Visions ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Summer 2021
In-Person Commencement
AOA President Interview
New Laser Procedure Lab
Page 4
Page 10
Page 12
Motivated The Class of 2021 spent its entire fourth year navigating the complexities of externships, patient care, and career planning, all during an unprecedented global pandemic. Their perseverance shows us all that the next generation of ODs is prepared to meet life’s challenges. They join us in thanking SCO’s committed alumni whose support enables us to carry out our mission.
A MESSAGE FROM
Our President
LEWIS REICH, OD, PH.D.
Would you like to hear some good news? Without hyperbole or spin, I can honestly report a significant amount of really positive news from SCO as we begin summer. One year ago, colleges and universities everywhere were figuring out the best way to proceed into an uncertain future as commencement ceremonies were postponed. This year, it was my pleasure to join parents, guests, and faculty as we celebrated a live, in-person commencement ceremony for the Class of 2021 in May. Seeing all but five of our graduates walk across the stage at FedExForum was an emotional experience for all involved as we hosted a safe and physically distanced ceremony. The Class of 2021 became the first graduating class in SCO’s history to spend their entire senior year during a global pandemic’s unprecedented challenges. We’re proud of their resilience and the perseverance they’ve shown in fulfilling their dream of becoming ODs.
Reaching this point wasn’t easy. Like other large organizations, SCO saw an alarming uptick of COVID-19 infections following the holidays at the start of the year. Better news followed as spring progressed. Nearly all of our faculty members have been vaccinated, with majority of our students following suit. Where we were once seeing multiple infection numbers reported each week, the college recently has gone weeks with no new infections reported. In March, our Clinical Programs increased patient care capacity from 50% to 75%. Pent-up patient demand resulted in a more successful month than the same month two years prior in March 2019, even at 75% capacity. This summer we’ll move to 100% capacity, with our school screening program and MobilEYES unit set to resume services as well. Recent robust market gains also led to a significant increase in SCO’s investments. Your years of gifts and financial support enabled us to set aside funds through the years to pay off the outstanding balance from the construction of The Eye Center. March’s investment returns were so healthy that the Board of Trustees opted to take those gains and pay off this outstanding debt three years early.
ALUMNI MAGAZINE Summer 2021
The college also successfully underwent our reaccreditation process with the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education after a one-year delay. The preliminary review found satisfactory results in the criteria reviewed by the ACOE, and we’re confident that a positive final report will follow.
PRESIDENT
Lewis Reich, OD, PhD VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
George Miller, CFRE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Jim Hollifield SENIOR CREATIVE DESIGNER
Susan Doyle WEBSITE AND SOCIAL NETWORKING MANAGER
Erin Jaffe VISUAL DESIGNER
Philip Tribble CREATIVE SERVICES COORDINATOR
In short, good stewardship and healthy alumni support means that SCO was able to weather the unprecedented challenges of the past year. We plan to continue moving toward a return to normalcy while keeping our students, employees, and students safe. It’s gratifying to report that SCO is emerging stronger from the past year ready to welcome the Class of 2025 later this fall. Your support has made this continuity of excellence possible, so thank you from everyone at the college, especially the Class of 2021. Dr. Reich poses with two life-size cut-outs used at commencement for graduates to take photos.
Melissa Hansbro
BOARD CHAIR
Christopher W. Wroten, OD ’02 BOARD MEMBERS
Amanda Brewer-Lord, OD ’97 Betty Harville Brown, OD David A. Cockrell, OD ’81 Steven L. Compton, OD ’78 Anita A. Davis, PhD Vicki Farmer Mark R. Kapperman, OD ’87 James K. Kirchner, OD Jennifer E. Lyerly, OD ’11 Stacey J. Meier, OD ’84 Dave Sattler Lynn T. Shaw, AWMA Stuart J. Thomas, OD ’84 Terry L. Tucker, OD ’84 FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE
Wilson McGriff, MPH, OD STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Anna Britt, ’23
Visions is a magazine for alumni, faculty, staff, and other friends of Southern College of Optometry. It is published through the Office of Institutional Advancement. A digital version is available online at sco.edu/visions. Please forward comments, address changes, and contributions to: Institutional Advancement 1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38104-2222 800-238-0180, ext. 4
sco.edu @SCOnews
@southerncollegeofoptometry
southerncollegeofoptometry
SCOedu
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3
CLASS OF 2021 COMMENCEMENT
Seated on the same basketball arena court where NBA players
2021
COMMENCEMENT TUESDAY, MAY FOURTH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY-ONE
competed one night earlier, the Class of 2021 celebrated its commencement on Tuesday, May 4 at FedEx Forum. SCO worked with the sports arena
ONE O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON
to welcome graduates, a
FEDEX FORUM
limited number of guests,
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
and faculty members for a physically distanced ceremony.
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VALEDICTORIAN
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Samantha JoAnn Harris
The Honorable Jim Strickland, Mayor of Memphis
SALUTATORIAN
porting their specially designed
SAMANTHA JOANN HARRIS
was named Class Valedictorian,
Class of 2021 face masks,
graduates lined up in corridors
while SAMANTHA WEN
that typically see NBA players
CHIEN LEE was Salutatorian.
coming to or from their games.
Class President MARIE HUEGEL
Hours before the ceremony,
spoke for the entire class in salut-
arena personnel transformed
ing our graduates’ commitment
the basketball court into staging
to seeing commencement day in
suitable for commencement.
person. The class selected JOHN
At 1 pm, it was a sight that no one was sure would be possible
MARK JACKSON, OD ’99, as
Teacher of the Year.
back in the winter during the
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland
worst of the COVID-19 spikes.
encouraged the graduates to
Graduates filed into the arena as
embrace their future confident
proud parents, family, and friends
that they’ve successfully demon-
were seated in pods separated by
strated their ability to meet
six feet. SCO’s faculty were also
life’s challenges head on. Mayor
on hand in their regalia.
Strickland received an honorary
Samantha Wen Chien Lee
degree, along with Joyce Urbeck,
generosity of alumni and friends,
past Director of the Accreditation
more than $60,000 in awards
Council on Optometric Education
were presented.
(ACOE).
The ceremony was recorded and
In lieu of hosting a separate
is available for viewing on SCO’s
Senior Awards Ceremony, 54
YouTube page, including the
graduates were honored during
senior class video.
the ceremony with recognition of outstanding and academic clinical achievements. Thanks to the VISIONS
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CLASS OF 2021 COMMENCEMENT
SCO presented Doctor of Humane Letters degrees to two outstanding individuals at this year’s commencement ceremony. Congratulations to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland (left), and Joyce L. Urbeck (right), the longtime director of the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.
