Visions Alumni Magazine - Summer 2022

Visions ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Summer 2022

Commencement 2022 PAGE 4

Ambassador Program Turns 30 Page 16

Three Generations

SVOSH Goes to Belize

Page 20

Page 30

Devotion

Moments after receiving his diploma, NATHAN KEYES, OD ’22, recited his military service commissioning oath administered by Colonel (Ret.) Dean Swick, SCO’s Executive Director of Information Services. As he prepares to practice optometry with the U.S. Army, we salute Dr. Keyes for his devotion to both his profession and his country.

A M E S S AG E F R O M

Our President by someone to attend any

committed more than ever

optometry school’s graduation

to increasing the quality and

ceremony!

The parents of Dr. Ellilta Mezgebu flew all the way from Kenya to attend. It took two days of solid travel, including a refuel in Dublin, where they had

quantity of our scholarship program. Not only do scholarships help reward top qualified students, but they also enable our students to graduate with less debt.

to remain on the plane. It’s little

Graduates who enter the

wonder that today’s students

profession with reduced

Throughout my years in

are so dedicated!

levels of debt enjoy a far

optometric education, I’ve

Speaking of dedication, it

always said that graduation

was also a privilege to hear

day is my favorite day of

the commencement address

the year. This year was no

from this year’s honorary

exception. It was a privilege to

degree recipient, our former

hand diplomas out in person

Board of Trustees chair, Jim

at the Cannon Center for the

Sandefur, OD ’65. He shared

Performing Arts in downtown

some amazing anecdotes

Memphis.

about battles he led to secure

LEWIS REICH, OD, PH.D.

This year’s graduates were

reimbursements for ODs and

second-year students back

to push scope of legislation

when the pandemic struck.

forward.

They worked hard through

Dr. Sandefur also led the push

their third and fourth years, so

for more student scholarships.

it was truly heartening to see

As of this writing, SCO has seen

so many smiles and hugs from

a small increase in applications

their friends and family.

for admissions for a full class

The parents of one graduate,

of 136 students. Their mean

Dr. Maria Bontrager, drove

GPA/OAT scores are 3.69/338.

all the way from Guatemala,

As you can see, SCO continues

where they serve as

to attract the best and the

missionaries, just to attend

brightest.

SCO’s commencement. Their

To continue attracting top

trek may have set a record for the longest distance ever driven

qualified applicants, we are

greater amount of flexibility to pursue different practice modalities. We’ve seen advances in Arkansas and Mississippi and legislation in Virginia for surgical lasers.

SCO stands ready to work with the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians to support opportunities for similar progress to benefit our

ALUMNI MAGAZINE Summer 2022 PRESIDENT

Lewis Reich, OD, PhD VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

George Miller, CFRE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Jim Hollifield SENIOR CREATIVE DESIGNER

Susan Doyle WEBSITE AND SOCIAL NETWORKING MANAGER

Erin Jaffe VISUAL DESIGNER

Philip Tribble CREATIVE SERVICES COORDINATOR

Melissa Hansbro

BOARD CHAIR

Christopher W. Wroten, OD ’02 BOARD MEMBERS

Allan L. Barker, OD ’75 Amanda Brewer-Lord, OD ’97 Betty Harville Brown, OD David A. Cockrell, OD ’81 Anita Davis, PhD Vicki Farmer Charles G. Glaser, OD ’74 Mark R. Kapperman, OD ’87 Charles W. Kinnaird, OD James K. Kirchner, OD Jennifer E. Lyerly, OD ’11 Stacey J. Meier, OD ’84 Dave Sattler Lynn T. Shaw FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE

Michael Dorkowski, OD ’04 STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

Andrew Murphy, ’24

students and alumni.

Your support is more important than ever. Whether you return a gift in the envelope mailed with this magazine or you go online to make a gift in honor of this year’s graduating class, please know that your support is crucial to SCO’s

Visions is a magazine for alumni, faculty, staff, and other friends of Southern College of Optometry.

It is published through the Office of Institutional Advancement.

A digital version is available online at sco.edu/visions.

