SCO Makes History in New Orleans
SCOVISIONS SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE | SPRING 2019
This year, SCO’s spring laser education training for third-year interns came just one week after passage of Arkansas legislation expanding the scope of practice in that state. A number of students and alumni worked to secure these legislative advances, underscoring SCO’s longtime commitment to teaching our students to practice optometry at the fullest scope possible. As optometry celebrates these advances, we express our appreciation to all our alumni and friends whose support enables SCO to provide the resources and tools necessary to educate the next generation of ODs. You can help us advance our progress through your gift at sco.edu/donate.
2 | SCOVISIONS
INSIDE Leadership Message................................................... 4
A Preview of Commencement 2019.............................5
SCO Makes History College receives largest gift in our 87-year history............................................................................
Dr. Sandefur Q&A An interview with SCO’s new Board Chair ................................
6 8
SCO welcomed more than 80 students from the incoming Class of 2023 to campus for our annual Housing Fair. The event introduced students to housing options and other social events designed to help prepare them for their move to Memphis later this summer.
Meet the Class of 2019............................................................... 10 Look for SCO at these upcoming events…
Class Notes.................................................................................. 12
May 9
Commencement Cannon Center Memphis, TN
June 7-9
Hayes Center Announces Award Recipients ....................................................................... 14
Residents’ Weekend SCO Campus Memphis, TN
June 20-24 AOA St. Louis, MO
On Campus Focus...................................................................... 15
August 30
White Coat Ceremony SCO Campus Memphis, TN
News Briefs................................................................................. 16
October 3-6
Homecoming and Fall Continuing Education Weekend SCO Campus Memphis, TN
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From the President At this year’s SECO meeting in New Orleans, it was great seeing so many friends. SCO has a lot to be proud of, and the support we receive from our alumni across the country is appreciated. Our alumni, our board, our faculty, and our staff all recognize the importance of engaged and proud alumni, so we’re all continually working together to make SCO better and stronger. SCO’s alumni continue to thrive. The dedication and leadership demonstrated by our alumni can be found in our students. For the second year in a row, SCO was the only college to enjoy a 100 percent ultimate passage rate on all parts of the National Boards. As Memphis celebrates its bicentennial, more than ever before, we’re partnering with other healthcare and educational organizations to increase our footprint in the community and to expand patient care and learning opportunities for our students. That’s a great message to take to prospective students as our nation’s optometry colleges continue to monitor the flat applicant pool of qualified candidates. It’s a challenge to recruit students who are good fits for SCO’s rigorous standards, but we’ve held our standards high.
VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Kristin Anderson, OD EDITOR/DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Jim Hollifield SENIOR CREATIVE DESIGNER
Susan Doyle MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST
Erin Jaffe VISUAL DESIGNER
Philip Tribble MARKETING ASSISTANT
Jennifer Sharp Visions is a magazine for alumni, faculty, staff, and other friends of Southern College of Optometry. It is published through the Office of Institutional Advancement. A digital version is available online at sco.edu/visions. Please forward comments, address changes, and contributions to: Office of Institutional Advancement 1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38104-2222 800-238-0180, ext. 4 901-722-3379 FAX
It was a privilege recently to chair a task force for the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry as we worked to create a new marketing campaign to promote the profession of optometry to undergraduate students. For optometry to thrive, we must make sure that we’re selling the profession to top-qualified students in order to attract the best and brightest as they make decisions about their careers. SCO remains financially strong, but we’re looking for more alumni to support scholarships for the same reasons as the ASCO marketing effort. We all have SCO in common and we all benefit from a strong alma mater. In this competitive environment, we can recruit the best prospective students when we have scholarships to offer. It’s a little like sports recruiting, so please think about what you can do to attract the best to SCO. In this issue, you will read about the historic announcement facilitated by SCO’s longtime legal counsel, Marty Regan, and our Board Chair, Jim Sandefur, OD ’65. We welcome these kinds of opportunities made possible by the generosity of our alumni. It’s remarkable when we think about the success made possible by ODs who were students multiple decades ago as their commitment impacts students who will graduate in the 2020s and decades to come. Thanks to each of you for your continued support and enthusiasm for SCO.