JIM STRICKLAND is currently serving his second term as mayor of Memphis. Mayor Strickland is a 1982 graduate of Christian Brothers High School, a 1986 graduate of the University of Memphis, and a 1989 graduate of the School of Law at the U of M. He practiced law at Glankler Brown PLLC from 1990 to 1998, when he began practicing at Kustoff & Strickland PLLC, where he remained until becoming mayor. Mayor Strickland was elected to the Memphis City Council in 2007, and served as its chairman in 2014. Community service has long been a part of Mayor Strickland’s life. He has served with various organizations, such as the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen, where he continues to volunteer. He is a gold life member of the NAACP.
JOYCE URBECK devoted her 46-year career to the profession of optometry. A 1974 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, she began her association with optometry in 1974 as Placement Service Coordinator and Quarterly Editor for the American Optometric Association. In 1978, she was named Associate Director of the AOA’s Education and Manpower Division, where she directed the AOA’s Student Recruitment program to improve the quality of optometry school applicants. She was later named Manager of the AOA’s Low Vision Section. In 1986, Ms. Urbeck was named Director of the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education, a critically important role for assuring an effective accreditation process in optometric education. After nearly 35 years of leading the ACOE, she retired in August 2020.
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With FedExForum permitting masks to be removed briefly for photos, it was all smiles for the Class of 2021 as they posed with classmates and commencement backdrops. Of special note, BERT KETCHUM, OD ’21, left, was administered his U.S. Navy officer commissioning oath by Dean Swick, SCO’s Executive Director for Information Services.
L
EGACY GR ADUATES RECOGNIZED
Richard Barnes, OD ’84, and his son, Richard (Beau) Barnes, OD ’21
Amy Daiber, OD ’92, and her son, Trent Daiber, OD ‘21
Steve Edwards, OD ’87, and his son, Hunter Edwards, OD ‘21
Meade Kendrick, III, OD ’87, and his son, Meade Kendrick IV, OD ‘21
Scott Oltman, OD ’04, and his son, Casey Oltman, OD ’21
Oscar Ramos, OD ’87, and his son, Greyson Ramos, OD ’21
Scott Spivey, OD ’94, and his daughter, Brooke, and her grandfather, Al Spivey, OD ’67
Charles Ed Thomas, OD ’84, and his daughter, Catherine Thomas, OD ‘21
A JUMBOTRON PLAYED THE GRADUATES’ SENIOR CLASS VIDEO.
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CLASS OF 2021 COMMENCEMENT
L ASS OF 2021 SENIOR AWARDS The following graduates were recognized during the Commencement
ceremony for their outstanding academic and clinical accomplishments. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, these graduates received awards, plaques, and optometric equipment to honor their achievements.
EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMIC ACHIE VEMENT NATIONAL BOARD OF EXAMINERS PART II AWARD
EXCELLENCE IN CONTACT LENS BAUSCH & LOMB ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
NoIR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LOW VISION AWARD
Casey Oltman
Stephanie Martich
Samantha Harris GP LENS INSTITUTE CONTACT LENS CLINICAL EXCELLENCE
EXCELLENCE IN ADULT PRIMARY CARE ALCON CASE STUDY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Hannah Fann
DR. BERNARD L. KAHN MEMORIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Ye Ji Kim
Dylan Johnston JOHNSON & JOHNSON AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN CONTACT LENS PATIENT CARE
Jesse Boles
KATENA/EAGLE VISION AWARD
Natalie Nibert
EXCELLENCE IN OCUL AR DISE ASE DR. MOHAMMAD RAFIEETARY ACADEMIC AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
Jacquelyn Brown
EXCELLENCE IN PEDIATRICS AND VISION THER APY COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRISTS IN VISION DEVELOPMENT EXCELLENCE IN VISION THERAPY
Leslie Jones NATIONAL VISION, INC. AWARD
Catherine Thomas
KATENA/EAGLE VISION AWARD
Whitney Driver
GOOD-LITE AWARD
Noelle Tchang SOUTHERN COUNCIL OF OPTOMETRISTS CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
KATENA/EAGLE VISION AWARD
Aspen Chun
Malena Landon Erickson
EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL ACHIE VEMENT CHRISTINE AND GEORGE DUCOTE, OD ’40 SCHOLARSHIP
Marina Naguib
ESSILOR LABS OF AMERICA AWARD
Danielle Zasoski
OPTOMETRIC EXTENSION PROGRAM CLINICAL CURRICULUM AWARD
Breeley Sellier SOUTHWEST CONTACT LENS SOCIETY
Savannah Caro
X-CEL CONTACTS OUTSTANDING GP FITTING AWARD
Brittany Darnley
EXCELLENCE IN LOW VISION REHABILITATION
GLEN T. STEELE, OD AND L. ALLEN FORS, OD DEVELOPMENTAL VISION SCHOLARSHIP
Nathaniel Jensen Arianna Schabauer
EXCELLENCE IN STUDENT RESE ARCH
DESIGNS FOR VISIONS, INC. WILLIAM FEINBLOOM LOW VISION AWARD
Anita Nguyen LUCY KATHERINE BONE ORGAIN AWARD
Stephanie Jones Trevor Smith Sara Stockwell
ESCHENBACH OPTIK LOW VISION AWARD
Kelly Sieps
OPTELEC EXCELLENCE IN LOW VISION AWARD
Jordan Ukena
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BURNETT ENDOWED AWARD FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN RESEARCH
Madeleine McBain Natalie Nibert Makayla Porter
FOR COMMITMENT OF SERVICE TO THE PROFESSION OF OPTOMETRY AND THE COMMUNIT Y AT L ARGE BAYS FAMILY ENDOWED SERVICE AWARD
Kelsey Whitcomb
TO HONOR A GR ADUATE’S COMMITMENT TO PURSUING PRIVATE PR ACTICE OPTOMETRY WILLIAM DICKERSON, JR. OD SCHOLARSHIP
Cubdeerix Robinson
STEREO OPTICAL CO., INC.
