Visions spring 2017

SCOVISIONS SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE | SPRING 2017

success SCO’s commitment to excellence is reflected in the preparedness of

INSIDE Leadership Message................................ 4

A Look at Commencement 2017 ........... 5

our graduates. Each year SCO’s new graduates enter the profession trained to achieve success as 21st century practitioners. Our graduates appreciate the support of SCO’s alumni and friends throughout their

Focal Point at Crosstown Concourse SCO Puts Finishing Touches on New Clinic .............

6

four-year experience as optometry students. Your support of scholarships and clinical/academic programs enables our graduates to achieve their full potential in optometry.

Call (901) 722-3290 or visit sco.edu to learn how you can support SCO for as little as $83 a month as part of the college’s 200 Strong campaign.

Hello, New Graduates Meet the Class of 2017 ............................................

Conceptual artwork showing SCO’s new clinical presence at Crosstown Concourse in midtown Memphis – read more on page 6.

10

Class Notes ....................................................................... 12

Look for SCO at these upcoming events…

May 4

Commencement Memphis, TN

June 9-11

On Campus Focus ........................................................... 14

North Carolina State Optometric Society Myrtle Beach, SC

June 16-18

Optometry Association of Louisiana Baton Rouge, LA

Mark Your Calendar ........................................................ 16

June 21-25

Optometry’s Meeting Washington, DC

2 | SCOVISIONS

sco.edu | 3

From the President SCO Looks to the Future

One of the most satisfying compliments we hear about SCO usually comes from our visitors to campus. From prospective students and their families to representatives from local organizations visiting campus, we consistently receive praise about how everyone they meet at SCO is so helpful and welcoming. As I recently told our faculty and staff members, this positive attitude makes me very proud to represent the college here in Memphis and around the country.

SCO was recently named one of the city’s Top Workplaces for the fourth year in a row by the Commercial Appeal newspaper. Our own internal employee satisfaction survey showed an increase in all previously measured responses about trust, values, and our philosophy.

SCO’s quality of services to our patients were rated very highly, with 100% favorable responses.

Additionally, 94% of our employees scored the college extremely well in response to a question about taking pride in the work that SCO does in the community.

As we prepare to celebrate the transition of SCO’s Class of 2017 from student to practitioner, I’m pleased to note that we’ve accepted 133 students to the Class of 2021, with deposits up six percent over last year. Average GPA and OAT scores also remain high. SCO continues to provide outstanding academic and clinical preparation for our students to succeed.

In this issue, you’ll learn more about our newest opportunity to further expand patient care opportunities and diversify the types of patient encounters that we provide our students. The construction of our newest facility in the Crosstown Concourse building represents a great amount of excitement and preparation. Fundraising to assist in this clinic’s construction represents one of our top institutional funding priorities, along with our MobilEYES program.

Here on campus, we’re also finalizing plans to begin construction on a major project to revitalize and expand our fourth floor area. Our Blink Diner will be temporarily relocated as we renovate our food service areas, complete with a larger kitchen. Nearby, the open atrium will be filled in to expand the floor so we can provide additional study spaces and more varied seating options for our students in a “dine and study” type environment.

As SCO’s tower nears 50 years of usage, we will continue to look for opportunities to replace lighting with more efficient products, as well as making other aesthetical and functional improvements to keep our facilities at the high level of service needed by our students.

Later this spring, SCO will complete work on our new five-year Strategic Plan. We’ve been incorporating feedback from the campus-wide community, and we’re excited about some of the early initiatives and enthusiasm we’ve seen. We look forward to presenting the plan to our Board of Trustees in May and sharing more information about our future later in 2017. Please accept my thanks on your efforts in helping us make SCO a leader in optometry

VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Kristin Anderson, OD EDITOR/DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Jim Hollifield SENIOR CREATIVE DESIGNER

Susan Doyle MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST

Erin Jaffe MULTIMEDIA/GRAPHIC DESIGN ASSISTANT

Philip Tribble

Office of Institutional Advancement 1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38104-2222 800-238-0180, ext. 4 901-722-3379 FAX

Diane Rudner, Chairman of the Plough Foundation Board in Memphis, will deliver the commencement address to the Class of 2017 as they graduate on Thursday, May 4. In addition to speaking, Ms. Rudner will also be formally presented with SCO’s honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

A graduate of the University of Maryland in College Park, Ms. Rudner previously served as a bank vice president in New York before returning to Memphis in 1991 to found Insight Associates. She has served as Chair of the Plough Foundation Board since 1997.