BOARD CHAIR
James D. Sandefur, OD ’65 BOARD MEMBERS
Amanda Brewer-Lord, OD ’97 David A. Cockrell, OD ’81 Steven L. Compton, OD ’78 Anita Davis, PhD Jennifer Lyerly, OD ’11 Ryan H. Powell, OD ’02 Carla D. Sanderson, PhD Dave Sattler Lynn T. Shaw, AWMA A. L. Spivey III, OD ’67 Stuart J. Thomas, OD ’84 Leticia W. Towns, FACHE Terry L. Tucker, OD ’84 Christopher W. Wroten, OD ’02 ALUMNI COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE
Stacey J. Meier, OD ’84 FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE
Wilson McGriff, MPH, OD STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Lewis Reich, OD, PhD
4 | SCOVISIONS
Kailey A. Soileau ’20
Blum to Receive Honorary Degree the world’s leading inventors in the fields of optics, electronic eyewear, and vision correction. He was one of the inventors of eye drops for treating presbyopia and for spectacle lenses that block high energy blue light to provide protection against macular degeneration. Dr. Anita Davis
He led and managed the team that invented and developed the Definity Lens, a progressive addition lens acquired in 2005 by Essilor, the world’s largest
Ronald Blum, OD ’72, was chosen to receive SCO’s Doctor of Ocular Science degree and deliver the commencement address to the Class of 2019. The Founder and Chairman of NewSight Reality, Inc., Dr. Blum has founded and led a number of companies, including Encore Health and Encore Vision, which merged and sold to Novartis in 2017. He also founded and led The Egg Factory, PixelOptics, and
lens manufacturer. The Definity Lens at the time became the number one selling digitally surfaced progressive addition lens in North America. Dr. Blum founded a practice that has grown to be one of the largest multi-location private professional practices in the Southeastern United States. He has served on the Board of Trustees of Roanoke College. Although he stopped examining eyes in 1989, he continues to
Dr. Jennifer Lyerly
New Board Members Announced SCO recently welcomed Anita Davis, Ph.D., and Jennifer Lyerly, O.D., ’11, as the newest members to join the college's Board of Trustees. James Sandefur, OD ’65, was named Board Chair. Dr. Anita Davis currently serves as vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Trinity
Dr. Jennifer Lyerly graduated Summa Cum Laude from SCO and was named an Outstanding Clinician in her class. She was also awarded SCO’s Young Alumni Award in 2017 for her service, leadership, and support of SCO. She practices in Cary, North Carolina with a focus on specialty contact lenses.
College in Connecticut and is a
Dr. Lyerly has also co-founded
tenured associate professor at
Defocus Media, a social media
Rhodes College in Memphis. She
management company for
visited the campus last year as
private practice ODs and is
one of the researchers involved
the cohost of Defocus Media
of more than 750 patents
in SCO's ongoing diversity and
Podcast. She is also the
worldwide, Dr. Blum is one of
inclusion study.
founder of Eyedolatry Blog,
Innotech, part of his track record of success as a visionary, innovator and businessman. As the inventor or co-inventor
contribute to advances that improve sight and vision care through his active work as an inventor and entrepreneur.
As a member of the National Association of Diversity
Chang to be Honored Posthumously Freddy Chang, OD, PhD, who passed away last fall, will be
Officers in Higher Education, Dr. Davis holds both a PhD and MA degree in clinical/
posthumously awarded the title Professor Emeritus at this
community psychology from
year’s commencement ceremony. Dr. Chang served on SCO’s
the University of Illinois at
faculty for nearly 15 years following a distinguished career at
Urbana-Champaign, and a BA
other optometry colleges and within the profession.
from Rhodes College.
an eyecare website with a focus on encouraging women’s leadership within optometry. Dr. Lyerly was named one of Vision Monday's Most Influential Women in Optometry in 2015 and was a 2018 Transition Academy's Brand Ambassador of the Year.
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SCO Makes History 1955 Graduate Gift Marks Largest in College History AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE OPTOMETRY ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA AND SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY RESULTED IN THE TRANSFER OF A $1.5 MILLION TRUST TO SCO MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ESTATE OF THE LATE MARK W. FRANKS, OD ’55, A LONGTIME LOUISIANA OPTOMETRIST.
6 | SCOVISIONS
Following his death in 1989, Dr. Franks and his wife, Mary, bequeathed approximately $500,000 to the Optometry Association of Louisiana to establish a low interest loan trust for Louisiana optometry students who attended SCO. After several years of legal and financial transactions to establish the trust, it finally came to fruition in 2000, at which time the college agreed to help administer the loan program with oversight from the OAL.
alumni joined in the celebration ‹‹‹ Louisiana of their late colleague’s historic gift.
the early 1950s. The education he received at SCO enabled him to practice optometry in Winnsboro, Louisiana until his death in 1989, so the collaboration on this gift is a fitting tribute to the memory of a remarkable SCO graduate.” SCO Board of Trustees Chair James Sandefur, OD ’65, also serves as the OAL’s Executive Director and joined Dr. Reich in making the announcement at the college’s reception for alumni and friends during SECO International’s New Orleans convention for 6,000 optometric professionals from around the world. “Louisiana is one of the nation’s most forward-thinking states when it comes to the practice of optometry and the scope of our profession, so this gift underscores our state’s commitment to recruiting the best and brightest optometry students to join our profession and follow in the tradition of Dr. Mark Franks,” Dr. Sandefur said. “As Board Chair of SCO and as Executive Director of the OAL, I know first-hand that Dr. Franks loved optometry, Louisiana, and knew how important it was to give back to his profession so future optometric physicians could follow in his footsteps.” The New Orleans announcement paid tribute to Dr. Franks, who was born March 17, 1922 in Owasso, Oklahoma. After working in construction, he served his country in World War II and pursued an engineering degree before switching to optometry. He worked his way through SCO by serving as a draftsman on a Memphis railroad yard. Memories of Dr. Franks were also provided by his practice’s longtime partner, W.E. Marionneaux, OD ’69.
