Visions_09Summer by Southern College of Optometry

ALUMNI MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2009

The mission of Southern College of Opto to lead the profession by educating the best p promoting lifelong learning, a personal commitment to

Summer 2009

ometry is possible healthcare providers, and fostering a to service.

Summer 2009

content 5 President’s Corner

Strategic Plan

AOA 2009

Homecoming Preview

Commencement 2009

Meet the Class of 2010

Philanthropy Matters

Class Notes

RICHARD W. PHILLIPS, OD ’78, FAAO President

KRISTIN K. ANDERSON, OD Vice President for Institutional Advancement

JIM HOLLIFIELD Editor Director of Communications

SUSAN M. DOYLE Designer

ERIN JAFFE Photographer

EUNICE J. HART Writer

trustees Donna Abney, MBA – Chair Germantown, Tennessee

Eugene M. Bane, Jr., OD ’65

Howard F. Flippin, OD ’59

president ’ s corner

John A. Gazaway, OD ’67

Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78, FAAO

Salem, Virginia

Larry H. Bryan

Memphis, Tennessee Searcy, Arkansas

Eagle Grove, Iowa

A. Thomas Hyde, OD ’76 Morristown, Tennessee

James B. Jalenak, Esq. Memphis, Tennessee

Jarrett Johnson, OD ’90

Sharon Berger Moscow, OD ’80

Student Life

New Orleans, Louisiana

Christopher B. King, OD ’83 Englewood, Florida Roswell, Georgia

SCO Focus

Kenneth L. Mulholland, Jr.

Richard L. Powell, OD ’68

News Briefs

Germantown, Tennessee Lincoln, Nebraska

Steven Reed, OD ’95 Magee, Mississippi

Robert W. Smalling, OD ’74 Visions Alumni Magazine is published four times yearly through the Office of Institutional Advancement. Copies are available without charge to alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the college. A digital version is available online at www.sco.edu/visions. Please send comments, contributions and address changes to: Office of Institutional Advancement 1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38104-2222 800-238-0180, ext. 4 901-722-3379 FAX

Warren, Arkansas

Mary Thornley, EdD

Charleston, South Carolina

Jason Duncan, OD ’96 Faculty Representative Memphis, Tennessee

Brigitte Keener, ’11 Student Representative Grand Blanc, MI

How do you take something that’s good or working well and refine it to make it work

options to access more information and to

must be expected of our students to ensure

download the entire plan).

that future generations of ODs enhance the relevance and value of our profession within

even better? It’s a challenge faced by many

In May, our Board of Trustees unanimously

organizations willing to put the time and

approved this plan as the final approving

thought into determining the best course of

authority in what we set out to accomplish. At

These guiding principles are comprised

action for anticipating the future.

the SCO level, the President’s Council and the

of associated strategies and objectives, all of

the healthcare arena.

Over the past year and a half, a team

management team stand ready to assist me

which will be measured to gauge our progress.

of SCO leadership, faculty, staff, alumni and

in tackling immediate objectives that we

Simply stated, our primary goals are to:

students set out to develop a comprehensive

aim to accomplish, as well as those that

strategic plan that outlined expectations for

will be scheduled over the next five years as

the 2009-2014 five-year time span at SCO.

we prioritize.

Their aim was high, with the idea being that

This new plan confirms the vision that our

optometric education of the highest quality

students are primary stakeholders. I’ve encoun-

was a worthy aspiration.

tered a few alumni who pause for a moment

Complicating the challenge was an addi-

when they hear that. All of us as alumni started

tional component: 21st century optometry, like

our professional trek as optometry students.

other healthcare disciplines, is a moving target.

Our faculty, staff, alumni, patients, our commu-

Advances in technology and medicine mean

nity, and the optometric community at large

that our profession is progressing at a rapid

are also stakeholders, but the primary focus

pace only dreamed about by optometric pio-

must always be our students.

neers. In terms of teaching future optometrists, this challenge literally means that subject matter must not only be up-to-date, but we must proactively determine what a first-year student

We proudly announce that our mission at SCO is to lead the profession by: • Educating the best possible healthcare providers;

• Provide students with a mastery of the principles of optometry. • Provide students with effective patient communication and practice management skills. • Develop critical thinking skills in students. • Demonstrate intellectual curiosity. • Encourage professional/social responsibility. • Encourage professional/organizational involvement. I invite each of you to read more about these strategies and objectives that make up individual components of these primary goals. Many of them were developed with input from you. I think if you take time to read all the

needs to know in a changing environment by

• Promoting lifelong learning and

individual strategies and objectives related to

the time he or she graduates four years later.

• Fostering a personal commitment

meeting these primary goals – all tied to our

Motivating faculty and staff to embrace

to service.

greater mission – you will better appreciate the

the idea that we can take something good and

Educating the best possible healthcare

make it even better was another component

providers seeks to define the concepts, cur-

of our strategic plan. With more optometry

riculum and environment needed to prepare

Above all, I want you to know – as our

schools than ever before, we knew that our

students to be capable of practicing full scope

alumni and friends – that we envision opto-

strategic plan must make us more competitive.

optometry and to establish SCO’s commitment

metric education as a lifelong learning

Discerning students clearly have more options

to leading the profession in this regard.

process. Our strategic plan will guide our

as to where they will obtain their optometric education.

breadth and scope of what we have set out to accomplish.

Promoting lifelong learning focuses on

programs and budget priorities for the next

the needs of students to embrace the critical

five years. We believe our goals are achievable

In spite of all of these challenges, I’m

thinking skills necessary to advance and

and measurable. At the same time, our goals

pleased to report to you, our alumni and

support a culture that anticipates, rather than

are flexible enough to be responsive to

friends within the ophthalmic community, that

merely reacts to, changes to 21st century

the changing needs of our profession. Our

our Strategic Plan Committee more than met

optometry and vision-related health care as

alumni and friends are an important part of

the challenge. Effective July 1, 2009, our new

the profession continues to evolve.

this process. On behalf of the college, we look

strategic plan is available for you to read on

Fostering a personal commitment to

forward to having a dialogue at any time about

the SCO website at www.sco.edu/about (select

service emphasizes the professional and social

what you can to do to help our vision for the

“Mission Statement” from the top of the menu

responsibilities. Organizational involvement

future succeed.

Summer 2009

STRATEGIC PLAN

John A. Gazaway, OD ’67

What SCO Alumni Need to Know As an alumnus, trustee and member of the Strategic

win for our patients, our profession and our own life-long

Planning Committee, I wanted to assure you that the end

practice commitment with retirement rewards in the ability to

result of our students’ education ensured that optometry and

sell our practices.

SCO reached their fullest potential. The Strategic Plan should

The Strategic Plan 2009-2014 is very important to the future

ensure an orderly, planned continuation of development of

of the college because it was undertaken as a partnership of

excellent graduate optometry practitioners in all facets of

its stakeholders; the board of trustees, alumni, faculty, staff,

our professional needs: private practice, integrated clinical

students, and many other peripherals. Consensus was the

practices, institutional care, education and other employment

student must be the key stakeholder. With all participants

opportunities.

feeling ownership in the result or end product of the

A revised Strategic Plan is a necessity every five years

Strategic Plan, its successful implementation is far more likely.

in the volatile, rapidly changing, technologically advancing

In the big picture outcome of the Strategic Plan when

healthcare delivery society of the 21st century. Our Strategic

successfully implemented with the same enthusiasm of

Plan of 2009-20014 is necessary to ensure our ability to address

its stakeholders, SCO will produce the best Primary Care

the advances in healthcare, medicine and technology to

optometrists. They will, by virtue of their primary professional

meet the challenges of educating men and women to be

education and the emphasis on life-long learning, be the

prepared to practice optometry at the highest level within the

leaders of tomorrow’s profession of optometry. Properly

professional licensure. At the same time, the Board of Trustees,

implemented, the Strategic Plan will prepare our students

in consultation with other stakeholders, must have the

to be competent to assume professional care of the patient

flexibility to incorporate emerging knowledge and anticipate

beyond current boundaries of licensure. Finally, with our

changes in the scope of practice while establishing goals and

Strategic Plan realized, education will supersede legislation

outlining a vision for SCO’s future.

and the profession will be accepted on its merits of education.

The Strategic Plan will guide the college’s programs and

Currently SCO is among the best of the Optometry

budget priorities for the subsequent five years. It addresses in

Educational Programs in preparing its students for traditional

detail a road map to the destination of the profession, while

private practice opportunities. With more emphasis on the

making possible the flexibility necessary to take appropriate

business aspects through the Hayes Center, more traditional

detours as the continuing process of monitoring and

private practice extern programs in more rural areas, and more

measuring verifies the path we are pursuing.

involvement including alumni in preparation to transitioning

As alumni we should be concerned

their practices – we will keep rural, private practice available to

with the continued advancement of our

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America.

professional standing with our patient

SCO has always produced a greater share of leaders

base, payers, and the health care

within and without the profession. The Strategic Plan has

community at large. We need the

more emphasis on community and professional involvement

education of appropriate, well-

than the current program. Thus, I expect SCO graduates to

qualified young people to continue

contribute even greater commitment to their profession and

our professional legacy and to

communities in the future.

assume the practices we have

As alumni, we can be supportive of the college and its

established. This presents a win/

implementation of its Strategic Plan through our financial

Amanda Nadolski, ’10

A Student’s Perspective support of scholarships and planned giving, participating in college continuing education, becoming involved in externship opportunities, mentoring young people in the profession and recruiting those in our practice who would enhance the image of our profession while directing them to SCO. One never knows when that student you influenced may make your retirement a reality. It happened to me! The successful implementation of the Strategic Plan is critical to the future of SCO. With the cost of education rising, potential students are seeking value for their investment in their education. Having state-of-the art clinical and academic facilities is paramount. Having wellrespected faculty and administration with supportive and congenial staff is an absolute. Actively involved alumni on and off campus are attractive to professional students. With greater numbers of colleges of optometry on the horizon, we must continue to enhance our leadership position in the profession. SCO has a history and a tradition of EXCELLENCE. This tradition will be enhanced if we diligently implement and insist on adherence to the Strategic Plan. Any significant deviation from the Strategic Plan must be in the interest or all Stakeholders. As an SCO alumus, I want my college to be highly respected in the professional education environment, by the profession at large, highly recommended to student applicants, actively delivering cutting-edge continuing education both on campus and off-campus, respected by other health care disciplines within and without the Memphis area, politically connected to health care decision makers, attractive to quality optometry educators, a source and resource for practice business education and a potential source for introduction to practice graduate associates. All of these attributes of your alma mater are addressed in the New Strategic Plan 2009-20014.

