Visions_07Fall by Southern College of Optometry

The Inauguration of a President

Fall 2007

inperspective

By Kevin Livengood, ’09, President of the Student Government Association

FALL 2007 VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Shannon Reynolds Torbett, MHP EDITOR Jim Hollifield DesignER Susan M. Doyle Photographer Phillip V. Ridings

Mission Statement To Educate Men and Women in the Art and Science of Optometry

In this Issue… Homecoming 2007............................4 Inauguration......................................6 Feature Story.....................................8 Philanthropy in Action.................... 10 Convocation 2007...........................12 Board in Focus................................. 15 Class Notes...................................... 16 Faculty and Staff Highlights............ 19 News Briefs......................................22 Visions is published through the Office of Institutional Advancement. Copies are available without charge to alumni and friends and online at www.sco.edu/visions Correspondence should be sent to: SCO Visions Editor 1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38104 Phone: (901) 722-3264 Fax: (901) 722-3340 Email: jhollifield@sco.edu

Thank you for allowing me to speak today. I am here today to extend both a welcome and a challenge to Dr. Phillips on behalf of the students here at SCO. Three years ago I interviewed at SCO and found that there is a comfort that surrounds SCO. We continually score in the top of the nation on national boards. Our placement service is continually at or near 100%. We have a 0% default rate on student loans. The finances of the school are well in order. We have a brand new eye center to serve our patients. Even the security service at SCO is top notch. All these are things that made my decision to come to SCO an easy one. Since being a student, I’ve seen first hand that SCO produces some of the top doctors in the nation. We get an excellent education and clinical experience. We couldn’t ask for a better faculty to meet the needs of the students and profession. But I have noticed that comfort isn’t always a good thing. Optometry is a dynamic and ever-changing profession. As the scope of practice expands, so must the education we receive. As laws change, SCO must change as well. As practice opportunities expand and change, SCO must be able to educate the students on these opportunities. It has been very easy to get comfortable with the way things are at SCO, but we students see that change is necessary to continue to receive the updated and highest quality of education. While SCO has stayed at the top of education, there are areas that we need to improve and advance. That is where our challenge to Dr. Phillips comes in. Last spring, the student government had the unique experience of interviewing the presidential candidates. And we didn’t take it easy on them. It was during the interviewing that we could see Dr. Phillips could be the president to continue the tradition here at SCO and begin to help move it forward with the progression of the profession. We want to challenge Dr. Phillips to not just get comfortable being one of the top schools but make us the leading school in the nation. It’s one thing to be on top and set the bar, but once there, we want SCO to keep pushing the bar. We want to move forward with the technology and ground-breaking aspects of optometry. We want to continue to recruit and maintain excellent faculty to the college. We want to be the place that every applicant wants to come. And we want to continue to produce the best doctors in the nation. As alumni, we want to brag that we are graduates of SCO, the top school in the nation. The students believe that Dr. Phillips is the right man for the job. So we challenge you to not just get comfortable but continue the tradition and advance the college and education as optometry continues to change. Dr. Phillips, we welcome you and wish you the best of luck as our president. Editor’s Note: SGA President Kevin Livengood, ’09, delivered both a greeting and a challenge to President Richard W. Phillips at his recent inauguration. As students represent the future of the profession, following are Student Doctor Livengood’s remarks.

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

MOA Partners with the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence “Joining the Generations: Practice Transitions and Partnerships” was presented in conjunction with the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence at Southern College of Optometry (HCPE) on August 17, 2007 at Eagle Ridge Conference Center in Raymond, Mississippi. Successful practice transitions are paramount for the long-term success of any optometric practice. This course, designed to be a resource for established practice owners, mid-career ODs and recent graduates, provided a framework of financial considerations, common pitfalls to avoid, and recommendations to consider when entering into negotiations. “This program was designed to bring ODs together to discuss partnering issues,” stated Kristin Anderson, OD, Executive Director of the Hayes Center. “The expectations of buyers and sellers can be very different. When both parties understand the needs and unique challenges facing the other, achieving a long-term successful relationship is more likely to occur.” Jerry Hayes, OD ’73, founder of HCPE and a Mississippi native, provided his insight and expertise to the program. His keynote lecture outlined concepts and recommendations developed over his career as one of optometry’s leading authorities on practice finance, profitability and overhead management. Additionally, Ken Hicks, CPA, senior partner of May & Company, LLP, delivered a presentation on financial and tax considerations. His firm has consulted with optometrists in 30 states, assisting with their tax planning and preparation.

This program was designed to bring ODs together to discuss partnering issues. A panel discussion/question and answer session completed the afternoon. In addition to Dr. Hayes, Gerald Eisenstatt, OD ’84, David Parker, OD ’95, Susanne Cunningham, OD ’02, and Ken Hicks answered specific questions posed by the audience, offering varied perspectives and opinions to the group. The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence (HCPE) at Southern College of Optometry was established in 2005 to serve the optometric profession as the premier resource for optometric management education. To learn more, visit the HCPE website at http://hayescenter.sco.edu.

The Hayes Center For Practice Excellence is Offering its Second Program on January 25-27, 2008 Recent SCO graduates from 2002-2007 are invited to attend the second annual “Private Practice Primer” offered at SCO. New practitioners are encouraged to register early, as maximum attendance is limited to 60 participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, visit http:// hayescenter.sco.edu.

VISIONS • FALL 2007

Nancy Gatlin to Retire After Four Decades of Service Nancy Gatlin, SCO’s library director and longest-serving staff member, has announced her intention to retire after nearly 40 years of service. A remarkable fact is that SCO has benefited from two long-time librarians in its 75-year history. Emma Turpin served the college from 1940 through 1968, the year Gatlin joined the staff as library clerk. She has served as library director since her appointment in 1976. When she retires at the end of January 2008, 40 calendar years will have been marked, a distinguished achievement and the end of an era. SCO’s library staff began manually indexing optometry journals in the 1970s. Under Gatlin’s direction, that process led to the creation of VISIONET, the only database of its kind that indexes vision science articles. Other optometry schools continue to access VISIONET with its 150,000 article citations. As many as 200 new articles are added weekly. Users from all 50 states and 20 foreign countries have been served through the system supervised by Gatlin. She hopes to remain involved in some capacity to continue contributing to VISIONET’s success after her retirement. In addition to being SCO’s longest-serving staff member, Gatlin is also believed to be the only non-OD to have ever received the honorary Doctor of Ocular Science degree for her service to the profession. Look for a more in-depth feature on Gatlin’s career and memories of her 40-year legacy in a future issue of VISIONS. In the meantime, alumni and colleagues who would like to wish her well as her retirement date nears are encouraged to email her at ngatlin@sco.edu or write her in care of the college at 1245 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104.

homecoming 2007 60 Years of Alumni Reunite

Class of

1967

Class of

1977

Class of

1987

A record number of ODs attended SCO’s continuing education program held during the 2007 Homecoming/CE Weekend in Memphis. More than 325 alumni and ODs attended lectures by well-known speakers including Drs. Joseph Rappon, Art Epstein, and Larry Alexander. The weekend began with Optifest and State Night in which students interacted with national vendors such as Vistakon and WelchAllyn and representatives of state and military optometry associations. On Friday night, alumni joined hundreds of students, faculty, staff and their family members for the annual barbecue picnic. Saturday afternoon saw Michael Jones, OD ’71, and J. Wayne Buck, OD ’78, receive the Lifetime Achievement Award (see sidebar). Representatives from the Classes of 1947, 1957, 1967, 1977, 1987, and 1997 spoke for their classmates. Eugene Zuckerman, OD ’47, was the most senior graduate in attendance. He remembered how he was accepted to attend SCO in 1941, only to have World War II interrupt his studies. “When I came back in 1946, the school was better,” he remembered. “SCO had the best and most modern equipment at that time.” Dale Faust, OD ’57, spoke for his class. Dr. Faust still practices in Florida. William Benkelman, OD ’67, came from Kansas to attend. Speaking for the Class of ’67, he remembered the time that Dr. James Mangrum became upset when a student placed a cigarette in the class skeleton’s mouth. Ron Bannister, OD ’77, recalled a number of “firsts” that happened during his classmates’ time at SCO, including the start of SVOSH and the “Evil Eye” newsletter. Speaking for the more recent reunion classes were Bill Conn, OD ’87, and Horace Deal, OD ’97. Mark your calendar for the 2008 Fall Homecoming/CE Weekend, to be held September 18-21, 2008.