To expand upon the potential impact originally envisioned by Dr. Franks more than 30 years ago, this year an agreement was reached to donate the existing trust fund and its control to SCO to form the Mark W. Franks and Mary Franks Scholarship and Loan Fund. Thanks to sound financial management, coupled with faithful loan repayments, the fund’s total current value is approximately $1.5 million, making it the single largest bequeathment gift in the college’s 87-year history. “SCO is grateful to the Optometry Association of Louisiana and the memory of Dr. Franks and his wife in establishing this fund,” said President Lewis Reich, OD, PhD. “Dr. Franks was a self-made man who came to Memphis for his optometric education back in
A New Orleans jazz line helped celebrate the historic announcement at SECO.
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A Q&A with SCO’s Board Chair James Sandefur, OD ’65, recently became SCO Board Chair. A longtime Executive Director of the Optometry Association of Louisiana, Dr. Sandefur already is hard at work on a number of initiatives, including the development of a new pilot program. Designed by SCO, the program includes a presentation and supporting materials for ODs to take into high schools to promote the profession. Here Dr. Sandefur talks about the recent historic announcement made by the estate of a Louisiana alumnus, and the importance of increasing support for scholarships to maintain and improve upon SCO’s status as a leading optometry college for top prospective students.
WHAT’S THE GREATEST IMPACT THAT YOU HOPE TO SEE FROM THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HISTORIC GIFT MADE BY THE ESTATE OF MARK W. FRANKS, OD ’55?
Louisiana is proud to be one of the leaders when it comes to advances in the scope and practice of optometry. SCO is one of the leaders in terms of optometric education and preparing its students to practice optometry to the fullest extent possible. The recent announcement at SECO will strengthen SCO’s ability to recruit some of the best prospective students who are entering the profession at a time where these advances will enable them to succeed. WHY ARE SCHOLARSHIPS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER FOR ALUMNI TO SUPPORT?
For those of us who graduated decades ago, it’s worth remembering just how much education has changed. With all of these advances we’ve made in the profession, optometry colleges must have more technology and the right environment for training the next generation of optometrists. At the same time, the best schools actively compete for the best students, so it’s a little like sports recruiting where we need something to offerthese top prospects. Simply put, if SCO doesn’t compete for the best prospective students, another optometry college will.
8 | SCOVISIONS
As a long recognized leader in optometric education, it’s critically important for SCO to be able to have scholarships to offer our top prospects if we’re to remain competitive. WHAT ARE SOME OTHER WAYS THAT ALUMNI CAN SUPPORT OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION?
Getting involved is the most important thing. If you’ve not been back to Memphis in the past several years, I encourage you to visit and see for yourself what SCO is accomplishing. The Eye Center just underwent a refurbishment, and it’s better than ever. Our academic facilities are second to none. It’s the support of our alumni and friends that has helped us make these improvements through the years. Financial support from alumni is critically important also in order to keep SCO the best optometry school in the nation. FOR ALUMNI WHO MAY NOT REALIZE THE WORK BEING DONE TO STRENGTHEN THE APPLICANT PIPELINE, WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE NEWLY DEVELOPED PRESENTATION BEING PILOTED BY THE OAL AND OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY?
We saw an opportunity to start connecting with young people sooner in the process. If a high school student reaches college and encounters an advisor who just pushes them into the medical side of healthcare, we have to advocate for optometry as a healthcare profession earlier in career planning. The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry has launched a recruiting effort, and SCO is
New Initiatives Launched to Appeal to Students The new presentation that Dr. Sandefur referred to
doing its part by creating a pilot program presentation that ODs can take out to high schools and into their communities and tell the story about why optometry is one of the top career choices that a young person can make.
in his Q&A was developed in part from an SCO strategic initiative in which students shared their ideas for encouraging high school students to consider optometry as a career choice.
We keep moving forward. Louisiana was recently joined by our neighbor to the north, Arkansas, in making some important legislative advances in scope of practice allowing doctors of optometry to perform certain ophthalmic surgery procedures. SCO has always been part of the effort to advocate for the ability to train its students to practice optometry at the fullest scope possible. These advances only happen by planning and hard work. Just being supportive of optometric education is important, because it’s the pipeline for everybody entering the profession. To make optometry stronger, we have to work hard to recruit and encourage the best possible eye doctors to build on the progress we’ve seen made in our profession.