As the student representative during the development of the new strategic plan, what did learn most about the process? I was excited to learn how passionately committed our administration and Board of Trustees were to making the students the “primary stakeholders” of the strategic plan. As a student, it was humbling and honoring to know that this process was dedicated to making us the best doctors we could be. Were there certain objectives or parts of the strategic plan that particularly interested you as student representative? I believe there were three parts that interested me most about the strategic plan. The first that stood out to me was the program to implement career counseling and placement services at an earlier time in the education process. Instead of waiting until fourth year or post graduation, Student Services and Institutional Advancement will now be equipping students, starting their first year, to make the best choices when they graduate. The second program that interested me was the Mentor Program. In this program, alumni and willing graduates can be assigned to a student during their years at SCO, and help guide them by passing down their wisdom and experiences. I also was excited about the emphasis on service to community in the strategic plan. I believe that as an optometrist, we have to be committed to service above all else. Knowing the students will be introduced to this principle numerous times while at SCO was encouraging to me. How do you feel that current – and future generations of students – will benefit from some of the objectives outlined in the new plan? Students’ lives will undoubtedly change for the better because of this strategic plan. Because as the “primary stakeholders” we will be the recipients of the changes, we will leave SCO more confident, further educated, and better prepared to treat patients. As a fourth-year student who will join the alumni ranks next year, what are some of the things that you would encourage alumni to know about today’s generation of optometry students? Please know that we are committed to furthering the profession in whatever way is best for our patients. Keeping in mind the changes created by those that have come before us, we plan on moving forward with equal ambition to allow optometry its full potential in the medical world. We are thankful for our past, and excited about our future. What are some of the things that today’s students – and tomorrow’s alumni – can do to help ensure that the new strategic plan succeeds? Three things today’s students can do to make certain success: 1) Believe in and support those who lead the school, the administration and the Board of Trustees. These people are our biggest fans! 2) Be involved. Choose to be in the know about the changes being made by this strategic plan. Commit to an area that particularly inspires you and ask how you can be part of this process. 3) Know that it takes commitment from all of us for this plan to be effective. Hold your fellow students accountable to being a part of this. Consider it a privilege to be part of the team!

Summer 2009

SCO HAPPENINGS Dispatches from D.C. | AOA 2009 SCO enjoyed a record crowd for one of its Alumni Receptions held at the AOA in Washington D.C. A capacity crowd of alumni, friends, faculty and students attended. Highlights of the meeting included President Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78, T. Joel Byars, OD ’63, Glen Steele, OD ’69 and Dennis Mathews, OD, performing in a karaoke night for the AOA Foundation. Mike Jones, OD ’71, was honored with the AOA Distinguished Service Award. Visit www.sco.edu/aoa to watch a video collage from SCO’s reception or to visit an online photo gallery for additional event coverage.

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Faculty Presentations at the AOA Lindsay Elkins, OD ’07 Juvenile Open-Angle Glaucoma Jennifer L. Jones, OD ’06 Ross B. Lumpkin, ’10 Gardner Syndrome: Early Detection is Crucial Robyn A. Russell, OD* David A. Damari, OD A Theory for the Etiology of Anisometropic Myopic Amblyopia Robyn A. Russell, OD* Jamie Johnson, ’10 Daniel Smith, OD ’94 Presumed Choroiditis in a Pediatric Patient: A Clinical Differential Richard S. Savoy, OD Initial Treatment of “Chronic” Angle Closure Glaucoma Jennifer M. Holman, ’10 Daniel Smith, OD ’94 Do Pigment Spicules Always Indicate Retinitis Pigmentosa?

Ashley Bishop Fortney, OD ’08* Sylvia E. Sparrow, OD ’98 Optic Pit: Interesting Notation or Vision Threatening Anomaly? Brooke Vegas, OD ’07 Sylvia E. Sparrow, OD ’98 CRVO in an Atypical Patient: The Importance of Nephrotic Syndrome and Antithrombin III Deficiency Stephen Wetick, OD ’08* Patricia Estes Walker, OD Idiopathic Orbital Inflammatory Disease: A Case Report * 2008-09 Resident

Summer 2009

SCO Happenings

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Join us for our 2009 Homecoming and Fall CE Weekend October 1-4

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Mark your calendars for October 1-4 when SCO hosts its annual Homecoming and Fall CE Weekend. SCO is always working to expand the number of activities and events, so there’s literally something for everyone this year. The Homecoming weekend starts with a Thursday night Kick-off party at The Peabody Memphis. This event is a perfect opportunity to catch up with classmates or network with faculty and students from the greater SCO community. Reunion classes being recognized this year include graduates from ’59, ’69, ’79, ’89, and ’99. Attendees will enjoy a host of special activities, including campus tours, the Homecoming barbecue, the alumni luncheon, and a new after-party Riverboat Cruise on the Mississippi River.

Alumni and friends are also invited to attend SCO’s annual all school Convocation ceremony on Thursday, October 1, celebrating SCO’s achievements and welcoming new

first-year students into the profession with the white coat ceremony.

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Additional details may be found on the SCO website at www.sco.edu or by requesting a CE brochure, if you did not receive one, by calling (901) 722-3234. Be sure to register your email address with SCO in order to receive other CE updates.

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SCO is committed to providing top quality continuing education courses through its CE program administered by Dr. Patricia Estes-Walker. This year’s courses and speakers include: • A Systemic Pharmacology Review for Daily Optometric Practice: A Case Studies Approach— Dr. Amelia Anderson • Analyzing Glaucoma Progression: The Impact of Advanced

SCO Salutes 2009’s Lifetime Achievement Recipients Howard Flippin, OD ’59, served several decades as president of Flippin-Westfall Eye Care in Searcy, Arkansas, before turning over management of his practice to Patricia Westfall-Elsberry, OD ’99. Dr. Flippin has served a number of years as Executive Director of the Arkansas State Board of Optometry. He was a board member from 19772002. He also served an eight-year term on the ARBO Board of Directors from 1993 to 2001. During his tenure, COPE was created. A lifetime ARBO member, he has received ARBO’s OD of the Year and Distinguished Service Awards. Dr. Flippin served as president of his state association in 1975. He was honored as the Arkansas OD of the Year in 1980 and has also received his state association’s Distinguished Service Award. In 2002, he was appointed to the SCO Board of Trustees. His service has included a term as Board Chair. Dr. Flippin actively supports SCO’s programs and activities and has mentored and encouraged a number of Arkansas students to pursue optometry.

Lisa Rossmeyer Wade, OD ’84, formerly served as SCO’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement. From her arrival as a student in 1980, through her pediatric residency program, and until her retirement in 2006, Dr. Wade has devoted more than a quarter century of service to SCO. While at SCO, she earned a Masters in Public Administration degree, was appointed Director of Continuing Education, taught public health, served as staff doctor, was promoted to the rank of professor, and was named Vice President in 1994. During her tenure, she oversaw a number of successful campaigns, including the one that funded the construction of The Eye Center. Following her retirement, she was named a Professor Emerita. She continues to support her alma mater and actively attends SCO events. In the business world, she is now one of the few female owners of a Harley Davidson motorcycle dealership. She operates a dealership in Southaven, Mississippi, and oversees a second location at Graceland in conjunction with Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Technology—Dr. Pinakin Gunvant • Real Time: Practice Management for the Medical Optometrist— Dr. Matt Hughes • Clinical Medicine and Technology Trends in Primary Eye Care— Dr. David Talley • Therapeutic Uses for Contact Lenses: Current and Future Trends— Dr. John Mark Jackson (’99 reunion class lecturer) • Therapeutic Review: Ocular Surface Diseases and Disorders— Dr. Alan Kabat • The Swollen Optic Disc: Emergency or Anomaly?—Dr. Alan Kabat • Eyelid Lumps and Bumps: When to Worry—Dr. James Linder Full course descriptions and speaker biographies may be found on the SCO website. Attendees who register for all eight courses will receive a $50 discount. You may also register online to save an additional $10. SCO is also proud to support The Partnership Foundation for Optometric Education by contributing $1 per registrant for each credit hour of CE provided. To learn more about this program, visit www.opted.org. In support of this educational weekend, SCO extends special thanks to Alcon, Odyssey Medical and VSP.

Summer 2009

SCO Happenings

Honorary degree recipient, George Foster, OD,DOS, and SCO President Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78.

Legacy graduate Alex Bell, OD ’09, and his father, Randall Bell, OD ’83.

2009 Commencement

Legacy graduate Steven Cress, OD ’09, and his father, Robert Cress, OD ’75.

SCO awarded 118 doctor of optometry degrees

Class valedictorian was Jennifer Hermetz York, OD,

during its commencement ceremony held Friday,

of Meridian, Mississippi; class co-salutatorians were

May 1 at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in

Ashwynn S. Halbert, OD, of Raleigh, North Carolina,

Memphis.

and Aaron J. Lyles, OD, of Benton, Kentucky.

George Foster, OD, recently retired Dean of the

Thursday evening prior to the commencement

Northeastern State University Oklahoma College

ceremony, the college’s graduating class was

of Optometry, received the honorary Doctor of

honored with a Senior Banquet and Awards

Ocular Science (DOS) degree during the ceremony

Ceremony.

and delivered the commencement address. Dr. Foster served 11 years as Dean of NSUOCO and was named Optometrist of the Year in 1999 by the American Optometric Association. Legacy graduate David Nigh, OD ’09, and his father, Steven Nigh, OD ’74.

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Amy Elizabeth Coburn, OD, president of the senior class, also addressed her fellow graduates.

