Visions Alumni Magazine - Summer 2012 - Southern College of Optometry

ALUMNI MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2012

content

Richard W. Phillips, od ’78, faao President

Kristin K. Anderson, od

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President’s Corner

Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Jim Hollifield Editor/Director of Communications

Susan M. Doyle

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Groundbreaking Ceremony

Senior Creative Designer

Erin Jaffe Multimedia Specialist

OWEN BELL

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Multimedia/Graphic Design Assistant

SECO 2012

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2012 Commencement

trustees John A. Gazaway, OD ’67 – Chair

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Philanthropy Matters

Eagle Grove, Iowa

Eugene M. Bane, Jr., OD ’65 Salem, Virginia

Doug Clark, OD

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Class Notes

Hoover, AL

James B. Jalenak, Esq. Memphis, Tennessee

Jarrett Johnson, OD ’90

16 SCO Focus

New Orleans, Louisiana

Brian L. Jones, MBA Germantown, Tennessee

Christopher B. King, OD ’83

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News Briefs

Englewood, Florida

Martha Rosemore Morrow, OD ’74 Red Bay, Alabama

Sharon Berger Moscow, OD ’80

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Out and About

Roswell, Georgia

Richard L. Powell, OD ’68 Lincoln, Nebraska

Steven Reed, OD ’95 Magee, Mississippi

James Sandefur, OD ’65 Oakdale, Louisiana

Carla Sanderson, PhD Visions Alumni Magazine is published through the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Copies are available without charge to alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the college. A digital version is available online at www.sco.edu/visions.

Please send comments, contributions and address changes to: Office of Institutional Advancement 1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38104-2222 800-238-0180, ext. 4 901-722-3379 FAX

Jackson, Tennessee

Robert W. Smalling, OD ’74 Warren, Arkansas

Cristie Upshaw Travis Memphis, Tennessee

Scott Ensor, OD ’01 Faculty Representative Memphis, Tennessee

Stephanie Lew, ’14 Student Representative San Ramon, CA

p res i d e n t ’ s co r n er Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78, FAAO Editor’s note: The following remarks were delivered by President Phillips during SCO’s groundbreaking ceremony for the college’s new academic facility on May 11, 2012.

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Thank you for joining us on this historic occasion. For 80 years, since our founding in 1932, Southern College of Optometry has looked to the future. Even during our early days of the Great Depression and World War II, students came from across the country, looking to better times when they would provide care and service to their communities at home.

When I was a student here in the 1970s, we were looking to the future as our professional scope of practice began to expand. We eagerly embraced these new responsibilities that awaited us as graduates, and we deeply appreciated those who came before us for their foresight in making it possible. In recent years, we have been able to apply tremendous discoveries in science, medicine and technology that enable our graduates to practice to their fullest potential. (Dr. Cochran, I am certain that we could not be celebrating this moment without your administration’s view to the future and sacrifice.)

Today we celebrate our legacy, the idea of vision, and the vision of ideas…looking beyond today’s horizons to prepare our institution to meet the challenges and responsibilities of tomorrow. With a renewed sense of mission and purpose, we accept the great responsibility to raise the bar again and again, for our primary stakeholders, the tremendously talented students at SCO. We are positioned today to deliver the highest quality graduates to any state in the nation. But keeping our eye on the future, we embark on the next chapter in SCO’s history as we initiate these improvements on our campus.

With appreciation for the foresight of those who came before us…with gratitude for the 80-year continuity that has ensured the strength of our program…we gather here with excusable pride.

On this occasion, however, I must also ask you to look beyond our plans to construct this new facility that will allow us to better present a challenging curriculum to our students, one that will serve the post-graduate needs of our students and that will allow us to invite other members of the health care consortium to join us in special studies. This is only one project, symbolic of our greater commitment to improve the future. Those who came before us began this great determination to lead our profession – we are here because their dream is alive in us, and will continue to be cultivated.

We commit to preparing our students both in and beyond the modern classroom complex that will be built on these grounds. We encourage our students to envision their future practices from the first day of their four years on campus. We promote the need for them to be involved in state, regional and national professional association meetings. We prepare them for a life of service to their communities.

We promote lifelong learning beyond our classroom, and we’re proud that SCO now has more students choosing optional residency programs than any other college of optometry.

SCO’s commitment to service is flourishing.

Faculty, staff and students are participating in events locally, nationally, and internationally that represent optometry as a profession that cares. What a marvelous opportunity this expansion will give us. This commitment to service, to lifelong learning, and to educating the best healthcare providers possible – these are the ideals that we will continue to embrace in these new classrooms and educational facilities.

These facilities will also create the opportunity to provide educational programs in partnership with others in Memphis who share our commitment to improving the health and quality of life for those patients we jointly serve.

What we will accomplish within this new building will undoubtedly benefit the city of Memphis, but will also be carried far beyond its borders. SCO’s graduates will return to nearly every state in the union, to other countries to contribute to excellence in patient care because of our commitment to providing graduates who will contribute to the highest quality of care.

So, while we look with pride to what we set out today to accomplish, I hope you join me in expressing even greater institutional pride that we, like those who preceded us, will continue to be future-focused, and seek additional ways to improve. Decades from now, I’m confident that our future students will look back to this milestone that we celebrate today, with gratitude. They’ll know that SCO looked to the future and envisioned an even better profession than we know today. And they will continue that legacy.