Also receiving SCO’s Doctor of Humane Letters degree will be Marion Rosemore.

’48, Mrs. Rosemore is the matriarch of a vibrant optometry family.

Her daughter, Martha Rosemore Morrow, OD ’74, is a former SCO Board Chair. Mrs. Rosemore’s husband, brother, brother-in-law, daughter, and seven grandchildren earned the Doctor of Optometry degree. With her late husband, Mrs. Rosemore actively supported SCO through philanthropic efforts, including a scholarship which has been awarded for more than two decades to deserving students.

SCO ’ S CO M M E N C E M E NT CE R E M O N Y WI LL B E H E LD O N TH U R S DAY, M AY 4 AT 1 P M AT TH E C A N N O N C E NTE R FO R P E R FO R M I N G A R T S , WITH A R E C E P TI O N I M M E D IATE LY TO FO LLOW.

New Board Members Announced BOARD CHAIR

Cristie Upshaw Travis BOARD MEMBERS

Amanda Brewer-Lord, OD ’97 Douglas C. Clark, OD David Cockrell, OD ’81 Steven L. Compton, OD ’78 Brian L. Jones, MBA Ryan H. Powell, OD ’02 James D. Sandefur, OD ’65 Carla D. Sanderson, PhD Dave Sattler A. L. Spivey, III, OD ’67 Stuart Thomas, OD ’84 Leticia W. Towns, FACHE Cristie Upshaw Travis, MS Terry L. Tucker, OD ’84 Christopher W. Wroten, OD ’02 Larry Otten, OD ’77 FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE

Aaron M. Kerr, OD ’98 STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

Mary Nethaway Chase, ’18

4 | SCOVISIONS

Honorary Degrees to be Presented

The widow of SCO Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Fredric M. Rosemore, OD 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 www.sco.edu/visions. Please forward comments, address changes, and contributions to:

ALUMNI COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE

Lewis Reich, OD, PhD

Commencement Preview

SCO recently welcomed two new members to the college’s Board of Trustees. Joining the board are former American Optometric Association President David Cockrell, OD ’81, and former SECO International President Stuart Thomas, OD ’84. Additionally, Board member Cristie Upshaw Travis was named Board Chair for a one-year term.

Dr. David Cockrell completed his Bachelor’s degree at Oklahoma State University and his Doctor of Optometry degree from SCO. He and his wife, Cherry Cockrell, OD ’81, opened their practice in Stillwater, Oklahoma, which became known as Cockrell Eyecare Center.

In addition to serving as AOA President, Dr. Cockrell is a Diplomate and Past Chairman of the American Board of Optometry. Since 1996, he has served as a member of the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners in Optometry and in all of the organization’s officer positions, including president. He is also a past president of the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians and the Southwest Council of Optometry.

Owner of Thomas Eye Center in Athens, Georgia, Dr. Stuart Thomas is a past chairman of the VSP Global Board of Directors. He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Georgia. He went on to earn his Doctor of Optometry degree from SCO the same year he opened Thomas Eye Center.

He is a long-standing member of the AOA and the Georgia Optometric Association, serving in various leadership positions, including president. Dr. Thomas has also served as President of SECO International, an organization that provides continuing education for optometrists and their staff. His wife, Sharon Thomas, OD ’83, is a research optometrist.

New Board Chair, Cristie Upshaw Travis, has been Chief Executive Officer of the Memphis Business Group on Health since 1994. Travis has served on several national boards and commissions. She is the past Chair of the Board of Governors for the National Business Coalition on Health.

sco.edu | 5

SCO Prepares to Launch New Clinic

Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, The FocalPoint at Crosstown will blur the lines between socioeconomic levels of patients and model patient engagement and healthcare delivery of the future.

6 | SCOVISIONS

A massive stairwell (above) and open skyroof (left) in the Crosstown Concourse building showcase the scope of the building’s renovation and size.

Five years before Southern College of Optometry was founded in Memphis, Sears, Roebuck & Co. constructed a massive distribution center and retail store a few miles away in the heart of the city’s midtown area. At the time, the location was considered the outer edge of the Memphis suburbs in an era when downtown dominated city life.

When the building opened in August 1927, 30,000 shoppers visited the site on its first day. More than 1,000 people staffed the 53,000 square foot facility, and more than 45,000 catalog orders were processed daily.

By the late 1980s, the city’s boundaries had extended another 15 miles to the east. Traffic at the Sears Crosstown location declined before the building finally closed in 1993. The facility’s size posed a challenge as different revitalization ideas failed to materialize.