Tommy Cung
WINSTON FAMILY ENDOWED AWARD
Sophia Johnson DR. SIDNEY EDELSTEIN ENDOWED AWARD CLASS OF 1967 MEMORIAL ENDOWED AWARD
Casey Krug Lauren Watson
Anna Katherine Lansdell
EUROPA EYEWEAR AWARD
Valerie Williams SUSAN GRISSOM MEMORIAL ENDOWED AWARD
Hannah Fann
MARK J. MURPHY ENDOWED AWARD
Leslie Jones
SECO PAST PRESIDENTS ENDOWED AWARD
Chisom Chukwumerije
DR. DAVID P. SLOAN MEMORIAL AWARD
Casey Krug
HALPERN FAMILY ENDOWED AWARD
OUTSTANDING CLINICIAN AWARDS Ishan Gandhi
Samantha Harris
Alexis Williams Smith
TOM AND LOUIS HYDE SCHOLARSHIP
Alexis Hogan
Nathaniel Jensen
DR. FRED H. MOTHERSHED ENDOWED AWARD
Jonathan Ismond
Jonathan Eide Autumn Killop KEVIN ROGERS, OD ’08 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT AWARD
Lindsey Caudle Samantha Lee
SOUTHWEST COUNCIL OF OPTOMETRY ENDOWED AWARD
Greyson Ramos
SPARROW, EVANS, AND WAYMON ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
DR. JAMES D. SANDEFUR ENDOWED AWARD
Rachel Briggs Andrew Leto
Athena Mears
Autumn Killop Michelle Nagro BEAU WILLIS ENDOWED AWARD
Samantha Lee
THE SOUTHEAST VT FORUM SCHOLARSHIP
Arianna Schabauer
SPIVEY FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Brooke Spivey
Kelly Sieps
Kelsey Whitcomb
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AOA President Looks Back at Historic Year and Ahead to Optometry’s Future When
William Reynolds, OD ’85, graduated from SCO and
joined a Kentucky practice in 1985, optometrists in the state were prohibited from treating even a simple case of conjunctivitis. Thirty-five years later, the doctors of optometry at Dr. Reynolds’ seven-location practice frequently perform laser surgeries. Scope of practice for ODs has exploded in the southeastern United States in recent decades, in part because of the advocacy of two institutions close to Dr. Reynolds’ heart: his alma mater SCO, and the American Optometric Association (AOA), the professional organization representing more than 44,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students, and optometric professionals. As Dr. Reynolds wrapped up his one-year term as AOA president, he spoke with us about how he became the 14th SCO graduate to helm the organization, what it was like to serve during a global pandemic, and why everyone—especially SCO graduates—should join the association. YOU’VE BEEN AOA PRESIDENT SINCE JUNE 2020. WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE TOP ACCOMPLISHMENT OF YOUR TENURE?
We’ve done a very good job as far as helping our members access [Paycheck Protection Program] and [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services] funds. We’ve had HHS recognize us as essential health care providers, which is very important. We’ve had a very big win at the [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs], where there had been a ban on optometry doing laser procedures for 20 years. That’s
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been lifted. We have been included in giving vaccinations for COVID. From a legislative standpoint, we’ve had a very good year. WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO SERVE AS AOA PRESIDENT DURING THE PANDEMIC?
When I came in, we were worried about surviving. We made a lot of tough financial decisions. We ended up with about a break-even year, which was unbelievably good in the circumstances. One of the things the crisis let us do was re-examine our core
purposes. We knew we couldn’t be all things to all people. We had to concentrate on what was most important for our members, and what was most important for the profession. WHAT IS THE STATE OF OPTOMETRY NOW, AND WHERE IS THE PROFESSION GOING?
As we look at the changes in health care, we have to be nimble to adapt with those changes both as a profession and in our own practices. We have to be willing to adapt to technology that will enhance patient care. And as a
profession we have to continue to fight some technologies that might be more accessible, but might be a reduction in patient care. We talk a lot about contemporary optometry. Technology is going to take over a lot of the routine things. We have to practice full scope. We have to look at doing specialty contact lenses. We have to look at doing pediatrics, at binocular vision. We have to expand our practice. Optometry traditionally relied on the sale of materials to greatly supplement
our income. That’s going away year by year. If we continue to rely on that, in the future, we’re going to be in trouble. WHAT SCOPE OF PRACTICE CHANGES SHOULD ALUMNI BE AWARE OF?
When I was in school in the ’80s we were doing therapeutics; we first were able to start treating eye diseases. The states that traditionally have students who go to SCO led the way on that scope expansion 35 years ago. At the time I went to SCO, it was one of the leaders, as they are now. To see the same region, and SCO, moving the profession forward again, it’s come full circle. That’s exciting to see happening again. HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH THE AOA?
I looked at the people around the state who had the best practices, and they were all involved. I thought, there must be something to this. Four or five years after I was out of school I was asked to serve as a trustee on the Kentucky Optometric Association. I went through the chairs and became president and was advocacy chair for several years. We were able to have some very good wins in Kentucky. I was involved in children’s vision and scope expansion. It was very rewarding to be involved in things that moved the profession forward. I thought I could do it on a national level. That’s when I started getting involved in AOA. WHY IS AOA MEMBERSHIP IMPORTANT FOR OPTOMETRISTS, PARTICULARLY YOUR FELLOW SCO ALUMNI?
The AOA is the only organization that advocates for doctors of optometry and we’re the only organization that advocates for our patients. That’s important because we are a regulated profession. If we don’t have someone advocating for us, then not only will we not move forward, we’ll move backwards. We’ve been very active in advocating for student loan forgiveness during the pandemic. Not only do we advocate for you as a doctor of optometry, we begin that advocacy back when you’re a student.
the national association. You pick up so much information, that it makes it very worthwhile. I learned so much from being at these meetings and being with excellent clinicians who were doing things in their office that I wasn’t. It made my office much more efficient, much more profitable. LET’S GO BACK TO YOUR OWN CAREER PATH. HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO PURSUE OPTOMETRY?
I always wanted to be in a profession that helped people. My aunt was extremely impressed by her doctor of optometry, Dr. Bill Robinson, who’s also an SCO (’74) graduate. I met him and shadowed some other optometrists. The ability to make people see is very humbling, and [optometry is a] very rewarding profession. CAN YOU SHARE ANY FAVORITE MEMORIES OR EXPERIENCES FROM YOUR TIME AT SCO?
I made a lifelong friendship with Dr. [Glen] Steele (’69). Bubba has worked toward advancing the profession, especially in pediatric and children’s vision. He has been a mentor for me. [My specialty] isn’t children’s vision, but his constant work toward improving care and moving the profession forward has made him a very good role model. YOU GRADUATED FROM SCO IN 1985, SO WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON YOUR ALMA MATER TODAY?