Thank you again for joining us. May God bless this wonderful profession, and may God bless Southern College of Optometry.

Today we celebrate our legacy, the idea of vision, and the vision of ideas…looking beyond today’s horizons to prepare our institution to meet the challenges and responsibilities of tomorrow.

Summer 2011

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ENVISION OUR PROGRESS

SCO Breaks Ground on New Building Southern College of Optometry formally began the next chapter in the institution’s 80-year history with a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on the college’s $9.4 million academic expansion and renovation project.

Members of SCO’s Board of Trustees joined other campus representatives, invited guests and dignitaries and faculty and staff for the occasion held at the edge of the college’s patio.

Board Chair John “Bucky” Gazaway, OD ’67, recalled how SCO’s 11-story tower was being planned when he graduated 45 years ago. That same foresight and vision will benefit future students and graduates to the betterment of optometric education, he said.

“I’m grateful that SCO is meeting that challenge of looking ahead and doing what must be done to keep us great,” Dr. Gazaway said.

Representing the Student Government Association, Sam Johnson, ’13, expressed appreciation to the administration and faculty for seeking student input on how SCO’s academic facilities could be improved.

“All of us chose SCO because we felt it was the best fit for us as a leader in optometric education,” he said. “It feels good to know that SCO will remain a leader in our profession today and in the future.”

Faculty Representative Scott Ensor, OD ’01, spoke for faculty and staff. “We feel that when completed, this new building will be a great asset to our academic program just the way The Eye Center has been to our clinical program,” he said.

Board member Jarrett Johnson, OD ’90, is co-chairing the “Envision Our Progress” campaign to fund the project.

“I encourage each of you to think about what you can do to help see this project to fruition, both personally, and encouraging others to do the same,” she said.

“We’re in this profession together, and working together, we will do our part to get SCO to the next chapter that awaits our institution’s great future,” Dr. Johnson concluded.

When completed in the fall of 2013, the new building will replace SCO’s old classrooms with an additional 23,015 square feet of space. Work will also begin on renovating the first floor of the tower to create a new area of consolidated pre-clinical optometry labs and a Research Suite.

Announcement of the project in March was a front page story for the Memphis Business Journal, the Memphis Daily News, and the main Business Section feature for the Commercial Appeal newspaper.

… think about what

you can do to help

see this project to fruition…we’re in this profession together, and

working together,

we will do our part to get SCO to the next chapter…

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Two weeks prior to the groundbreaking ceremony, SCO hosted a less formal yet fun “Farewell to the Patio” event. Students, faculty and staff were invited to use paint to sign their names or leave sentiments on the patio where the new building will be constructed.

The participants included Professor Emerita Lisa R. Wade, OD ’84, and President Emeritus William E. Cochran, OD ’68, who listed the names of his parents and grandfather who were optometrists as well.

The artwork and signatures will be covered by the new building construction as a permanent time capsule for future generations of alumni to remember their participation as SCO marked the next chapter in the college’s history.

Summer 2012

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SCO HAPPENINGS

Campaign Kick-Off at SECO 2012, Atlanta, GA The sounds of the Atlanta Falcons’ Drumline Corps kicked off SCO’s

Several alumni also were recognized at SECO. Congratulations to Jimmy

annual reception for alumni and friends at this spring’s SECO conference

Bartlett, OD ’74, who was named SECO’s OD of the South, Chris Wroten, OD

in Atlanta. The special festivities also kicked off SCO’s new “Envision Our

’02, Young OD of the South, and to Bill Spearman, OD ’82, recipient of the

Progress” five-year campaign to fund construction of a new academic

2012 President’s Award at SECO. Visit SCO’s photo galleries at sco.edu to see

classroom facility, scholarship opportunities and patient care programs.

more photos from this year’s event.

Darby Chiasson, OD ’99 and his wife Nickole

Richard Phillips, OD ’78 and Blake Jarrard, ’14

Class of 2015 students (l to r) Brenda Flores, Ashley Stowe, Jordan Dau, Madeline Bost, Lillian Fasman and Amy Zhang

Bill Ballinger, OD ’05 and his wife Erin

Scott Moscow ’13, Sharon Berger Moscow, OD ’80, Michelle Moscow and Billy Moscow, OD ’78

Charles Pruden, OD ’59 and Roxanne Webb

Mark Shirey, OD ’00 , his wife Mary, and daughter Caitie Beth

Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Martha Rosemore Morrow, OD ’74

Doug Clark, OD, and Jonathan Shrewsberry, OD ‘81

David Parker, OD ’95, Linda Johnson, OD, Steven Reed, OD ’95, Susanne Stumpf, OD ’02 and Reggie Dampier, OD ’97

Felicia Jackson, OD ‘10

Class of 2014 students (l to r) Brian Knight, Uyen Tran, Gloria Wong, Janette Perkins, and Mary Hoang

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Bill Gordon, OD ’82, and his wife, Charvie

Joel Byars, OD ’63, Jim Sandefur, OD ’65, and John “Bucky” Gazaway, OD ’67

Steven Lord, OD ’89, Richard Phillips, OD ’78, and Amanda Brewer-Lord, OD ’97

SCO’s Cecily Freeman and Alcon’s Dave Sattler

Jarrett Johnson, OD ’90 and Chris King, OD ’83

Melanie Crandall, OD ’77 and Mark Bunde, OD ’97

Steve Compton, OD ’78 and his wife Jane

Chris Wroten, OD ’02, Mark Roy, OD ’02 and Jerry Gerdes, OD ’02

Mohammed Rafieetary, OD, Billy Moscow, OD ’78 and Glenn Goldring, OD ’78

Dori Carlson, OD, AOA President

Walt West, OD ’75 and Bob Smalling, OD ’74

Jack Schaeffer, OD ’77 talking with Ron Hopping,OD, AOA President-Elect

Kevin Berger and Jarrett Johnson, OD ’90

Class of 2013 students (l to r) Leigha Davis, Kaila Egan, Ashley Gentrup, Catherine Abbott, and Travis Thompson

Sidney Stern, OD ’71 and AOA Trustee Andrea Thau, OD

Summer 2012

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SCO Happenings

Dr. Melvin Shipp, delivers the commencement address.

