Alumni News

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

As my tenure as the current president of the Salus Alumni Association Board comes to a close over the next few months, I am reflecting upon some of our progress over this past year. Personally, I have reconnected with the alpha/omega of my student trajectory at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University. More specifically, I’ve seen the full fruition of the three-legged stool model in my own life. Through the excellent academic preparation I have received at Salus, the opportunities for active engagement through our professional organizations and associated legislative challenges, and my current leadership of the Alumni Association Board, I’ve seen the full circle of opportunities available to all alumni. I encourage our graduates to be engaged and reap the benefits of more closely aligning with Salus, its goals and our professional organizations. Of course, consider joining our alumni board. To touch upon a few of our accomplishments over this past year:

• We have connected with our new students by welcoming them individually and as a group during orientation.

• We have awarded student grants to ease the burden of registration costs for conferences and humanitarian trips.

• We have recognized and bestowed awards for the personal and professional achievements of some of our outstanding graduates.

·• We continue Dr. Harry Kaplan’s legacy by offering our “Salus Cares” raffle tickets. There are only 500 tickets to be sold, so visit the Salus website if you have misplaced your forms.

·• We have been regrouping “post COVID” by offering face-to-face Alumni Board meetings, planning class reunions, and social events.

·• We have implemented the new bylaws, which have extended the size of our Alumni Board of Directors to increase the opportunities for more involvement and representation of all of the University’s Colleges.

Yet, there is more to be done, and this is just laying the groundwork; we invite you to get involved and help the next generation of our colleagues. In closing, the Alumni Board has allowed me to reconnect with former friends and develop new friendships with another generation of colleagues from our expanding colleges. It has been a gratifying experience. I thank my fellow Alumni Board members for their hard work and my colleagues for their support.

In July, we will welcome our president-elect — Zac Saunders, MSOT ’17, into his new position as president. As a student, Zac received the Unsung Hero & Spirit of Salus Award and the Salus travel grant. He also received the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association student scholarship. He started his occupational therapy career at Kessler Rehabilitation Center after graduating magna cum laude and continues there as the student fieldwork coordinator. In 2021, he completed his certification in manual therapy (COMT). Zac has shown his commitment to Salus University throughout his time here and continues that tradition as he takes over the role of president of the Salus Alumni Association Board. Carpe Diem. Fond regards,

Class Notes

1970s

Wilbert Stock, Jr., OD ’71, sold his medical model optometric practice and retired in June 2019 after 48 years. Dr. Stock has been married to his wife, Sarah Belle Stock (Winslow), for 46 years and is enjoying time with his two children, Tyson and Suzanne.

Kenneth Burke, OD ’73, was the chief optometrist at the Quantico Naval Hospital between 1973 and 1976. He was in private practice behavioral optometry for 46 years and retired in August 2022, selling his practice to a husband and wife who both graduated from PCO. Dr. Burke has been married to his wife Anne for 51 years. Together, they have 14 grandchildren. Dr. Burke has fond memories of his trip to Cap-Haïtien in Haiti with the Student Optometric Service to Humanity (SOSH) in 1973.

1980s

Lisa Johnson, OD ’85, chairperson of the DC Board of Optometry, shares the exciting news that she and two other prominent African American female graduates of PCO attended the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) 2022 Annual Meeting: Lisa Wallace-Davis, OD ’92, president, Virginia Board of Optometry and Mesheca C. Bunyon, OD ’99, president, Maryland Board of Examiners in Optometry. Dr. Johnson states, “This is indicative of the University’s long legacy of commitment to diversity and the thoughtful development of leadership and growth of its students. Kudos to you, Dr. Mittelman, in your commitment to continuing this legacy. I deeply appreciate your efforts and that of your staff in creating a thriving environment for all.”

Mark Margolies, OD ’85, has been playing the guitar since he was 13 years old and released his debut contemporary blues music CD, “Can’t You See,” in

March 2022. His album has been played on Sirius Radio and other stations worldwide. Dr. Margolies regularly performs with his band in the Philadelphia area. He also still maintains a private practice in Levittown, Pennsylvania.