The facilities are tremendously better now, not that they weren’t state of the art of the time. The facilities are just as good as any place in the country. I’m adjunct faculty, so I get SCO students. When I look at the quality of students from SCO, they’re just outstanding. SCO continually is at the top of the schools as far as board pass rates. It just makes me very proud to see my alma mater is right at the top of the optometry schools across the country. TALK ABOUT YOUR OPTOMETRY PRACTICE.
I went in with an older doctor when I got out of school. To give me work to do, we opened a branch office. Then he retired
and I bought the practice. We continued to expand. We now have seven practices. We’re a very medically oriented practice. We have one associate who does a lot of pediatrics. We have one associate who specializes in specialty contact lenses. We’ve purchased two ophthalmology practices. During the pandemic, our office was the only ophthalmology or optometry office in several counties. We did all the emergency care. As far as my personal practice, my patient population has aged the way that I have. I do a lot of medical optometry, so a lot of glaucoma, certainly a lot of cataract, pre-op, post-op, and laser procedures. WHAT CAN OPTOMETRY DO TO ATTRACT MORE QUALIFIED APPLICANTS TO THE PROFESSION?
We don’t do as good a job as we can with letting people know everything our profession entails. A lot of our patients come for their test because they need glasses or contacts. They have no idea all the procedures we perform, all the services we offer. The AOA has a new public relations program, See and Be Seen, to let the public know everything that optometry does. I think that would make the profession a whole lot more attractive and interesting to people looking to get into health care. WHY IS OPTOMETRY STILL A TOP CAREER CHOICE?
It’s a very rewarding profession. You might not get rich, but it certainly pays well. There are a lot of opportunities to own your own business or to work for someone else. When I was in school there weren’t that many options. Now you can be in private practice. You can be in corporate practice. You can work at a surgery center. You can work at a community health care center. You can work in a hospital. You can work at veterans’ hospitals. There are just so many different things that you can do now that you couldn’t in the past. And again, it’s a profession where you’re helping people see. What better thing could you do than give someone sight?
All the time I have spent being involved in the profession, either on a state level or a federal level, has established me as a better doctor. When you’re involved you learn so much more about what’s going on, especially what’s coming in the profession down the road. It lets you embrace changes in the field. Everybody can be involved in different levels. Not everyone has to go all the way to be president of the state association or
During Dr. Reynold’s presidency, the AOA partnered with USA Surfing and a prominent pro surfer as part of a public awareness campaign to emphasize the importance of optometry.
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SCO LEADING THE WAY
A Look at SCO’s New
ASOL Procedure Lab The Eye Center recently debuted a new Anterior Segment Ophthalmic Lasers (ASOL) Lab to enhance the training SCO provides to its interns. Located on the Main Level, the Lab replaced the digital observatory where interns previously watched remote laser and surgical procedures by video hook-up. The Lab offers interns training with the Lumenis Selecta Duet and Qauntel Optimis Fusion combination lasers, SimulEyes models, and laser procedure contact lenses. “With recent legislative advances in Arkansas, Mississippi, and proposed legislation across the country, SCO is committed to enhancing our laser education and hands-on training we provide for our interns,” said James E. Venable, OD ’89, SCO’s Vice President for Clinical Programs. New ASOL requirements have been integrated into the OPT 320 and CLN 400 course series to provide each student with 10-12 simulated laser procedures. The college is exploring partnerships that will additionally allow students to participate in live procedures. David Hall, OD, Associate Professor, serves as ASOL Lab Director. “We’re giving our third- and fourth-year students the premiere educational experience using anterior segment ophthalmic lasers here at SCO,” Dr. Hall said. Dr. Hall noted that SCO’s lab provides SCO’s students the experience of operating two different ophthalmic lasers to perform several procedures on each piece of equipment. The ASOL Lab covers an introduction to the two combination lasers, safe use of the equipment, and instruction on how to recognize and treat rare complications that may arise when procedures are performed.
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The Eye Center’s ASOL Lab uses realistic human head and eye models for Capsulotomy and Iridotomy procedures. Interns receive one-on-one instruction in indications, contraindications, pre- and post-procedure management, laser settings, treatment, and follow-up care for these primary care laser procedures. Similar training is provided for the Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty procedure, including the proper use of a Latina Gonioscopy laser lens and the follow-up care for a SLT procedure. For Scott Ensor,OD ’01, Associate Professor, the ASOL Lab represents the latest progress that SCO has made in offering ASOL procedure training to interns during his decade at the college.
SCO’s ASOL Procedures Lab features the same model eyes used by the National Board of Optometry to test students, a commonality appreciated by Emily C. Patterson, ’22, and other interns.
“I have seen us go from training our students with a couple of days of lecture and one single Saturday of actual hands-on lasers use that involved shooting pictures of the eye to a robust laser lab where the students are required to perform full procedures on very life-like models,” Dr. Ensor said. Jared Dix, ’22, described SCO’s ASOL Lab as the “cherry on top of the curriculum” in preparing him to practice optometry to the fullest extent possible.
“When we graduate, we can theoretically practice in any state that we wish, so that as the scope of optometry expands across the nation, optometrists like myself and other recent graduates will be able to do some of these procedures in whichever state we end up practicing in,” Jared said. “We will be helping to elevate ocular care across the nation and provide what’s best for patients.”
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HAYES CENTER AWARDS ANNOUNCED
2021 Award Recipients
The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence recently
HCPE NEW PRACTICE AWARD
announced three outstanding
Kristin Reed, OD ’13
alumni who have been named recipients of the HCPE
Owner
Practice of Excellence Award.