2012 Commencement This year’s commencement saw 121 new

Receiving the honorary Doctor of Humane

graduates enter the profession of optometry on

Letters degree were Lawrence Don Price, former

Friday, May 18, 2012.

Executive Director, California Board of Opto-

Class President Stephanie Cullinan deliv-

metry and former Vice President of Professional

ered the class address. Dr. Melvin Shipp, Dean of

Relations for VSP Vision Care, and Gary Robbins,

The Ohio State University College of Optometry

long-time Executive Director of the Kansas

delivered the commencement address.

Optometric Association.

Dr. Shipp also received the Doctor of Ocular

Valedictorian was Kendra Dalton; Co-

Science degree, conferred on those who have

Salutatorians were Raymond Lambert and

made outstanding contributions and rendered

Jennifer Snyder. Al Fors, OD ’69, and Scott Steel,

distinguished service to the profession of op-

OD, (pictured below with Dr. Phillips) were

tometry and the field of visual science. Dr.

named Professors Emeritus.

Shipp also serves as President of the American Public Health Association.

Valedictorian Kendra Dalton, OD ’12, recites the Optometric Oath.

Legacy graduates and family included: Front: (l to r) Mark Coble, OD ’77, Brian Coble, OD ’12, Brian Horsch, OD, and Jessica Horsch, OD ’12.

Back: (l to r) Joey Hammond, OD ’12, Rod Rallo, OD ’80, Jason Kowallis, OD ’12, and Scott Kowallis, OD Mr. Gary Robbins receiving his honorary degree from Lewis Reich, OD, Vice President for Academic Affairs.

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Academic Award Sponsors and 2012 Recipients A lco n Ca s e S t u dy S c h o la r s h i p Awa r d

Heidi Fouch, OD B au s c h & Lo mb E n d o w e d S c h o la r s h i p

Scott DePoe, OD B ays Family Se r v i c e Awa r d

Amanda Rogers, OD D r s . Fr e d an d C h a r lene B u r ne t t S t u d en t Re s ea r c h Awa r d

Dustin Dixon, OD COVD E xc ellen c e in Vi s i o n T h e r a py Awa r d

Stephanie McLin, OD De s ign s f o r Vi s i o n , I n c . William Feinblo o m Lo w Vi s i o n Awa r d

Leewood Still, OD E agle Vi s i o n Su p e r E agle Pr ac t i c e B uil d e r ’ s K i t

Zachary Engle, OD E s c h enbac h Lo w Vi s i o n S t u d en t Awa r d

Jessica Nisewonger, OD E ss ilo r C r izal Awa r d o f E xc ellen c e

Jonathan Reid, OD E ss ilo r L ab s o f A me r i c a / S o u t h e r n O p t i c al awa r d

Jessica Nichols, OD G P L en s I n s t i t u t e Co n tac t L en s Clini c al E xc ellen c e Awa r d

Christie Puglis, OD

D r . B e r na r d L . K a h n M em o r ial E n d o w e d S c h o la r s h i p

Haley Bowles, OD Hea r t o f A me r i c a Co n tac t L en s S o c ie t y awa r d

Stephanie Cullinan, OD L S & S G r o u p Lo w Vi s i o n Awa r d

Jennifer Snyder, OD M a r c h o n E y e w ea r Pr ac t i c e M anagemen t Awa r d

Marcus Cooke, OD N B E O Pa r t I I Awa r d

Raymond Lambert, OD N o I R Lo w Vi s i o n Awa r d

Brian Coble, OD O c ula r I n s t r umen t s , I n c ., Awa r d o f E xc ellen c e

Heather Hildebrand, OD O dyss e y M e d i c al Pa r t ne r s in O p to me t ry Awa r d

Jedidiah Burkey, OD Brett Miller, OD O E P Clini c al Cu r r i c ulum Awa r d

JJ Lant, OD O o h L a L a De Pa r i s Awa r d

Jedidiah Burkey, OD

SCO Ou t s tan d ing Clini c ian Awa r d s

Morgan Berry, OD Kendra Dalton, OD Jenny Duncan, OD Heidi Fouch, OD Taylor Kiser, OD Jason Kowallis, OD JJ Lant, OD John Nail, OD Courtney Shay, OD Jennifer Snyder, OD S o u t h e r n Co un c il o f O p to me t r i s t s Clini c al E xc ellen c e Awa r d

Alicia Byers, OD S o u t h w e s t Co n tac t L en s S o c ie t y awa r d

Savannah Lamb, OD S t e r e o O p t i c al Co., I n c . awa r d

Marcie Daniel, OD Vi s tako n Awa r d o f E xc ellen c e in Co n tac t L en s Pat ien t Ca r e

Meredith Rhodes, OD Win s to n Family E n d o w e d Awa r d

Do Nguyen, OD X- Cel Co n tac t s Ou t s tan d ing G P Fi t t ing Awa r d

Kurt Jung, OD

D r . Dav i d P. Sloan M em o r ial Awa r d

Stephanie Cullinan

Summer 2012

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SCO Happenings

pleas

the 10

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se join us in congratulating

e class of 2012

Summer 2012

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philanthropy matters students and listened to their perceptions of their educational experience, I gained an even greater appreciation for the outstanding education I received at SCO,” she said. “We graduated with a solid foundation in clinical prepared by SCO.”

