Southern College of Optometry Student Organizations 2021

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Welcome to SCO, Class of 2025!

On behalf of the American Optometric Student Association, congratulations on your acceptance to Southern College of Optometry! All of your hard work to get to this point has paid off and brought you here for the most challenging, but rewarding four years of your life. The AOSA is here to support you; today’s students and tomorrow’s Doctors of Optometry.

The AOSA is the student division of the American Optometric Association, which advocates for and protects the profession of optometry. The AOSA’s mission is “Empowering students to thrive as doctors of optometry.” We value loyalty, respect, foresight, integrity, and collaboration. The AOSA is here for you! Our goal is to assist you with any obstacles you may encounter on your optometric journey through educational resources, networking opportunities, such as AOA+ Leadership Link, and the knowledge to launch you into a successful career.

The AOSA at SCO hosts multiple events each year for our student members. These events include Optifest, State Day, Student Bowl, and World Sight Day. We also promote and support national conferences like Optometry’s Meeting and AOA on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. We provide thousands of dollars’ worth of travel grants to help send you to the most important meetings of the year so that you have every opportunity possible to learn and grow.

The most exciting part about AOSA at SCO is that you are all members! You are automatically enrolled as a member because the college pays your dues for you. So, you already have access to all of the incredible benefits that AOSA has to offer! I’m so excited for you to get to experience all of the wonderful aspects of the AOSA, here at SCO, and on a national level.

If you have any questions about the AOSA, please do not hesitate to reach out!

Zach Groves zgroves@sco.edu AOSA Trustee-Elect Nicole Wohlfort nwohlfort@sco.edu AOSA Trustee

Beta Sigma Kappa Congratulations to the class of 2025! On behalf of our school’s chapter of Beta Sigma Kappa, I want to welcome you to Southern College of Optometry.

BSK was founded in 1925 by a small group of optometrists in Illinois. Beta Sigma Kappa now has student chapters in every school and college of optometry in the United States, with two in Canada, and one in Puerto Rico.

Membership in BSK is by way of invitation to students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher at the culmination of each academic year, and membership in BSK is for life.

BSK supports and works with student chapters to develop programs that foster academic excellence. Our mission is to stimulate scientific attainment, the ethical practice of optometry, and to provide financial support for worthy research projects relating to vision care and the eyes.

The SCO chapter of BSK organizes mock practicals for 1st and 2nd year students to help them anticipate what real practicals will be like. In addition to the mock practicals, BSK is also involved in blood drives, maintaining a study guide resource for students on IRIS, and giving out teacher of the year awards.

Membership in BSK is an honor and I look forward to seeing each of you in just a few short weeks.

Kindest regards, Mary Beth Jones President, Beta Sigma Kappa Class of 2023

Karrie Sestak President

Kendra Raths Vice President

Emily Seuferer Secretary

Meredith Fry Treasurer

Dr. Christina Newman Faculty Advisor

Class of 2025, On behalf of the Contact Lens Society, congratulations and welcome to SCO! Deciding which organizations to become involved in is one of many important and exciting decisions which lie ahead – fortunately, SCO has a wide assortment of clubs, organizations and programs designed to fit every interest.

Our goal is to provide education, information, and hands on experience to anyone interested in learning more about the world of contact lenses. Guest speakers from SCO faculty, researchers, doctors, and industry representatives/consultants will be invited to share the latest developments in the field, with an emphasis on making meetings interactive.

I invite you to check out what the Contact Lens Society has to offer – feel free to email me at ksestak@sco.edu with any questions or suggestions. Again, congratulations and enjoy getting to know Memphis and SCO! Karrie Sestak Class of 2023

COVD: COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRISTS IN VISION DEVELOPMENT Class of 2025, Congratulations and welcome to SCO! Here is your first optometry lesson:

Vision is much more than seeing 20/20!

COVD optometrists go beyond prescribing glasses and contact lenses to improve vision.

They use vision therapy to help patients with eye turns and eye muscle problems, patients who have suffered strokes or concussions, children with learning disabilities, athletes looking to improve their abilities, and patients with physical and mental disabilities.