Jennifer York, OD

Ashwynn Halbert, OD

Aaron Lyles, OD

Dr. Bernard L. Kahn Memorial Endowed Scholarship Lauren Grahl, OD LS&S Group Low Vision Award Adam Shupe, OD Marchon Eyewear Practice Management Award Ashley Schuelke, OD MiraMed Tech Award Jennifer York, OD NBEO Part II Award Jennifer York, OD NoIR Low Vision Award Holly Adams, OD Ocular Instruments, Inc., Award of Excellence Christina Vranich, OD Odyssey Medical Partners in Optometry Award Melissa Stiling, OD Lauren Farwell, OD

Academic Award Sponsors and 2009 Recipients Alcon Case Study Scholarship Award, both SCO and National John Adams, OD American Optometric Foundation “Vistakon Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care” Rebecca King, OD Art Optical Awards Tracy Elliott, OD Matt Horton, OD Bausch & Lomb Endowed Scholarship Ashwynn Halbert, OD Bays Family Service Award Kelsey Bloch, OD Drs. Fred and Charlene Burnett Student Research Award Amy Blue, OD CLMA/GP Lens Institute’s Contact Lens Clinical Excellence Award Lindsay Petrie, OD

COVD Excellence in Vision Therapy Award Joe Borden, OD Designs for Vision, Inc.; The William Feinbloom Low Vision Award Tristan Wild, OD Eagle Vision Super Eagle Practice Builder’s Kit Brandon Dahl, OD Eschenbach Optik Low Vision Award Anita Blanchard, OD Essilor Crizal Award of Excellence Scott Paladichuk, OD

Ooh La La de Paris Award Paul Kimball, OD Dr. David P. Sloan Memorial Award Rebecca King, OD SCO Outstanding Clinician Awards Jarrod Davies, OD Victoria Gengenbach, OD Ashwynn Halbert, OD Rebecca King, OD Scott Paladichuk, OD Ashley Schuelke, OD Melissa Stiling, OD Joseph Sugg, OD Christina Vranich, OD Jennifer York, OD Southern Council of Optometrists Clinical Excellence Award Joe Sugg, OD

Essilor Labs of America/Southern Optical Jarrod Davies, OD

Southwest Contact Lens Society Endowed Scholarship Amy Elizabeth Coburn, OD

FCO Spirit Award David Nigh, OD

Stereo Optical Co., Inc. Logan Banister, OD

Heart of America Contact Lens Society Award Tiffany Walters, OD

X-Cel Contacts Outstanding GP Fitting Award Jared Ivie, OD

Summer 2009

SCO Happenings

Introducing SCOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graduating class of 2010 Below each student* is listed his/her home state along with their preferred practice location(s).

Afsaneh Amini

Tommy Augustin

Kristy Bain

Jordan Ballantyne

Monique Batchelor

Jimbo Bearden Tupelo, MS MS

Farmington, NM CO, AZ, NM

David Black

Nicholas Blair

Amanda Blakley

Tom Chwe

Benjamin Cole

Meredith Cole

Rosalyn L. Coleman

Brent D. Collins

Kelly Collins

Ryan Coyle

Matthew Daniels

David R. Daughtry

Craig Fleming

Robert Gates

Ragna Godtland

Jessica R. Goldman

Lauren G. Goldsmith

Jonathan P. Goodwin

Emily Gray

Marina L. Gurvich

Aubrey S. Harlan

Jennifer Holman

Dustin Honeyman

Dan Hoover

Danielle Horn

Jeannie Hu

Michael Huff

Felicia Jackson

Meredith Jarvis

Vanessa Johns

Hilari McFarland

John Michels

Seth Morgan

Kelly Munhall

Erica R.Musgrove

Amanda Nadolski

Brian Naig

Brandon Nelms

Thuy-Diem Ngo

Nick Reid

Kinsey Rives

Melia R. Robertson

Erik M. Romsdahl Brandon, SD IA, NE

Calgary, AB, CAN TX, TN, CAN

Monika Saini

Seth Salley Sardis, MS MS, TN, AR

Winston-Salem, NC NC, SC, FL

Jaime Shouse

Cole Smart

Mandi Smith

Danielle Vance

Dustin C. Vance

John Vanderbush

Chase Vervack

Landon Wallace

Brandon Weyand

Kendall Willden

Gene Wong

Steele J. Zierlein

San Diego, CA CA, NV, GA

Chatham, Ontario, CN

Higley, AZ ID, UT, WA

Eagle, ID ID, WA, CO

Purvis, MS MS, AL, LA

Marion, IA NC, TX, SC

Ormond Beach, FL FL

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Faribault, MN WI, IA, NE

Russell, KS KS, CO

Plano, TX

Lawrence, KS KS, CO, MO

Sheldon, IA IA, SD, MN

Rockford, IL KS, IL, MO

Poplar Bluff, MO AR, MO

Seattle, WA GA

Aberdeen, NC NC, VA

Chamberlain, SD SD, MN, IA

Paxton, NE NE, KS, NC

Phoenix, AZ AZ

Russellville, AR AR

Benton, AR AR, CO

Littleton, CO CO

Roswell, GA GA, NC

Santa Cruz, CA CA

Knoxville, TN TN, VA, NC

Wichita, KS AR, WA, OR

Edmond, OK OK, AR

Union, SC SC, GA, NC

Oroville, CA CA, OR, WA

Roanoke, VA VA, NC, TN

Orlando, FL FL, GA

Garden City, KS KS, TN

Leola, AR AR, TN, MS

Galesville, WI WI, MN

Batesville, AR AR, NC, VA

Augusta, GA GA, VA, TN

Houston, TX CO, TX

Coats, NC NC, SC, VA

Sandy, Utah UT, MT, ID

Iuka, MS MS

Houston, TX TX

Cylinder, IA IA, MN, IL

Beaver, UT

Weston, ID ID, CO, UT

St. Petersburg, FL FL, TN, SC

Atlanta, GA GA

Prestonsburg, KY KY, WV, TN

Collierville, TN TN, MS, AR

Topeka, KS KS

Newport News, VA VA, MD, GA

Oneida, TN TN, KY, GA

Garner, NC NC, CA, VA

Pellville, KY KY, IN, TN

Paragould, AR AR, MO, TN

San Diego, CA CA, CO, GA

Wesson, MS MS, FL, TN

Smith Center, KS KS, MO, AR

Joshua Bostick

Jonathan Bowman

Michelle Brennan Sykesville, MD MD, DC, VA

Mocksville, NC NC, VA

Brunswick, GA AR

Payson, UT Air Force Optometry

Evan Davis

Ginger Delafosse

Michael Desautels

Brandy L. Dodge

Meghan A. Elkins

Michael Eller Kalamazoo, MI AR, AL, OR

Springfield, TN TN

Nathaneal Harrell

Jason Hassett

Kendra J. Hatfield Gilbert, WV SC, NC, VA

Wichita Falls, TX

John Hayley

Ben Herring

Michael Herriott

Jamie Johnson

John Ketcher

Elizabeth M. Kilgore

Elisabeth Lawson

J. Michael Leigh

Ross Lumpkin Camden, TN

Lexington, KY KY

Jean Nguyen

Rajal Noorali

Robert L. Patin

Taylor Prchal

Misty Purfeerst

Mark T. Smith

Lauren J. Stone

Esla Subashi

Troy Swanson

Bryce Tanner

Belmont, MS MS

Laurel, MS MS

Omaha, NE

Cabot, AR AR

Blytheville, AR AR, MO, OK

McKenzie/Cordova, TN TN, MS

Photo not available

Gary Granger Loreauville, LA LA, TN

St. Amant, LA TN, LA, CO

Ville Platte, LA LA

Colleyville, TX TX, TN

Merced, CA AZ, CO, NV

Dallas, TX TX, CA, FL

Oneida, TN TN, KY, GA

Mt. Pleasant, SC NC, SC, FL

Hampton, AR AR, MO, LA

New Roads, LA LA, CO

Memphis, TN TN, WA, NC

Becky Call

Lafayette, LA LA

Columbia, SC TN, MS, AR

Albany, GA SC, GA, VA

Angier, NC NC, PA

Katie Carlo

Williamson, WV WV, SC, TN

Fairmont, NC NC, SC, TN

Salt Lake City, UT AZ, TN, UT

Faribault, MN MN

Cortez, CO CO

Robert L. Carlsen

Chad Carter

Kendria L. Cartledge Columbia, SC SC, NC, GA

Fort Smith, AR AR, MO, CO

Jessica Ellis

Katy Falk

Brian Finley

Amanda N. Hickman

Blake Hoffman

Michael Holifield

Jeff Lynn

Matt Marshall

Nicholas McCullen

Melissa Rasmussen

Jennifer A. Ratliff

Darren Reed

Matt Taylor

Peter Thayer

Thunya Tongtharadol

Romney, WV VA, FL, GA

Covington, TN TN, MS, AR

Brandon, SD NE, SD, MN

Fouke, AR TX, AR, CO

New Orleans, LA LA

Fort Worth, TX TX

Newton, IA

Dublin, GA GA, SC, TN

Edgar, NE NE, KS, IA

Ardmore, OK OK, TX, TN

Garden City, KS KS

Palm Harbor, FL FL, TN

Hon Chung

Richland, WA WA, OR, CA

Quitman, MS

Manton, MI IA, NE, VT

Nils Rege

New Orleans, LA LA, TX, FL

Jeremiah Troyer Sturgis, MI

Over the past year, SCO has worked to enhance our Placement Services Program. Students who are looking for practice opportunities are encouraged to register for our online service at www.sco.edu/placement. Alumni, too, are encouraged to post their information online at this same site. Students may choose to be contacted if they are interested in alumni-posted practice opportunities. The college encourages all alumni to utilize this service and network with our fourth-year students as they finalize their post-graduation plans. SCO welcomes your input as we work to develop our Placement Services Program through the 2009-2010 academic year.

Summer 2009

philanthropy matters

James N. Sheridan, OD ’97

’97 Classmate Remembered with New Scholarship Friendships made during our college years often grow more meaningful through the years. For the Class of 1997, the late Jimmy Sheridan, OD ’97, was someone worth remembering. “My own personal memories of him are something that I’ll never forget,” said classmate Horace Deal, OD ’97. “Jimmy was an easygoing person, very gregarious. In fact, you never saw him by himself.” Karen Canupp, OD ’97, knew Dr. Sheridan during their undergraduate years before SCO. “Jimmy was a great guy,” she recalled. “He loved his family, loved his friends, and lived life to the fullest. He never complained, even in hardship.” Another classmate, Kye Layton, OD ’97, recalls Dr. Sheridan’s entertaining storytelling abilities and his diligence when it came to his academics. “He worked at it,” Dr. Layton said. “Once he got out and started practicing, I was amazed at how good of a clinician that he became. The amount of work that he put into his education and how it paid off are things that will always really stand out for me when I think about him.” Dr. Sheridan married another classmate, Donise Bridges, OD ’97, several years before he became terminally ill and made a valiant struggle with his illness. His determination in optometry school and through life in general has not been forgotten

by the Class of 1997. Dedicated to honoring Dr. Sheridan’s memory, the Jimmy Sheridan Scholarship was recently created at SCO. “It is our hope that this scholarship will benefit a student much like Jimmy,” said Dr. Deal. “The recipient may not be the top academic leader in the class, but he or she will be someone who, like Jimmy, plays by the rules, works at it and deserves some support.” The criteria will specify that each student recipient will be selected based on financial need. All financial gifts going toward the scholarship will go directly to the financial assistance of each student recipient and not general operating expenses at SCO. “Helping a student get through optometry school with less debt also helps the profession,” Dr. Deal added. “I can think of nothing more fitting to honor both of our classmates – Jimmy and Donise – through the creation of the Jimmy Sheridan Scholarship. Classmates wishing to support this new scholarship may contact Brenda Pearson, Director of Development. Other classes who wish to honor one of their classmates may also establish a scholarship similar to the Class of 1997. The Office of Institutional Advancement will be glad to help facilitate these meaningful and lasting tributes.