Office of Institutional

of Corporate and Foundation Relations. Her primary role is to

(magna cum laude) in 2004. She

raise awareness of SCO’s good

served as the Department Head

work and value to the Memphis

of the Optometry Clinic at the

community. This effort includes

signed to duties in Pearl Harbor, where she advanced to Assistant Director for Administration at the Naval Health Clinic.

local businesses and non-profit organizations, pursuing grant funding opportunities from local and national foundations, and generally working to create

Ocular Disease Residency at the Baltimore

an informed presence in the

VA, after which she will be stationed in

community and an expanded

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She will be the only

donor base for the College.

full-time eye doctor of any discipline for the entire naval station for the next year and a half. She’s also getting married July 7 to Army combat engineer Major Jeremy Tilley.

Weinreich will also attend alumni events and work with alumni to garner their input and assistance regarding the

From humanitarian missions to Africa, to

as an OD from a new generation that

serving her country and embracing lifelong

best ways to promote SCO’s

remains more engaged with and com-

learning through her residency and recent

Service Learning emphasis and

mitted to her alma mater.

Fellowship in the American Academy of

leadership among schools of

Dr. Sprague believes in giving back

Optometry, Dr. Sprague remains mindful

optometry. She recently moved

to her profession, her country and SCO.

of where she received the training that en-

with her family to Memphis

She consistently supports SCO, thanks

ables her success – SCO. She recently pledged

from the Detroit area, where she

in part to the good example set by her

$10,000 to SCO’s new “Envision Our Progress”

practiced law for almost thirteen

father, whom she remembers support-

campaign.

years. She is the proud mother

“I take great pride in being an optom-

Immediately upon graduating, she

etrist,” she said. “We are privileged to be in a

became a military-based externship

profession that affords us opportunities to

preceptor for fourth-year students

serve others and our communities.”

from a number of other optometry colleges. “Being in their shoes only months ago, while I mentored these

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Dr. Sprague is currently finishing an

forming new partnerships with

among SCO graduates in recent years

ing his professional school.

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as the college’s Director

brother following her graduation

in California before being as-

OD ’04, represents an emerging trend

Advancement in April

sioned into the Navy by her

Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton

Lt. Cmdr. Emily Sprague, U.S. Navy,

Christine M. Weinreich recently joined SCO’s

began when she was commis-

Giving Back to Her Country and Optometry

Weinreich Leading Awareness Effort

problem solving. I felt very Her post-graduation success

Emily Sprague, OD ’04

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of two sons, ages 15 and 9. She welcomes calls or visits from alumni to share suggestions and input regarding their own experiences at SCO. You may email her at cweinreich@sco.edu or call her at (901) 722-3311.

Named Giving Opportunities A number of named giving opportunities exist for SCO’s newly launched Envision Our Progress campaign. These named giving opportunities represent a meaningful way to show your support for optometric education and your alma mater. Named giving opportunities also include honoring family members or individuals who have made a significant difference in the life of a donor.

Current SCO named giving opportunities include: TH E C L A SSROO M B U I L D I N G

$1 Million $500,000 $250,000 $100,000 $100,000 $50,000+ $25,000+ $25,000+ $25,000+

New Classroom Building Auditorium Atrium Grand Hall [reserved] Classroom (2) [2 reserved] Seminar Room (4) Seminar Room (2) [2 reserved] Study Area (3) Audio Visual Technology Room

TH E E Y E C E N T E R

$1 Million $100,000 $50,000 $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 $10,000

The Eye Center Building Advanced Procedures Suite Conference Room Digital Exam Room(2) [1 reserved] Digital Observatory [reserved] Suite (8) Room (14) [3 reserved]

TH E TOW E R

$250,000 $100,000 $100,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $10,000

Research Suite Bookstore Alumni Conference Center Emergency Care Suite Library Pre-Clinical Optometric Lab (2) President’s Conference Room [reserved] Science Lab (2) First Floor Conference Room [reserved] Faculty Office (10) Research Lab (5) [1 reserved] Study Area (4) Study Lounge 1st Floor Foyer Pre-Clinic Exam Lanes (30)

James Sandefur, OD ’65, and Jarrett Johnson, OD ’90, are cochairing SCO’s Envision Our Progress campaign, a comprehensive, five-year campaign to raise $4 million in support of SCO’s academic campus improvement project, scholarship opportunities and patient care initiatives. The Office of Institutional Advancement is available to facilitate a meeting or exchange of information with our campaign cochairs. Please contact us at (901) 722-3216 for more information about the part you can play in supporting this worthwhile endeavor.