Class of

1997

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

LietimeA cievemen 2 O O 7

A W A R D

R E C I P I E N T s

J. Wayne Buck, OD ’78, and Michael Jones, OD ’71, were honored with the SCO Lifetime Achievement Award during SCO’s Homecoming weekend held Saturday, September 15 in Memphis. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors alumni who have shown extraordinary leadership skills and who have made lasting contributions to the profession of optometry and SCO. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the college upon its alumni. President Richard Phillips, OD ’78, presented the awards at a ceremony during the college’s alumni luncheon. Both recipients are accomplished leaders within their communities and their professions, particularly for their work on behalf of the American Optometric Association. Dr. J. Wayne Buck practices at Advanced Eye Care Associates in Crossett, Arkansas. In 1989, Dr. Buck served as president of the Arkansas Optometric Association. He was named his state’s Optometrist of the Year in 1998. In 1993, Dr. Buck served as president of Southwest Council of Optometry. Five years later, he was named Congress Chair of the AOA Congress Committee, and he served three years in that capacity. From 2002 through this year, Dr. Buck served as a member of the AOA Board of Trustees. Dr. Michael Jones is from Bristol, Tennessee, and now resides in Ellisville, Missouri. He has served in all offices of the Tennessee Optometric Association, the Southern Council of Optometrists and of the American Optometric Association. Dr. Jones is one of 10 SCO graduates to have served as AOA President, and when he retires next year, he will have served 10 years as AOA Executive Director. He was named TOA’s OD of the Year in 1991, Southern Council’s OD of the South in 1993, and in 1998, he received SCO’s Doctor of Ocular Science degree. VISIONS • FALL 2007

Delegates representing the academic community are recognized.

The Presidential Mace is passed.

Dr. Phillips and Bob Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Optometrists.

Dr. Phillips and his wife, Lucy.

inauguration

marks newest

The inauguration of Richard W. Phillips, FA AO, OD ’78, drew visitors from as far away as England to witness the historic ceremony held at Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis. The ceremony incorporated personal touches on a number of levels, as alumni, students, faculty, staff and Dr. Phillips’ family played a role. Daughter Melissa Reading marched as a delegate representing Emory University, and Dr. Phillips’ father, G. Richard Phillips, PhD, delivered the invocation. Delegates from other colleges and universities attended, as well as representatives from organized optometry around the world; Bob Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Optometrists (AOP), traveled from London for the event.

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

chap ter in sco history

G. Richard Phillips, PhD, leads the invocation.

SCO Board of Trustees member, John A. Gazaway, OD ’67, delivered greetings on behalf of the alumni, while John Amos, OD, Dean of the School of Optometry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, spoke for the academic community. Representing students, faculty and staff, respectively, were SGA President Kevin Livengood, ’09, Faculty Chair Michael Gerstner, OD ’97, and Jo Propst, Administrative Coordinator in The Eye Center. Board of Trustees Chair Howard F.

VISIONS • FALL 2007

Flippin, OD ’59, formally installed Dr. Phillips as president after President Emeritus William E. Cochran, OD ’68, passed the SCO Mace to his successor. In his inaugural address, Dr. Phillips addressed change as a theme and related it to the past, present and future history of SCO. “Every president in the past of Southern College of Optometry took time to establish his vision of the future of optometric education and took action that to this day affects our future in optometry,” Dr. Phillips said. “Let us take action together to mandate that Southern College of Optometry will be more widely known as the premier provider we have always known it to be. Success comes to those who combine vision with action, learning from the past, with eyes

directed to the future. With the help of God, and this wonderful family we have assembled here today, we can not and will not fail.” The Tennessee General Assembly honored Dr. Phillips with Senate Joint Resolution 96, noting his service to his community and profession. Go to the SCO website to read a complete copy of Dr. Phillips’ inaugural address. Copies of the inaugural program or the inaugural DVD of the ceremony are available through the office of Institutiona l Advancement. Betty Cramer Clark, daughter of SCO’s second president, Dr. W.R. Cramer, was in attendance.

visions feature

As optometry evolves, Southern College of Optometry’s newest students earned the highest optometry entrance examination scores of any entering class in the college’s history. The 123 first-year students in the Class of 2011 earned an overall mean score of 335 on the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). The entering class had a mean overall grade point average of 3.45. This year’s first-year student body represents 33 different states and two foreign countries, with 62 females and 61 males. Recruiting already is underway to find the most qualified candidates to join the Class of 2012, whose students will graduate during SCO’s 80th anniversary. With a new president at the helm, planning for the college’s future is a crucial goal for faculty, staff and alumni alike. Changes in optometric education, health care delivery, demographics and other key factors will shape the future.

While some may worry about there being too many practicing optometrists, others note changing demographics; the baby boomer generation will become retirement-age citizens over the next two decades, expanding the patient pool needing vision care. Changing demographics will also change the patient population in other ways; the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the American population will be 25 percent Hispanic by the year 2030. With healthcare reform shaping up as a big issue in the 2008 presidential campaign, the way healthcare is delivered to patients is likely to change, regardless of which political party occupies the White House. Organized optometry will continue to fight political battles to ensure that the profession keeps a foothold in healthcare reform. Elsewhere, the AOA’s Joint Board Certification Project Team is currently investigating the development of a board certification

As optometric educators, the future challenges us to embrace the expanded capability technology allows It’s no secret by now that new optometry schools – including ones in California and Texas – will be coming online over the next several years. New optometry schools will mean the playing field could grow more competitive, particularly in terms of recruiting good students who find themselves faced with more options as to where to pursue their optometry degrees. “In order to remain competitive, we’ve just revamped the entire curriculum,” noted Rob Drescher, OD, MS, Interim Director for Academic Affairs. “We’re looking to add more technology to the instruction. Students are getting great exposure to current optometry through the new curriculum. We’re one of the least expensive optometry schools in terms of tuition, but we’re meeting the challenges while remaining competitive.” Faculty recruitment and retention, too, is likely to become a challenge with the changing landscape. “On the faculty side, we’re looking at the compensation and time requirements for courses to determine if they’re appropriate or if they need to be increased,” Dr. Drescher noted. “We’re doing what needs to be done to remain one of the premier optometric institutions.”

process for optometry, action that resulted from the 2020 Summit which examined how the profession might look by the year 2020. International outreach to optometrists around the world is also taking on increased importance. Dr. Narendra Kumar of New Delhi, India, recently visited the SCO campus. Editor of Optometry Today, a popular professional publication in India, Dr. Kumar had many questions about American optometry and shared his insight on the future of optometry in India and the world in general. Another significant focus of the future will be technological advances. In his recent inauguration address, SCO President Richard Phillips observed that technology will have a major impact on optometric education and the delivery of health care. “As optometric educators, the future challenges us to embrace the expanded capability technology allows,” he said. “[It] encourages us to increase delegation by ancillary health care personnel while retaining the high touch element that has been traditional with optometry.” Today’s optometry students already utilize many of these advances. The traditional lifetime connections made in optometry school are starting sooner; SCO’s Class of 2011 used popular

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

so too, must SCO… online networking websites such as Facebook or MySpace prior to arriving in Memphis. Technology gave them a head start on getting to know each other sooner. Technology now means that patients can go online and see what other patients think about their healthcare providers, optometrists included. It’s shaping up to be a different world, and the challenge is for optometry to stay ahead of the curve. Dr. Phillips recently appointed faculty and staff to serve on the college’s Information Technology Committee to study the role that the Internet, networking sites, and other advances can play not only in optometric education, but as a tool to communicate with alumni and prospective students. The committee is working on a major redesign of the college’s website, and a revamped Placement Services site is already up and running. Counteracting student debt will also prove important in the immediate future. Today’s students now graduate with more than $100,000 in debt. More than a third of SCO’s students receive a scholarship of some kind, so alumni and industry can play a part in helping future optometrists fund their optometric education. Alcon recently made a major commitment to SCO that will help fund faculty development and CE programs. SCO’s alumni will also play an important role in helping shape the future of their alma mater. As optometric education becomes more competitive, referring qualified student applicants will become more important than ever. Influencing the education of the next generation of optometrists is a valuable service. So what can alumni do as SCO transitions into the future? Talk up SCO. The south’s oldest optometry school is a leader in board scores and graduation rates. Influence young people thinking about optometry and share with them some of SCO’s successes. President Phillips will soon direct a five-year strategic planning process to determine the institution’s future direction. Many of these changes will need support as the college determines how to best plan for the future. As he said in his inaugural address, the entire SCO family – alumni, students, faculty and staff – must band together to meet the challenges of the future: “The follow-through by the family of Southern College of Optometry will determine the future success or failure,” Dr. Phillips noted.

VISIONS • FALL 2007

Joining Dr. Narendra Kumar of New Delhi, India, on his visit to SCO were President Richard Phillips and Dr. Pinakin Gunvant, Assistant Professor.

