Dr. Joel Silbert: Retires After 46 Years

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Dr. Joel Silbert: Retires After 46 Years

Salus University didn’t mask it’s admiration and appreciation for Joel A. Silbert, OD ’73, FAAO, on his last official day at The Eye Institute (TEI) June 30, 2020. Dr. Silbert — Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) professor and director of the Contact Lens Program and former chief of the Cornea and Specialty Contact Lens Service at TEI — was honored at his retirement ceremony after 46 years at the University.

Because of guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, only a few family members, colleagues and friends were able to attend the ceremony in person, practicing social distancing while wearing masks. But the greater Salus community did have the opportunity to tune in virtually during a live-stream of the event on Instagram.

Salus president Michael Mittelman, OD ’80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE, Melissa Trego, OD ’04, PhD, dean of PCO, associate dean of Optometric Affairs, and Maria Parisi, OD ’85, Resident ’86, FAAO, associate dean of Optometric Clinical Affairs at PCO, all gave brief remarks about Dr. Silbert’s extensive contributions to the profession, the University and TEI.

Dr. Mittelman, who as a student at PCO had Dr. Silbert as a clinical instructor, shared a personal story under Dr. Silbert’s tutelage.

“I remember doing an exam on a patient and I missed something. Dr. Silbert followed me in and was checking me out. And, I hear this ’Michael, Michael, Michael. I can’t believe you didn’t see this.’ He made me look again,” said Dr. Mittelman. “I became a much better observer because I didn’t want Dr. Silbert’s voice in my ear anymore. It made me a better clinician.”

Dr. Trego pointed out that Dr. Silbert has been an integral part of PCO’s legacy.

“You are part of the team that helped move the profession forward,” she said. “Every single aspect that Dr. Silbert has touched in our program has made it better. We cannot thank you enough for all the time, patience and dedication that you have given our students, our faculty and of course, our patients.”

Dr. Parisi, speaking on behalf of the residents, also emphasized Dr. Silbert’s influence on future generations of optometrists.

“You really are the foundation of how we got started,” she said. “You’re leaving a legacy because those residents you taught are now specialists who are teaching the next generation. So you’re going to live on forever.”

Accolades continued to stream in for Dr. Silbert, even from those unable to attend the ceremony in person.

Thomas Lewis, OD ’70, PhD, FAAO, president of PCO from 1989 to 2008 and Salus University president from 2008 to 2013, said that in the 1970s, when the profession of optometry was undergoing evolutionary changes in its scope of practice, Dr. Silbert was helping to create a new generation of faculty with enhanced skills and expertise.

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Every single aspect that “ Dr. Silbert has touched in our program has made it better. We cannot thank you enough for all the time, patience and dedication that you have given our students, our faculty and of course, our patients.”

DR. MELISSA E. TREGO