New Arkansas Fund Established The Auxiliary to the Arkansas Optometric Association has announced the establishment of a new endowed scholarship. The announcement was made at the SCO President’s reception during SECO by Trisha Morris, wife of Alumni Council Member Dale Morris, OD ’73. Mrs. Morris, mother of Chris Morris, OD ’99, was joined by Shirley Liles, mother of Wally Liles, OD ’09.

During her announcement, Mrs. Morris noted that the Auxiliary historically was made up of wives of ODs who supported philanthropic causes. As the number of women in optometry continues to grow, the organization had reached a point of deciding how best to go forward.

Because so many of the Arkansas members had ties to SCO as their husbands’ alma mater, Mrs. Morris said that supporting new generations of optometrists, both male and female, provided a natural opportunity for the Auxiliary to leave a lasting legacy by creating the new endowed scholarship.

The Auxiliary provided a $20,000 endowment that will result in an annual $1,000 scholarship to an Arkansas student. On behalf of the SCO student body, especially those from Arkansas, the Auxiliary’s gesture is greatly appreciated now and in the years that follow through their support of optometric education.

Trisha Morris with the sign at SECO announcing the newly endowed scholarship.

Summer 2012

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CLASS Notes

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

’60s James Boucher, OD ’61, and SCO President Emeritus William E. Cochran, OD ’68, are among this year’s inductees to the National Optometry Hall of Fame.

Administered by Optometry Cares-The AOA Foundation, the Hall of Fame will induct five individuals during Optometry’s Meeting held in Chicago. Drs. Boucher and Cochran previously received SCO’s Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Terry Swinger, OD ’64, is a candidate for the Missouri State Senate. Dr. Swinger has served a number of terms as a State Representative in Missouri.

William Tillar, OD ’64, recently retired after practicing 47 years in Emporia, Virginia. Dr. Tillar is a Past President of the Virginia Optometric Association, former SECO Trustee and former member of the Virginia Board of Optometry. He and his wife, Pattie, have been married 48 years.

Arkansas Alumni Honored Five alumni were honored at the Arkansas Optometric Association’s annual Spring Meeting in Little Rock.

Congratulations to: • Darrell Broadway, OD ’49 Lifetime of Excellence Award

• Audie M. Teague, OD ’83 Optometrist of the Year

• Garry Haas, OD ’67 Lifetime of Excellence Award

• Matt Jones, OD ’09 Young Optometrist of the Year

Don Humphrey, OD ’72, recently received the Civitan Club’s Citizen of the Year Award, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Plant City, Florida.

David Curtis, OD ’73, is a North

James R. Brauss, OD ’72, is currently serving as president of the Florida Lion’s Eyebank located at Bascom Palmer in Miami.

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Doug King, OD ’80, recently relocated from Connecticut to a buy a new private practice in Solvang, California.

Carolina State Senate (District 44) candidate in the GOP runoff the general election in November.

Thomas Roberson, OD ’77, recently traveled to Haiti for a medical mission trip that assisted more

Stuart J. Thomas, OD ’84, was

than 1,500 residents with care.

recently elected to a two-year

The demand was so great that

term as Chairman of the Board of

he is considering a return trip next year.

Simon Davis Usdan, born March 25, 2012.

Claire Angel, OD ’96, was recently approved for an academic appointment to the University of Washington School of Medicine’s UW Medicine Eye Institute.

’00s

primary. The winner goes on to

Tonyatta Hairston, OD ’01, was profiled in an article about her three Mississippi-based practices in the March 2012 issue of Women in Optometry magazine.

VSP Global’s Board of Directors.

Seen here with his wife, Sharon Holden Thomas, OD ’83, and the room they recently named in The Eye Center at SCO, Dr. Thomas has served on the VSP Board

’70s Phil Agee, OD ’72, and his practice, The Eye Care Group, received the April 2012 Business of the Month from the Humboldt, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce.

’80s

• Russell Simmons, OD ’83 Distinguished Service Award

since 2005 and as Vice Chairman since 2010. His appointment was announced as VSP met in U.S. Senator John Boozman, OD ’77, is seen visiting with SCO students and alumni from Arkansas at the state association’s recent spring meeting in Little Rock. Also joining the students were Annette Webb-Stevens, OD ’95, and Rusty Simmons, OD ’83.

Memphis, a trip that included a visit by 50 VSP representatives to the SCO campus for a tour.

’90s Greg Usdan, OD ’94, and his wife, Melody, recently welcomed a son,

Brad Majher, OD ’01, (right) was named the 2012 recipient of the Kansas Optometric Association’s Young OD of the Year Award. He has been active with the KOA, AOA, Eye Care Council and the SEE TO LEARN Children’s Vision Program. He currently serves as President of the Wichita Zone of the KOA and practices in Wichita and Arkansas City.

’10s

IN Memoriam 1941

Harry Kirsch, OD Clifton, NJ

Landon Wallace, OD ’10, has joined The Eclectic Eye in Memphis.

Melissa Repko, OD ’03, and Taylor Repko, OD ’03, recently celebrated the grand opening of Repko Family Vision Center in Gate City, VA. Allison Underwood Price, OD ’05, and Danny Price, OD ’05, welcomed a son, Barrett Allen Price on February 1, 2012.

Stephen McKinley, OD ’06, and Lindsay (Annaratone) McKinley, OD ’06, welcomed a son, Carter Matthew on March 13, 2012.