In 2010, a non-profit organization was formed to help breathe new life into the location.

Five years ago, a development team secured the participation of organizations representing healthcare, education, and the arts. A massive construction effort gutted the structure as a redevelopment effort started to turn the former Sears site into a mixed-used, vertical urban village called Crosstown Concourse.

With apartments and condos on the upper levels being filled by new tenants, work is underway on finishing lower levels to be occupied by retail, restaurants, a high school, local arts organizations and a number of healthcare organizations, including SCO, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Church Health and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, among others.

SCO’s 8,000 square foot facility will be called The FocalPoint at Crosstown. The name was chosen in part because of SCO’s presence, centrally located above the ground floor. Designed to share space with Church Health’s move to the Crosstown Concourse, the clinic will be unlike any in SCO’s history. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the inter-professional setting will blur the lines between socioeconomic levels of patients and model patient engagement and healthcare delivery of the future.

sco.edu | 7

A concierge approach to the patient

What are some of the future-focused approaches to eye care that will be implemented into this new site?

visit, and increased communication between visits, will better engage patients for

SCO’s new

The use of telehealth applications to communicate and

improved eye health and visual welfare.

presence

even provide care, where appropriate, will enhance patient

Exclusive to The FocalPoint is a first-ofits-kind Telehealth Application, a part of the advanced technology along with

was named

engagement, improve outcomes and highlight convenience.

“FocalPoint”

Meeting the specific eyewear needs of patients, regardless

in part because of its

of socioeconomic profile, will allow for a more specific set of

the region’s first eyewear salon where

centralized

digitally-fabricated lenses and customized frames including

individuals can design their eyewear

location visible

self-designed, 3D printed options.

explicitly compatible with their unique

from the

prescription and facial architecture. This custom-designed eyewear will utilize the

building’s main

How will this new approach benefit the fourth-year professional internship experience?

eyewear options.

As work nears completion on SCO’s newest clinic, SCO Vice President of Clinical Programs Jim Venable, OD ’89, shared his insights into a new approach to the college’s provision of eye health and

What were some of the factors in clinical capacity or educational trends that necessitated this new approach?

their vision for the project. The

Simply put, we needed more clinical

idea of a live, work, play village

instruction space! Our consistent patient census growth over the past decade combined with the physical limitations of our main 48,000 sq. ft. facility, The Eye Center (TEC), put us in a position of seeking a new clinical facility location. Additionally, we had been looking for ways to create a clinical setting that would allow us to better incorporate patient care and education involving several health

emphasized seemed to fit perfectly into our vision. We believe to live well, one must see well and therefore our presence with our new delivery model for eye health and vision care would be a perfect compliment.

8 | SCOVISIONS

about by changes in health care delivery in our country has had the unintended side effect of shifting focus from the patient to the processes. This leaves many patients on improved outcomes, patients like this are less likely to be engaged in their healthcare delivery and therefore have poorer outcomes. We intend to utilize technology to

only create the premier clinician, but also one with the

enhance our ability to communicate with our patients,

knowledge and experience to succeed at the practice of

educate them and provide them with convenient options

optometry. Providing experience in this emerging approach

for treatment and management. We are going to teach our

to eye health and vision care delivery will better prepare

interns and residents to get to know their patients better

our graduates to thrive in the new health care environment

and to get back to “treating the patient, not the condition.”

Who are some of the new patient demographics being targeted for The FocalPoint location?

As we were planning for this

where the concept of living well was

This era of efficiencies, technology and volume brought

Here at SCO we believe it is our responsibility to not

anticipate today.

How did SCO’s relationship come about with the Crosstown Concourse project?

Development Team who shared

Can you elaborate on some of the narrative medicine and patient engagement approaches that will be used?

and even adapt to future changes we may not be able to

vision care.

were approached by the Crosstown

their health care providers.

feeling unheard and even uncared for. Despite the focus

entrance.

latest in 3D printing for truly one-of-a-kind

“practice of the future” concept, we

Americans and typically have very specific demands of

care disciplines under one roof. The concept of interprofessional health care education is a current movement in the field.

Describe the “concierge” concept that will be utilized at The FocalPoint?

An essential component of movement in the healthcare industry has been the concept to improve

How are staff being trained and recruiting for this new lifestyle prescribing approach?