SCO is appreciative of its support from the ophthalmic industry. Presenting Dr. Phillips with a check from America’s Best/NVI, are Bob Stein, Vice President of Managed Care and Professional Services, Dr. Butch Kelly and Christian Schultz, Vice President of Optometric Relations.

Bret Wise, a member of the Class of 2008, bridges a 30-year optometric span by examining Dr. Richard Phillips, Class of 1978, during Dr. Phillips’ first examination at The Eye Center at SCO.

philanthropy in action by Shannon Reynolds Torbett, MHP, Vice President for Institutional Advancement 2007: A Year to Remember and a Time to Look Ahead

The great profession of optometry is shaped by the past, present and future. Throughout SCO’s 75th anniversary in 2007, we’ve remembered the past and how the college has progressed to today’s reputation of being tops in optometric education. The end of the year naturally draws us to look to the future. You can make SCO’s future even brighter showing your support through a gift to the 75th Campaign. • Endow a scholarship. Your $15,000 – once endowed – creates a $1,000 per year scholarship forever. • There are a limited number of rooms to be named in The Eye Center. After July 1, 2008, the remaining rooms will require a larger financial commitment. • Give to the various funds that honor alumni, promote technology or those that help others in need of patient services. As this year closes, you will be receiving mailings from various organizations requesting your support. Please place SCO at the top of your list. Your special year-end gift will not only help to strengthen the academic excellence that you expect from SCO, but it may also result in a more tangible return – desirable tax benefits. When giving, please remember that SCO does not use a single penny of any donor’s gift to fund the operating expenses of the college – 100%, not 90%, not 85%, not 60% - 100% of your gift is earmarked for your intended purpose. Your gifts to SCO may be unrestricted – to be used where needed most – or they may be restricted for such items as scholarships, technology or research. As 2007 draws to a close, consider the following: When Should You Give?

In order for your gifts to result in tax savings for 2007, a gift must be received by December 31, 2007. A general rule is that the higher your income tax bracket, the more you’ll save in taxes. Many states also allow an income tax deduction for charitable gifts. Often, the state deductions may be higher than those generated by the federal tax deductions. Other tax advantages exist – the Office of Institutional Advancement can help inform you about IRA rollover options available this year to donors. What Should You Give? Gifts of Cash: Nothing is quite as simple and direct as giving cash

– either by check or credit card. You may use the envelope enclosed in VISIONS or give online at: www.sco.edu and simply click on the “Give A Gift” button on the top right of the SCO home page. You aren’t limited to giving cash. In fact, your tax benefits may be even greater if you donate other property, such as assets that have appreciated in value.

Gifts of Securities: Gifts of stocks or other investments that have

grown in value and that you have held for more than one year can be given to SCO at a low net cost to you. You can receive a charitable deduction for the donation of the assets based on the fair market value as of the date of the gift. And there’s a bonus: Federal capital gains taxes may be avoided that would otherwise be due on a sale of the assets. Real Estate & Other Gifts: Almost any real estate, developed

or undeveloped, is a potential charitable gift. Donation of property opens the door to a unique giving opportunity. You may donate the property outright, place it in trust, or retain the use of it for life. All of these methods may enable you to enjoy personal financial benefits while supporting SCO in a meaningful way. As you can see, there are many ways in which you can make meaningful charitable contributions to help carry out SCO’s mission. By carefully timing your gifts and the choice of assets you use to fund them, contributions to the college are an investment in education for generations to come. Together with your financial advisor, the Office of Institutional Advancement can help you plan and implement a year-end charitable gift to SCO that takes advantage of available tax benefits and reflects your generous spirit. For more information, please contact Brenda Pearson, Director of Development, at bpearson@sco.edu or toll free at 1-800-2380180 ext. 4. Plan to join us at SECO on February 29, 2008 for the SCO Alumni Reception, to be held from 7-9 p.m. at the Atrium Terrace, lower level, in the Omni’s South Tower. Alumni who have donated during the 75th Campaign will be given special donor pins to wear. Don’t be caught without your 75th Anniversary donor pin during this celebration! Happy Holidays and thank you for supporting SCO!

Alumni Survey Available Online for Recent Graduates If you graduated since 2000, we need your help to shape the future of our academic program at SCO. We are currently conducting a survey of all SCO classes that graduated this century on issues of our curriculum, text-book use, the state of the profession, and your relationship with the college. Please take about 20 minutes and respond to the survey at http://survey.sco.edu. You will find the link for the Alumni Survey in the left column. As you go through the survey, it is very important that you do not click on the “Save” button on any page of the survey or your response will not be recorded, ironically. Your opinion is important to us, and changes are already being considered based on the initial 160 responses to the survey, but we need to hear from you! Your responses will be completely anonymous and very helpful to SCO and to our profession. If you have any questions regarding the survey, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. David Damari, Chair of the Department of Assessment, at ddamari@sco.edu or (901) 722-3318.

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

Class of 2011 Receives $93,000 in Scholarships A record 36 first-year students received $93,000 in scholarships, another SCO record made possible by the generosity of SCO alumni, friends of the Richard W. Phillips college and ophthalmic industry donors. Class of 2011 recipients receiving yearly scholarships for their academicAlthough achievementsDr. include: Board of Trustees Endowed Scholarships ($3,000) Kyle Dohrman, Jason Hair, Jimmy Murphy, Sarah Sweeney Dr. L. Wayne Brown Memorial Endowed Scholarship ($1,000) Andrea Giardina Dr. Ramona Porter Clifton Endowed Scholarship ($1,000) Sara Lemay Dr. Nash Cochran Memorial Endowed Scholarship ($1,000) Anna Taylor Covington/Andreas Endowed Scholarship ($1,000) Nathaniel Harkins Dr. W.R. Cramer Memorial Endowed Scholarship ($2,000) Jay Butler Dean’s Endowed Scholarships ($3,000) Reena Lepine, Spencer Luke, Jennifer Lyerly Dr. Spurgeon B. Eure Memorial Endowed Scholarship ($3,000) Joy Young

officially took office on Monday,

Dr. Cheryl D. Johnson Memorial Endowed Scholarship ($2,000) Kayli14, Malzahn May 2007 as SCO’s sixth presiDr. Earl Lusk Memorial Scholarship ($3,000) dent, Endowed a formal inauguration will Kendra Eck

be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday,

Drs. Martha and Sidney Greenberg Endowed Scholarship ($3,000) October 6 at Lindenwood Christian Jacob Hodges William C. Oliver Church Family Endowed Scholarship ($1,000) in Memphis. The venue is Shane Frerichs

somehow fitting; as an SCO stu-

Omni-Chattanooga Endowed Scholarship ($1,000) dent inGriffin the 1970s, Dr. Phillips was Tiffany

activeScholarships member ($5,000) of Lindenwood. Presidentialan Endowed Meredith Cohler, Danielle Davis, Ben Dixon, Erin Hocking, Murray Pratt

His first few months in office

SCO Alumni Endowed Scholarships ($2,000) have been busy; Dr. Phillips has Seth Baldwin, Lauren R. Eaton, Brigitte Keener

already met with alumni at three SCO Faculty/Staff Endowed Scholarship ($3,000) Bryan Paulsstate association meetdifferent

Dr. Robert E. Federhan Memorial Endowed Scholarships ($2,500) Carli Murphy, Katherine Kayser

Sullins Family Endowed ($2,000) ings and Scholarship at the AOA in Boston. Heidi Hunt

Dr. Richard A. Goodson Memorial Endowed Scholarship ($1,000) Deanna Dowler

Thurmond Endowed Scholarship ($1,000) Matthew tour asZemanovich he spends his first year re-

He plans to continue his listening

Dr. J.J. Horton Memorial Endowed Scholarship ($2,000) Destin Whipple

Transitionsnewing Endowed Scholarship ($2,000) old acquaintances Nicole Kosciuk

and

Dr. William R. Jackson, Jr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship ($4,000) Jenny Stevens

Charlie Williams Memorial Endowed Scholarship ($2,000) Dr. Phillips Anthony Sullenger recently took time to

meeting the college’s constituents.

discuss more about his life and career and his aspirations for the college’s future. u

VISIONS • FALL 2007

Convocation 2007

A nn u a l C ere m on y H onor s E x ce l l ence in S C O F a m i l y More than $55,000 in scholarships, awards and equipment were presented to SCO students during SCO’s annual Convocation

ceremony in October.

Made possible in part by industry support from Marchon, Wal-Mart and Welch Allyn, the event marked the first presided over by President Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78. Held the afternoon prior to the formal presidential inauguration, the ceremony also brought together the only two living SCO alumni who have served and retired as president of an optometry college, William E. Cochran, OD ’68 and Richard Hopping, OD ’52.

Rob Drescher, OD, with his Outstanding Faculty Award.