Megan Baureis, OD ’07, and her husband, Joe, welcomed a daughter, Naomi Lucille Baureis, pictured, born February 21, 2012. She weighed 8 lbs., 12 ozs.

Crystal L. Franklin-Truss, OD ’07, and her husband, Floyd, welcomed a daughter, Kaylee Brooke Truss, born February 11 and weighing 6 lbs. The family resides in Myrtle Beach.

Nick Engle, OD ’07, was named Tennessee’s Young OD of the Year.

He is seen accepting his award from TAOP President Chris Eiler, OD ’01.

Aleque Stegall James, OD ’07, and her husband, Stuart, welcomed their second child, Bryson Lucas, born January 6, 2012. He joined older brother, Logan, age 4.

Derrick Pierce, OD ’07, recently celebrated the grand opening of his new practice in Arkansas, Bentonville Eye Care.

Megan Moll, OD ’09, has been elected by the American Board of Optometry as an officer representing the American Optometric Student Association.

Ashley Reddell, OD ’09, recently addressed the Chamber of Commerce in Basehor, Kansas to discuss the correlation between vision problems and school performance.

1945

Marcie Daniel, OD ’12, has accepted a position with Toyos Clinic here in Memphis.

David Levenson, OD Grand Blanc, MI

1947

James Moye, OD Laurel, MS

1951

Joseph Blum, OD Metairie, LA Howard Tidwell, OD Marcos, TX

Captain Jasmin Filpo, OD ’12, was commissioned into the U.S. Army in a ceremony following SCO’s 2012 commencement.

1953

John McCoy, OD Sioux City, IA

Jonathan Poe, OD ’12, is joining VisionSource, a group private practice in Midwest City, a suburb of Oklahoma City.

1957

Louis Persons, OD Key West, FL

Jared Quesenberry, OD ’12, has accepted a position with O. Victor Weatherholt and Associates in Lynchburg, Virginia.

1959

Edward K. Hulsey, OD Mangum, OK Mel Young, OD Asheboro, NC

Courtney Robinson, OD ’12, has accepted an associate position with Chris Bullin, OD ’07, at his private practice in Jackson, Mississippi.

1961

Larry Hoagland, OD Louisville, KY

1966

Tiffany Walters, OD ’09, recently purchased a practice in Syracuse, Nebraska.

Douglas Conrath, OD Parkersburg, WV

1972

Bill Wyatt, OD Pocahontas, AR

O, Canada!

1980

Three SCO graduates were recently elected as presidents of three Canadian provinces’

Tom Dedman, OD Camden, AR

optometry associations: Chris Strelioff, OD ’96, President, Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists

1984

Neil Campbell, OD ’99, President, Manitoba Association of Optometrists

Robert K. Spires, OD Columbia, SC

Mark Smith, OD ’07, President, Newfoundland Association of Optometrists Congratulations to these three young alumni for representing their alma mater and profession in Canada!

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SCO FOCUS

Faculty Highlights Patricia Cisark, OD, MS, PhD, presented a poster entitled, “A Comparison of Self-Reported and Measured Autostereogram Skills with Clinical Indicators of Accommodative Function” at the Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting in Naples, FL. David Damari, OD, presented a faculty program focusing on curriculum review assessment and student-learning outcomes at Southern California College of Optometry’s annual retreat in March.

Michael Dorkowski, OD ’04, John Sharpe, OD ’83, and Freddy Chang, OD, MS, PhD, recently lectured at the Southern Indiana Pharmacology Seminar.

Lindsay Elkins, OD ’07, wrote an article about ophthalmic floaters for the March issue of Good Health Magazine in Memphis.

Dan Fuller, OD, recently discussed eye health and vision care as a guest on the Joy in Our Town television program in Memphis.

Dan Fuller, OD, Glenn Goldring, OD ’78, and Bill Edmondson, OD, represented SCO at the Global Specialty Lens Symposium. Dr. Edmondson presented two posters entitled “Comparison of Vision: Manifest Refraction vs. Custom Silicone Hyrogel Toric Contact Lenses” and “Utilizing Multifocal Contact Lenses for NonPresbyopes.” Stacey Canton, ’14, assisted Dr. Edmondson in the poster research. Dr. Edmondson also was interviewed in the February 2012 issue of Primary Care Optometry News about the comfort and cost aspects of ocular anti-allergy meds. His research was conducted with Kristen Spears, ’13, as part of SCO’s Summer Research projects that involve students. Their research was also referenced in a recent edition of U.S. Ophthalmic Review.

Michael Gerstner, OD ’97, appeared as a guest on the Memphis ABC TV station’s mid-day news program to talk about glaucoma during National Glaucoma Awareness Month.

Paul Harris, OD, published an article, “A Primer on Incorporating Vision Therapy in Optometric Practice” in the March 2012 issue of Optometry Today in India.

Betty Harville, OD, recently received a plaque from the AOA in recognition of her 25-year membership in the organization.

Cynthia Heard, OD, and Sharon Lee, OD, recently spoke at the Memphis Chapter meeting of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Dr. Heard was also one of three keynote speakers and one of many discussion leaders at the 15th Annual Illinois College of Optometry Practice Opportunities Symposium.

John Mark Jackson, OD ’99, MS, presented a poster entitled, “Student Perceptions of Team-Based Learning in a Visual Optics Course” at the Team Based Learning Collaborative meeting.

Dennis Mathews, OD, was recently appointed by Governor Bill Haslam to the Tennessee State Board of Optometry.