Class of 1954 Names a Room in The Eye Center The Class of 1954 set itself apart this year as the first class to raise enough money to name a room in The Eye Center. J. Gordon Butterfield, OD ’54, shared with Brenda Pearson, Director of Development, that Rene Pigeon, OD ’54, suggested the idea during their 50-year class reunion in 2004. The rest is history. Since that initial discussion, the diligent efforts and generosity of these class members raised $10,000 and the right to name a room. This endeavor is a true testament of the commitment and vision of SCO alumni once a goal has been embraced. The Class of 1954 will gather at Homecoming this year to celebrate this accomplishment and view their room. If your class would like to follow the lead of the Class of 1954, contact Brenda Pearson, Director of Development, to discuss how to start the process of naming a room for your class. Contact her at 1 (800) 2380180, ext. 4 or bpearson@sco.edu.

Is Your Class up to the Challenge? It is time to rally your classmates and stir up your “class spirit” in response to a class challenge issued to see which class raises the most in donations by December 31, 2009. You can give to any fund or scholarship you wish, but only new gifts will count toward your class totals (gifts toward existing pledges are not a part of the challenge totals). How you make your gift does not matter. Make a donation online, by check or make a gift during Phonathon which begins in September. During Phonathon, students call you to talk about the profession, update records and ask for support, but during the challenge, there is a twist to Phonathon. You don’t have to wait for a phone call! If you make your gift now, your name will be removed from the phone calls that will begin in September AND your gift will count as a part of the challenge! You can go online right now, make a gift and kick-start your class towards the top of the challenge. How will you know what your class has done? Updates will appear in the SCOnline e-newsletter with recognition of the top five classes based on donations and the total amount donated by each of those classes. Additional information regarding the Class Challenge and Phonathon will appear in our e-newsletters and by mail, but you can lead the way by making a gift now. Show us your class spirit and don’t wait to donate! Please call or email Brenda Pearson in Institutional Advancement if you have any questions, (800) 238-0180, ext. 4 or bpearson@sco.edu.

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Quarterly Donor Report Our special thanks to the following donors who made a donation between January 1 and March 31, 2009.

David A. Damari, OD and Mrs. Rita Frumento Damari Elizabeth Mason Darby, OD ’01 May and John Dellar

Julia Olofson-Steck and Douglas Steck

Irving L. Dunsky, OD Tressa Eubank, OD

Zakiya Nicks, OD

Robert D. Houghteling, OD ’95

Glen T. Steele, OD ’69 and Brenda Steele

Richard C. Orgain, OD ’77

Sandra Stephens

Richard A. Goodson, OD ’66 Lisa Temple

Delma Ortiz

Melissa Stiling, OD ’09

Ellyn Johnson Owens, OD ’00 and Christopher C. Owens, OD ’01

Christopher J. Strelioff, OD ’96

Donald R. Hopper, OD ’77

Maryke Neiberg, OD

William Hopper

James M. Newman, III, OD ’73, MS

Daniel C. Horton, OD ’01

Donna Abney, MBA

William M. Dickerson, Jr., OD ’79

Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.

Velma J. Dickson

Elizabeth T. Howard, OD ’95 and Andrew W. Howard, OD ’96

David K. Adwan, OD ’80

Paul Dobrynin

Mona G. Howard

Stephen P. Akre, OD ’75

Heidi B. Doucet, OD ’02

Arthur Thomas Hyde, OD ’76

George Rod Alberhasky, OD ’93

Max M. Downey, OD ’81

John Mark Jackson, OD ’99, MS

Susan M. Doyle

Allyn H. Jacobson, OD ’72

Robin J. Drescher, OD, MS

Jobson Publishing Co.

Tommy J. Ducklo, OD ’78

John-Kenyon American Eye Institute

Janette D. Dumas, OD

Ray H. Johnson, OD ’68

Alcon Laboratories, Inc. Daniel S. Anderson Kristin K. Anderson, OD and Christopher Lievens, OD, MS

Jerry B. Park, OD ’66

Joseph Sugg, OD ’09 and Ali Sugg

Ralph E. Parkansky, OD, MS, MBA

Jerry M. Sullivan

Brenda and Greg Pearson

SunTrust Bank

Kim Perry

Dean Swick

Michael Petermann

Sharon E. Tabachnick, PhD Marc Taub, OD

Lisa C. Anderson

Jason D. Duncan, OD ’96

Cynthia O. Jones, OD ’89

Brenda M. Phelps

Teresa Angeli, OD ’09

Richard D. Durocher, OD ’96

Jennifer L. Jones, OD ’06

Clifford I. Phillips, OD ’78

Daniel A. Taylor, OD ’06, MS

Jo-Ann B. Augustine

Gerald A. Eisenstatt, OD ’84

Judy Y. Jones, OD ’95

Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78

Mark A. Taylor, OD ’97

Paula L. Baker

M. Scott Ensor, OD ’01

Roger I. Jones, OD ’81

Guy R. Pike

Lisa M. Temple

George M. Bakowski, OD ’73

Joan Ervin

William H. Kahn, OD ’65

Geoffrey Ryan H. Powell, OD ’02

Mary Thornley, EdD

R. Dianne Balazsy

Tressa F. Eubank, OD

Mark R. Kapperman, OD ’87

Tony G. Powers, OD ’87

Lisa C. Tracy

Allan Leslie Barker, OD ’75 and Susan S. Barker

Sunnie J. Ewing

Jay Arthur Kavanagh, OD ’94

Precision Optical Laboratory, Inc.

Ann Z. Fields

Dr. Karen Beattie

Anneke Keenleyside

Beth Fisher

James L. Price, Jr., OD ’74

Aaron Kerr, OD ’98

Jason M. Beddingfield, OD, ’06

David Fisher, Jr., OD ’90

Mary Quan, OD ’09 and Vincent Pham

Karen Begg

Robert C. Fitzhugh, OD ’79 and Mrs. Linda S. Fitzhugh

Paul Kimball, OD ’09 and Amy C. Kimball

Angela Sherlin Bell, OD ’01 Whitney Blake Blenheim Centennial Lions Club Burton P. Bodan, OD ’53 Margo D. Boler, OD ’01 Emily M. Bosley, OD ’95 and William G. Bosley, III, OD ’95

Brenda H. Rakestraw

Christina Rae Vogel, OD ’03

Howard F. Flippin, OD ’59

Marvin L. Klein, OD ’51

Steven T. Reed, OD ’95

Wal-Mart Optical Division

L. Allen Fors, OD ’69, MEd

Amy J. Knickerbocker, OD ’99

Gregory E. Reeves, OD ’06

C. Jeff Foster, OD ’81

Harold L. Lashlee

Lewis Reich, OD, PhD

Nancy Francis

Vicki B. Lauer, OD ’98 and Scott M. Lauer, OD ’98

Joseph W. Remke, III, OD ’76

Joe Gallaher

Jennifer K. Bulmann, OD

Cindy Garner

James H. Burke, OD ’77

John A. Gazaway, OD ’67

T. Joel Byars, OD ’63

Michael D. Gerstner, OD ’97

Winona M. Caldwell

Frank S. Gibson, OD ’68

David M. Cale, OD

Glenn I. Goldring, OD ’78

Freddy W. Chang, OD, MS, PhD Chapman Lions Club Edward E. Cho, OD ’84 Rohit R. Chopra, OD ’01 Doug Clark, OD Jerry L. Clay Lurley C. Clifton Clinton Lions Club

N. Scott Gorman, OD ’73, EdD Patrick A. Griffin, OD ’89 Stephen R. Griffin, OD ’83 T. Powers Griffin, Jr., OD ’78 Kathryn A. Harrington Kendall B. Harris, OD ’81 Nancy and Tom Harris Anita and Fred Harrod Betty J. Harville, OD

Carrie D. Lebowitz, OD ’06 Jacqueline Lehto Don C. Lewis, OD ’75 Sarah K. Lovell Dr. Sekhar Mamidi Willis C. Maples, OD ’68, MS Erie Mathena Sherry D. Mattingly Lara E. May, OD ’00

Richard Savoy, OD

Allison Haddad Miller, OD ’00

Keith Allan Schrunk, OD ’03

Mississippi Optometric Association

Murray Schulman, OD ’42

Tiffany Kay Monahan, OD ’00

SECO International, Inc. E. Michelle Sellers

Gary C. Hodges, OD ’64

Harold E. Morrill, Jr., OD ’75

Edward R. Hoge, Jr., OD ’67

Sharon Berger Moscow, OD ’80 and Billy S. Moscow, OD ’78

Oscar Crow, OD ’49

Jim Hollifield

Lawrence A. Routt, OD ’77

Allyson P. Mertins, OD ’97

Sandra C. Morgan

Tricia Lenae Holliday, OD ’04 and Heath Ray Holliday, OD ’04

Dr. John Roumasset

Jennifer and David Sands

Virginia and John Hermes

Max and Pauline Schulman Murray Schulman, OD ’42 W. Scott Whitaker, OD ’01 Joshua M. Trafton, OD ’01

In Honor of… William E. Cochran, OD ’68 Mississippi Optometric Association

Penny K. Walker Sheila Walters

James and Sally Dumas Janette D. Dumas, OD

Mark C. Ward, OD ’86 David West James J. Whitelock, OD ’82 Lee Anne Whitworth, OD ’97 and Patrick Whitworth, OD ’97 Kimberly A. Wilkins Barry A. Winston, OD ’74

Linda and Thomas Senter William R. Shumaker, OD ’79 Mark Skidmore Robert W. Smalling, OD ’74

Haylie Lynne Mulliniks, OD ’07

Gary R. Snuffin

Charles A. Nassauer, OD ’82

Bernard I. Sparks, III, OD ’77, MS

John Michael Neal, OD ’07

Sylvia E. Sparrow, OD ’98

Nathan F. Ford, OD ’50 C. Jeff Foster, OD ’81 Martha Rosemore Greenberg, OD ’74 Linda and Thomas Senter William B. Henry, OD ’61 C. Jeff Foster, OD ’81

Jerry M. Winston, OD ’67

James O. Naifeh C. Jeff Foster, OD ’81

Stuart D. Rogers, OD ’82

Milton J. Salomon, OD ’66

Douglas Hermes

Melanie A. Crandall, OD ’77

Robertson Optical Laboratories, Inc.