We have secured the help of industry partners and a handful of optometric physicians from across the country

The largest group of aging Americans – the Baby-Boomers,

to assist our doctors and staff in engaging patients at higher

as well as the Millennials – the largest group of individuals

levels than we have in our other clinical facilities. New

in the American workforce today, both of whom are

technologies in Telehealth, lens and frame manufacture will

more technologically engaged than other generations of

assist us in this process.

quality through patient engagement.

To elevate the level of care we must begin to engage and educate our patients in new ways. We must get back to the “narrative medicine” of the past – (i.e. getting to know our patients better and “treating them where they live”) while still embracing the technology required today. The Concierge approach will find us engaging patients as active participants in their care with a higher level of personal attention and customer service. Today’s health care consumers are becoming more material savvy and this approach will emphasize the importance of the care received and not the glasses or contacts being purchased.

An emphasis on individualized eyewear options unique to the patient’s prescription and facial architecture will be present.

The Crosstown Concourse project represents a mixed living concept in which residential housing options, retail, education, and healthcare entities co-exist in one giant public space.

The building, which opened 90 years ago as a Sears store and distribution center, will celebrate its grand re-opening later this summer.

sco.edu | 9

SCO’s Graduating Class of 2017 Kevin R. Ader Jr. Baltimore, MD VA, DE

Ayushi Amin

Southaven, MS

Cameron W. Clinard Bath, NC

Jordan L. Hamric Bruceton Mills, WV WV, VA

McComb, MS MS

Winnsboro, LA LA

David L. Clokey, III Gadsden, AL AL

Sarah E. Anderson Bristol, TN VA, TN

Christine M. Craig Manakin Sabot, VA VA

Lindsay J. Armagon Union City, GA GA, TN

William P. Dodd Corinth, MS

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 2017!

Matthew H. Armentrout

Celeste A. Baker

Celia R. Baker

Timothy E. Bass

Zachery Baumfalk

Laura M. Bokemper

Tyler R. Boone Clarksville, TN TN, AL

Champaign, IL KY, IL

Hai A. Bui

Emily K. Caldwell

Rebecca J. Callahan

Bradley C. Callister

Whitney P. Carow

Taylor J. Chesnut

Tiffany L. Chin

Richmond, VA

Baton Rouge, LA LA

Louisville, KY

Dunn, NC NC

Lincoln, NE NE

Sergeant Bluff, IA IA, NE, SD

Pontotoc, MS

Cincinnati, OH

Orange County, CA CA, CO

Perham, MN MN, WI

Johnston, IA

Oakland, CA CA, OR, AZ

Kristopher C. Dowding

Cara M. Eby Dayton, OH OH

Emily K. Eisenhower

Jennifer Elumelu

Taylor N. England

Caroline K. Fogleman

Inga L. Fors

Timothy H. Foutch

Douglass R. Fruin

Alexander J. Garibay

Peyton E. Glass

Rebecca A. Goad

Jarrod L. Griffis

David C. Haba

Jacksonville, FL

William Z. Inboden

Alex M. Jackson

Alyssa G. Jackson

Lauren B. Jensen

James C. Jones

Patrick C. Jones

Erin A. Keim

Zachary D. Lancaster

Amanda M. Lapp

Maria A. Lavalle

Hunter J. Morgan

Tindall D. Morrison

Courtney F. Morrow

Michelle R. Moscow

Benjamin G. Nielson

Daniel G. Nielson

Lay V. Nim

Jacob D. Nordhues

Newport, TN TN

Duluth, GA TX, GA, LA

Morristown, TN TN

Asheboro, NC NC

Memphis, TN

Liberty, TN

Grand Island, NE

Tampa, FL FL, TN

Atlanta, GA CA

Clarksville, TN AL, GA, TN

K’Ville, Georgia

Rebecca M. Haut

Erick A. Henderson

Sarah P. Henderson

Derek B. Hennig

Christopher Herring

Catherine M. Hogan

Michael E. Hollins Jr.