A HEALTHCARE PROFESSION WITH VISION PRESENTATION CREATED BY
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPTOMETRIST & OPHTHALMOLOGIST? OPTOMETRISTS
OPHTHALMOLOGISTS
• Four years of optometry school • One year residency optional • Doctor of Optometry (OD) • Primary Care Provider • Examine, diagnose, treat & manage ocular disorders, diseases, injuries & systemic diseases that manifest in the eye
• Four years of medical school • Three year residency plus one year of internship • Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) • Specialist • Also performs surgical procedures
Nearly 85% of all eye health & vision care is provided by optometrists in the US State of the Optometric Profession - 2013
A number of faculty members and staffers across the college worked on the presentation, which was then tested and refined with a focus group of Memphis area high school students. Participating ODs received a short training session
FOR ALUMNI WHO MAY HAVE GRADUATED DECADES AGO BUT NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN LATER YEARS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS YOU’VE SEEN HAPPEN AT SCO AND IN OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION BASED ON YOUR OPTOMETRY LEADERSHIP AND CURRENT ROLE AS SCO’S BOARD CHAIR?
OPTOMETRY
in which the program’s goals were outlined, along with ideas on how to best present the material. Ideally, ODs or optometry students who maintain relationships with high school counselors, career coaches, or teachers are positioned to seek out opportunities for presenting the material.
WHAT ARE THE PERSONAL BENEFITS OF BEING AN OPTOMETRIST?
• Improving Patients’ Lives • Family – Work Life Balance • Very Little Emergency-On Call Duty • Opportunities to Own Practice • Financial Security
HOW DOES THE FUTURE OF OPTOMETRY LOOK?
Elsewhere, similar messages were incorporated into SCO’s newly redesigned website. Faculty and students appear in videos prominently placed on the site’s home page as they share their experiences and
talk
about
• 2 million Americans have glaucoma “Optometrist” Makes CNNMoney’s 100 Best Jobs in America at #12
• 4 million Americans (> 40 yrs.) have diabetic eye complications • 6.5 million Americans (> 40 yrs.) have macular degeneration
Best Jobs in the US: #7 Optometry, 2018
• 38 million Americans experience blindness, low vision or an age-related eye disease in their lifetime
why
optometry is an appealing career option. The new site also streamlined a one-stop webpage with the basic facts about the steps required in the admissions process. Alumni are also encouraged to check out the sites’ new “milestone events” section where regularly occurring events have their own pages for easy reference, including Fall Homecoming and CE Weekend and other programs of interest to alumni. Additional alumni resources are being developed and will be added to the site over the next several months.
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SCO’s Graduating Class of 2019 Meet the graduating Class of 2019 (bold face state listings are where each graduate hopes to work). During their four years at SCO, The Hayes Center has worked with them to find placement opportunities at sco.edu/placementservice. Alumni are invited to post practice opportunity information on our site for students or young alumni as well. Contact Lisa Wade, OD in The Hayes Center at lwade@sco.edu to learn more. Congratulations to the Class of 2019!
Daniel Boone Springfield, MO
Zachary Ford
Lindsey Brise Telkwa, BC, CN
Vikarma Brooks
Thomas Brown Jr.
Zachary Burroughs
Kelly Cawley
Brian Chado
Mary Chivetta
Sohyun Cho
Winston-Salem, NC MD
Plant City, FL MD
Middletown, MD MD
Paragould, AR AR, MS, OR
Stuart, FL TN
Frederick, MD MD, VA
Saint Louis, MO MO
Las Vegas, NV
Bismarck, AR
West Des Moines, IA TN
Overland Park, KS KS, MO
Alicia Genilo
Zachary German
Amanda Giulietti
Brittany Glatting
Taylor Greene
Emily Haddix
Emily Hammer
Victoria Harlow
Marjorie Jenkins
Suzanne Johannes
Bailey Kennedy
Sarah Kenning
Abagail Kirk
Julia Kitchens
Kathryn Koslowski
Larissa Krenk
Shelby Kruse
Kevin Lambert
Matthew McBride
Brandon McChesney
Morgan McClintic
Elizabeth McDowell
Ashley McGee
Stephanie McMillen
Blake Means
Royce Miles
Doan Moore
Spencer Moore
Mary Price
Nicholas Qualls
Kelly Reed
Stephanie Rice
Jennifer Rider
Nicholas Risbrudt
Will Sawyer, Jr.