Vision therapy trains the brain and visual system to work more efficiently and effectively and can be used to teach patients to correctly focus and move their eyes.

As a student organization, our goal is to share our enthusiasm about vision therapy and enhance our classroom and clinical education on the topic. Throughout the year, we will hear from leading vision therapy doctors at SCO and across the country. We hold fundraisers like selling Pediatric Packs of equipment, Boo Pops during Halloween, and events like our super fun VT Olympics!

We can't wait to see you!

Melisa Kalac, COVD President 2021-2022

GAMMA OMICRON A student organization dedicated to promoting and educating women in optometry

WELCOME TO SCO! On behalf of Gamma Omicron, I’d like to welcome you to the SCO family!

Congratulations on entering this exciting new chapter. We can’t wait to meet you and walk alongside you in this journey!

WE CAN’T WAIT TO MEET YOU! Our goal in Gamma Omicron is to empower and uplift women in optometry. We hold meetings and events to provide opportunities to learn from successful and inspiring women that are making a difference in the optometry community.

SEE YOU SOON! Our meetings are open to everyone and we would love to have you as part of our club. We can’t wait to get to know you!

Sincerely, Kylie Scott, Class of 2023 Gamma Omicron President kscott@sco.edu

Dear Class of 2025, On behalf of Gold Key Optometric Honor Society, welcome to Southern College of Optometry!

You are about to embark on a very exciting chapter, and we congratulate you on this step forward in your academic professional career. It is my sincere hope that these next four years are filled with experiences that contribute to your personal and professional growth.

The mission of Gold Key is to recognize optometry students who demonstrate outstanding leadership to their college and profession. Membership to Gold Key is limited to 10% of the graduating class. The American Optometric Association recognizes Gold Key membership as “the highest honor for leadership a student of optometry can achieve”.

Rising fourth years are chosen for membership by their peers based on contributions they have made through the profession and school. Although the honor of Gold Key membership may feel far into the future, the evaluation for candidacy is happening every day as you interact with other members of your class, and within the SCO and Memphis communities.

Our institution offers a wide array of extracurricular organizations which will undoubtedly benefit from your active involvement. I encourage you to get involved in organizations and activities that spark your passions. The meetings, projects, and trips will impact your perspective and may even change your life. It is these experiences outside the classroom that you will vividly remember in May 2025 when you walk across the commencement stage and are welcomed as a Doctor of Optometry! I wish you the best of luck in your academic, professional, and personal pursuits. Please feel free to reach out with any questions regarding Gold Key. Welcome to SCO!

Sincerely,

Suzanne Falkowski, Class of 2022 International Society and SCO Chapter President Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society sfalkowski@sco.edu

What Lions Club represents, The Lions Club is an international organization primarily dedicated to the preservation of sight and has been actively involved in service to the blind and visually impaired since 1917. Founded in February of 2004, the club has participated in various vision screenings and fundraising events throughout the years, like the Hamilton Eye Institute 5k run, Leader Dogs for the Blind, and the Nerf Gun War fundraiser.

Each year the club is able to help patients in The Eye Center by financially sponsoring their vision care and services from the money we raise as an organization. Not only are we members serving the greater Memphis area, but we are also members of a worldwide organization, one of more than 46,000 clubs serving 193 countries and geographical areas. As Lions, we are continually changing our programs to meet new needs and greater demands, but our mission has never wavered: “WE SERVE!”

Class of 2025, Welcome to the Southern College of Optometry! On behalf of the Lions Club of Memphis at the Southern College of Optometry, I would like to congratulate you on your acceptance. You will be given many opportunities to get involved and help the community through volunteering.

Please take advantage of these service opportunities to give back, which could also improve your optometric skills as well!

Feel free to contact me at nschumm@sco.edu if you have any questions or would like more information. Come join one of the best clubs in the world!

Nathan Schumm, SCO Lions Club President

SCO LOW VISION CLUB LOW VISION OPTOMETRY IS: COLLABORATIVE. INNOVATIVE. COMPASSIONATE. REWARDING.