Tyler D. Lefeber

Nathan R. Lipe

Stacey A. Looper

J. David MacDonald

Mark R. Machen

Lauren M. McCain

Mason D. McCain

Justin L. McElroy

Max E. Melberg

Joanna M. Miranda

Natchez, MS

Chippewa Falls, WI WI, MN

Charlotte, NC NC, GA, BC

Matthew R. Page

Taylor R. Pasley Memphis, TN TN, GA, AL

Grand Island, NE KS

Newport Center, VT VT

Sean F. Pinard

Hallina N. Portner

Clinton R. Prestwich

Anna R. Prier

Laura E. Prindeze

Ibrahim S. Qattan

Sarah N. Rappach

Adam Q. Recknagel Saint Albans, WV

Springfield, MO MO

Kevin A. Rice

Bradley J. Richlin

Emily C. Ridge

Lauren D. Rigsby

Benjamin G. Roach The Woodlands, TX TX

The Woodlands, TX TX

Lisa E. Roach

Sarah A. Rohr

Cristina Sandoval

Shay A. Sechler

Roxanne Senechal

Lauren M. Seutter

Evan J. Shields

Kaitlin N. Short

Keith Slayden

Andrew T. Smith

Kayla L. Smith

Jacob L. Stallbaumer

Stephanie M. Stanley

Jenna M. Steffen

Tiffany H. Tang

Sidney D. Taylor

Matthew H. Thibodeaux

Danielle L. Thompson

Joshua D. Tinsley

Stephen T. Tipton

Douglasville, GA

Crossville, TN TN

Ocoee, FL FL

Staffordsville, KY KY, WV, OH

Van Buren, AR AR

Bolivar, MO

Danville, IL

Onaga, KS KS

Sara E. Petska

Coral Springs, FL FL

Kansas City, MO WA, MO, KS

Anderson, SC SC, CO, UT

Kansas City, MO MO

Charleston, IL IL

Forrest City, AR AR, TN, GA

Morgantown, WV WV

Louisville, KY

Starkville, MS

Dothan, AL LA, MO, SC

Rigby, ID CA

Danville, AR AR

Greensboro, NC TN

Lake Charles, LA

Dyersville, IA IA

Hebron, KY

Kansas City, MO MO, KS

Pasadena, MD TN, KY

Meridian, ID UT

Trumann, AR AR, TN, TX

Mansfield, TX TX

Morning View, KY

Milan, TN

Clearwater, FL

Andover, KS

Wynne, AR

Fairmont, WV WV, PA, MD

Huntsville, AL TN, AR, AL

Texarkana, TX

Starkville, MS MS

Winfield, KS CO, KS, MO

Prattville, AL AL

Nashville, TN

Los Angeles, CA

Oak Brook, IL IL

Mickie, TN TN

Roswell, GA GA

Batesville, MS MS, TN, AR

Senatobia, MS

Gibsonia, PA PA

Post Falls, ID ID, WA

Greenville, SC SC, TN

Monroe, LA

Le Mars, IA IA

Post Falls, ID ID, MT, AZ

Mandeville, LA TN, LA, MS

Raleigh, NC NC

Lawrenceville, GA

Pell City, AL AL

April G. Chiu Tucson, AZ OR, WA, AZ

Memphis, TN TN

Staci M. Harwell

Harlan, IA IA

Ashley E. Oakes

David B. Anders

Meet the graduating Class of 2017 (bold face state listings are where each graduate hopes to work). During their four years at SCO, The Hayes Center has worked

Royston, GA

Stephen M. LeBlanc Alexandria, LA LA

Grand Island, NE NE, IA, KS

Iowa Falls, IA TN, CO

Shalon Rothstein Albany, MN MN

Springfield, MO

Not Pictured:

Ghaith M. Al-Sowaidi George C. Cora

Bryan A. Truong

British Columbia, Canada BC, GA

10 | SCOVISIONS

Sandra A. Trybus Marvin, NC MO, NC, SC

Sarah L. Vrotsos

North Huntingdon, PA AL, GA

Matthew G. Walker Moscow, ID

Lisa Wang

Lexington, KY KY

Whitney C. Watson Whitesburg, KY KY, OH

Zachery R. Weinberg Louisville, KY

Mark Wells Raleigh, NC

Jennifer A. Willcox Germantown, TN TN

Meagan G. Williams

Leslie A. Wittmann Rock Port, MO

Lindsay M. Wood Mount Pleasant, SC

Justin C. Zampella Oxford, MS

sco.edu | 11

1962 Joe Lamendola,

1975 Hal Morrill, OD, was

by the sister of SCO alumnus

siblings Gavin (6), Alexis (11),

2007 Derrick Pierce, OD,

OD, was recently profiled in a

recently installed as a member

Seth Morgan, OD ’10).

and Dalton (14). Dr. Marcoe

has a goal of running a full

Louis-iana magazine about his

of the Jefferson County Cham-

practices in Cranberry,

marathon in all 50 states.

secondary career as a

ber of Commerce in East

jazz trumpeter. The story

Tennessee.

recounted how he played gigs during his time as an optometry student, including playing at the Peabody Hotel.

1964 Bill Sharpton, OD, attended his 55th consecutive SECO meeting this year, an attendance milestone that started during his years as an SCO student in the early 1960s.