Joshua Taylor
Kelsey Teneycke
Morgan Thorson
Amber Thulin
Amrik Tiwana
Dyersburg, TN NY, NJ
McKenzie, TN TN
Russellville, AR AR
Forrest City, AR TN
Madilyn Fouse
Elizabeth Brooks
Soddy-Daisy, TN TN, GA, NY
Marion Center, PA PA, WV
Memphis, TN TN, MO, IL
Watrous, SK, CN AZ
10 | SCOVISIONS
Aledo, TX TX
Benton, AR AR
Elk Point, SD NV
Manchester, IA IA
Centerville, OH TN, AZ, NM
Hutchinson, KS KS, MO, NC
Texarkana, TX TX
Springfield, MO MO
Littleton, CO TN
Cheshire, CT DC, VA, MD
Minneola, KS TN, KS, CO
Alamo, TN AR, TN
Wichita, KS IL, KS, CO
Nashville, TN
Oshkosh, WI WI
Douglasville, GA MO
Crestview, FL TN
Corryton, TN TN
Green Bay, WI WI
Memphis, TN TN, MS
Elkins, WV KY
Seward, NE IN
Starkville, MS MS
Dandridge, TN TN
Lincoln, NE NY
Fort Mill, SC NC, SC
Fergus Falls, MN ND
Overland Park, KS MS
Anna Roxberg
Shriya Ruparel
Joel Saslawsky
Kaitlyn Trahan
Jessica Vickery
Hannah Vollmer
JoAnna Vrotsos
Ocean Springs, MS
Raleigh, NC MD
Mason, OH TX, CA, CO
Logan, OH OH
Memphis, TN TN
Fontana, CA CA
Cary, NC NC
Riverton, WV WV
Charlotte, NC NC, SC
Elizabeth City, NC NC
Nicolas Vu
Mission Viejo, CA AK
Parth Amin
Southaven, MS MS, TN
Ashley Anastasio New Orleans, LA LA
Kara Clark
Sydney Cooper
Jediah Harrison
Courtney Hegener
Baxley, GA GA
Brigham City, UT VA
Rebecca Lassley
Gladstone, MI VA
Sara ArbutusDuczkowski
Heather Ashley
Heather Bae Yorktown, VA
Jacksonville, NC
Calgary, Alberta, CN CN
Rusha Barua
Christianne Belair
Brooke Blankenship
Justine Bolduc
Elizabeth Davis
Jaelyn DeBerry
Julie Ervin
Lindsay Estel
Anna Fagan
Taylor Ficek
Colleen Fischman
Blair Flint
Abingdon, VA
Kara Barrett
Cheboygan, MI MI
Advance, NC NC, CA, HI
Memphis, TN TN, TX
Dallas, TX TX
Fairmont, WV CT
Benton, AR AR
Buffalo, NY NM, NY
Kennesaw, GA GA, SC, FL
Austin, TX LA
Vicksburg, MS
Kamil Hill
Nathaniel Hitt
Jonathan Hoaglund
Victoria Howard
Cayley Hyder Fort Wayne, IN OH
Cumming, GA MI
Eric James
Kelly James
Jessica Jankiewicz
Jake Lewis
Cameron Lindsey
Aubrey Long
Amanda Lorencz
Matthew Lorson
Lydia Luther
Vanessa Manlove
Shelby May
Kristin McArdle
Minh Nguyen
Clarksdale, MS MS
Blue Springs, MO GA
Summerville, SC
Eric Nelson
Kassidy Nelson
Kelsey Newcome
Jennifer Nguyen
Genevieve Schade
Samuel Scott
Caroline Seger
Zachary Shriver
Maria Sicco
Brittany Smith
Jennifer Stewart
Louisville, KY KY, IN
Burlington, IA IA, WI
New Lothrop, MI MI
Johnson City, TN TN
Mallory Morris
Laura Mosley
Benton, KY TN
Carroll, IA IA
Annedrea Morreale
Senatobia, MS MS
Mechanicsville, VA VA
Lincolnton, NC NC
Lexington, TN TN
Birdsboro, PA U.S. Army
Lincoln, NE GA
Pratt, KS TX
Atlanta, GA GA
Jacksonville, FL FL
Enterprise, MS TN
Tipp City, OH OH
Emmett, KS KS
Miami, FL MI, TN
Hope, KS KS
Lebanon, KY KY
Sardis, TN TN
Pontotoc, MS FL
Atlanta, GA GA, HI
Sulphur, LA LA
Fargo, ND ND
Ada, MI MI
Oxford, MS
Chicago, IL IL
Monroe, WI WI
Oshkosh, WI NC, WI, LA
Sainte Genevieve, MO VA
Katelyn Palmer
David Phaup
Kaley Stinnett
Laila Tawfik
Benjamin Taylor
Hendersonville, TN TN, KY
Leawood, KS NY
Newburgh, IN GA
Raleigh, NC NC, SC
NOT PICTURED Melanie Kovacs Jeromica Ward Greenville, MS TN, MS
Jeffrey Wells Walnut, MS MS, FL
Brian Williams Boone, IA IA
Sarai Williams Liberty, KY KY
Zachary Williamson Brooks, GA
Tiffany Wooten Winchester, TN TN
Taylor Wrege Bismarck, ND
Donald York III Sophia, NC NC
Elizabeth York
Buffalo Grove, IL IL
Lebanon, OH NC
sco.edu | 11
1967 Herb Wertheim, OD, was profiled in a Forbes Magazine article about his accomplishments as an inventor and billionaire.
Gator-owned or Gator-led businesses in the world; Frisco Family Vision ranked #65 on the list.
named a recipient of Rocky Mountain College’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award and was selected as one of Essilor’s Difference Makers and traveled to Thailand for a mission trip.
OD, was named OD of the South at SECO, seen here being congratulated at SCO's reception for alumni and friends.
2006 Kristin Yates, OD, welcomed a daughter, Madeline Jane Booth on January 13, 2019.
2010 Jeannie Hu Clark, 1977
1981 Gordon Jennings, OD, was named the Chairman of the Board of VSP Global.
1982
Chuck Stumpf, OD, reports that he has retired.