Teacher of the Year H.S. Ghazi-Birry, OD ’01, Amy Elizabeth Coburn, ’09.

Teacher of the Year John Mark Jackson, OD ’99, Kim Oncavage, ’08.

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

Teacher of the Year Chris Lievens, OD.

Teacher of the Year Jim Newman, OD ’73, David Daughtry, ’10.

Teacher of the Year Ralph Parkansky, OD.

Recently retired SCO President William E. Cochran, OD

President’s Special Recognition Awards were given to

’68, had the title of President Emeritus conferred upon him by

Michael Gerstner, OD ’97, Faculty Chair, and Jim Hollifield,

Board of Trustees Chair Howard Flippin, OD ’59.

Director of Publications.

Richard Hopping, OD ’52, former president of Southern

Beta Sigma Kappa and the Classes of ’08, ’09 and ’10

California College of Optometry, then helped lead the Class of

presented Teacher of the Year Awards to Drs. Hani Ghazi-Birry,

2011 in the optometric oath that he authored years ago.

OD ’01, John Mark Jackson, OD ’99, Chris Lievens, OD, Ralph

A total of 123 first-year students received white coats provided by Marchon. The event was held at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church with a reception following across the street at the SCO Activities Center.

Parkansky, OD, Rob Drescher, OD (three different awards) and Jim Newman, OD ’73 (two awards). Alcon received special industry recognition for its support of college programs, including faculty development and CE, as

Dr. Rob Drescher was honored by his fellow faculty as

Dr. Phillips announced a major gift to SCO from the company.

recipient of the Drs. Charlene and Fred Burnett Outstanding

A photo gallery from the event has been posted on the

Faculty Award.

VISIONS • FALL 2007

SCO website.

Convocation 2007

award s pon s or s and winner s

AOA Leadership Scholarship ($1,000).......................................................................................................................................................... Kim Oncavage, ’08 AOF-Carl Zeiss Vision (CZV) Fellowship ($5,000 plus travel fellowship)............................................................................................................ Kim Oncavage, ’08 Arkansas Optometric Association’s William H. Townsend Scholarship ($1,500)......................................................................................... Brian Guice, ’08 Basic Science Awards for Class of 2009 (plaques).................................................. Ashwynn Halbert, Jennifer York, Adam York, Eric Gengenbach, Chelsey Clemans, Matt Horton, Sean Skierczynski, Tracy Elliott Clinical Science Skills for Class of 2009 (plaques)......................................... Jennifer York, Ashley Schuelke, Eric Gengenbach, Aaron Lyles, Lindsay Petrie, Tiffany Walters, Adam York, Alex Bell, Josh Randall, Melissa Foster Basic Science Awards for Class of 2010 (plaques). ............................ Lucas Patin, Kelly Collins, Robert Carlsen, Ross Lumpkin, Craig Fleming, Becky Call, Thomas Chwe, Jessica Ellis, Meredith Jarvis, Brandon Weyand Clinical Science Skills for Class of 2010 (plaques)................ Ben Herring, Brandon Weyand, Jessica Ellis, Kelly Collins, Troy Swanson, Darren Reed, Katy Falk, Hilari Watts, Ross Lumpkin, Jean Nguyen Fellowship of Christian Optometrists Spirit Award ($500). ......................................... Jennifer York, ’09 Dr. Seymour Galina Grant ($2,500)................................................................................. Ben Winters, ’08 Heine USA (Sigma 100 indirect ophthalmoscope, $1,174 value). ............................................................ Jessica Ellis, ’10 Highest Score on NBEO Part I ($1,000 scholarship)....................................................... Kristin DeHaven, ’08 Jobson Publishing ($500).......................................... Kim Oncavage, ’08 Kansas Optometric Association ($1,000). ............................................................................................... Ashley Schuelke, ’09 Keeler Instruments, Inc. (retinoscope and charger, $429 value).................................................................................. Ben Herring, ’10 Mauldin Family Memorial Endowed Scholarship ($1,000)....................................................................... Jill Magargee, ’08 Ocular Instruments, Inc. Award of Excellence (gift certificate for $250 in product)............................................ Ross Lumpkin, ’10 Precision Optical Lab Endowed Scholarship ($2,000).................................................. Emily Aiken, ’09, Jennifer York, ’09 Rosemore Family Endowed Scholarships ($1,000)................................................... Ashley Blasi, ’08, Cory Boudreaux, ’08, Amy Elizabeth Coburn, ’09, Kevin Livengood, ’09, Aaron Lyles, ’09, Katy Falk, ’10, Gene Wong, ’10 SCO Classes of ’54, ’56 and ’59 Endowed Scholarship ($1,000). ............................................................ Kelly Collins, ’10 SCO Classes of ’60, ’61, and ’63 Endowed Scholarships ($1,000). ................................. Paul Kimball, ’09, Jared Ivie, ’09 SCO Classes of ’64, ’65 and ’66 Endowed Scholarships ($1,000)............................. Terri Angeli, ’09, Jaymini Nayee, ’08 SCO Classes of ’67, ’68 and ’69 Endowed Scholarships ($1,000)........................ Lesley Horan, ’08, Eric Gengenbach, ’09 SCO Classes of ’70, ’71, ’74 Endowed Scholarships ($1,000). ............... Jerad Meinke, ’08, and Ginny Franzluebbers, ’08 SCO Class of ’77 Endowed Scholarships ($2,000)................................................... Claire Hunter, ’08, Emily Naugle, ’08 SCO Class of ’84 Endowed Scholarships ($1,000)...................................................................................................... Dave Daughtry, ’10, Matt Schekirke, ’08 Tennessee Optometric Association Scholarship ($1,000)............................................................................................................................... Tangee Davis, ’09 UPS Scholarships................................................................................................................................... Emily Nail, ’08 ($1,850), Dustin Utley, ’09 ($1,000) Varilux Student Grant Award ($1,000)............................................................................................................................................................ Jill Magargee, ’08 Vistakon Acuvue Eye Health Advisor Student Citizen Scholarship ($1,000). ........................................................................................... Kristen Bryant, ’08 Vision Service Plan Awards ($2,500). ...................................................................................................................... Andrea Beedles, ’08, Kristin DeHaven, ’08 Dr. W. David Sullins Endowed Scholarship for Leadership ($1,000)............................................................................................................... Joe Borden, ’09 Wal-Mart Scholarship ($1,000).................................................................................................................................................................... Tiffany Walters, ’09 Welch Allyn Co. (Panoptic, $700 value)........................................................................................................................................................... Brandon Weyand, ’10

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

New Scholarship Fund Established to Honor Drs. Steele and Fors Two long-time faculty members and leaders in pediatric optometry and vision therapy have been formally recognized with the establishment of a new scholarship in their honor. The Glen T. Steele, OD, and L. Allen Fors, OD, Developmental Vision Endowed Scholarship Fund will assist deserving SCO students for pursuing academic success and demonstrating a commitment to pediatrics and vision therapy in optometry. Drs. Steele and Fors, both 1969 SCO graduates, are currently the longest-serving faculty members. Both are regarded as leaders of their field. In the 1970s, Dr. Fors helped establish SVOSH at SCO. Dr. Steele has been instrumental in the creation of the InfantSEE® program and frequently lectures on children’s vision at the national and international levels. After their graduation, both also completed fellowships at the

Drs. Glen Steele, W.C. Maples, and L. Allen Fors.

prestigious Gesell Institute, a fact that Dr. Steele noted in his remarks

plan to incorporate pediatrics and vision therapy in their practices after

when news of the new scholarship was first shared with him.

graduation.

“Dr. Fors and I came to school together,” he noted. “We rode back

President Richard Phillips noted the importance that the new

and forth to the Gesell Institute. We’ve seen a lot of changes and worked

scholarship will play in the education of SCO’s students. More than a third

together for many years, so we’re very honored to share a scholarship that

of SCO’s students will have received a scholarship by graduation, a rate

bears our names.”

that SCO hopes to increase.

SCO’s Pediatrics and Vision Therapy faculty members, led by Drs. W.C. Maples and Marc Taub, worked to create the new scholarship.

“These doctors embody dedication,” Dr. Phillips remarked. “I salute them and everyone who worked to make this new scholarship a reality.”