Thomas Landry, OD ’87, and Judy Jeffers, OD ’89, are optometrists at Corning Specialty Eye Care and Bath Specialty Eye Care with clinical interests in glaucoma, primary eye care, and pediatric eye care. They are currently welcoming new patients.

Elisa Beth Haransky-Beck, OD ’87, will release a book in 2023 called Enlivening Consciousness: Deepening Your Journey Through Vision, Movement, Nutrition, Nature and Spirit, Balboa Press, 2023. She offers individual virtual consulting online and courses live online.

Alan Toler, OD ’88, and his wife, Cheryl, were delighted to pin Chinook helicopter pilot wings on his son Garrett at his Fort Rucker, Alabama graduation in April 2022. After graduation, Garrett gave his parents a ride in a Vietnam Huey —

Class Notes

1,500 feet up, with no doors and only a lap belt. Forty years ago, Dr. Toler sat in the exact seat during field exercises at ROTC Advance Camp in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

1990s

Marilyn Foran, OD ’92, was welcomed as a new provider at Endicott Specialty Eye Care and has clinical interests in comprehensive eye exams, corneal and external disease, and dry eyes. Dr. Foran is currently welcoming new patients.

Richard Malara, OD ’92, is the immediate past president of the Central New York Optometric Society CNYOS (2018-2022) and was named New York State Optometric Association (NYSOA) Optometrist of the Year.

Michael Acker, II, OD ’96, owns a premiere black-owned optometry practice, Acker Optique, one of the only providers in America certified to carry the Black Panther capsule collection designed by African-based eyewear company, Bôhten.

Shawn Thomas, OD ’98, founded Eastern Eye Care and has joined the growing U.S. Eye network of premium eye care practices. Dr. Thomas has been practicing for more than two decades and specializes in caring for patients with advanced ocular diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, dry eye, and cornea conditions. He is committed to continuing education and advancing the eye care industry, having published numerous journal articles on refractive surgery and lectured at conferences across the U.S. and internationally.

2000s

Archima Major, OD ’03, FAAO, received a citation from Philadelphia’s City

Council for rendering outstanding eye care services and enrichment to the City of Philadelphia and the African diaspora via medical mission initiatives. She was also featured in the Philadelphia Sun Magazine for “Saving Lives Through the Eyes.”

Melissa Kluesner, MMS ’09, became a Diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and a Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional through the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine.

Teresa Vigario, OD ’09, has been married for 11 years and has two beautiful daughters. Dr. Vigario enjoys working in a multidisciplinary group focused on ocular disease, and is currently working on an up-and-coming Artificial Intelligence retinal imaging project to help save sight worldwide.

2010s

Anthony M. Firetto, MMS ’15, will graduate in the first cohort from the University of Pittsburgh’s Doctorate of Physician Assistant Studies (DPAS) program this April. His focus in the program is healthcare administration with intentions to expand his knowledge of implementation, practice-based learning, and improvement science. He hopes to use his leadership to turn his unique experiences and challenges into meaningful change for the PA profession, his community, and most importantly the patients and students he serves.

Jaclyn Coyner, OD ’18, joined Levin Eye Care in Anne Arundel County, Maryland in November 2022.

2020s

Amanda Srinivasan, MMS, ’20, PA-C, has served patients as a Certified Physician Assistant with Regional Nephrology Associates since May 2021.

Jonathan Zobek, MEd ’22, will continue his education at Kean University taking psychology courses.

Alyssa Gasser, OD ’22, was welcomed to SightMD’s Expert Team in Pennsylvania. Dr. Gasser is an active member of

Class Notes

the American Optometric Association and the Pennsylvania Optometric Association.

Sarah Gloninger, MSOT ’19, currently works at Penn Medicine at Home with Jackie Lannon, MSOT ’19. They recently presented at the International Virtual Reality Healthcare Global Symposium on the “Use of VR in the Home Health Setting to Improve Functional Performance for Community Dwelling Adults.”

Former Faculty Board

Louis J, Catania, OD ’69, FAAO, DSc, PCO/Salus adjunct professor, published the third and newest edition of “Catania’s Primary Care of the Anterior Segment” textbook.