ModernEyes Eyecare & Eyewear Omaha, Nebraska
The Award is designed to identify and reward successful practices, recognize the achievements made by SCO
HCPE PARTNERSHIP AWARD
graduates, and help foster
Jon Reid, OD ’12
joint relationships that benefit these alumni and current
Advanced EyeCare Carlinville, Illinois
optometry students. This year's recipients spoke virtually to students during an online event where they
HCPE PRACTICE ACQUISITION AWARD
were joined by Nathan Hayes, son of Jerry Hayes, OD '73,
Barrett Brown, OD ’13
and other guests. Here’s a sampling of what this year’s
Owner
SEARK Eyecare Monticello, Arkansas
recipients had to say in their Award essays and interactions with SCO’s students. “ I have benefitted immensely from a group that was so wellestablished and well-managed before me…My life, inside and outside of optometry, would not be the same without private practice ownership. Maybe easier, but less fulfilling. The older you get, the more you get to know yourself, and I am right where I belong.” — DR. JON REID
“ There are a plethora of joys in my ownership experience, however I would say the biggest joy is owning my own practice and real-estate. It feels so freeing to be building equity for myself and being able to invest back into the business. I also have lots of joy in the fact that my staff works well together to provide the ultimate patient experience and supports each other in a team atmosphere. The gift of sight will always be the ultimate joy.” — DR. BARRETT BROWN
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“ During my time at SCO, I decided I wanted ownership in a private practice…Opening a practice is the best, hardest, most fulfilling professional decision I have made. While owning an office certainly has stressful days, I never regret it. Working for myself is much better than for someone else or with a corporate entity’s input on when/how I practice.” — DR. KRISTIN REED
LAST YEAR'S AWARDS WERE POSTPONED RIGHT AS THE PANDEMIC UNFOLDED. THIS YEAR'S CEREMONY WAS HOSTED BY HAYES CENTER DIRECTOR LISA WADE, OD '84, DURING SCO'S ANNUAL BON VOYEYES PROGRAM SPONSORED BY COOPERVISION AND ALLERGAN.
ALUMNI GATHER IN ATLANTA 1) SECO Executive
Committee member Horace Deal, OD ’97
2) SCO Board member
Steve Compton, OD ’78
3) Robert Sams, OD ’62,
1
attending his 60th consecutive SECO, Lisa R. Wade, OD ’84, and Dr. Sams’ daughter, Amy.
2
4) T. Joel Byars, OD ’63,
and Martha Rosemore Morrow, OD ’74
3
4
5) Leroy Norton, OD ’87
and Glen Steele, OD ’69
6) Scott Moscow, OD ’13,
former SCO Board member Sharon Berger Moscow, OD ’80, Billy Moscow, OD ’78
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7) Ted McElroy, OD ’93,
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SECO Awards and Recognition Chair
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8
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8) Xaundao Nguyen, OD ’08
9) Erick Henderson, OD ‘17, AOA’s Young OD of the Year
10) Richard Durocher, OD ’96, SECO President, and Lisa R. Wade, OD ’84
1 1) Class of 2020 residents 12) Cindy Baker, OD ’83,
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SCO is appreciative to all our alumni and friends who visited the college’s booth at SECO. If all goes well, the college is looking forward to hosting our popular reception for alumni and friends again at next year’s event. Alumni who interacted with SCO’s booth visited with Lisa Rossmeyer Wade, OD ’84, who represented the college and networking opportunities through the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence.
and former AOA President Andrea Thau, OD
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SCO alumni were well represented at this year’s event, including newly installed President Richard Durocher, OD ’96, who succeeded outgoing President Max Raynor, OD ’85. Andy Cook, OD ’81, received the SECO President’s Award, and former SCO Board member Jim Sandefur, OD ’65 was named Optometrist of the South. Thanks to all our alumni who posed for photos with a backdrop celebrating their alma mater back in Memphis, along with fun props paying homage to Memphis icon Elvis Presley.
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LIFE OUTSIDE OF SCO
1968 Donald Blocker, OD, recently retired
1986 Stephen Lewis, OD, recently welcomed Shelvi Shah, ’21, to her fourth-year externship location in Shreveport, Louisiana. Alumni are invited to share photos of SCO externs for use on social media as we promote this aspect of our professional program to prospective students.
after 46 years of practice.
1969
Rod Fields, OD, and several other alumni were among those honored by the Mississippi Optometric Association at its fall conference. Dr. Fields, pictured, received the OD Community Service Award. Amy Crigler, OD ’80, was a finalist for the James Brownlee OD of the Year, while Max Edrington, OD ’72, was a finalist for the Community Service Award. Tiffany McElroy, OD ’12, received the Helen St. Clair Young OD of the Year award, with Katie Richardson, OD ’16, and Mary Kathryn Wilson, OD ’12, named as finalists.
1972 Chris Moshoures, OD, suffered a fire that destroyed one of his clinics in Shalotte, North Carolina, where his niece, Corey Burr, OD ’20, practiced.
1996 Melonie Clemmons, OD, was
1985 Jean Ann Toomey, OD, recently announced that she will be retiring from her practice, which will be carried on by Dean Baggett, OD ’83, and Katelyn McGee, OD ’20.
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Christina Vranich, OD, became engaged on New Year's Eve to Winston Miller. The wedding is planned for next June. Dr. Vranich is a consulting faculty member at SCO.
selected as the nominee for the Georgia Optometric Association's 2021-2022 secretary.
1999 Marrie (Smith) Read, OD, was named Director, Military Health System Governance at the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
2000
Jennifer Kungle, OD, was named OD of the Year by the Maryland Optometric Association.
2002 Mike Smith, OD, was named the Kentucky Optometric Association's OD of the Year during the association's 2020 Virtual Awards Ceremony.
has confirmed his intention to run for a third term. He recently joined other GOP lawmakers with healthcare backgrounds in recording a video to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations. of Trustees member, was named chair of The Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety.
2009 Matt Jones, OD, was interviewed by
1977 U.S. Senator John Boozman, OD,
1981 David Cockrell, OD, SCO Board
Belinda Starkey, OD, is being honored by the AOA this summer as OD of the Year.
an Arkansas television station for a story about recent surgical advances in his state.
1974 Terry Marquardt, OD, recently retired. In addition to practicing optometry, he was a long-time state representative serving in New Mexico.
2004
Chris Wroten, OD, SCO Board Chair, spoke on Modern Aesthetics for the Optometric Physician at SECO 2021.
2003 Sarah Fratesi, OD, received the 2021 Dr. W. David Sullins Jr. InfantSEE® Award recognizing ODs who have made significant contributions in the profession or their communities through the InfantSEE® program.
2012 Jenessa Hartman, OD, recently opened her own practice, Sunflower Vision Care, in Oregon.
Adam Ramsey, OD, was honored by CooperVision's 2021 Best Practices program for his practice, Socialite Vision in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Dr. Ramsey authored a recent article for Review of Optometric Business about differentiating contact lens products to retain patients. Maya Sinulingga Reid, OD, recently joined Advanced EyeCare in Carlinville, Illinois.
2013 Kristen Thelen, OD, recently spoke to the Emory Pre-Optometry Society about her time as an SCO student and her work at Emory Eye Center.