DEAR CLASS OF 2025, Welcome to SCO and congratulations on choosing optometry as your future career!

IS LOW VISION IN YOUR FUTURE? YES! The demand for low vision optometrists is increasing as the population lives longer. Some of your future patients will have permanently reduced vision that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery. While vision loss can be devastating, it's NOT a dead-end for a patient's life.

It’s in every optometry student’s best interest to be familiar with low vision solutions and community resources to help patients make the most of their remaining vision.

OUR GOALS: RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT LOW VISION SERVICES & CONNECT WITH RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY & IMPROVE WHAT WE CAN OFFER PATIENTS.

WHAT DO MEETINGS LOOK LIKE? Here in Low Vision Club, our meetings are a great way to network with: - Optometrists - Healthcare partners - Low vision residents - So many more folks!

- Device/Technology reps - Community support agencies - Industry specialists

Plus, we host fun events and fundraisers! My favorite event last year was our paint night using low vision simulator goggles (pictured above).

We have great meetings in store this year! I can't wait to have the Class of 2025 join the SCO Low Vision Club! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Jackie Malish Class of 2023

LV Club President jmalish@sco.edu

Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association Welcome to SCO, Class of 2025!

We’re so excited that you’re joining us at SCO this year!

NORA at SCO is part of a national organization focused on assisting people who have experienced neurological damage. One distinguishing aspect of this organization is that it is interdisciplinary, involving optometrists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals that all work together to rehabilitate the patients.

NORA at SCO is focused on educating our students about the visual affects of brain injuries, treatment methods, and the importance of working with other healthcare professionals to best help our patients. Recently we have begun to collaborate with University of Tennessee occupational therapy students, providing us with a unique opportunity to develop connections and share knowledge with others who have a passion for Neuro rehab.

Join us at our first meeting September 29th at 7 pm in Room 820 Questions? Email me at hfairchild@sco.edu

National Optometric Student Association (NOSA)

Dear Class of 2025, Congratulations and welcome to Southern College of Optometry! We are so excited that you are here! Your involvement in student organizations can greatly enhance your experience over the next four years. We hope that you will consider membership in NOSA. The National Optometric Student Association (NOSA) is an international service organization for students dedicated to increasing access to eyecare for minority and under-served communities. We are committed to increasing awareness of social and cultural differences to enhance doctor-patient relationships, serving the greater Memphis community, and promoting diversity and inclusion in optometry.

NOSA is open to ALL students who want to make a difference!

NOSA hosts many events at SCO throughout the academic year. In addition to our general body meetings, where we have a variety of speakers on different topics, we host Faculty Feud, SCO’s Got Talent, and a Spanish class with a focus on performing an eye exam. We also participate in community service events, provide mentorship to high school students, and have fundraisers.

Your experience in optometry school is up to you! We would love if you joined us in NOSA! Good luck with your journey and have fun!

Sincerely, Your 2021-2022 NOSA Executive Board Lindsey Tillery – President Serena McArthur – Vice President Jessica Jacob – Treasurer Karen Talens – Secretary Charne Ellis – Fundraising Chair Coralis Millien – Historian

First meeting is FREE for all students.

OPTOMETRIC PRIVATE PRACTICE CLUB FIRST MEETING : SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

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 CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 202 5!

As President of the Optometric Private Practice Club, I want to warmly welcome you to Southern College of Optometry. I am so excited for you all to experience what this amazing school has to offer, and getting involved in student organizations is a huge way to enrich your time here.

Private practice optometry has deep roots in our profession and has long shown the greatest potential for earnings and satisfaction. OPP is designed to give you all the tools you need to be successful in private practice optometry. We hold monthly meetings with nationally and internationally known lecturers, and as long as all is safe with COVID, we hope to bring back our Private Practice Crawl this year! OPP provides great networking and leadership opportunities. We hope you’ll join us at our first meeting on September 9. Best of luck as you begin your time here at SCO! Questions? Email Madyson Locke at mlocke@sco.edu

REMOTE AREA MEDICAL REMOTE AREA MEDICAL

REMOTE AREA MEDICAL Remote Area Medical (RAM) is a major nonprofit provider of mobile medical clinics. They provide medical care to those individuals who live in underserved, isolated communities. Most clinics provide medical, dental, vision, and preventative care.