Scholarship recipients will be required to maintain an overall grade point

Colleague and classmates may contribute to the scholarship. For more

average of 3.25 in both their overall studies and courses in pediatrics

information about supporting this worthwhile scholarship fund, please

and vision therapy, as well as submitting an essay on how recipients

contact the Office of Institutional Advancement.

sco board in focus Smith Elected Chair; Johnson, Bane Named to Board

F. Mason Smith, OD ’76 SCO Board of Trustees Chair

F. Mason Smith, OD ’76, has been elected Chair of

A native of New Orleans, Dr. Jarrett Johnson served

the SCO Board of Trustees, while Jarrett Johnson, OD

as president of the SCO student body and as student

’90, and Eugene Bane, OD ’65, have been appointed to

representative to the Board of Trustees. Dr. Johnson was

the Board.

the first optometrist to graduate from Tulane’s Masters of

Dr. F. Mason Smith is a private practitioner in

Public Health Program. She has been in private practice

Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. A past chairman of the

for 17 years, worked as an optometric consultant and has

Board of Directors for Vision Service Plan, Dr. Smith

been active in public health affairs on the city, state and

has been an active member of the Southern Council

federal level.

of Optometrists as a continuing education committee

Dr. Gene Bane recently retired from private practice

member, the South Carolina Optometric Association as a past secretary-

in Salem, Virginia and is a retired U.S. Naval Reserve Commander. Dr.

treasurer, and the Coastal Carolina Optometric Society as a past president.

Bane’s career includes service on local bank boards, the board of Emory

He has also served as a research and clinical investigator for contact lens

and Henry College, Salem Rotary Club and Salem Historical Society. He

and pharmaceutical companies.

also is very active in the Virginia Optometric Association.

VISIONS • FALL 2007

class notes 1943… Donald P. Hines, OD, retired after 50 years of practice in 1994.

Although he was unable to attend his 50-year reunion, he is hoping to visit his daughter in Atlanta and visit SCO in Memphis along the way. Dr. Hines, who lives in Sturgis, South Dakota, writes: “I have always been proud of my affiliation at SCO, and it is so good to see the growth of this fine institution. Congratulations on the 75th Anniversary and may you continue to lead optometry into the future.”

1947… John Hester, OD, writes: “I’m still alive and kicking after graduating 60 years ago from SCO. I still love optometry and am so proud to be an OD.” Now retired, Dr. Hester resides in Texas.

1949… Eugene Cantwell, OD, plays on a basketball team for men over

80 in Florida. The team won the gold medal at the National Senior Games in Louisville, Kentucky earlier this year. Dr. Cantwell played on SCO’s basketball team during the winters of 1947 and 1948.

1950… James E. Hamilton, OD, reports that he was treated for a massive pulmonary emboli last year at the Rochester Clinic in Minnesota and no longer travels. He sends his best regards to all of his optometric friends and colleagues.

1951… Belvin G. Dollins, OD, and his wife will celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary on December 27, 2007. Dr. Dollins and his wife are 79 years of age. He retired after 43 years of practice in Guymon, Oklahoma and now resides in Amarillo, Texas.

1953… Burton Bodan, OD, who has practiced for 50 years at an office in

Poplar Plaza in Memphis, recently joined The Eyewear Gallery, also in Memphis.

1956… Marvin E. Wollen, OD, LaVern I. Powers, OD, and Art Queen, OD, all 1956 SCO graduates, were recently honored at the Kansas

Optometric Association’s annual convention as Emeritus Members. The association honored five as Emeritus Members, and the three SCO grads were pleased to represent a majority of the group. The new Emeritus Members group was formed to honor doctors who are retired but otherwise remain active in the association, the profession, and their communities.

1964… Missouri State Representative Terry Swinger, OD, joined other Missouri ODs to celebrate as Missouri Governor Matt Blunt recently signed a bill into law that requires comprehensive eye examinations for children entering kindergarten or first grade in Missouri public schools. The law takes effect in 2008.

1965… Jim Sandefur, OD, recently met with members of the Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee to educate them about a new Louisiana law extending optometrists’ prescription authority to include all oral drugs except schedule I and II narcotics, as well as all topical relative to treatment of the eye and adnexa. The legislation was passed and then signed into law by Governor Kathleen Blanco effective August 15. Dr. Sandefur serves as Executive Director of the Optometry Association of Louisiana (OAL).

1969… Van Odom, OD, was named OD of the Year by the Oklahoma

Association of Optometric Physicians. Dr. Odom has served as district director of the OAOP Board of Directors, as president in 2003-2004, and he currently is chairing the new building task force.

1973… Jerry Hayes, OD, is serving on the faculty of the Management and

Business Academy, created by CIBA Vision and Essilor of America to educate independent eye care professionals about advanced management techniques. Dr. Hayes is also the founder of the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence at SCO.

1977… Jack Schaeffer, OD, and U.S. Congressman John Boozman (R-AR), OD,

recently enjoyed a meeting on Capitol Hill. The 1977 classmates are seen here on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

1978… Thomas V. Casella, OD, was recently profiled in a newspaper story

about his longtime family practice, Casella Eye Center, in Augusta, Georgia. The practice was started by his father in 1948, and his 26year-old son, Ben, will be joining the practice next year. Mark J. Cook, OD, was recently named Optometrist of the Year

by the Michigan Optometric Association for his leadership and dedication to the profession. Jennifer Malpass, OD, recently completed the final draft of her

third novel, Murder at the Bentley Club. The book marks her third from which she has derived inspiration from her membership in a

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

local Rolls-Royce club with her husband, Tom Droege, an engineer. Dr. Malpass, who owns a 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, has been an independent OD the past four years with Sears in Illinois. Steven B. Stiles, OD, was recently appointed to a two-year term on

the International Vision Expo Attendee Advisory Board. The panel meets at each International Vision Expo show and participates in planning sessions throughout the year. In addition to his interests in the medical and clinical side of practice, Dr. Stiles reports that he enjoys devoting energy to the optical side as well, particularly on high end designer collections.

1979… Jerry Prchal, OD, and Horace Deal, OD ’97, were among the ODs

on hand this past summer to witness Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue sign legislation authorizing greater prescriptive authority for oral drugs in that state.

1980… Wes Garton, OD, is the new president of the Kansas Optometric

Association. Dr. Garton practices in Wichita. Steve Malone, OD, is serving as secretary/treasurer of the Tennessee

Optometric Association.

1984… Byrant Ashley, OD, has been named OD of the Year by the Arkansas

Optometric Association. Dr. Ashley has served on several committees and is the chair of the association’s legal legislative committee. He served as president of the state association in 1998.

1985… Roger Benjamin, OD, is serving as the 314th Medical Operations

Squadron’s Optometry Element Chief. Dr. Benjamin, examining a patient with a slit lamp, was recently photographed for the cover of The Drop Zone, a publication covering the Little Rock, Arkansas Air Force Base.

1986… Joe E. Ellis, OD, was sworn in as Secretary-Treasurer of the American Optometric Association at the 2007 Optometry’s Meeting in Boston.

1988… Patricia M. Kowalski, OD, has joined Charlotte Eye Center, an

affiliate of Lansing Ophthalmology in Charlotte, Michigan. Dr. Kowalski, who completed her pediatric optometry and vision therapy residency at SCO, served on the SCO faculty and received the Outstanding Optometric Educator Award for Clinical Instruction. She also has served as Director of the Perkins School for the Blind Vision Rehabilitation Clinic in Massachusetts. VISIONS • FALL 2007

1989… Kim (Murray) Patterson, OD, and her husband, Bill Patterson, OD ’88, report the sad news that their youngest son, Ben, age 12,

passed away on Tuesday, August 14. Ben suffered from a rare genetic disease called Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation that robbed him of his ability to walk, talk, eat and swallow. The Pattersons’ older son, Will, is a senior in high school. The SCO family extends its condolences to the Patterson family on their loss.

1992… Brad Lindsey, OD, is president-elect of the Tennessee Optometric Association. Dr. Lindsey practices in Morristown.

1996… Richard Durocher, OD, is serving as chair of the board of the Tennessee Optometric Association. Craig Pruitt, OD, and his wife, Candace, are the parents of a boy,

Craig B. Pruitt, Jr., born July 24, 2007.

1997… Arthur R. “Reggie” Dampier, OD, was named the Mississippi

Optometric Association’s Young OD of the Year. He is also the MOA’s incoming Secretary-Treasurer. Former SCO Board of Trustee member Linda Johnson, OD was also named OD of the Year at the MOA’s November meeting. Greg Russell, OD, is serving as president of the Tennessee Optometric

Association. Dr. Russell practices in Kingsport.

1998… Dan Bristol, OD, will be celebrating the third anniversary of the

opening of his practice, Bristol Family Eyecare, in December 2007. Dr. Bristol recently lectured to colleagues this fall in San Antonio and Austin on the topic of glaucoma management. Donna K. Haas, OD, has opened a new private practice, Trinity

Vision, located in Dallas, Texas. Her practice provides complete eyecare and eyewear for the whole family. Jonathan Noble, OD, was recently appointed to a four-year term on the Virginia Board of Optometry by Governor Tim Kaine. Dana (White) Nolan, OD, and her husband, Jim, celebrated the birth of their third daughter, Audrey Ruth, this past July.