1965 James Sandefur, OD, SCO Board member and Executive Director of the Optometry Association of Louisiana, was recently surprised by the sponsorship of an office suite in his honor at the AOA's newly renovated St. Louis headquarters. Pictured are fellow SCO Board member Chris Wroten, OD ’02, Dr. Sandefur, Cyndie

Baker, OD ’83, and David Heitmeier, OD.

1978 Graham Holt, OD,

Institute.

2003 Rebecca Williamson Brown, OD, was recently

His recent competition in the Huntsville, Alabama Rocket City Marathon made it state #26.

named President of the Ohio

2009 Jarrod Davies, OD,

expanded their practice in

Optometric Association. She

recently appeared on KUTV-TV

Arkansas. Cynthia Carnie, OD

practices at Essential Vision

in Salt Lake City to discuss the

’09, is also in the practice.

Care in Salem.

link between vision, reading, and learning. He currently

1982 DeAnne Witherspoon, OD, was sworn in on January 9 to a six-year term on the NorthWest Community College Board of Trustees in Arkansas.

1984 Clifford Courtenay, OD, retired in January following 25 years of practice in Valdosta, Georgia.

1986 William K. Ramsay, OD, recently joined The Villages Eye Institute in Florida.

1987 AOA Keyperson Fred Farias III, OD, was interviewed an article about his advocacy for

serves as President of the Utah

Jones, OD ’09, and Creighton Simmons, OD ’90, in joining SCO students from Arkansas in meeting Governor Asa Hutchinson at Arkansas State Day at the Capitol in Little Rock.

assist Hollywood productions

nearly 20 years as the Executive

with specialty contact lenses for

Director of the Pennsylvania

costumes and actors. Dr. Adams

Optometric Association.

and his wife have worked on The Twilight Saga films (the original stories for which were written

a grand opening planned for

2010 Jessica Durham, OD, Tennessee Association

2001 Melissa McCulley, OD, recently answered questions

Chris Stansbury, OD,

as the Student Society of the

from SCO students for a live

was named OD of the

webinar. She talked about

Year in West Virginia.

opening a high end practice and

He is co-founder and

introducing vision therapy to

partner at West Virginia Eye

her office.

Consultants in Charleston.

2005 Charles Luke, OD, and Joy Luke, OD ’05, recently

President, joined SCO students TAOP traveled to Nashville for TAOP's annual Day on the Hill as part of the TAOP Advocacy Conference.

2011 Jennifer Lyerly, OD, was named a finalist for Transitions Brand Ambassador at Transitions Academy 2017.

Eliza Gray, on December 23. She weighed 7 lbs., 3 ozs., and was 20.25 inches long.

2014 Ross Chatwin, and his wife welcomed a daughter, Hazel Mae Chatwin on December 1, 2016. She weighed 6 lbs., 12 ozs., and measured 21.5 inches long.

Jeff Coats, OD, and Jade Rice, OD ’16, met at SCO and were married last year. Their wedding was covered in NWA's Celebrate Arkansas magazine.

2015 Jill Allison Greene,

opened their newest location as

Louisiana. His work with the

part of Luke Eye Associates in

welcomed a daughter, Hattie

patient was documented in a

West Texas.

Louise, born December 5, 2016.

Kathy Marcoe, OD, and her husband, David, adopted three children last November: Karina Rose (age 8), Jaelyn Elizabeth (4), and Brayden Levi (3). They join

2006 Matt Pigg, OD, and

OD, and her husband, Ken,

Jane, who weighed 7 lbs., 2 ozs.,

Janna Mixan, OD, Mark Mixan, OD, Aaron Boatz, OD ’03, Keith Schrunk, OD ’03, and Mel Broaddus, OD ’08, were

and was 19 inches long.

among the attendees at the

his wife, Kari, in February welcomed a daughter, Savannah

Association. Other alumni honored by the MOA included

Tonyatta Hairston, OD

2012 Zach Engle, OD, and

save a young patient's life in

local TV story.

Mississippi Optometric

20.25 inches long.

Palm Beach County in Florida.

of Optometric Physicians

recently helped diagnose and

recently retired after serving

Center, in North Carolina, with

OD of the Year by the

weighed 7 lbs., 8 ozs., and was

Black Chamber of Commerce of

this fall.