1987 Fred Farias III, OD, was announced as this year's recipient of the William D. Pittman Award presented by the Texas Optometric Association. The award is given to ODs who have rendered at least 25 years of outstanding service and longterm dedication to the citizens of Texas and the profession of optometry.
2005 Dana Biederman, OD, was included on the Gator100’s list of fastest-growing,
12 | SCOVISIONS
husband, John, welcomed a son, Wallace Charles, on New Year's Day.
William Tantum, OD, was
1974 Theron “Pete” Smith,
Thomas A. Roberson, OD, returned to Haiti for his eighth consecutive year with a medical team whose eye clinic examined and provided appropriate care to more than 1,000 patients.
Tina Schiller, OD, and her
OD, and her husband, Charlie, recently welcomed a son, Charles Leroy Clark IV.
Rosalyn Coleman, OD, has been invited to speak at the National Optometric Association’s annual meeting in Atlanta in July.
2011
Jessica Dinwiddie, OD, was profiled by Women in Optometry magazine about the success of her practice, Exclusive Eye, in Rogers, Arkansas.
2013
Anna Ablamowicz, OD, completed her PhD in Vision Science at UAB titled “Characterization of Membrane Associated Mucins in Ocular Surface Disease.” She was awarded a five-year NIH K23 clinical research grant to continue investigating the effects of dry eye disease on ocular mucins.
2014 Canaan Montgomery, OD, recently spoke to third-year SCO students about opening their own practice.
2015 Brandon Hauck, OD, is now the sole owner of Broadway Vision in Eagle Grove, Iowa.
Marc Musto, OD, was named his U.S. Air Force Company's Grade Officer of the Quarter and the Year.
2016 Kate Allen, OD, was awarded with a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal from Enduring Promise 2018.
SCO ’ S STATE DAY TU R N S 10! SCO's State Day 2019 attracted one of the best ever attended gatherings of state and national association leaders on campus as they interacted with hundreds of students. It was 10 years ago when SCO launched State Day. It has since been adopted by a number of other optometry schools. A number of alumni in attendance participated in State Day during their time as students. Nineteen state and AOA representatives participated, including Robert Layman, OD, AOA Secretary-Treasurer. Alumni included: ARKANSAS
Matt Jones ’09 Belinda Starkey ’04 Katie Smith Brown ’12 Rusty Simmons ’83 Creighton Simmons ’90 Melia Robertson ’10
Presley Trammell Magee, OD, welcomed a daughter, Lillian Kristee, on December 20. Alley Meredith, OD, and Winn Meredith, OD, welcomed twin girls on February 25, 2019.
Ashley Toland, OD, recently joined Stuart Thomas, OD ’84,
COLORADO
Katie Brown ’16
in practice at Thomas Eye Center in Georgia.
GEORGIA
2017 Jacob Nordhues, OD,
ILLINOIS
has joined EyeCare Specialties in Fremont, Nebraska.
2018 Whitney Stock, OD, joined Fischer Laser Eye Center in Willmar, Minnesota.
Stuart Tasman, ’80 Eric Botts, ’92 IOWA
Zack Lancaster ’17 Tyler Lefeber ’17 KENTUCKY
Rod Rallo ’80 Joey Hammond ’12 Julie Rallo ’18
2019 | NOLA
| LOUISIANA
Jonathan Bowman ’10 MISSOURI
Joseph Rich ’12 MISSISSIPPI
Mary Kathryn Wilson ’12 OHIO
Rebecca Brown ’03 SOUTH CAROLINA
Jan and Bob Smalling, OD ’74
2009 Classmates
Sara Beaver ’13
TENNESSEE
Jeremy Diamond ’07 Garrett Sheperd ’05
Jessica Ward, OD ’18, Shanelle Jenkins, OD ’18, Brehana Hawkins, OD ’18
Cynthia Baker, OD ’83, Martha Rosemore Morrow, OD ’74, and Andrea Thau, OD
Ann and Bill Reynolds, OD ’85, Matt Jones, OD ’09
TEXAS
Mario Contaldi ’84 VIRGINIA
Adam Melton ’04 Also in attendance were other ODs or representatives
Miranda Brafford, ‘22, Stuart Thomas, OD ’84, Suzanne Falkowski, ’22
from Kansas, Michigan,
Susan and Ron Bannister, OD ’77, Nickole and Darby Chiasson, OD ’09
Minnesota, North Carolina, West Virginia, and the AOA. Thanks to everyone for networking and meeting with our students to encourage their participation and involvement!