1999… Jason Clopton, OD, was recently elected regional director for the

College of Optometry in Vision Development.

class notes Eric Colegrove, OD, was recently profiled in a TV newscast about his mission work in Nicaragua. Dr. Colegrove, who lives in Demorest, Georgia, has made a number of foreign mission trips. He is backed by a team of volunteers who perform vision screenings, read prescriptions, and pull mono-vision, bifocals, and readers. Melissa Holliman, OD, and her husband, David Holliman, OD

2003… Andrea Elizabeth Chinn, OD, wed Devon Shelton on July 28, 2007.

Dr. Chinn lives and practices in Louisville, Kentucky.

2006… Angela Dabbs, OD, recently joined the Murfreesboro, Tennessee practice of Coley and Coley Family Eye Care, owned by Greg Coley, OD ’86, and Ginger Givens Coley, OD ’86. Dr. Dabbs and her

(a 2003 ICO graduate), report the birth of their third child, Justin Blake, born May 23, 2007. Dr. Holliman and her husband own and operate Family Eye Care in Kingsport, Tennessee.

husband, Jason, reside in Shelbyville, Tennessee.

Todd Lewis, OD, and Ryan Orgill, OD ’07, joined SCO Director of

Kristi Merritt, OD, married Leonard A. Barnes, Jr., on September 22, 2007 in Memphis. She and her husband reside in Smyrna, Georgia.

Recruiting Sunnie Ewing at a recent dinner meeting of the BYU PreOptometry Club in Utah. Patricia Westfall, OD, was named Young OD of the Year by the

Arkansas Optometric Association. She was elected to the association’s board of directors in 2005 and serves as secretary-treasurer.

2000… Jeff Autrey, OD, and his wife, Sara, are the proud parents of their first child, Isak Gene, born July 15, 2007. Anthony DiMaggio, OD, and Heather DiMaggio, OD, and their

two-year-old daughter, Isabella, recently welcomed a baby boy into their family. Joseph Anthony was born on June 12, 2007.

2001… Betsy Funk Cathey, OD, and her husband, Mike Cathey, announce the birth of their daughter, Anna Elizabeth Cathey, born April 16, 2007.

Kim Raharja, OD, opened a practice in Wal-Mart after graduation

and has since expanded to three locations in downtown Atlanta. She hired all SCO graduates to help: Kristi Merritt, OD, Seema Bhula, OD ’07, and Rinku Vashnev, OD ’07. Dr. Raharja is working with Wal-Mart and Vistakon on a curriculum to help new doctors in their practices.

2007… Angela Cooper, OD, has been hired by Tom Vanderpool, OD ’76, to join Jenks Vision Center in Jenks, Oklahoma. Ryan Orgill, OD, is practicing at Tooele Standard Optical in Tooele,

Utah. Dr. Orgill was recently profiled in a hometown newspaper article. He and his wife, Stefanie, live with their daughter, Afton, in Grantsville, Utah.

Cindy Elam-Corbin, OD, recently opened her private practice

in Barbourville, Kentucky. Dr. Corbin and her husband, Donnie, have one girl, Ava Grace Corbin. Dr. Corbin is a member of the AOA, Kentucky Optometric Association, and various community organizations. Ryan Snipes, OD, and his wife, Melinda, are the parents of a new baby daughter, Summer Layne, born August 30, 2007.

2002… Susanne Stumpf Cunningham, OD, was named SECO’s Young OD of the South. Dr. Cunningham, who served as chair of the Fall Education Conference for two years, is serving as vice president of the Mississippi Optometric Association. Terry Ellington, OD, and his wife, Wendy, announce the birth of

their third son, Carter Finley, born August 17, 2007. Jeff Netzel, OD, and his wife, Jill, are the parents of their second

1938 — Milton Stern, OD, New York, NY 1939 — Lionel Yoe, OD, MD, Columbus, GA 1941 — Louis B. Goldstein, OD, Rye Brook, NY 1947 — Sam B. Rose Jr., OD, Winchester, VA Walter E. Rosson, OD, San Antonio, TX Harold “Hal” Schantz, OD, Manchester, NJ Eli Shapiro, OD, Flint, MI 1948 — A.E. Broughton, OD, Lufkin, TX Paul K. Shannon, OD, New Albany, MS Peter Stabnick, OD, Little Rock, AR 1949 — Emile J. Bernard, Jr., OD, New Orleans, LA 1950 — (Buther) Lee Newman, Jr., OD, Knoxville, TN 1957 — Duke E. Gardner, OD, Coalgate, OK 1965 — Thomas R. Pettet, OD, Newnan, GA 1970 — Tom LonCavish, OD, Milton, WV 1986 — Lawrence T. Mirto, Jr., OD, Howland, OH

child, a daughter, Caroline Jackson, born August 21, 2007.

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

faculty&staff highlights Faculty Appointments

So-Yeon Lee, OD, has been named an instructor

on the faculty. A graduate of the Illinois College of

Rob Drescher, OD, MS, Associate Professor, has been named Interim

Optometry, Dr. Lee completed the low vision residency at

Director of Academic Affairs, effective November 1. A formal

SCO from 2006-2007.

search to fill the permanent position of Vice President for Academic Affairs will begin soon. Additional details can be found on the college’s website. Shilpa J. Register, OD, MS, Assistant Professor, has been named Chief

Faculty Accomplishments Kristin Anderson, OD, Associate Professor, and Christopher Lievens, OD, MS, Associate Professor, have both been included in the

of Low Vision Rehabilitation Services. Dr. Register previously served

upcoming 11th Edition of Who’s Who Among American Teachers and

as interim director.

Educators.™

SCO Welcomes New Faculty Carrie D. Lebowitz, OD ’06, has joined the fac-

ulty as an instructor. A SCO graduate, she completed a residency at the Memphis VA Medical Center in 2007. Dr. Lebowitz earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rhodes College, along with certification for elementary education; she previously spent four years as a Memphis City Schools elementary teacher. She is a member of the Tennessee Optometric Association and the West Tennessee Optometric Society. Cynthia Heard, OD, has been named an associate

professor. A graduate of Ohio State University College of Optometry, Dr. Heard spent 14 years at Ohio State as an assistant professor in clinical optometry, attending in primary care service and as a preceptor for the primary care externship rotation. A graduate of Jackson State University, she is a past president of the National Optometric Association (NOA), a past zone governor of the Central Ohio Optometric Association, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and a member of the

Dave Damari, OD, Associate Professor, was recently installed to the

COVD Board of Directors as Central Regional Director. His duties will include developing distance learning modules for COVD members, a new means of education for the organization. Michael Gerstner, OD ’98, Associate Professor, lectured at SCO’s Fall

Homecoming CE weekend on “Ocular Complications Associated with Diabetes, Hypertension and Elevated Cholesterol.” H.S. Ghazi-Birry, MS, MD, PhD, OCS, OD ’01, Associate Professor,

recently lectured in Georgia on “Current Advances in Antimicrobial Treatment of the Ocular Surface.” In Dallas, he recently spoke on the “Management of Allergic Eye Disease,” and in New York, he lectured on “Advances in Dry Eye Syndrome” and “New Frontiers in Coding and Billing.” Dr. Ghazi-Birry also participated in Florida at a training and advisory board summit meeting for the pharmaceutical industry. He was the only OD among the group of MDs. Alan Landers, OD, MS, Assistant Professor, and John Mark Jackson,

American Optometric Association and the NOA. Her awards include

OD ’99, MS, Assistant Professor, recently attended the Association of

being named the NOA’s OD of the Year, OSUCO Clinical Instructor

Optometric Contact Lens Educators (AOCLE) meeting in Berkeley,

of the Year, and the Ohio Optometric Association’s Zone Governor

California.

Award recipient.

Christopher Lievens, OD, MS, Associate Professor, and H.S. Ghazi-

Jennifer L. Jones, OD ’06, has joined the faculty

Birry, MS, MD, PhD, OCS, OD ’01, Associate Professor, had a record

as an instructor. A SCO graduate, she finished a residency

attendance for their Advanced Coding Strategies for Optometric

in primary care with an emphasis on ocular disease at

Practice coding workshop held during SCO’s Fall Homecoming and

the Memphis VA Medical Center in 2007. A graduate of

CE weekend.

Tennessee Tech University with a degree in chemistry, Dr. Jones is a member of the West Tennessee Optometric Society, the Tennessee Optometric Association, and the American Optometric Association.

VISIONS • FALL 2007

W.C. Maples, OD ’68, MS, Professor, recently spent a week in Mexico

giving COVD examinations to optometrists. Recently appointed Chair of the International Examination and Certification Board for

faculty&staff highlights COVD, he also lectured at a meeting of the Mexican Optometric Association for Behavioral Optometry.

