve as a colonel and recipient of the Legion of Merit. In his spare time, he is a full-time graduate student at Liberty University, working toward a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. He was also recently appointed to the board of directors of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH)/ International.

David McPhillips, OD ’85, FAAO, FVI, will be representing Pennsylvania in the National Senior Games in May 2022 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, after winning gold medals in pickleball in the Bucks and Montgomery County Senior Games and in the Pennsylvania Senior games. Participants in the National Senior Games Sports Festival held each year must be 50 years old and in the last games over 14,000 athletes competed in 20 different sports. He was also selected to play in the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida, in April 2022. The U.S. Open is the largest pickleball tournament in the world, with 2,200 players and 25,000 spectators. He is the USA Pickleball Ambassador in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and the pickleball instructor for Horsham Township, Pennsylvania. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America with more than 4 million players of all ages. It combines many elements of tennis and ping-pong, is played on a tennis-type court, with a paddle and plastic ball with holes.

READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/MCPHILLIPSPICKLEBALL

Patricia M. Cisarik, OD, PhD ’87, has a new publication reporting on a research study that was initiated by one of her students, Brian Randolph, OD, Southern College of Optometry Class of 2021.

1970s

Michael Trese, OD ’72, MD, received a laureate award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) during the organization’s meeting in New Orleans. The laureate award is the organization’s most prestigious honor, and Dr. Trese will be one of the now 23 individuals to have ever received this award. Dr. Trese is considered to be the central figure in the establishment of modern pediatric vitreoretinal surgery. His most distinguished accomplishments come with his establishment of pediatric retinal surgery as a major area of work and research in ophthalmology, and his advocacy for globally accessible telemedical solutions. With nearly 40 years of clinical experience in ophthalmology — Dr. Trese graduated with his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan — and later went on to earn his OD from PCO and his MD degree from the School of Medicine at Georgetown University.

Henry Greene,

OD ’74, FAAO, has been elected the chair of the Low Vision Division (LVD) of The Vision Council (sponsor of Vision Expo East and West). His two-year term began in late January 2022. He is the co-founder and president of Ocutech, Inc., the developer and manufacturer of bioptic telescopes for low vision. As the first optometrist to take on this role, Dr. Greene plans to address issues he believes will be helpful for all members of the low vision care community. Addressing this lack of awareness will guide Dr. Greene’s efforts during his term in office. After moving to North Carolina in 1980, he established Academy Eye Associates in Durham, North Carolina, and later joined the faculty of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill to lead its low vision program, where he ultimately rose to the rank of professor. In his role at Ocutech, he was the Principal Investigator on $1.5 million in National Eye Institute SBIR awards for the development of telescopic low vision aids. Dr. Greene is now retired from clinical practice and devotes his time to developing new telescopic low vision aids, teaching, traveling and photography (post Covid) and advocating for low vision care.

Steven Linas, OD ’75, has retired as a partner of the Virginia Eye Institute in metro Richmond, Virginia. He has recently left the Virginia Board of Optometry as past president. He served two four-year terms on the board having been nominated by Republican and Democratic governors. Dr. Linas was legislative chair for the Virginia Optometric Association during its successful campaign to pass one of the most comprehensive optometry scopes of practice laws in the country.

Paul J. Lobby, OD ’79, recently retired.

1960s

Richard

Feldstein, OD ’62, has been playing tennis for more than 75 years. Now he’d like to do what he can to help blind and visually impaired children learn the joys of participating in his beloved sport. Dr. Feldstein offers his consulting expertise at the Highland Park Tennis Club in Pittsburgh, which offers a clinic teaching blind children and adults ages six to 80 to play tennis. At the age of 83, Dr. Feldstein is still practicing and enjoys seeing patients.

READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/FELDSTEINTENNIS

John R. Aubrey, OD ’67, retired in December 2016. Dr. Aubrey started a practice in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, from 1967 to 1969 before moving back to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, until his retirement. In addition to his private practice, he was a member of the Resident Eye Care of Pennsylvania from 1996 until 2015, providing eye care services in 14 nursing homes in three counties including the Veterans Home in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, for 12 years. His specialties in private practice were low vision therapy, visual perceptual therapy and contact lenses.

Arnold Bierman, OD ’68, FAAO, has completed his 53rd year of private practice. Dr. Bierman uses a holistic approach in treating his patients. He evaluates visual performance as it relates to the emotional and stress levels of the patient. He has provided many patients with a way to use their eyes more efficiently and has changed a lot of lives in the process.