SCO students have the opportunity to provide vision services to hundreds of patients during a RAM trip. Students will spend a weekend in a rural area of Tennessee to provide services such as refraction, slit lamp examination, and dilated fundus exams. All patients also receive free glasses made on-site.

RAM opportunities are emailed out to the student body and students will be chosen to attend. All students and faculty are welcome to participate!

CONTACT US Suzanne MichelleFalkowski Alaimo Co--Coordinator Coordinator Co sfalkowski@sco.edu malaimo@sco.edu

https://www.ramusa.org/our-magazine/

Makayla Cornwell-Young Haley Bolden CoCoordinator Co-Coordinator mcornwell@sco.edu hbolden@sco.edu

Welcome Class of 2025!

Founded in 1922, the American Academy of Optometry is one of the oldest optometry organizations. The AAO provides exceptional education, supports innovative research, and disseminates knowledge to advance optometric practice and improve patient care. At each annual meeting, over 30 hours of lectures, workshops, posters, and more are available to professors, students, and doctors. The meetings are wonderfully educational and incredibly fun! I went to my first meeting as a second-year student, and despite it being the first virtual conference, it was neat to see all the knowledge that I had learned at SCO that I could apply to the live lectures! There are several events specifically for students that include a student luncheon, networking events, exhibit hall hours, and the Essilor Academic Challenge.

As a student of SCO, you are already registered as a member of the AAO! Our student chapter works to facilitate student attendance at the annual meetings and provides travel grants to our students to help offset the costs of attendance. Be on the lookout for emails containing more information about this year’s November conference in Boston, MA!

All the best, Michelle Yan, C/O 2023 2021-2022 scAAO President

Welcome Class of 2025!

Mission

Benefits and Plans

The mission of Spectrum at the Southern College of Optometry is to create a school community where all students and faculty/staff members feel welcome and supported, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We also seek to provide a voice for those who have lost theirs and to promote equality and diversity through social gatherings, community outreach, and campus-wide activities.

Plans for this club include both social and community service projects. It is important that everyone feels that they have a safe place at SCO, and it is our mission to provide that space.

History Spectrum was founded at SCO in the Spring of 2017. The founding members saw the need for an LGBTQ community for staff, faculty, and students. Since forming the club, we have had many great speakers including alumni, staff, and representatives from CHOICES and Out Memphis.

2021-2022 Club Officers President Vice-Presidents: Secretary: Treasurer: New Member:

Jonathan Wetzel ‘23 Mary Beth Jones ‘23 Joanne Nguyen ‘23 Madison Bailey ‘24 Payton Ranck ’24 YOU!!! And YOU, TOO!!!

First Meeting TBD! As we navigate the current situation, plans for our first meeting are still in the works. Please email jwetzel@sco.edu to be added to the Spectrum group e-mail list and receive future updates!

A Word from the President…

Welcome! You’ve made a great choice in choosing SCO for your optometric education. A second great choice would be to join us in Spectrum!

Although it would be quite easy to reduce Spectrum to the “LGBT Club” on campus, the truth is that there are many minority populations present on campus not currently represented by a club of their own. I would love for you to see Spectrum as a club for everyone, regardless of gender, orientation, race, age, religion, nationality or creed. If you’ve ever felt marginalized, or wish to be an ally for those that have been, Spectrum is the place for you!

With PRIDE, Jonathan Wetzel

Welcome Class of 2025!

SPHVICA aims to unite the field of optometry with the field of public health.

In optometry, we help individual patients with their vision and eye health.

Public health allows us to examine the way our healthcare system, communities, environment, and other factors play a role in our patients’ lives and affect their well-being. We believe that all aspects of health are interconnected – and that through a better understanding of public health, we can be better optometrists and advocates for our patients.