Optometric Recognition Award. Dr. Steele co-authored an article entitled, “Comparing the

Dr. Maples also co-authored an article entitled, “Variables

effectiveness of vision screenings as part of the school entrance physical

associated with the incidence of infantile esotropia” in the October

examination to comprehensive vision examinations in children ages 3

2007 issue of Optometry, the Journal of the American Optometric

to 6: an exploratory study” in the October 2007 issue of Optometry, the

Association, Volume 78, Number 10.

Journal of the American Optometric Association, Volume 78, Number

Erin Nosel, OD ’01, Assistant Professor, has been selected as a member

of the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) Planning Committee for development of the Vision Therapy-Amblyopia Treatment Study randomized clinical trial. Dr. Nosel delivered a lecture at SCO’s Fall CE program entitled, “Nutrition and the Eye.” As a member of PEDIG, she also recently participated as a coauthor in the development of three manuscripts entitled:

10. SCO alumni Joel Zaba, OD ’69, and William Reynolds, OD ’85, were among the co-authors. Scott Steinman, OD, PhD, Professor, published two articles about his

educational software in the Fall 2007 issue of the journal, Optometric Education. The first article was entitled “The Oculomotor Suite: Educational Software for the Interactive Demonstration of Strabismus and Oculomotor Paralyses,” and the second was “Ray Trace: Software for ThinLens and Thick Lens Refraction in the Classroom.” An

• Treatment of Bilateral Refractive Amblyopia in Children

internationally recognized software developer and author on

Three to Less Than 10 Years of Age. American Journal of

computer programming, Dr. Steinman has developed 60 educational

Ophthalmology. 2007, Aug. 16.

applications for the optometric classroom.

• The effect on refractive error of unilateral atropine as compared with patching for the treatment of amblyopia. Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 2007 Jun; 11(3): 300-2. • Treatment of strabismic amblyopia with refractive correction. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2007 June; 143(6): 1060-3. Ralph Parkansky, OD, MS, MBA, Professor, has been appointed

Director of Preventative Health. Jared Powelson, OD ’96, Assistant Professor, recently wrote a review of

a book, Lasik. A Handbook for Optometrists. His review was published in Optometric Education, Vol. 32, Number 3, Spring 2007. Bill Rainey OD, MS, Associate Professor, has received certification

as an Academic Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (FCOVD-A). Shilpa J. Register, OD, MS, Assistant Professor, was recently elected

to the board of the Foundation for Fighting Blindness – Mid-South Chapter as Membership Chair. Glen Steele, OD ’69, Professor, recently received the AOA’s 2007

Continuing Optometric Recognition Award. The award is given to ODs who have completed 50 credit hours of CE in their field

Marc B. Taub, OD, Assistant Professor, recently received a 2007 COVD

Annual Meeting Faculty Travel Grant for $300 in advance of October’s COVD meeting. Dr. Taub also was named to the review board for the Journal of Vision Development, the publication of the College of Vision Development (COVD). Dr. Taub has been selected as a member of the CE Quality Assurance Program Committee for the American Academy of Optometry and as an ambassador for the Academy. COVD Meeting October 2007, St. Petersburg, Florida Poster Presentations W. C. Maples, OD ’68, MS, Professor

Off-Campus Vision Therapy/Rehabilitation Optometry Residency Program Bill Rainey OD, MS, Associate Professor; Wes Sands, OD ’07

VTOD-L: The World’s Largest Study Group Marc Taub, OD, Assistant Professor; Bill Rainey, OD, MS, Associate

Professor; Alette Howard, ’08 Developmental Gerstmann’s Syndrome: A perceptual problem in sheep’s clothing? Marc Taub, OD, Assistant Professor, and NOVA colleagues

A Survey of Optometrist Comfort Level Concerning Autism and Special Population Patients

over a one-year period and who have previously received the Initial

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

Wes Sands, OD ’07, Marc Taub, OD, Assistant Professor

Optometric Education and Literature: Are special population topics getting appropriate exposure? AAO October 2007, Tampa, Florida Lectures Michael Gerstner, OD ’98, Associate Professor, with Dr. David Cale

Gonioscopy Interpretation Marc Taub, OD, Assistant Professor, with Dr. Mary Bartuccio

Pharmacotherapy and the Pregnant or Nursing Patient Examination of the Special Population Patient Posters

Marc Taub, OD, Assistant Professor, et al

A Comparison of Speed of Visual Scanning Among Three Lateral Heterophoria Populations Staff Appointments David West has joined SCO as the college’s Chief

Financial Officer. Mr. West comes to SCO from the Memphis Jewish Home, where he spent more than five years as Chief Financial Officer and four years as Accounting Supervisor. A graduate of the University of Memphis with a degree in accounting, he has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1993. He has also served as chair of the Finance Committee at Grace Crossing Church in Collierville. Joe Hauser, Vice President for Student Services, has

J. Bart Campbell, OD ’87, Professor

been named as the college’s second corporate officer by the

Implementation of a Web-based Activity Logging System for Multiple Residency Programs

SCO Board of Trustees. In addition to his regular duties, Mr. Hauser will

Charles G. Connor, MA, OD, PhD, Professor

Reduction in Dry Eye Symptoms After Treatment with Transdermal Sex Hormone Creams Jason Duncan, OD ’98, Assistant Professor; Marzuka Khan-Jalal, ’08; Scott Steinman, OD, PhD, Professor; Pinakin Gunvant, BS Optom, PhD, Assistant Professor

Evaluating the Calibration of the Heine Lambda 100 Retinometer Marc Taub, OD, Assistant Professor; Freddy Chang, OD, PhD, Professor; Pinakin Gunvant, BS Optom, PhD, Assistant Professor

Factors Affecting Measurement of Central Corneal Thickness Felicia Jackson, ’10; Pinakin Gunvant, BS Optom, PhD, Assistant Professor Repeatablity and Effect of Sequential Measurement on Measurements Obtained by Proview Eye Pressure Monitor John Mark Jackson, OD ’99, MS, Assistant Professor; Kristina Ramsey, OD ’07; Michelle Mumford, ’08

Comparison of Corneal Topographers in Orthokeratology for Initial Lens Selection and Prediction of Refractive Outcome Aaron M. Kerr, OD ’98, Assistant Professor

Vision Loss in Orbital Inflammatory Pseudotumor Alan Landers, OD, MS, Assistant Professor

Effect of Contact Lenses on Tear Film Integrity

serve as Secretary-Treasurer in his new capacity. He joins Dr. Phillips as President of the Corporation (not-for-profit), as a contact of record for the state, and as an ex-officio (non-voting) member of the Board of Trustees. Staff Departures

The college is bidding farewell to two long-time members of the senior administration, Charles Haine, OD, MS, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor, and Eugene Bagaglio, Vice President of Finance and Administration. A graduate of Indiana University, Dr. Haine joined the faculty on January 1, 1998. Dr. Haine was instrumental in improving the college’s academic reputation during his tenure, including success in graduation and board passage rates. The SCO Board of Trustees recently honored him with a resolution for his service to the college. Eugene Bagaglio joined the SCO administration on August 12, 1985. He assisted Dr. Cochran for many years in their effort to gain financial credibility and strength. Through their leadership, wise investment and sound financial practices, the college has been able to maintain one of the lowest tuition rates in the country and to build a healthy reserve fund. The SCO family thanks Dr. Haine and Mr. Bagaglio for their years of service and dedication and wishes them all the best for a successful future.

Bernard I. Sparks, III, OD ’77, MS, Professor

A Comparison of Tests of Accommodative Amplitude: Are All Created Equal?

VISIONS • FALL 2007

news briefs Vistakon, a division of Johnson and Johnson Vision Care, recently hosted a luncheon for first-year students.

SCO Hosts Aniridia Conference Meeting

Low Vision Rehabilitation Services recently received an award given by the Memphis Federation for the Blind for advancing the integration of blind persons into society by working to preserve sight and providing assistive living devices to indigent patients. Accepting the organization’s 2007 award are (L-R): Dr. So-Yeon Lee, President Richard Phillips, Dr. Shilpa Register and Dr. Jim Venable. SCO hosted a 75th Anniversary alumni reception at the recent meeting of the American Academy of Optometry in Florida. SCO also held receptions at the November meetings of the North Carolina and Mississippi state association/society fall meetings.