Amy Puerto, OD ’15 and Alison Bozung, OD ’15
INMEMORIAL Morton E. Muir, OD ’47 Robert C. Rollings, OD ’51 Donald L. Evans, OD ’52 Curtis A. Parker, OD ’52 A.D. Jenkins, III, OD ’53 Thomas E. Theobald, OD ’63 Charles D. Lawler, OD ’64 Roy Lee Ashabranner, OD ’77 Farrell M. Roe, OD ’77 Wesley R. Clark, OD ’80 David Adler, OD ’09
Diane and Lewis Reich, OD, PhD
Matthew Thibodeaux, OD ’17, Jeff Anastasio, OD ’01, Shelly Anastasio, OD ’02
SCO students
SCO Students
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On Campus Focus Hayes Center Selects Award Recipients The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence (HCPE) saw a banner year of interest in its 2019 HCPE Practice of Excellence Award with a record 57 young ODs nominated this year. Designed to identify and reward successful practices, the HCPE Practice of Excellence Award recognizes the achievements by younger SCO graduates and allows them to share their success stories with current students. The awards are divided into three sections based on the number of years of practice: long-term, midterm, and recent graduate. A panel of judges, including Hayes Center Director Lisa Wade, OD ’84, MPA, and Hayes Center co-founder Jerry Hayes, OD ’73, made the selections. “All the judges feel secure in knowing the future of our profession is in good hands,” Dr. Wade said. “These alumni are doing amazing things and setting a high bar for their peers.” • Long-term Graduate award recipient (2008-2011) was Murray Pratt, OD ’11, who practices at Lifetime Eye Care in Phoenix, AZ; • Mid-term Graduate award recipients (2012-2014) were John Nail, OD ’12, and Hannah Schmidt Nail, OD ’13, who practice at Curtis Optometry, in Columbus, MS; and • Recent Graduate award recipient (2008-2011) was Frank Carusone, OD ’16, who practices at EyeXcel in Knoxville, TN. L-R: Nathan Hayes, Natalie Hayes, Frank Carusone, OD ’16, John Nail, OD ’12, Hannah Schmidt Nail, OD ’13, Murray Pratt, OD ’11, and Jerry Hayes, OD ’73.
the second event in the spring. The result saw a marked improvement in participation rates. In this IPE Diabetics Clinic Experience, an optometry student is teamed with at least one social work student and another physician assistant student. A case conference discusses concerns raised by patients during the intake and to review any existing chart information. A report-out session with patients and a group debriefing follows after the event. “During dilation, the physician assistant students perform a physical on the patients,” explained Melissa Zarn, OD, SCO’s Director of Interprofessional Education. “Optometry students may have a PA student as well as a social work student in the exam room with them and the patient for the entire exam, so it’s truly a collaborative patient care and learning experience for all involved.” “In addition to providing students with a collaborative learning approach, diabetic patients benefit from receiving multiple health services in one setting,” Dr. Zarn said. The program also is designed to encourage maximum coordination between disciplines, learning about the role each healthcare provider plays in the process. Nutrition education was also emphasized because its important role in maintaining healthy blood sugar and weight levels in diabetics. One of the patients, Deborah Hines, has been a SCO patient since the age of 13 and sees the value in participating in the IPE Diabetes Clinic. “I had a wonderful experience at the Diabetes Clinic and I definitely encourage those with diabetes to take advantage of this opportunity to make sure everything is okay,” said Hines. The IPE Diabetes Clinic Experience is planned to be held at least once each semester as SCO continues to partner with other educational and healthcare partners.
Faculty News Kristin Anderson, OD, was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow in the National Academies of Practice (NAP) during the Annual Meeting and Forum.
Congratulations to these outstanding young alumni for their practice success!
FocalPoint Hosts IPE Diabetes Clinics SCO’s FocalPoint at Crosstown Concourse recently held its second interprofessional collaborative diabetes clinic. SCO students joined physician assistant students from Christian Brothers University, social work students and faculty from Union University, pharmacists from Good Shepherd Pharmacy, and the Church Health Nutrition Hub. Social workers identified diabetic patients in advance. When transportation issues were a challenge for the first pilot program’s fall session, an effort was made to provide transportation access at
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Drs. Chris Borgman, Halie Cottrill ’16, Mike Dorkowski ’04, Scott Ensor ’01, Michael Gerstner ’97, Alicia Groce, Mary Hoang ’14, Tyler Kitzman ’16, Wil McGriff, Christina Newman, Jennifer Snyder ’13, Karen Squier, Marc Taub, Lisa Wade ’84, and Melissa Zarn were among the faculty participating in this year’s Spring CE Weekend on campus. Dan Fuller, OD, Professor, was invited to join the Gas Permeable Lens Institute’s Advisory Board and was recently named the Treasurer on the Scleral Lens Education Society's Executive Board. He's pictured in the rear line from this group photo with his fellow Advisory Board members taken at the Global Specialty Lens Symposium in Las Vegas. Other faculty members who participated at the GSLS meeting includes Drs. Mike Christensen, John Mark Jackson ’99, Chris Lievens, Christina Newman, and Dan Powell.
Paul Harris, OD, Professor, lectured at the Kraskin Invitational Skeffington Symposium.