CLUB OFFICERS President: Michelle Yan Vice President: Madison Bailey Secretary: Madyson Locke Treasurer: Ariel Chao Social Media Chair: Jackie Melton Faculty Advisor: Dr. Wolfe

Throughout the school year, we have a variety of events engaging students. This includes guest speakers on various public health topics from nutrition to infectious disease control, raising awareness for breast cancer in October, celebrating National Public Health Week in April, and much more. We have many amazing things planned for this year and hope to see you at our meetings!

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The derivation of meaning and the direction of action Goes far beyond the phoropter and seeing 20/20 Enhancing serves not only to improve performance, but also to prevent injury

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The Sports Vision society here at SCO is dedicated to developing an advanced understanding of vision and how it can be leveraged into enhanced visual performance.

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We invite students interested in helping their patient’s vision. Interest in athletics is in no way a requirement. Concepts developed at these meetings will extend further than athletics.

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Available resources for enhancement of visual performance Developments in neuronal mechanisms underlying perception and the direction of action Basics of the Sports Vision Pyramid and how to apply it to your practice Life as a professional sports team OD Leveraging CL and glasses for enhanced visual performance

O P P O R T U N I T Y ➢ Sports Vision Screenings at local colleges ➢Tour and demonstration at an established vision training practice ➢Exposure to vision training technology

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OFFICERS & ADVISORS ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢

President: Jadyn Nelson jadynnelson@sco.edu (218) 230-9363

Vice President: Joelle Reitz Treasurer: Tori Pierce Secretary: Maria Layton Faculty Advisor: Dr Paul Harris Faculty Advisor: Dr Pam Schnell

Dear Class of 2025, Welcome to SCO! We are glad you’re joining us this fall. With many of you moving to a new city or a new state, we know it can be a big transition. Your life in Memphis the next four years will be full of fun times and challenges. We want to make sure you feel connected while here at SCO, and one way to do that is to join a State Club. There are around 20 State Clubs which are full of members who either call the state home or want to practice there in the future. We hope you get involved! Stop by our booth at the student organization fair to sign up.

Benefits of joining a State Club: • Connect with students from your home state or the state where you want to work • Network with doctors who know what it is like to practice in a certain state • Find mentors to guide you through your optometric career Any specific questions or inquiries about different State Clubs can be sent to plipsey@sco.edu.

Once again, welcome to SCO! We are looking forward to seeing you at the organization fair and also at our school-wide State Day event on January 12th, 2022!

Sincerely, Phaedra Lipsey State Clubs Coordinator

WELCOME CLASS OF 2025!

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SVOSH AT SCO STUDENT VOLUNTEER OPTOMETRIC SERVICES TO HUMANITY - - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- FIRST MEETING: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 @6:30PM IN E/W CLASSROOM

What we do: Spend the year fundraising and collecting glasses to prepare for trips to various countries in Central & South America, providing comprehensive eye care to those with limited access to healthcare!

What we do: Spend the year fundraising and

Why collecting YOU should Further yourto optometric skills, glasses join: to prepare for trips Central have & theSouth opportunity America, providing to learn about comprehensive different eyecultures, care to those with limited access to health care! connect with peers and current doctors, have a rewarding and memorable experience serving others!

Why YOU should join: Further your 2019 optometric Statistics:skills, have the opportunity to learn about different cultures, connect with peers and current doctors, have a rewarding and - memorable Countries: Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, experience serving others!

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Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico 2019 9,182 Statistics: patients examined 5,877 pairs of glasses dispensed; 1,557 pairs of - Countries: Belize, Blovia, Colombia, sunglasses Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, 430 - referrals for follow up care 1,556 cases of pathology

Feel free to contact any Exec Members if you have questions!

President: Katey Fleischman kfleischman@sco.edu Vice President: Jamie Kao ykao@sco.edu Secretary: Caroline Sutton, custtton@sco.edu Treasurer: Allie Hanson, ahanson@sco.edu Travel Coordinators: McKenna Scott , mscott@sco.edu; Rim Tarzi, rtarzi@sco.edu Fundraising Coordinator: Andrew Sweeter, asweeter@sco.edu Lab Coordinator: Nathan Schumm, nschumm@sco.edu www.svoshsco.org