Kathryn G. Melonas

Bobby W. Montgomery, OD ’68

Michael V. Holland, OD ’90

Michael N. Robertson

Michael S. McQuaig, OD ’77

Nicole Y. Monroe, OD ’99

Tifton C. Covington, OD ’91

Matt Robbins

Gregory C. Russell, OD ’97

Cynthia Heard, OD

James T. Cooperwood

Jennifer Sanderson, OD and Andrew J. Rixon, OD

McPherson Lions Club

William E. Cochran, OD ’68 and Mrs. Carolyn Cochran

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

Lerin Rives

Mary Beth and Bruce Royer

Adam G. Coats, OD ’07

Rhetta Conn, OD ‘09 and Daniel Conn

Robert D. Remke, OD ’87

Nettie McGuire

Whitney H. Hauser, OD ’01 and Joseph H. Hauser, MBA

Coffeyville Lions Club

Richard W. Varley, OD ’77

Sadie M. Fleming

Larry H. Bryan

Thomas V. Casella, OD ’78

Brett K. Radow, OD ’80 Dr. and Mrs. Mohammad Rafieetary

Mike Lawson

James F. Samet, OD ’40 Sharon Berger Moscow, OD ’80 and Billy S. Moscow, OD ’78

Gary W. Upchurch, OD ’80

Lewis B. Kizer, OD ’80

Cecily Freeman

Leonard Rovery Daniel A. Taylor, OD ’06

U.S. Vision

Carol A. Fleming

Pateaka Franklin

Fredric M. Rosemore, OD ‘48 T. Joel Byars, OD ’63 Doug Clark, OD William E. Cochran, OD ’68 and Mrs. Carolyn Cochran Marvin L. Klein, OD ’51 Linda and Thomas Senter Sheila Walters

Marty S. Traylor, OD ’00

James E. Venable, OD ’89

William B. Brookshire

Paul C. Powers, OD ’59 C. Jeff Foster, OD ’81

Joshua M. Trafton, OD ’01

Helen J. King, OD ’83 and Christopher B. King, OD ’83

Delrita Branch

Cheryl D. Johnson, OD ’82 Tressa Eubank, OD Lisa Temple

Scholarships and Named Rooms The following donors have made a commitment to fund a new scholarship and/or named a room in The Eye Center between January 1 and March 31, 2009. William M. Dickerson, Jr., OD Scholarship William M. Dickerson, Jr. OD ’79

Tributes Donations January 1 and March 31, 2009.

In Memory of… Mr. and Mrs. Lennox Chang Freddy W. Chang, OD, MS, PhD

Anna Belle Clement O’Brien C. Jeff Foster, OD ’81 Virgil L. Rhodes, OD’50 and Mrs. Peggy Rhodes Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78 O. J. Tribble, OD ’47 C. Jeff Foster, OD ’81

Every effort has been made to correctly list the names of all donors. If your name is listed incorrectly or has been omitted, please notify the Office of Institutional Advancement at (800) 238-0180, ext. 4.

Summer 2009

CLASS Notes

Send us news of your accomplishments along with a photo. Items will appear in the magazine or in our monthly alumni e-newsletter, SCOnline. Send news to the Office of Institutional Advancement, 1245 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104-2222; fax 901-722-3379 or email alumni@sco.edu.

’50s

Richard E. Jewell, OD ’51, plans to retire August 28, 2009, after 52 years of service in Cedartown, Georgia. Dr. Jewell, who was profiled in his hometown newspaper, moved to Cedartown in 1957, and he has practiced in the same location since 1974. His community service has included serving on the board of banks, the local school board, and on the Polk General Hospital Board of Trustees, a position he has held for nearly 40 years. Charles Huntress, OD ’59, was recently profiled in the Monett, Missouri newspaper upon the occasion of his retirement after 50 years of service to his community. The article recounted how his wife, the former Annalee Hughes, taught school while Dr. Huntress attended SCO. Dr. Huntress was honored with a reception hosted by his three children and their spouses. The couple’s son, Dr. Greg Huntress, will continue seeing patients through Huntress VisionHealth Associates.

’60s

T. Joel Byars, OD ’63, received the 2009 Georgianne Bearden Excellence in Leadership Award, given to individuals who exemplify leadership through service, vision and tenacity. A former GOA president, he received the GOA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in

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1999. Dr. Byars is also a former Board of Trustees member at SCO and a former president of the AOA. Logan McCord, OD ’68, who received a heart transplant in 2007, discovered that one of his optometry patients was the brother of Dr. McCord’s heart donor. The remarkable chance encounter was picked up and written about in the news media.

’70s Sidney Stern, OD ’71, was recently elected President of the World Optometry Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Martha Rosemore Greenberg, OD ’74, was recently honored by the Russellville, Alabama’s City Council

in recognition for being named OD of the South by SECO.

members of the SCO President’s Council team presented him with a Cracker Barrel rocking chair at his reception. Dr. Burke will remain employed as a part-time consultant to SCO. Norma K. Bowyer, OD ’77, is currently serving as president of the Society of Primary Care Policy Fellows.

Jim Burke, OD ’77, retired in June as SCO’s Vice President for Clinical Programs. He was honored with a retirement reception attended by a large number of faculty and staff. In addition to his clinical leadership and faculty service, Dr. Burke has been active in SECO and the Tennessee Optometric Association. A former TOA president, he received the association’s OD of the Year Award in 2004. His fellow

Kemp Jones, OD ’77, and Josh Holmes, OD ’03, recently provided vision screenings for health fairs hosted by Congressman John Barrow in Georgia’s 12th District. Dr. Jones saw patients in Swainsboro, while Dr. Holmes provided services in Savannah. Terry Moehnke, OD ’77, was recently named the 2008-2009 National Sertoman of the Year

Louisiana Association News The Board of Directors of the Optometry Association of Louisiana (OAL) recently announced the creation of a new award in honor of James D. Sandefur, OD ’65. Formerly named the Louisiana Distinguished Service Award, the award honors Dr. Sandefur, who has worked tirelessly as executive director of the OAL. As part of his responsibilities, he has organized his association’s office, represented Louisiana ODs on a national basis, served on the Louisiana Board of Optometry Examiners, and elevated the OAL in the eyes of his colleagues in his state and the nation. Also at the OAL’s annual convention, Jerry Gerdes, OD ’02, received the state’s Young OD of the Year Award. Dr. Gerdes has been serving as co-chair of his state’s InfantSEE® Committee. He has also been serving as president of the Central Louisiana Optometric Society for the last several years. The following SCO graduates were elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the OAL for the 2009-2010 year: President, Chris Wroten, OD ’02; Past President, Guy Feuer, OD ’93; Secretary/ Treasurer, Jeff Anastasio, OD ’01; Past President Council, Stephen Lewis, OD ’86; President of the Southwest Louisiana Optometric Society, Keith Menard, OD ’03; President of the Acadian Optometric Society, Garett Thibodeaux, OD ’06; President of the Gulf Optometric Society, Dave Mitchell, OD ’04; and President of the Central Louisiana Optometric Society, Jerry Gerdes, OD ’02.

at the service club’s national convention in Nashville. He is the first Iowa resident to receive the honor, the highest awarded by the Sertoma Club. Dr. Moehnke’s community service includes leading the effort to develop a Veterans Memorial Park in the Fort Dodge area of Iowa. His Sertoma Club service includes serving as president in 1991-1992 and as district governor for the state of Iowa. He and his wife, Pam, are the parents of two sons, one of whom is a staff sergeant in the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. Tom Casella, OD ’78, has been selected as Vice President of the Georgia Optometric Association. Randall Parrish, OD ’78, was recently elected Chair of the Board of Trustees at Edison State College in Florida. He was first appointed to the board in 2006 by thenGovernor Jeb Bush.

’80s Sharon Berger Moscow, OD ’80, of Roswell, Georgia, recently appeared on the Fox TV affiliate in Atlanta. She appeared on a program called Health Watch to discuss InfantSEE. Stuart Tasman, OD ’80, was recently appointed as the Secretary of the Georgia Optometric Association. Edward Lemon, OD ’83, has been named President of the South Carolina Optometric Association (SCOA). Dr. Lemon has been a member of the SCOA for 25 years and is a past member of the board. Currently in private practice, he has served as mayor of

Barnwell, South Carolina for the past 11 years. Lisa R. Wade, OD ’84, Professor Emerita and former SCO Vice President for Institutional Advancement, received condolences from President Phillips on behalf of the SCO community after the recent death of her uncle, Bruce Rossmeyer. One of the nation’s leading Harley-Davidson dealers, Rossmeyer was like a father to Dr. Wade and a great help to her when she became the owner of the Southern Thunder Harley Davidson dealership in Horn Lake, Mississippi. Mark Lynn, OD ’85, has been named by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear to the University of Louisville Board of Trustees. Joe Ellis, OD ’86, is the new president-elect of the AOA. Dr. Ellis will become the 11th SCO graduate to serve as AOA president.

David Evans, OD ’94, has written a faith-based movie screenplay scheduled to be filmed this summer in Memphis. Dr. Evans is a producer and director for Calvary Pictures, the nonprofit agency and church ministry producing the movie. Greg Marrow, OD ’96, was the Democratic primary winner for Virginia House of Delegates’ 25th District. He will now face off in the state’s November 3 general election. Read more at gregmarrow.com. Horace Deal, OD ’97, was recently inducted as the new president of the Georgia Optometric Association (GOA). Michael Gerstner, OD ’97, and his wife, Jennifer, report the birth of their daughter, Evelyn Ann, who was born Wednesday, March 11. She weighed 6 lbs., 6 ozs., and joins older brother Luke Michael.

Rose Mary Lagrange-Brown, OD ’86, was recently profiled in the Jackson, Tennessee newspaper. The article showcased her upscale optical boutique. Visit her website at urbaneyejackson.com.