2014 Tina Schiller, OD, Jacob Dufour,
OD ’15, Marie Bolin, OD ’16, Daniel Nielson, OD ’17, and Jenna Steffen, OD ’17, recently were named Fellows of the COVD.
2017 Erick Henderson, OD, was installed as a Trustee during the 2021 Pennsylvania Optometric Association's meeting. He also was recently named the 2020 Young OD of the Year for the Western Pennsylvania Optometric Society and POA and was elected president of the WPOS for the coming year. He is being honored as the AOA’s Young OD of the Year this summer.
2015 Amy Puerto, OD, recently shared this
photo of SCO extern Lauren Watson, ’21, performing an intralesion injection for chalazion treatment. Dr. Puerto practices at Louisiana Family Eyecare, owned by Jeff Anastasio, OD '01, and Shelly Anastasio, OD '02. Their practice serves as an externship and residency site, where Dr. Puerto coordinates the Residency in Ocular Disease, with an emphasis in refractive and ocular surgery.
Alumni Spotlight
Dillon Ott, OD, recently opened a new practice in Aberdeen, Mississippi.
2019 Shriya Ruparel, OD, and Nathan
Dederman, OD '18, became engaged on Christmas Eve. Both practice at Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, Texas, where Dr. Dederman is an active duty OD and Dr. Ruparel is a civilian OD
Additional spotlights can be found on our website and social media. If you’re interested in participating or want to suggest a classmate, please email Beth Fisher at bfisher@sco.edu.
ADAM YOUNG, OD ’14
Where do you currently live? Kennesaw, Georgia
What is your greatest professional achievement or patient care success story? My greatest professional achievement is recently opening a new private practice called First Class Eye Care located in Duluth, Georgia.
2016 Jade Coats, OD, was named Social
Media & Brand Ambassador at Intrepid Eye Society, Inc.
Captain Trent Gaasch, OD, U.S. Army Medical Service Corp, is pictured receiving his COVID-19 vaccine in January. SCO thanks Captain Gaasch and other alumni who sent in photos of their vaccination process in recent months to share with the SCO campus community to encourage others to consider getting vaccinated.
In Memoriam Houston Cobb, JD, PhD, joined SCO's
faculty in February 1971 and taught for 31 years before his retirement on June 30, 2002. He was a longtime professor and served as Director of Instructional Technology before his retirement. He passed away on April 3, 2021 at home in Patagonia, Arizona, with his wife, Sara, at his side.
2020 Katelyn McGee, OD '20, and
Christopher Muegge, OD '20, were recently engaged in the same classroom where they first met as undergraduate students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
A sizable number of Arkansas alumni recently were credentialed for Advanced Procedures in the state. Their credential allows these ODs to practice to the fullest scope of practice law in the state and includes injections, incision and curettage of chalazions, removal of lesions, laser capsulotomy, and laser trabeculoplasty. Congratulations to our Arkansas alumni as well as ODs in nearby Mississippi who also recently secured advances in their scope of practice.
Ramona Porter Clifton, OD ’46, was
believed to be SCO's oldest living alumna. Dr. Clifton was a pioneer in Kentucky optometry and established a scholarship at SCO. Thomas Beall, OD ’50 Charles Koger, OD ’50 Charles Holtzclaw, OD ’55 Thomas R. Morris, OD ’55 Malcom Chitty, OD ’58 John T. Beckum, OD ’59
Watson Hewell Black, OD ’59 Thomas Boeke, OD ’60 John W. Denson, OD ’62 Chloe Chitwood, OD ’63 James P. Crutchfield, OD ’65 Stephen Franzblau, OD ’66 Norman Hinkle, OD ’67 Charles Lowell Jones, OD ’75 Francis Abessinio, OD ’77 Michael H. Harris, OD ’77 Tim McKinnon, OD ’78
Why did you choose SCO to pursue your optometric education? I chose SCO because of the family feel environment. There was a genuine feeling that faculty cared about the well-being of each student, including their post-graduate success.
Share your best memory from your time at SCO. My best memory was the last week before graduation, reuniting with classmates and enjoying the city of Memphis, while reminiscing all the many memories we created together over the four years.
David Kirby, OD ’80 Stephen Sutton, OD ’83 Barbara Kogan Anan, OD ’84 Brian Lantman, OD ’96 Adam York, OD ’09
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CHERISHED LIFE MOMENTS If you get married or welcome a new arrival (or even a grandchild), we welcome your high quality photos to share with your fellow classmates here in Visions, in our alumni e-newsletter, and on social media. Please email them to bfisher@sco. edu. Congratulations!
Anna Roxberg, OD '19, and Roy Miles, OD '19 December 5, 2020
Reena Lepine, OD '11, and Joshua Jackson February 6, 2021
Grace Dorado, OD ’91, and John Lennon, Jr., OD (PCO ’89) October 17, 2020
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Michael Jakowitsch, OD ’00, and Kirsten Cooper April 4, 2020
Corey Burr, OD '20, and Ethan Long October 10, 2020
Nicole Lamb, OD '18, and Jonathan Allee, OD '18 October 10, 2020
Matt Zemanovich, OD ’11, and wife, Lesley: Anna Mary, April 11
Catherine Abbott, OD ’13, and husband, Travis Thompson, OD ’13: Scarlett Renee, January 12
Alex Compton, OD ’16, and wife, Laura Compton, OD ’17: Benjamin Lee, January 30 (Grandparents are Steve Compton, OD ’78, and wife, Jane)
Joanna Miranda Truong, OD ’17, and husband Bryan Truong, OD ’17: Olivia Grace, April 10
Brandon McChesney, OD ’19, and wife, Erika: Olivia Blake, January 1
Aaron Tollett, OD ’20, and wife, Lisa: Rhett Allen, February 12
Jenny Hines Warwick, OD ’15, and husband, Rob: Robert Banks, February 24
Tiffany Hesse, OD ’18, and husband, Patrick: Scarlett, June 2, 2020 (read Scarlett’s story on page 22)
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CAMPUS NEWS
Faculty Spotlights Kristin Adams, OD, and Glen Steele, OD ’69, gave virtual presentations to the Optometric Extension Program Foundation.
Scott Ensor, OD ’01, recently recorded a new CE lecture which was added to SCO’s online CE library.