Christina Newman, OD, recently received the George Mertz New Educator Travel Award from the Association of Optometric Contact Lens (AOCLE) to attend the AOCLE workshop.

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Jared Powelson, OD ’96, and Bill Edmondson, OD, recently organized the Annual Pre/Post OP IOL seminars on campus to introduce students to industry IOL professionals.

Pam Schnell, OD ’01, was recently named Associate Editor of the Journal of Behavioral Optometry.

Glen Steele, OD ’69, recently attended the American Public Health Association to make three presentations and a poster, “Analyzing the Link Between Vision and Social and Emotional Milestones.” He also taped several TV segments for TBN’s Doctor to Doctor program and authored an article about InfantSEE in the Winter 2012 edition of Southern Early Childhood Reporter. Dr. Steele also traveled to Switzerland to teach a two-day seminar on Infant Vision and Vision Development in February.

Marc Taub, OD, and Paul Harris, OD, were joined by Erik Romsdahl, OD ’10, Stephanie McLin, OD ’12, and Shannon Brown, OD ’12, in writing articles for the Journal of Behavioral Optometry, Volume 22/2011/ Number 6.

SCO Welcomes New Faculty Melissa A. Zarn, OD, has joined the faculty as an instructor. She previously practiced at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (U.S. Army) in Germany. A graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry, Dr. Zarn received her residency training at Pacific University in Vision Therapy, Rehabilitation and Pediatrics. Welcome!

SCO Faculty Collaborate on New Textbook A group of optometric educators and leaders in the vision therapy field collaborated over five years to author the first significant book dedicated to vision care of the patient with special needs.

Entitled Visual Diagnosis and the Care of the Patient with Special Needs, the book’s lead author and editor is Dr. Marc Taub, Chief of Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation at Southern College of Optometry (SCO). Dr. Taub also serves as Pediatric and Vision Therapy Residency Supervisor at SCO and is on the college’s faculty.

His fellow editors include Dr. Mary Bartuccio, Assistant Professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in Florida and Dr. Dominick M. Maino, Professor at Illinois College of Optometry.

The book is intended for optometrists and other health care professionals, including those in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech and language therapy, as well as psychiatry, social work, pediatric medicine, ophthalmology, neuro-psychology, and special education.

The book contains a total of 31 chapters about various conditions affecting special needs populations, as well as chapters on treating different conditions. Many experts who work with patients who have autism, Down syndrome, brain injury, and other conditions contributed to the book.

Also of note is the significant collaboration among optometrists to develop the content. Faculty members from a dozen different

optometry colleges are represented in the book, published by Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.

A significant number of SCO faculty, alumni and residency supervisors also participated in addition to Dr. Taub, including Drs. Glen Steele, John Neal, Bill Kress, Pam Schnell, David Damari, Jim Newman, Dan Smith and Paul Harris. SCO-affiliated private practice residency site supervisors included Drs. Leonard Press, Brad Habemehl and Dan Fortenbacher. Alumni include Drs. Jason Clopton, Angela Howell, and Ashley Reddell.

Dr. Karen Kehbein, a former SCO resident who will be joining the faculty this year, also contributed.

Five current or past presidents of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development were involved, including Dr. Glen Steele, who also is a former Optometric Extension Program president. Dr. Taub also currently serves as editor of the Journal of Behavioral Optometry.

“This book represents just how much we’ve learned since the 1990s in areas such as autism, traumatic brain injury and learning disabilities when Dr. Dominick Maino published his noted book on special needs populations,” Dr. Marc Taub explained. “There was no textbook that brings all of this together under one cover. We’ve taken and expanded upon the knowledge in these areas.”

The book even includes an entire chapter on the multidisciplinary approach. “With special needs patients, you need so many people on the team to get the maximum benefit out of any treatment, so our book also covers this area,” Dr. Taub said.

The book retails for $64.95 via Amazon and as an e-book for Kindle and Nook readers.

A book signing will be held at the College of Optometrists in Vision Development convention in October in Fort Worth, TX. “I’m most proud of being able to bring together all of those people who are the best in their field to bring attention to the visual health of patients with special needs.”

Dr. Fors Honored Al Fors, OD ’69, (shown above with faculty member, Dr. Betty Harville) officially retired in February with a retirement reception held in his honor. His retirement marked the end of an era as one of SCO’s longest-serving faculty members.

Mary Grace Summers, OD ’92, said she spoke for many when she addressed the reception and shared how Dr. Fors had been a mentor and inspiration to her professionally, particularly in the area of children’s vision.

President Emeritus William E. Cochran, OD ’68, noted that Dr. Fors had positively influenced decades of SCO graduates numbering in the thousands. A message from Professor Emeritas Lisa R. Wade, OD ’84, also paid tribute to Dr. Fors and his influence abroad as long-time faculty advisor to SVOSH. Classmate Glen Steele, OD ’69, spoke by video and shared his memories of his classmate from their time together at the Gesell Institute to working with children’s vision in the curriculum and clinical programs.

In his remarks, Dr. Fors said that he had seen a lot of changes, including serving under three SCO presidents. He recalled working as bricklayer before he attended optometry school and expressed his appreciation to a profession that he came to love.

Dr. Fors concluded by saying that he enjoyed teaching so much

Dr. Taub presents a copy of his new book to President Phillips.

that it never felt like work for him, a feeling that he’ll miss each day in retirement.