’90s Greg Blahnik, OD ’90, and his wife, Suzette Courtney Blahnik, OD ’91, recently opened Blahnik Eye Care in Port Orange, Florida. Visit their website at blahnikeyecare.net. Ted McElroy, OD ’93, was recently awarded the Bernard Kahn Memorial Award by the Georgia Optmetric Association.

Michael Rothschild, OD ’97, recently visited the SCO campus to address the Practice Management class taught by Gerald Eisenstatt, OD ‘84. Dr. Rothschild later spoke with members of SCO’s Private Practice Optometry Club (OPPC), including Jessica Ellis, ‘10, pictured. Dr. Rothschild gave students his advice on practice management and optometric business principles.

Jennifer Jabaley, OD ’99, has written her first book, a teen novel entitled Lipstick Apology. Published in early August 2009, the book was written in her free time when she wasn’t seeing patients or caring for her two young children with her husband, Chris Jabaley, OD ’99. Dr. Jabaley has already finished her second book. Read more at jenniferjabaley.com.

’00s Air Force Maj. Jeffrey J. Autrey, OD ’00, participated in a Medical Readiness Training Exercise in El Salvador, Central America. The purpose of the exercise was to provide medical care to people in remote areas and build U.S. relations with foreign governments. Shannon Franklin, OD ’00, was elected to serve as Secretary/ Treasurer of the Virginia Optometric Association (VOA) at its 107th annual convention in Williamsburg. Prior to becoming an officer, Dr. Franklin served three years on the Board of Trustees and four years as the president of the local chapter of the VOA. In 2002, she won the Vanguard Award recognizing the best and most outstanding VOA active member practicing less than eight years. Dr. Franklin is also currently the Virginia coordinator for the InfantSEE® program. In 2006 she started Crozet Eye Care, Optometrists in Western Albemarle. Visit CrozetEyeCare.com to learn more about her practice.

Summer 2009

CLASS NOTES Janna Zbozien Smith, OD ’00, and her husband, Greg, report the

Recognizing ODs of the Year Over the past year and at June’s AOA meeting, a number of SCO alumni have been recognized

birth of a daughter, Emily Katherine Smith, born March 29, 2009.

as OD or Young OD of the Year by their state associations. ODs of the Year include: — Martha Rosemore Greenberg, OD ’74, Alabama Optometric Association

Jefferey DiBenedetto, OD ’01, has

— Patricia Westfall, OD ’99, Arkansas Optometric Association

joined the Williamson Eye Center

— Dwight Thibodeaux, OD ’81, New Mexico Optometric Association

and Best Vision Optical in Denham

— Scott Philippe, OD ’88, North Carolina State Optometric Society

Springs, Louisiana.

— Len D. Hart, OD ’80, Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians — Kurt Steele, OD ’95, Tennessee Optometric Association

Brandon Dodds, OD ’01, currently

Young ODs of the Year include:

practices in Newbern, Tennessee,

— Mark Shirey, OD ’00, Alabama Optometric Association

where he and his wife, April, are

— Chevron Ergle, OD ’04, Arkansas Optometric Association

the parents of three children.

— David C. Hicks, OD ’99, Armed Forces Optometric Society

Dr. Dodds recently published a

— Meg Brya, OD ’03, Georgia Optometric Association

book on foreign policy entitled,

— Chad Thompson, OD ’99, Kansas Optometric Association

Victory Dance: A Solution for Iraq

— Jerry Gerdes, OD ’02, Optometry Association of Louisiana

and More Common Sense Foreign

— Bradley Thompson, OD ’99, Mississippi Optometric Association

Policy. Dr. Dodds is also running for

— Ryan Powell, OD ’02, Missouri Optometric Association

Tennessee Governor in 2010 as an

— Melissa Schwebach, OD ’05, South Carolina Optometric Association

independent candidate. Visit his

— Chris Eiler, OD ’01, Tennessee Optometric Association

website at doddsforgov.com.

*This list includes known honorees over the past year and those recently reported; we welcome news of other recipients.

Paul Mormon, OD ’01, recently spoke to SCO’s student members of the Tennessee Optometric Association. Kelly Kerksick, OD ’02, was included by Vision Monday in the

Hema (Chavda) Hebbar, OD ’03,

com or under his Twitter account

June 20, 2009 in Chattanooga.

and her husband, Kiran, welcomed

at “Peepers_eyecare”.

Many classmates attended,

a baby girl, Sunjna (pronounced sun-juh-na) Hebbar, born April

Robert S. Shipp, OD ’04, and

20, 2009.

Jasmine D. Shipp, OD ‘04, report the birth of a daughter, Janna

publication’s list of Rising Stars,

David Kulesia, OD ’03, was recently

Frances Shipp, born April 9, 2009.

women who are “up-and-comers”

appointed to the Catawba County

She joins big sister, Natalie.

in their careers and companies.

Board of Health in North Carolina.

Dr. Kerksick serves as Director of

Dr. Kulesia practices at Mountain

Professional Services for Vision

View Eye Center in Hickory.

Source LP, based in Houston. She is

including groomsman Derrick Pierce, OD ‘07. Dr. Nick Engle works at Primary Eye Care, while Dr. Erin Engle practices at Thompson Lane Eye Care in the Nashville area.

David Bailey, OD ’06, and his wife,

Amanda Brandner, OD ’09,

Dawn, report the birth of a girl, Ella,

married T.J. Smith, OD ‘09, on June

born in February.

6, 2009 in Birmingham, Alabama.

a charter member of the Women

Paul E. Collins, OD ’04, and his

After a honeymoon to St. Lucia,

of Vision organization and has

wife, Jessica, are the parents of

they plan to practice in Delaware.

served as a clinical examiner for the

a son, Braydon Tyler, born on

National Board of Optometry.

April 22, 2009. Dr. Collins also

Tracy Elliott, OD ’09, married

reports that he has opened a new

Matthew Morris, OD ’09, on

Beth Minton, OD ’02, and her

private practice with surfacing lab

June 20 in Oklahoma City. Ushers

husband, Rob, report the birth of

in The Villages, Florida. The practice

included Matt Jones, OD ’09, Joe

a son, Aidan Robert Minton, born

is called Peepers, and he invites

Sugg, OD ’09, and Logan Banister,

June 20, 2008. The Mintons also

everyone to read more about it on

Nick Engle, OD ’07, and Erin

OD ’09. The bride practices

have a daughter, Anna.

his blog at collins-corner.blogspot.

Tatum, OD ‘07, were married on

with McGee, Pickard-Robinson

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IN Memoriam

Eye Associates, and the groom

Allison Norwood, OD ’09, is joining

1947

1954

practices with Norman Vision

Robin Bennett, OD ’93, to practice

Source. After a honeymoon

at New Albany Vision Clinic in New

Jessie U. Borum, Jr. OD Lubbock, TX

Robert Carlton White, Sr., OD Colfax, NC

to Hawaii, they are residing in

Albany, Mississippi.

1949

1957

Norman, Oklahoma. Eric Gengenbach, OD ’09, and Tori Gengenbach, OD ’09, have joined Tim Meyer, OD ’81, in practice at First Insight Eyecare in Grant, Nebraska. Matt Jones, OD ’09, reports that he is partnering with R. Dean Gurley, OD ’80, in private practice at Family Eye Care in Blytheville and Osceola, Arkansas.

Burt Schreiber, OD ’09, has joined Ryan Powell, OD ’02, Lee Ann Whitworth, OD ’97, Patrick Whitworth, OD ’97, and Glade Whitworth, OD ’53, in practice at InSight Eyecare Specialties in the

Paul W. Lycette, OD Jackson, MS

Harold B. Hayden, OD Shreveport, LA

1961

Westwood Holliday, OD Beckley, WC

Kansas City, Missouri area.

Thomas H. Long, Jr., OD Huntsville, AL

Jonathan Shelton, OD ’09, is

William B. Mobley, OD Orangeburg, SC

practicing with Charles Lawler, OD ’64, in Lexington, Tennessee. Micah Thomason, OD ’09, is

Paul Kimball, OD ’09, is joining

Myron D. Chalfin, OD Carlsbad, CA

Charles Stansberry, OD Clinton, TN

opening a private practice in

1950

Springdale, Arkansas.

Albert Benoy Gattis, OD Frederick, OK

Hal Breedlove, OD ’83, in practice at Coastal Vision in Virginia Beach,

Jennifer Hermetz York, OD

Virginia.

’09, was named one of the next

1952

generations of female leaders in

Travis M. Pierce, OD Amory, MS

Becky King, OD ’09, is practicing at

optometry in the July 2009 issue of

Visioncare Arkansas in Conway.

Vision Monday.

Residency Program Includes ’09 Graduates A number of recent graduates are expanding their clinical knowledge and skills through SCO’s Residency Program. These include: — Kelsey Bloch, OD ’09, Memphis VAMC — Karen Brawner, OD ’09, Memphis VAMC — Leah Gray, OD ’09, Southern Eye Associates — Jared Ivie, OD ’09, Memphis VAMC — Scott Paladichuk OD ’09, Memphis VAMC — Ashley Schuelke, OD ’09, SCO Pediatrics — Sean Skierczynski, OD ’09, West Tennessee Eye This list includes alumni currently in SCO’s Residency Program and does not reflect alumni participating in other colleges’ residency programs. SCO invites alumni to inform us if you are in a residency program outside SCO’s. Please contact Cheryl Ervin, OD, SCO’s Interim Director of Residency Programs at cervin@sco.edu.

Harry A. Wiese, OD Chandler, OK

1963 Litewell Bert Holbrook, OD Rancho Mirage, CA

1968 Roy Jolly, OD Bradenton, FL

1974 Charles A. Schaible, OD Topeka, KS

1976 Ted Smith, OD Seymour, TN

1953

1999

Harold Waldman, OD, MD Hackensack, NJ

David Hutchinson, OD Atchison, KS

Virgil L. Rhodes, OD ’50, passed away on July 4, 2009. Dr. Rhodes practiced 50 years in Manchester, Tennessee until his retirement at the end of 2002. A former president of the Tennessee Optometric Association, Dr. Rhodes was a member of the Tennessee Academy of Optometry and the AOA, having served as chair of the AOA Committee for Statutory Definition of Optometry. He was instrumental in assisting numerous states with pro-optometry legislation. In 2001, he authored Optometry in Tennessee, a book on the state’s optometric legislative history to record for future generations the work that went into advancing the optometric profession. His many awards include Optometrist of Tennessee, the TOA’s Optometrist of the Decade, and Southern Council of Optometry’s Outstanding Optometrist of the South. A former member of the SCO Board of Trustees, Dr. Rhodes served as chair in 1982-1984 and received SCO’s Doctor of Ocular Science degree. At his service, he was eulogized by SCO President Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78, and pallbearers included a number of ODs and SCO alumni. Survivors include his wife, Peggy, children, and grandchildren. The family requests memorials for the Dr. Virgil and Peggy Rhodes Endowment Fund, Southern College of Optometry, 1245 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN 38104-2222.