1992 Charles Adams, OD, magazine story about ODs who

new practice, Yadkin Vision

Steve Reed, OD ’95, was

Evan Grant Smith,

his wife welcomed a daughter,

STATE A S SOC I ATI O N BRIEFS

named the James Brownlee

born December 21. Evan

Ascension Awards held by the

recently broke ground on their

in February.

welcomed a son,

of the Year at the 7th Annual

Gail Cox Gordon, OD, Scott Gordon, OD ’05, Tyler Groce, OD ’13, and Van Vo, OD ’13,

Heart of America meeting

and her husband

Young Business Professional

Association President, was joined by President-Elect Matt

Joanne Smith, OD,

Adam Ramsey, was named

OD, Arkansas Optometric

2002 Gerald Gerdes, OD,

profiled in a recent AOA Focus

Optometric Association.

2000 Bryan Armstrong,

the profession.

and his wife, Denise, were

12 | SCOVISIONS

recently joined the Georgia Eye

Pennsylvania.

and his son Jeff Holt, MD, have

by the AOA Focus magazine for

1974 Charles Stuckey, OD,

1999 Amy Murray, OD,

SCO faculty member

’01, who received the OD

Eleanor Null,

Community Service Award.

OD, recently

Greg Loose, OD ’06, was

married Dr.

recognized as outgoing

Christina

president.

Newman,

New officers included

SCO Assistant Professor, in a January ceremony.

2016 Tyler Kitzman, OD, proposed to Halie Cottrill, OD, following December's St. Jude Marathon. Witnessed by a group of 2016 classmates on hand for the occasion, pictured, the proposal made the front page of The Commercial Appeal's marathon coverage as the primary image the newspaper selected to cover the event.

Volk Optical assisted in preparing a special custommade BIO lens ring case.

President Michael Weeden, OD ’92, President-elect

Tonyatta Hairston, OD ’01, and Secretary-Treasurer

Jason “Bo” Beddingfield, OD ’06. SCO alumni Board members include Lori Blackmer, OD ’87, Chris Bullin, OD ’07, Evan Davis, OD ’10, Dax Eckard, OD ’99, Charles Tillman, OD ’83, and Mary Kathryn Wilson, OD ’12.

INMEMORIAL Wallace Russell, OD '48 Jack A. Wheeler, Sr., OD '48

Dr. Wheeler was a former president of the Georgia Optometric Association and was named OD of the Year and Optometrist of the Southeast.

J.D. Collier, OD ’49 Allan Parker, OD '51 Barry Eads, OD ’52 Grover C. Tuggle, OD ’52 Robert J. Bryant, OD '55 Sidney Edelstein, OD ’55 Robert J. Vermeer, OD '55 Ted Harden, OD ’59 Robert F. Litterio, OD '66 Melvyn Kalich, OD '98

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On Campus Focus Faculty Highlights Chris Borgman, OD, and Richard Savoy, OD, MPH, published an article “The Poor Man’s Red/Green Test” in Optometry Times. Dr. Borgman also lectured at the Illinois College of Optometry’s Winter CE event.

Scott Ensor, OD ’01, MS, and Whitney Hauser, OD ’01, lectured at the annual Eye Specialty Group CE program.

Dan Fuller, OD, was recently interviewed on Radio America about Alcon's Multifocal contact lenses.

He also published an article in Contact Lens Today.

Lisa Rossmeyer Wade, OD ’84, MPA, organized this year’s Focus on Your Future lecture series for students. Sponsored by the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence, the morning lecture series invited CEO of the Williams Group, Gilan Cockrell, OD ’80, pictured, to speak to the Classes of 2019 and 2020.

AOA President Andrea Thau, OD, visits with President Reich at State Day 2017. Dr. Thau was keynote speaker. AOSA President Erick Henderson, OD ’17, also spoke. Several alumni representing 16 states participated, along with more than 400 attendees.

Paul Harris, OD, and Glen Steele, OD ’69, lectured at the Kraskin Invitational Skeffington Symposium on Vision meeting in Maryland.

Betty Harville, OD, was one of several faculty members who shared information with the public at this year’s annual MLK Jr. Day of Service at the National Civil Rights Museum.

Whitney Hauser, OD ’01, published articles on dry eye disease in recent issues of Review of Optometry, Ocular Surface Disease, and Optometric Management.

She also lectured at the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists meeting.

Kristina Haworth, OD, PhD, published an article about “Seasonal Effect on Ocular Sun Exposure and Conjunctival UV Autofluorescence” for Optometry and Vision Science.

Cynthia Heard, OD, was interviewed by Action News 5 in Memphis about SCO's recent partnership with Sight Savers America to provide magnifiers and devices to eight children with low vision. Drs. Karen Squier and Marc Taub were also among the participants.