SCO PARTNERS WITH MUSICARES TO PROVIDE EYECARE TO LOCAL MUSICIANS
Whitney Hauser, OD ’01, talked about how ODs can treat dry eye in Review of Optometry's “The Direction of Optometry” podcast series. She also published dry eye-related articles for Optometric Management and lectured at the Trinidad and Tobago Optometrists Association meeting.
laborated to provide eyecare services to local musicians and artists.
Chris Lievens, OD, was a co-author of an article about using hydrogen peroxide for cleaning contact lenses which was published in Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice. He also published an article about blue light in the March 2019 issue of Optometry Times. Lewis Reich, OD, PhD, President, helped by chairing ASCO's new "Optometry Gives Me Life Campaign," a targeted approach designed to promote the profession of optometry as a career choice to high school and earlier in the college cycle. Glen Steele, OD ’69, has been announced as one of four outstanding ODs who will be inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame at the AOA meeting in June. He recently partnered with Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation, on a two-day program to promote InfantSEE at SCO. A capacity crowd of students attended the evening session, with a large turnout the following day for the public program designed to provide teachers, parents, and other healthcare providers with information about children's vision.
Recently, SCO and the Recording Academy’s MusiCares program colThe MusiCares program provides assistance for people in the music industry in their times of need including financial help, addiction recovery assistance, and healthcare assistance. “Memphis is a music town and there are a lot of hard-working members of the music industry with limited resources when it comes to health care,” said Aaron Kerr, OD ’98, FAAO, Chief of External Clinics and Associate Professor. “Through MusiCares, we are able to provide eye care to those who need it. It’s a privilege and an honor to be able to serve our music community in this way.” The MusiCares Clinic took place at our newest clinical facility, FocalPoint at Crosstown Concourse, with the help of one of our SCO alumni. Stephanie
Judkins Price, OD, ’06 is a partner with MusiCares through her private practice, Port Royal Eyecare in Spring Hill, TN. After becoming aware of MusiCares, Dr. Price wanted to provide eye health and vision care services to musicians in Memphis and reached out to SCO. “We had such great success with our clinic in the Nashville area, and knew that Memphis also has music at its heart,” said Dr. Price. “I am so thrilled that these services are being offered in Memphis now, and especially glad to know that SCO is a part of it.” “We decided that FocalPoint would be an ideal setting for a MusiCares
Drs. Beth Sparrow, ’98, Jennifer Jones, ’06, Chris Borgman, Chris Lievens, Jason Duncan, ’96, and resident Andrea Yee, OD, presented at the Heart of America Congress meeting. Dr. Duncan also lectured at SECO, along with Drs. Marie Bodack, Patricia Walker, and Scott Ensor, ’01. Amanda Tompkins, OD ’13, traveled to West Africa to provide care arranged through Southern Eye Institute’s eye clinic. She assisted in providing pre- and post-operative care to approximately 800 villagers. Gregory Wolfe, OD, MPH, was the co-author of a $30,000 grant awarded from the AOA Health Policy Institute to carry out a study researching the impact of online/telehealth apps on health literacy compared to in-person primary eye care examinations.
clinic because it is the place where SCO brings together health care, education, and the arts, so it fits right in,” said Dr. Kerr. When returning home to Nashville, TN after practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area for years and getting involved in Project Homeless Connect, Dr. Price was inspired to combine the two things she loved… music and eye care. Dr. Price plans to continue to be active in the community and give back to her alma mater. SCO and MusiCares plan to continue to collaborate to provide the MusiCares Clinic once per quarter at FocalPoint. To view our patient testimonials, visit our YouTube channel (youtube.com/user/SCOedu). To learn more about MusiCares, visit grammy.com/musicares. To learn more about Port Royal Eyecare, visit portroyaleyecare.com.
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Meet us in St. Louis Save the Date SCO’S RECEPTION AT AOA FRIDAY, JUNE 21 | 5 PM
News Briefs EYE SERVE MEMPHIS AWARDS DEBUT
SCO recently created the Eye Serve Memphis Award to recognize members of the campus community who have dedicated time and energy to giving back to charity, service involvement, or other meaningful contributions that make life better for others. Two inaugural awards were presented, to Janice FrazierScott (pictured left) from the Human Resources Department for her longtime community and civil rights work and to Julie Shalhoub, OD, (pictured left) for her volunteer work as a mentor with Youth Villages. Each award recipient received a medallion and representatives from the NAACP and Youth Villages were on hand to receive a contribution made in each recipient's honor.
HOMECOMING /FALL CE WEEKEND OCTOBER 3-6
MLK DAY
Dozens of volunteers, including students, faculty, and staff, volunteered at this year’s MLK Day of Service at the National Civil Rights Museum. ONLINE CE COURSES ADDED
Alumni are encouraged to visit the continuing education section of SCO’s website. A whole new slate of COPE-approved video CE courses led by faculty members will be added soon. SCO RECEIVES GRIZZLIES AWARD
Mentor Memphis Grizzlies honored SCO with its Mentoring Business Advocate of the Year Award in recognition of our work with Youth Villages. With 27 volunteers who serve as mentors, SCO's students and employees represent the second highest number of participants in Youth Village's mentoring program.