Summer 2009

STUDENT LIFE

SCO’s NOSA Chapter Receives National Recognition Southern College of Optometry is pleased to announce that it was recently honored with the School of the Year Award by the National Optometric Association (NOA). The National Optometric Association (NOA) is a national organization that is dedicated to advancing the visual health in minority populations. Because minority populations in particular experience higher prevalence of ocular conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy, it is important to make these individuals aware of the importance of annual vision care. SCO’s award-winning NOSA chapter is branched from the NOA, and many optometry schools have their own NOSA chapters. In addition to the NOSA chapter accepting the award, several SCO students were also honored at the national NOA convention: — Monique Batchelor, ’10, received the Cave Memorial Award. — SCO’s NOSA President, Tiffany Griffin, ’11, received the Founders Award. — LuShawn Coleman, ’10, recipient of the Dr. Robert Johnson Pediatric/Vision Therapy Award and the NOA Convention Poster winner; her poster was co-authored by SCO faculty members Drs. Janette Dumas, David Damari, and Scott Steinman. The poster was entitled, Knowledge

of Diabetic Eye Disease among Patients at the Eye Center of the Southern College of Optometry. “Congratulations to the members of the SCO chapter of NOSA for its outstanding accomplishments,” said Joseph H. Hauser, SCO Vice President for Student Services. “We have been proud of the chapter here at SCO for some time, but now that pride grows even greater as our chapter receives this national recognition.” The 2009 NOA conference was held in Charleston, South Carolina and included continuing education sessions discussing binocular vision, low vision, infant exams, and the 10 most interesting pediatric disease cases. In addition, students from other optometry schools throughout the U.S. were able to network with practicing optometrists, network with each other, and exchange ideas on how to improve their own NOSA chapter.

Spanning the Globe: 2009 SVOSH Mission Trips Members of Student Volunteers in Optometric Service to Humanity (SVOSH) enjoyed helping others on their recent mission trips to Belarus and Jamaica following the end of the spring semester. For the sixth year in a row, SVOSH returned to May Pen, Jamaica, a largely agricultural community. Trip leader Kinsey Rives,’10, reported that 12 SVOSH students provided free eye exams and glasses to over 700 patients during four clinic days. Working with the local Lions Club, they were able to make over 100 referrals for cataracts, glaucoma, and other ocular disease management. Exams were performed in a Lions Club clinic built with funding from the community solely for eye care mission teams such as SVOSH. “Knowing that they depend on us as their source of eye care, it is

SCOVisionS

important we go back every year. It was very rewarding to provide care to such deserving people,” said Brandi Salazar, ‘12. On the other side of the Atlantic, free eye care was being provided by SVOSH members in Belarus, near the site of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. Led by Jennifer Holman, ‘10, and Elizabeth Kilgore, ‘10, 13 SVOSH members saw over 1,000 patients. Dan Smith, OD ’94, Assistant Professor, was there to assist as they worked with a mainly pediatric population. Performing exams in schools and hospitals, many people were helped because of their efforts. Elizabeth Kilgore, ‘10, stated, “Helping the children of those affected by the original disaster was a heartwarming experience. I will never forget their appreciation.” Six additional trips were originally scheduled for the same time period to destinations including Belize, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Peru but were cancelled due to the Swine Flu pandemic.

SVOSH Establishes Endowment Fund to Honor Al Fors, OD ’69 SCO’s student SVOSH chapter is establishing the Dr. L. Allen Fors SVOSH Endowed Fund in honor of Allen Fors, OD ’69, Professor, and longtime supporter of the organization. A faculty member for nearly 40 years and a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), Dr. Fors teaches the Pediatrics as well as the Strabismus and Amblyopia courses. He also sees patients in the pediatrics and vision therapy service areas of The Eye Center. Over the past four decades, he has traveled to more than 10 different countries with SVOSH. Through the years, he devoted countless hours as faculty advisor to SVOSH. He sorted glasses, created awareness about the group’s mission, and prepared students to take optometric services to underserved patients in impoverished countries. “Establishing this endowment is a way to honor Dr. Fors for his dedication to SVOSH’s mission of serving others and to support the organization’s future outreach endeavors,” said Beth Sparrow, OD ’98, who succeeded Dr. Fors as SVOSH’s faculty advisor

invited to support this new fund created by today’s

two years ago. “The idea is that SVOSH would put in the initial $5,000 to

student members of the organization, still going

establish the fund and then match any following contributions made up

strong after nearly 35 years.

to $7,500,” Dr. Sparrow said.

SVOSH members work year round to prepare for

Brenda Pearson, SCO’s Director of Development, is inviting alumni

their annual missions to various Central American and

and friends of the college to support the fund. She noted such alumni

other countries. SVOSH members annually collect,

support, when added to the SVOSH matching funds, could very quickly

inspect and sort donated eyeglasses to take on their

see this new fund come to fruition.

trips and coordinate various projects to help finance

“Endowing this fund would provide SVOSH with an annual award that would offset the increasing cost of travel and outreach,” Pearson noted. SVOSH was founded in 1975 to provide free eye care and glasses to impoverished countries. In the years since SVOSH’s creation, SCO’s alumni ranks have grown to include hundreds of former SVOSH members

travel expenses. Membership is open to all interested students. Since the organization was founded, SVOSH members have seen more than 190,000 patients in 15 different countries. If you’re interested in joining SVOSH as a staff

who know first-hand the impact that this student organization makes

doctor on a mission trip, please contact Dr. Beth

on its annual mission trips. These SVOSH alumni and friends are

Sparrow at bsparrow@sco.edu.

Contributions to the fund can be made online or by mail. For online gifts, log onto the SCO website, www.sco.edu, click on the Alumni button and select “Giving Opportunities.” Complete the form and under “Please designate my/ our gift,” select “Other” and enter the word “SVOSH.” If you prefer to mail a check, simply specify SVOSH in the memo section of your check and mail to the Office of Institutional Advancement at the college.

Summer 2009

SCO FOCUS

Faculty Promotions J. Bart Campbell, OD ’87, Professor, was named SCO’s new Chair of the Department of Optometric Education, effective July 1. Lindsay Elkins, OD ’07, Instructor, has been named SCO’s Coordinator of School Screenings. Cheryl Ervin, OD, Associate Professor, has been named Interim Director of Residency Programs. Dan Fuller, OD, Assistant Professor, was named Interim Chief of the Cornea and Contact Lens Service. Chris Lievens, OD, MS, Associate Professor, was named Interim Chief of Staff for The Eye Center at SCO, effective July 1. Zakiya Nicks, OD, Instructor, has been named as SCO’s Coordinator of Community Outreach. Marc B. Taub, OD, Assistant Professor, has been appointed Chief of Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Services. Jim Venable, OD ’89, Assistant Professor, was named Executive Director for Clinical Programs, effective July 1.

Faculty Highlights Kristin K. Anderson, OD, Associate Professor, was ASCO’s representative to the National Steering Committee for Independent Continuing Education which helped develop guidelines for industry support of educational programs. J. Bart Campbell, OD ’87, Professor, has been appointed to the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), the accrediting body for professional optometric degree programs, optometric residency programs and optometric technician programs in the United States and Canada. He is one of only eight ODs among the eleven members of ACOE. Charles Connor, OD, MS, PhD, Professor, attended the annual ARVO meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and presented a poster entitled, Androgenic Cream Treatment Most Efficacious for Women 40 to 60 with Dry Eye. Gerald Eisenstatt, OD ’84, Assistant Professor, recently attended the Practice Management Educators’ meeting in Florida. Cheryl Ervin, OD, Associate Professor, and Scott Ensor, OD ’01, Assistant Professor, were both selected in a national search to attend the 2009 ASCO Summer Institute for Faculty Development. The Institute had 34 participants from 18 schools and colleges of optometry. Participants attended presentations and workshops on teaching and learning, academic culture, test writing and analysis, and professional development. David Damari, OD, Professor, was chosen as a mentor and presenter for a third consecutive year.

SCOVisionS

Pinakin Gunvant, BS Optom., PhD, Assistant Professor, recently presented a poster at the World Glaucoma Congress entitled, Diagnostic accuracy of Scanning Laser Polarimetry screening protocol in identifying glaucomatous and healthy eyes. At the annual ARVO meeting, Dr. Gunvant and several colleagues presented a poster entitled, Comparison of RNFL Measurements Obtained Using GDx-VCC and ECC Algorithms and Its Correlation with Visual Field Indices. Dr. Gunvant recently secured a $79,990 grant from The Assisi Foundation of Memphis. The grant will be used to fund a two-year project, a glaucoma study on early detection of the disease using advanced retinal nerve fiber layer and optic disc imaging. Patients for the study will be recruited from the community and through The Eye Center. Cynthia Heard, OD, Associate Professor, and Janette Dumas, OD, Assistant Professor, recently spoke to two different gatherings of Shelby County Schools staff and administrators as part of National Minority Health Awareness Month. They spoke on eye conditions that affect minority populations at a disproportionate rate. John Mark Jackson, OD ’99, MS, Associate Professor, was a co-author with the ACHIEVE study group on an article entitled, Randomized Trial of the Effect of Contact Lens Wear on Self Perception in Children, published in Optometry and Vision Science, Vol. 86, No. 3, March 2009. Sharon Lee, OD, Instructor, attended the Low Vision Educators SIG meeting held in Boston, Massachusetts in July. Glen Steele, OD ’69, Professor, recently appeared on the “Dr. to Dr.” program on TBN and was interviewed on the Sharon Kleyne Hour, a program that appears on the World Today Radio network. In June, he led a CE program in infant care for Louisiana ODs and taught two courses on infant and toddler care at the AOA. Dr. Steele is the new Chair of the InfantSEE® Committee for the 2009-2010 year. Scott Steinman, OD, PhD, Professor, presented an invited lecture at the annual meeting of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association in Portland, Oregon entitled, Utilization of the visual evoked potential in neuro-optometry. Jim Williamson, OD ’97, Assistant Professor, recently received the “Mayor’s Honor Award” at the Memphis VA Medical Center for his service to veterans.