Marie Bodack, OD, was named to The College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) Board of Directors for the 20212022 term as President Elect. Chris Borgman published an article, “Compressive Trochlear Nerve Palsy Caused by Ischemic Stroke,” in the March 2021 issue of Clinical and Experimental Optometry. Patricia Cisarik, OD, and Melissa Powers from SCO’s Information Services Department, authored an article, “Does Self-Regulated Test Duration Correlate with Vision Science Test Score in First-Year Optometry Students?” in the Winter/Spring Edition of the Journal of Optometric Education. Dr. Cisarik also delivered a virtual lecture to the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Halie Cottrill, OD ’16, and Tyler Kitzman, OD ’16, brought their six-month-old son Graham to The Eye Center for his very first eye exam. The family is seen with Kelsey Whitcomb, ’21, who assisted Glen Steele, OD ’69, with Graham's InfantSEE assessment.
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Dan Fuller, OD, received the inaugural Educator of the Year Award from the Gas Permeable Lens Institute (GPLI) during the Global Specialty Lens Symposium's annual 2021 meeting. His poster with Dr. Kevan Smith also earned second place at GSLS 2021. He also presented CE on Basic and Advanced Scleral Lens Fitting. Vice President of the Scleral Lens Education Society for 2021, Dr. Fuller was invited to present research to the International Forum on Scleral Lens Research earlier this year.
Paul Harris, OD, traveled to Sarasota, Florida to provide sports vision testing to Baltimore Orioles minor league players during spring training. He was joined by former SCO residents Amar Sayani, OD, and Steven Weifenbach, OD.
Paul Harris, OD, Marc Taub, OD, and Alicia Groce, OD, wrote about yoked prisms for an article published in Review of Optometry.
with SCO Board member Jennifer Lyerly, OD ’11, and Defocus Media. He also recently published an article in Contact Lens and Anterior Eye.
Cynthia Heard, OD, was selected to participate in the American Academy of Optometry Foundation's Clinical Investigator Certification program. She also was interviewed by the American Academy of Optometry for its observance of Black History Month and participated in an online virtual panel about diversity and inclusion sponsored by ASCO and other optometry organizations in May.
Morgan Ollinger, OD, has become a Fellow of the COVD.
Mary Hoang, OD ’14, participated in an ASCO Town Hall meeting for the nation's optometry faculty to discuss ways to combat anti-Asian racism. Catherine Hogan, OD ’17, wrote a review about the role of vitamin D in glaucoma for Primary Care Optometry News. Laurel Roberts Kelley, OD ’18, wrote about her journey to academic optometry in a guest blog post for ASCO. Carrie Lebowitz, ’06, Director of Academic Support Services, and Mike Robertson, Director of Admissions & Enrollment Services, recently were interviewed on the Keepin' It O.D. podcast dedicated to preparing pre-optometry students for their careers. Chris Lievens, OD, is appearing on a new podcast in conjunction
Janette Pepper, OD, has been appointed to the Women in Optometry advisory board. She was also interviewed on the Keepin 'It O.D. podcast for Pre-Optometry students. Dr. Pepper and Mary Hoang, OD ’14, appeared on a Women in Optometry Voices Podcast Series to talk about ways that ODs can take action against racial bias through education and speaking up for colleagues and patients. Karen Squier, OD, was awarded a scholarship by the Medical Group Management Association to assist in obtaining a Masters in Public Health degree through the University of Memphis. Karen Squier, OD, and Cynthia Heard, OD, joined members of SCO's Low Vision Club for a Virtual Paint Night as the club organized a paint-at-home event. Participants wore low-vision simulator goggles as a learning experience and also discussed artwork galleries of visually impaired painters.
Glen Steele, OD ’69, appeared on WMC-TV's Action News 5 to talk about increased digital eyestrain in children. Glen Steele, OD ’69, and Marie Bodack, OD, presented a session at SECO in Atlanta entitled, Integrating the PEDIG Research into Clinical Practice.
GSLS | VIRTUAL MEETING
Sylvia E. Sparrow, OD ’98 and Jared Dix, ’22 Bilateral Band Keratopathy in an Asymptomatic Patient
Daniel G. Fuller, OD, and Kevan Smith, OD (Resident) Corneal Sagitta as a Predictor of Final Scleral Contact Lens Sagitta
Chawan Rasheed, OD ’20 (Resident) Steep Corneas and Severe Distance Blur? Step Away From the Minus
HOAECC | VIRTUAL MEETING Patrick Fiddler, OD (Resident) Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation of Hemispatial Neglect Following Stroke
COVD | VIRTUAL MEETING Jacob Boehme, OD ’20 (Resident); Patricia Cisarik, OD, PhD; Lindsay Elkins, OD ’07; and Paul Harris, OD Can Readalyzer Evaluation Predict OAT Scores in Students Accepted Into an Optometric Program?
Jacob L. Brown, OD (Resident, EyeCare Professionals, PC) Visual Snow Syndrome: Case Series with a Review of Patient Presentations, Treatments, and Outcomes
Patrick Fiddler, OD (Resident) Shermita Mitchell, OD (Resident) Acquired Unilateral Collateral Vessels: Glaucoma vs. Optic Nerve Sheath Meningioma
David Baldwin, OD (Resident, W.G. Hefner VAMC)
Marc Taub, OD, and Chris Borgman, OD, were invited as lecturers to the West Florida Optometric Association's Sip and CE event June 3-6 in San Destin. Marc Taub, OD, and Alicia Groce, OD, recently lectured virtually for the Academy of Ophthalmic Education in Canada. Marc Taub, OD, and Paul Harris, OD, wrote about their prism work with a patient for an article published in Review of Optometry. Melissa Zarn, OD, delivered a lecture presentation for the FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT) telehealth series entitled, Breaking Barriers to Literacy across the Lifespan: Perspectives from Audiology, Education, Optometry, and Speech/Language Pathology.