Al Kabat, OD, co-authored an article in a recent issue of Review of Optometry.

Karen Kehbein, OD, Marie Bodack, OD, and staff member Randy Brafford attended the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigation Group (PEDIG) winter meeting in Tampa.

Brian Knight, OD ’14, was elected as President for the West Tennessee Optometric Physicians Society.

Reena Lepine, OD ’11, was appointed faculty-student liaison for the American Academy of Optometry

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and presided over the recent pinning ceremony for new student Fellows.

Chris Lievens, OD, MS, was interviewed by Eyecare Business for an article about keeping patients in contact lenses.

Lewis Reich, OD, PhD, has been named to the Memphis Business Quarterly’s annual “Power Players” list for Memphis leaders in an upcoming issue of the MBQ’s magazine.

Caroline, Emmaline, and Horace Deal, OD ’97

Saba Millares, OD ’74 and Martha Rosemore Morrow, OD ’74

Special recognition went to Debby Gilbert, wife of the late Lowell Gilbert, OD ’65, recipient of the SECO President’s Award, Young OD of the South Matt Jones, OD ’09, OD of the South Steven Reed, OD ’95, and outgoing SECO President Ted McElroy, OD ’93.

Carrie Hughes, OD ’13, and Dwayne Hanvey

Donald York, ’19, takes a selfie with President Reich.

Dean Gurley, OD ’80, and Stuart Tasman, OD ’80 Vicki Farmer, Zach Burroughs, ’19, and Chev Ergle, OD ’04

Karen Squier, OD, Cynthia Heard, OD, Greg Wolfe, OD, MPH, and Adrienne Chan, OD, lectured on low vision at the STAR Center in Jackson, TN. Glen Steele, OD ’69, was interviewed by the AOA for an article about child vision development. He also chaired the InfantSEE and Children’s Vision Committees at this year’s AOA MidYear Meeting. At this year’s SECO event, Dr. Steele moderated a panel for UK optometrists and joined the group on a tour of the World of Coca-Cola. He also recently lectured at the annual meeting of the Trinidad and Tobago Optometric Association.

Marc Taub, OD, MS, and Paul Harris, OD, published an article about diplopia in stroke patients for Review of Optometry.

Marc Taub, OD, MS, and Pam Schnell, OD '01, recently presented a copy of their new book, Vision Therapy: Success Stories from Around the World, Volume 2, to SCO President Lewis Reich, OD, PhD. You may order a copy online at the Optometric Extension Program Foundation website.

Ed Lemon, OD ’83

Jhaleil Phillips ’20, Joe Hauser, Alyssa Invergo ’20 and Kira Winston ’20

Twenty members of the Class of 2016 held a mini-reunion.

Greg Wolfe, OD, MPH, attended the AOA’s EvidencedBased Optometry Committee meeting in St. Louis.

Members of the Class of 2017

Natalie Frasier, OD ’09, Lauren Farwell Lodholz, OD ’09 and Ashwynn Halbert, OD ’09

SCO Board member Stuart Thomas, OD ’84, and Sharon Thomas, OD ’83

Daniel Taylor, OD '06, MS, EdD, is serving on the Church Health Center's advisory board to spread the word about culinary medicine benefits in Memphis.

Melissa Zarn, OD, Alicia Groce, OD, Marc Taub, OD, MS, and Paul Harris, OD, recently spoke about vision therapy at a lecture for therapists and case managers at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital.

Joe Sugg, OD ’09, signs a pledge to support SCO’s 200 Strong campaign.

Jim Venable, OD ’89, and Scott Moscow, OD ’13

Lisa Wade, OD ’84 and Kennetha Manning, OD ’95

SCO FACULTY PRESENTATIONS Alan Kabat, OD Scott Ensor, OD ’01, MS Mite It Be Demodex?

A Guide to Diabetic Disease and Pharmacology Alan Kabat, OD; Whitney Hauser, OD ’01 Narcotic Prescribing and MGD Learning Lab Drug Diversion OSD is Not a Four Letter Word Scott Ensor, OD ’01, MS; Jason Duncan, OD ’96; Patricia Walker, OD Injections Learning Lab Advanced Procedures Learning Lab

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SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY 1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38104-2222

JUNE 21-25 AOA CONGRESS Washington, DC

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Memphis, Tennessee Permit Number 151

SEPT. 14-17

2017 HOMECOMING/ FALL CE WEEKEND Memphis, TN