SCO recently hosted a conference meeting of the Aniridia Foundation International, an organization dedicated to assisting those with low vision or blindness because of the genetic blinding disease, aniridia. Sixty-seven participants visited the SCO campus to attend the seminar covering topics such as trusts, advocacy, social issues, Social Security, orientation and mobility and bioptics. “The conference attendees spoke with me at the conclusion of the conference and were very impressed with the conference and our facilities,” said Shilpa Register, OD, Director of Low Vision Rehabilitation Services. During the weekend, Betty Harville, OD, Professor, and resident Nicole Mills, OD ’07, attended a Saturday Medical Conference at UTHamilton Eye Institute on aniridia. Dr. Mills represented SCO and The Eye Center at the organization’s charity dinner. The weekend concluded with participants seeing 19 patients from the U.S. and three foreign countries. Dr. Register has been in contact with Jill Nerby, founder of Aniridia Foundation International, to discuss future collaborations at the next annual conference. Aniridia Foundation International recently presented Dr. Shilpa Register with an appreciation award. Joining Dr. Register in accepting the award are Dr. Betty Harville and Dr. Nicole Mills, Low Vision resident.

SCO Hosts European ODs

Professor Edward A. Essock, PhD, University Scholar at the University of Louisville, visited SCO in November to speak to students and faculty as part of the college’s Visiting Scientist Program. He’s seen here with Dr. Rob Drescher, Interim Director of Academic Affairs, and Dr. Charles Connor. Allergan, Inc. recently provided a Medicare Part D Update for thirdyear students, faculty and residents.

Eveline De Winter and Sophie De Witte, both new ODs from Belgium, recently attended a course at SCO offered by the Optometric Extension Program (OEP). On their first visit to America, the pair was hosted by Glen Steele, OD ’69, Professor, and W.C. Maples, OD ’68, Professor. They felt that Memphis reinforced their initial impressions of America, but were surprised by one thing that SCO had to offer. “We didn’t expect an actual working clinic here,” said De Winter. “In Belgium, we don’t have a clinic building. We mostly practice on each other. Some days we would even bring in a sibling to practice on!” They also noted that students at SCO receive more contact with patients, compared to the three-month externship they are required to complete.

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

“The students were very helpful,” added De Witte. “If they practiced a test that we didn’t recognize, we simply approached the students and they explained it to us.” After their initial two weeks at SCO, they attended OEP workshops throughout America. They each hope to open their own open private practices, where they will demonstrate a few techniques they learned in America.

The second ad takes place in a classroom, where a teacher calls on a student with an undiagnosed vision problem and is unable to see the blurry chalkboard.

SCO Hosts VT ListServ Group

Alumni interested in sharing vision therapy information are encouraged to join the VTOD-L listserv email mailing list now operating through SCO’s computer server. The listserv was born at the Indiana University School of Optometry in 2001. Created and moderated by Bill Rainey OD, MS, Associate Professor, with assistance from W.C. Maples, OD ’68, Professor, the VTOD-L list was moved to SCO. Since then, SCO has housed the listserv’s computer with assistance of Bill Hopper, SCO’s IT Specialist. The VTOD-L list was created to allow optometrists an open forum to discuss topics relating to vision therapy. The list is open to any optometrist currently using vision therapy in their practice or wanting to learn more about vision therapy. After subscribing to VTOD-L, the member receives an e-mail each Drs. Glen Steele (L) and W.C. Maples with their guests. time a message is posted. Any topics related to vision therapy are open for discussion. The techniques for retrieving archived posts and performing SCO Goes Smoke-free other list-related activities are sent to the subscriber upon joining the list. SCO and The Eye Center joined other Memphis “What makes the list work is the interest, caring, and dedication of medical providers by going smoke-free on Thursday, the 490 list members, and their willingness to share and openly discuss a November 15. wide variety of VT-related topics,” said Dr. Rainey. The date was in conjunction with the American Cancer Society’s 31st The list’s 490 members are very active participants. In fact, over the Annual Great American Smoke-out. first six months of 2007, a total of 2,579 messages were sent through the By going smoke-free, the college is also observing Tennessee’s new law listserv. The list currently averages well over 400 messages a month. that mandates a smoke-free environment for workplace employees. Typical threads and message topics include: long-term effectiveness Smoking is prohibited anywhere on the premises of SCO or The Eye of VT, insurance nightmares, cranial nerve examinations, visual cognitive Center. The college is offering cessation assistance for testing, and many others. those who wish to quit. The VTOD-L archives can be located at http://listserv.sco.edu/archives/vtod-l.html. Other LISTSERV features can be accessed from here as well. The Eye Center at SCO recently commissioned The VTOD-L list is growing and evolving daily. two new TV commercials to advertise services in the The numbers of members and posts continue to inMemphis market. Companion print ads will also be To man y child ren, ev ery da crease steadily. y is a bl ur. running. By joining the mailing list, optometrists have an opThe Eye Center’s ad campaign centers around portunity to improve the care they give to their patients two different themes for print and broadcast. The and increase their knowledge on these topics. first ad depicts how macular degeneration robs the All optometrists with an interest in vision therapy are central vision; as a grandfather pushes his grandencouraged to join so that we can learn from each other. son on a swing, he’s unable to see the clouds that For more information, email Dr. Rainey at brainey@ his grandson describes to him. sco.edu. Eighty pe surpris rcent of what e that children we learn is thr Often, they do with vision pr ough our sens n’t even ob e of sig Is your ht. So it’s know the lems struggle child se no in y’re ha eing the ving tro the classroo be Call 90 m. uble se 1.722 .32 st he or she eing. can? It’s 50 and up make an to you to find appoint ou ment tod t. ay.

08-SCO

-108_C

A.indd

124 5 Ma dis

on Av en ue

7/19/07

VISIONS • FALL 2007

1:48:13

SCO Board of Trustees F. Mason Smith, OD ’76 – Chair Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina Donna Abney, MBA Germantown, Tennessee Eugene M. Bane, Jr., OD ’65 Salem, Virginia Larry H. Bryan Memphis, Tennessee Howard F. Flippin, OD ’59 Searcy, Arkansas John A. Gazaway, OD ’67 Eagle Grove, Iowa A. Thomas Hyde, OD ’76 Morristown, Tennessee James B. Jalenak, Esq. Memphis, Tennessee Jarrett Johnson, OD ’90 New Orleans, Louisiana Christopher B. King, OD ’83 Englewood, Florida Kenneth L. Mulholland, Jr. Germantown, Tennessee Richard L. Powell, OD ’68 Lincoln, Nebraska Wayne W. Pyeatt Memphis, Tennessee Robert W. Smalling, OD ’74 Warren, Arkansas Mary Thornley, EdD Charleston, South Carolina Michael D. Gerstner, OD ’97 Faculty Representative Memphis, Tennessee Kevin Livengood, ’09 Student Representative Cedar Rapids, IA

1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38104-2222 Return Service Requested

Internal SCO Campaign Sets Record SCO’s recently concluded internal campaign for faculty and staff members established a new financial record at the college. The campaign achieved a new record as 59% of the faculty and staff joined together with gifts and pledges totaling more than $47,000, a remarkable 35% increase over last year’s campaign total. The 2007 Campaign for SCO celebrated SCO’s 75th Diamond Anniversary and a celebration is truly in order when one realizes the combined contributions of faculty and staff from the 2006 and 2007 campaigns raised in excess of $81,000 to honor SCO’s 75th Diamond Anniversary. Donors to either the 2006 or 2007 campaign will be recognized on the 75th Diamond Anniversary “Wall of Donors” that will be located in the lobby of the SCO tower in 2008. Brenda Pearson, Director of Development, extended special thanks and appreciation to the college’s Publications Services department for their support through creative design and material preparation, to

the various businesses and individuals who donated the prizes, and to the members of the faculty, staff and students who shared their personal insight and feelings on giving. She also thanked the campaign’s committee of faculty and staff members who again proved to be a valuable part of the campaign through their insight and input. The committee members who graciously agreed to serve this year were Delrita Branch, Winona Caldwell, Dr. Hani Ghazi-Birry, Mona Howard, Sherry Mattingly, Dr. Erin Nosel, Dr. Ralph Parkansky and Dean Swick. “I especially want to extend my appreciation and thanks to all of the individuals who joined together through their gifts and pledges during the 2006 and 2007 campaigns,” Pearson said. “With the commitment and desire for excellence that you demonstrated in your participation, SCO is assured of continuing as a leader in optometric education.”

2008 Upcoming Events…We Hope to See You There! January 25-27 ........................... The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence CE, Memphis February 29 .............................. SCO Alumni Reception – SECO International 2008, Atlanta 7-9 pm in the Atrium Terrace, Atrium Level, South Tower, Omni Hotel April 11-13 . .............................. Spring Continuing Education Weekend, Memphis September 18-21 . ..................... Reunions ’48, ’58, ’68, ’78, ’88 and ’98; Convocation and Presentation .................................................. of Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Memphis, Tennessee Permit Number 151