Visual Sequelae of Post Trauma Vision Syndrome
Alicia Groce, OD Rehab Hospital Mysteries: The Perfect Storm in the Midbrain
Diplopia: Order the MRI
Emma Karlin, OD (Resident, EyeCare Professionals, PC) Julia Reimold, OD ’20; et al. (Resident, Bond-Wroten Eye Clinic) The Effect of Posterior Capsular Opacification and Other Confounders on OCT Image Quality, Scan Accuracy, and Management of Patient Care
Alice Wong, OD; et al. (Resident, Community Health Centers
Three Diagnostic Tests in the Assessment of (non traumatic) Acquired Brain Injury
Brandee Nelson, OD (Resident) The Long Road to Recovery – Vision Rehabilitation for Post CVA
of the Central Coast)
Posterior Uveitis Secondary to Syphilis Exposure
Liza Stremick, OD (Resident) Prism Effects on Balance in Brain Injury Patients
Jennifer L. Jones, OD ’06, and Alexis Grycko, ’22 Morning Glory Syndrome vs. Optic Nerve Head Coloboma
Ashleigh Yates, OD; et al. (Resident, Wow Vision Therapy) A Multidisciplinary Approach to Areteriovenous Malformation Rupture
Emily C. Patterson, ’22, and Jennifer L. Jones, OD ’06 Neovascularization of the Disc vs. Collateral Vessel Growth
Kristin Adams, OD An Interdisciplinary Approach to Visual Spatial Inattention and Visual Field Defects
Samantha Blanke, ’23, and Morgan Ollinger, OD Survey of Self-Reported Reading and Video Gaming Habits and Ocular Discomfort
Claire Russell, ’22, and Patricia Cisarik, OD, PhD Vertical Saccadic Function as Assessed by Number Naming: Effect of English as a Second Language
John B. Phifer, OD ’20 (Resident, W.G. Hefner VAMC) Acquired Unilateral Collateral Vessels: Glaucoma vs. Optic Nerve Sheath Meningioma
Elizabeth Pallante, OD (Resident) Use of Home VT in a Case of Hypomyelinating Leukodystrophy Type 10
Elyse Rayborn, OD ’20 (Resident) Conjunctivitis Medicamentosa
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TIFFANY HESSE, OD ’18
2018 Graduate Shares Her Child’s CDH Story pushed all the way over against her right chest wall. Her left lung was so small it was nearly nonexistent and her right lung was under developed as well. At that first appointment we were given a 20% chance that she would survive after delivery. We were absolutely heartbroken but we had faith that our little girl was a fighter. Scarlett was born on June 2, 2020. She was intubated and placed on a ventilator before she was even fully delivered. Unfortunately, at only 18 hours old, Scarlett went in to respiratory failure and had to be surgically placed on ECMO, a heart lung bypass machine (the highest form of life support). At 11 days old she had surgery to repair the defect in her diaphragm and to put her organs back in her abdominal cavity. Scarlett has had quite a long journey since then. She spent 67 days on ECMO. She was intubated three times for a My daughter, Scarlett, was born on June 2, 2020 with a birth defect called a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, also known as CDH. CDH is a birth defect in which a portion of the diaphragm fails to form in utero, allowing organs that would normally be located in the abdomen to move up in to the chest. These misplaced organs put pressure on the developing heart and severely restrict lung growth. CDH occurs in about 1 out of every 2500 live births, there is no known cause, and the national survival rate is only 50%. CDH occurs as commonly as cystic fibrosis yet most people have never heard of it.
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HERE IS OUR STORY: In October of 2019 my husband, Patrick, and I found out we were expecting our first child,
total of 151 days. She’s had eight other major surgeries since birth, including a heart stent, g-tube placement, and two brain surgeries.
a baby girl; we were beyond excited. However, at our 16-week ultrasound
She’s had countless tests, scans, and pokes;
we received some devastating news; our
but she’s been so strong through all of it.
baby had a congenital diaphragmatic
Finally, on March 30, 2021, after 301 days in
hernia. The left side of Scarlett’s
the NICU, we were able to bring our baby girl
diaphragm had failed to form and her
home! She is still on oxygen and is ventilator
stomach, spleen, intestines, bowel, and
dependent, but she has overcome many
the entire left lobe of her liver were all
obstacles to get to this point and we are so
in her chest cavity. Her heart was
incredibly proud of her!
NEWS BRIEFS
SCO Welcomes New Staff SCO recently welcomed two new staff members who will interact frequently with alumni in
Students Receive National Honors
their positions. Lauren Trowbridge has been named Director of Development in Institutional
Two SCO students were selected by
Advancement, and Delores Johnson was named Continuing Education Coordinator in
Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation
Academic Affairs.
as the national recipients of two
LAUREN TROWBRIDGE brings a strong background in fundraising/ development to our institution. Her most recent position was Corporate Development Officer for Make A Wish Foundation. She previously was associated with the American Cancer Society, with responsibility for Northeast Arkansas and the Memphis area as the Community Development Manager. She began her development/fundraising career
different prestigious optometry student scholarships.
ELLILTA MEZGEBU, ’22, was selected by the Optometry Cares Scholarship
with the March of Dimes, also in Arkansas. She holds an undergraduate degree from
Committee as the winner
Liberty University and a master’s degree from Liberty Theological Seminary.
of the $10,000 Bernard Maitenaz Scholarship, while
DELORES JOHNSON came to SCO from American National University, where her last position was Director of Health Information Management. Her
AALIYAH COLE, ’22, was selected as the
responsibilities included not only student instruction and administrative responsibilities
recipient of the $2,500 Dr. Larry
associated with program maintenance and accreditation but also oversight, leadership, and direction in the Health Information Management program. She has also held various positions in healthcare in several organizations, including Baptist-Trinity Healthcare Services and Methodist Health Systems. She holds an undergraduate degree in Health Care Management from Southern Illinois University and a master’s degree in Health Informatics and Information Management from UT Health Science Center.
J. Alexander Scholarship for Education. Congratulations to both of these students for representing SCO at the national level in such an outstanding fashion!
Virtual State Day Held SCO's State Day is still going strong after the college became the first to launch an annual event of its type more than a decade ago. This year's event went virtual, as national and regional optometry leaders interacted with a large audience of students and faculty via remote video. In addition to individual meetings with various state associations, a program and Q&A session centered around the state of the profession, scope of practice advances, and current legislative issues. Panel members included: (L to R below) WILLIAM REYNOLDS, OD ’85, AOA President, DR. SHERROLL REYNOLDS (NOA President), STACEY MEIER, OD '85 (Arizona Executive Director and SCO Board member), LORI GROVER, OD, (SCO AOA Trustee), ERICK
HENDERSON, OD ’17, (Pennsylvania), TESSA LAU, ’22 (AOSA State Day Chair), and moderator JAMES VENABLE, OD ’89 (SCO VP of Clinical Programs).
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SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY 1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38104-2222
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage
PAID Memphis, Tennessee Permit Number 151
CLASS REUNION
CONTINUING EDUCATION
SCO HOMECOMING FALL CE WEEKEND
reconnect SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 3, 2021