Staff Promotions David West was named Vice President for Financial Affairs, effective July 1. As the college’s chief financial officer, he is responsible for the Accounting, Physical Plant and Information Technology departments. West joined SCO in 2007 after a career at the Memphis Jewish Home, where he served five years as Chief Financial Officer and four years as Accounting Supervisor. A graduate of the University of Memphis with a degree in accounting, West has been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1993.

news briefs

Hayes Speaks to SCO Club Nathan Hayes, Business Development Manager of RedTray, recently spoke to members of SCO’s Optometric Private Practice Club, the first ever summer meeting of the student club. The son of SCO alumnus and founder of the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence, Jerry Hayes, OD ’73, he spoke to students about optical buying groups.

New Application Process Starts SCO and the other schools and colleges of optometry recently partnered with the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry to launch a centralized application service called OptomCAS.

Instead of an applicant applying directly to SCO, applicants go to the OptomCAS website and apply to SCO and any other school that the applicant chooses. All 20 schools agreed to use the same application, making the process much easier for applicants, undergraduate advisors, and hopefully, all of the admissions offices. Applicants simply indicate to which schools the application should be sent and pay a one-time fee of $125, which allows the application to be sent to one school. For each additional school, the fee is $45. “Optometry schools will now be in line with other health professions schools such as medicine and pharmacy,” said Mike Robertson, SCO Director of Admissions. “This process makes it so much easier for the applicant. Instead of submitting a separate application, transcripts, and letters of reference to each school, one set of documents is all it takes.” Read more about the centralized application service at www. optomcas.org.

Optovue Imaging in Use at The Eye Center Faculty and staff in The Eye Center have been trained on a new Optovue imaging device. The RTVue is an ultra-high speed high resolution FD-OCT (Fourier-Domain Optical coherence tomography) that provides interns and doctors with advanced retina diagnostic capabilities. On loan to The Eye Center, the instrument is the first OCT device for imaging retina, glaucoma, anterior segment and performing corneal analysis. “This exciting addition attends to our goal to educate the best possible healthcare providers,” said Dr. Chris Lievens, Interim Chief of Staff. In this endeavor, we strive to deliver training and experience utilizing the most advanced equipment and instrumentation available.”

The Eye Center Launches New Website The Eye Center at SCO has launched its newly redesigned website at http://tec.sco.edu. Although a few areas are still being developed, the new site contains information about the different service areas available to the more than 45,000 patients who visit annually. The site is also designed to be “patient friendly” by providing contact information, as well as details on insurance and other pertinent facts that will be useful for patients to plan their appointments in advance. Further interactive features are being developed and will be introduced in the near future. The Eye Center welcomes your feedback as this new site continues to improve.

Summer 2009

NEWS BRIEFS

Noted Lecturer Visits Campus Dr. Earl L. Smith III recently visited campus as the lecturer in SCO’s 2008-2009 Visiting Scientist series. Dean of the College of Optometry at the University of Houston, Dr. Smith is an acclaimed researcher whose interests focus on the role of vision in regulating refractive development and eye growth. Dr. Smith spoke to students and faculty about his vision research with primates. Dr. Lewis Reich, Vice President for Academic Affairs, presented Dr. Smith with a plaque in recognition as SCO’s Visiting Scientist.

Mark Taylor, OD ’97, Karri Anne Buresh, OD ’03, Robert Simmons, OD ’92, Scott Lewis, OD ’05, and Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Holloway, OD ’52. President Phillips also was invited to address those gathered at the association’s meeting. Dr. Phillips and Dr. Kristin K. Anderson, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, attended the 100th anniversary meeting of the North Carolina State Optometric Society (NCSOS). They presented a plaque from SCO in observance of the organization’s milestone anniversary. A number of alumni attended, including new NCSOS President and SCO Alumni Council member, Allan Barker, OD ’75. Scott Phillipe, OD ’88, and former Memphis VA resident Ania Hamp, OD, were honored with awards.

SCO at the Eye Health Summit SCO President Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78, recently represented SCO at the Eye Health Summit held in Chicago. This summit brought together representatives from the AOA, the Academy of Ophthalmology, The Vision Council, the Opticians Association of America, the National Association of Vision Care Plans, the National Eye Institute/NIH, the Contact Lens Institute, and Prevent Blindness America. Several industry reps were also there, including Luxottica, Transitions, Essilor, Wal-Mart and Alcon. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of seeking a unified effort to create better public awareness of eye health issues. There was a discussion of

Other news — Special thanks to Alcon and Allergan for their support of Resident’s Day. The recent event allowed SCO’s residents to present case reports and share information. SCO’s 2008-2009 residents gathered for a group photo after the event.

SCO Visits with Alumni at State Meetings Dr. Phillips and representatives of the Office of Institutional Advancement attended a number of state association meetings in recent months and interacted with alumni at the regional level. A large number of alumni attended the Arkansas Optometric Association’s spring convention, including Ken Hubbard, OD ’75, and Wally Towle, OD ’66, pictured above. A student networking reception, sponsored in part by the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence, was hosted by SCO for Arkansas alumni to meet and interact with SCO students and new graduates. SCO hosted its first ever alumni reception for Utah graduates during that state’s annual association meeting. Attendees included

SCOVisionS

— The Arkansas Optometric Association Auxiliary recently presented nine scholarships to optometry students, eight of whom attend SCO. Congratulations to: Marcus Cooke, ‘12, Marion, AR; Alicia Chapman, ‘12, Conway, AR; Jennifer Conrad, ‘11, Benton, AR; Jonathan Goodwin, ‘10, Batesville, AR; Jamie Johnson, ‘10, Cabot, AR; Vanessa Johns, ‘10, Paragould, AR; Elizabeth Kilgore, ‘10, Hampton, AR; Melia Robertson, ‘10, Russellville, AR — SCO President Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78, has been elected to the Executive Committee of the Tennessee College Association. — A capacity crowd recently attended SCO’s Spring Continuing Education weekend. Seen introducing a speaker is Patricia Estes-Walker, OD, SCO’s Director of Continuing Education, center.

other successful health campaigns, including the Susan Komen Foundation for breast cancer awareness. Several small groups were formed at the meeting to discuss common interests between organizations, ideas for potential messages that the groups could agree on and messages that industry might support. The consensus was that the message should be “Schedule Your Eye Examination Today” and that there should be a new organization formed to represent all the interests, with the goal being a new major campaign ready to roll out in two years. Such a campaign will be helpful if the public grows more aware of the need for good eye health.

Curriculum Update This summer marked SCO’s first “mini” summer term for nearly 40 second-year students on campus. These students voluntarily enrolled for the mini term that began May 13 and concluded June 23. “By offering the full year of Pharmacology in a concentrated format and an Optometry Theory and Methods laboratory during the summer mini term, the expectation is that second-year students will be better prepared for the traditional rigors expected during the course of the second-year curriculum,” said Lewis Reich, OD, PhD, Vice President for Academic Affairs. Classroom instruction covered five days a week for three credit hours, with lab work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. “We are pleased that so many of our new second-year students chose to participate in the launch of this new phase of the curriculum,” Dr. Reich said. “Their willingness to participate in the development of the new mini semester is to be commended.” A mini term will be mandatory for next year’s second-year students during the Summer of 2010, said Dr. Reich, although it is likely that different courses will be offered in order to fully integrate this program into the curriculum.

News from The Eye Center The Eye Center at SCO recently recorded its most successful day ever in terms of financial receipts for services rendered. The record-setting day occurred on July 28 and was reported by Jim Venable, OD ’89, Executive Director of Clinical Programs. A recent Patient Satisfaction Survey performed by Davis Vision® on patients of TEC from January 1 through June 30, 2009 revealed very positive news. In eleven categories evaluated, The Eye Center exceeded the national average in five and actually received perfects scores of 100% in each of these areas: — Convenience of Office Hours; — Availability of Timely Appointments; — Office Neat & Professional; — Waiting Time Acceptable; and — Staff Friendly/Knowledgeable. In the remaining six categories, The Eye Center was in the top 10% (of all practices nationwide) in three categories and in the top 5% in three more.

Meanwhile, the clinic administration reviewed its clinical curriculum with an emphasis on new core competencies outlined by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE). Consequently, clinical curriculum has been refined with the implementation of a new approach to clinical grading. The new approach continues to utilize the computerized grading system designed in-house several years ago but will retire letter grades in exchange for “Pass/Fail.” The new approach went into effect this summer for third-year interns; fourthyear interns will continue to receive letter grades until they are phased out next year. “We feel this approach will allow us to better deliver content and interact better between the intern and attending doctor,” said Jim Venable, OD ’89, Executive Director of Clinical Programs. Changes are also being made to how the clinical curriculum is being delivered. Thirdand fourth-year interns alike are now experiencing a more “real world” practice environment to better prepare them for transition to practicing optometry after graduation. At the start of the summer semester, The Eye Center hosted two different student-themed events, a breakfast to welcome fourth-years to their on-campus internships and a separate reception/faculty mixer to welcome third-year interns to patient care. With SCO’s new strategic plan emphasizing that students are the primary stakeholder in the college’s mission, these new initiatives are designed to fulfill a greater purpose of enhancing and adding value through the academic and clinical curriculum.

Summer 2009

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Stay connected!

Out and About

SCO’s alumni and friends are encouraged to stay connected with the college, and there are many ways to keep in touch: — Register for SCO’s online Placement Service. In fact, in this issue, you will be introduced to SCO’s Class of 2010. These soon-to-be graduates will be looking for opportunities, so if you’re seeking an associate or thinking about selling your practice, register for the Placement Service. Students looking for opportunities will also be posting. — Sign up for a free email address and register to use SCO’s online Alumni Directory. Reconnect with a classmate or share news about your practice or family. — If you enjoy Visions, sign up to receive SCOnline, our supplemental monthly e-newsletter with upto-date news and information about upcoming events. — Give us your ideas on how we can stay connected with you – we want to hear from you!

SCO is committed to interacting with its alumni. We hope to see many of you at:

Email alumni@sco.edu for more information.

Mississippi Optometric Association Jackson, MS

September 9

Evening with the President Nashville, TN

October 1-4

Homecoming/Fall CE Memphis, TN

October 10-12

Georgia Optometric Association Athens, GA

November 6-8

November 10-15

American Academy of Optometry Orlando, FL