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news briefs Alumni Invited to Admissions Forum Alumni with children interested in optometry are invited to SCO’s annual Alumni/Child Admissions Forum to be held on Friday, July 20 at the college campus in Memphis.

Children of alumni must have completed a minimum of their junior year in high school to participate. Events include: • Admissions and application information • Academic and clinical observation • Campus tour • Student-led Q&A panel • Reception with faculty, students and President Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78 Registration is required by Tuesday, July 10. Details can be requested by emailing acaforum@sco.edu. For additional questions, please contact Joe Hauser or Sunnie Ewing at (901) 722-3228.

Other alumni planning a trip to Memphis are also welcome to visit SCO for campus tours (available by appointment).

To schedule a tour, please contact Sunnie Ewing about a week or two before your trip. She can be reached at 901-722-3231 or sewing@sco.edu and will be glad to get you on the schedule.

Hayes Center Update Jerry Hayes, OD ’73, founder of the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence, spoke to SCO students during a recent campus visit for the Hayes Center’s Advisory Board meeting.

This year’s Capstone program for seniors was sponsored in part by the Hayes Center to provide graduates with important information designed to guide their transition into post-graduate success.

SCO’s Placement Service has also been moved into the Hayes Center, where

Executive Director Jerry Eisenstatt, OD ’84, reports that 31 new placement opportunities were posted during the first three weeks of May 2012.

SCO’s Career Counseling Service and Clinical Observation Program also fall under Hayes Center oversight. The Hayes Center has launched a new series of podcasts and e-newsletters for SCO students as well.

New alumni members of the Hayes Center Advisory Board include Sharon Berger Moscow, OD ’80, Glenn Goldring, OD ’78, Mark Kapperman, OD ’78, Christina Vranich, OD ’09, and Chris Wroten, OD ’02.

Jerry Hayes, OD ’73, speaks about practice management with students.

Envisioning Change Award-winning actor, author and composer Tom Sullivan brought his inspirational life story to the Memphis area in March as he kicked off a series entitled “Envisioning Change” to promote the InfantSEE program.

SCO was the first optometry college to host the event, followed by similar events subsequently held at other optometry colleges. Glen Steele, OD ’69, Professor, the AOA’s InfantSEE Chair, has helped organize the informative events and accompanied Sullivan to each event.

The kick-off in Tennessee coincided with Governor Bill Haslam signing a joint resolution recognizing “InfantSEE Week” in the state. The resolution noted that the program was started in part through the contributions of Dr. Steele and the late David Sullins, OD ’65.

Dr. Glen Steele, Ashley Gentrup, ’13, and Tom Sullivan.

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Technology Update In recent months, The Eye Center at SCO is utilizing several new modes of technology to provide patient care and service. Eight iPads, one of the world’s most popular pieces of technology, are now being used in the Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Service.

The iPads permit their users mobility and easier access to the Vision Therapy Program, including information sheets on techniques and demonstration videos.

New Compulink screens were created, including the ability to look at the entire history of the VT program at once.

Elsewhere on the technology front, a state-of-the-art 52-inch touch screen Sanet Vision Integrator (SVI) is also being

SCO recently hosted Women in Optometry, a program sponsored by Allergan, in conjunction with OPP and The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence. Seen here are participants Jill Pitts, OD ’03, Kelly Kerksick, OD ’02, Whitney Hauser, OD ’01, Karen Fallon, Eye Care Business Advisor at Allergan, and Christina Vranich, OD ’09.

utilized in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Service. The monitor can be used with all patient types, including those with learning-related vision problems, tracking issues, and brain injury.

The screen is movable and able to be tilted or turned so the unit can be used with patients with mobility issues. Activities include hand-eye coordination, and other factors such as color and contrast can also be controlled. As VTR chief Dr. Marc Taub noted, technology is providing 21st century practitioners with more options for patient care than ever before!

• SCO’s “Farewell to the Patio” ceremony was covered by the Commercial Appeal newspaper.

• News of SCO’s new campus improvement project was covered by all the major publications in the Memphis market.

• Drs. Glen Steele, Michael Gerstner, and Dan Fuller have appeared on local TV programs in recent months to discuss vision care.

• The Memphis Daily News covered Tom Sullivan’s InfantSEE appearance and Dr. Mel Shipp’s role as SCO’s commencement

Tennessee students recently traveled to Nashville for “Day on the Hill,” an annual event to visit with lawmakers about issues affecting healthcare and optometry.

Drs. Jim Venable, Patricia Estes-Walker and Scott Ensor joined them on the trip.

speaker.

iPad in tandem use with the new Sanet Vision Integrator

SCO in the News • President Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78, was named one of Memphis Magazine’s Higher Education “Power Players” in its May issue.

Three former/current SECO Presidents participated in the AOP/SECO CE Weekend in London. L-R are Ron Foreman, OD, Doug Clark, OD, and SCO President Richard W. Phillips, OD ‘78. Dr. Phillips also visited with AOP Chair David Shannon, OD ‘86, during his UK trip.

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

June 29 AOA Reception for Alumni and Friends Chicago, IL

July 20 Alumni Child Admissions Forum Memphis, TN

September 14-16 Southwest Council of Optometry Dallas, TX

October 4 All School Convocation and White Coat Ceremony Memphis, TN

October 4-7 Fall CE and Homecoming Memphis, TN

October 24-27 American Academy of Optometry Phoenix, AZ