Please forward comments, address changes, and contributions to: Institutional Advancement 1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38104-2222 800-238-0180, ext. 4

success. Our graduates – and future graduates – join me in expressing our appreciation to you all.

sco.edu @SCOnews @southerncollegeofoptometry southerncollegeofoptometry SCOedu

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4

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ANN McLEAN

HOLLY PEDERSON

VA L E D I C TO R I A N

S A L U TATO R I A N

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2022

COMMENCEMENT

TUESDAY, MAY THIRD TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY-TWO ONE O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON

CANNON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

For the first time since 2019, the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts hosted SCO’s commencement ceremony for the Class of 2022’s 134 graduates. Surrounded by family, friends, and faculty members, the Class of 2022 celebrated the completion of their four-year journey through optometry school.

More than half of their time as optometry students was spent working through the challenges and complexities posed by the pandemic. This year’s graduates were second-year students when their world changed.

Ann McLean was named Class Valedictorian, while Holly Pederson was Salutatorian. The Class Address was delivered by Lauren Goettemoeller, who presented the Teacher of the Year award to David Hall, OD. James D. Sandefur, OD ’65, delivered the commencement address as the recipient of this year’s honorary Doctor of Ocular Science degree. He recounted some of the battles won by optometry during his career and encouraged the graduates to keep moving the profession forward throughout their careers.

Capstone program activities included a reception on Sunday evening in downtown Memphis at the new Hyatt Centric’s rooftop venue called the Foundry.

A farewell program the day before commencement concluded with an on-campus dinner celebration with

DR. DAVID HALL T E AC H E R O F T H E Y E A R

family and friends.

A recording of this year’s ceremony may be viewed on our YouTube channel, accessible from the homepage of the SCO website.

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SCO PRESENTED THE DOCTOR OF OCULAR SCIENCE DEGREE TO A MERITORIOUS ALUMNUS…

S C O L E G AC Y G R A D UAT E S

Kelly Barrows, OD ’90, Kevin Barrows, OD ’90, and their son, Andrew Barrows, OD ‘22

JAMES D. SANDEFUR, OD ’65 James D. Sandefur, OD ’65, served on SCO’s Board of Trustees, including a term as Board Chair. During his Board service, he co-chaired the college’s “Envision Our Progress”

Dan Boone, OD ’91, and his daughter, Katherine Jones, OD ’22

fundraising campaign that led to the construction of SCO’s academic complex in 2013.

Following his graduation from SCO in 1965, Dr. Sandefur

Steve Edwards, OD ’87, and his son, Taylor Edwards, OD ’22

founded The Vision Clinic in Oakdale, Louisiana, where he provided care for more than 30 years before selling his practice. During his years of practice, he was one of the first optometrists in Louisiana to serve on a hospital staff.

David Jordan, OD ’81, and his son, Daniel Jordan, OD ‘22

In 1997, he was named Executive Director of the Optometry Association of Louisiana. Under his leadership, membership in the state’s association has doubled. His leadership helped secure passage

Loy W. Nations, Jr., OD ’77, and his daughter, Anna Nations, OD ’22

of numerous bills that help optometrists better serve their patients. He retired from his Executive Director role in 2021.

He has served on numerous committees for the

Robie Robinson, OD ’89, and his son, Nathan Robinson, OD ’22

American Optometric Association and received that organization’s Distinguished Service Award in 2010.

He also has been honored by Southwest Council of

Creighton Simmons, OD ’90, and his son, Collin Simmons, OD ’22

Optometry (SWCO) for his leadership and received SCO’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 in recognition of his longtime service to the profession of optometry. In 2017, he was

Craig Swaim, OD ’77, and his son, Bradley Swaim, OD ’22

inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame.

FA M I LY L E G AC Y G R A D UAT E S

Dr. Douglas Hand, ICO graduate, and his son, Thomas Hand, OD ’22

Dr. John Sims, ICO graduate, and his granddaughter, Abigail Klick, OD ‘22

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Dr. Ron Juenneman, Houston graduate, and his son, Riley Juenneman, OD ’22

RECEPTION MEMORIES

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RECEPTION MEMORIES

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C L A S S O F 2 0 2 2 PA R T Y

FA M I LY C E L E B R AT I O N

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L ASS OF 2022 SENIOR AWARDS

The following graduates were recognized during the Commencement ceremony for their outstanding academic and clinical accomplishments. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, these graduates received awards, plaques, and optometric equipment to honor their achievements.

EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMIC ACHIE VEMENT NATIONAL BOARD OF EXAMINERS PART II AWARD

Ann McLean

EXCELLENCE IN OCUL AR DISE ASE LUCY KATHERINE BONE ORGAIN AWARD

Kalina Harrell Ashlee Hobson Cassity Youssef

EXCELLENCE IN ADULT PRIMARY CARE

SOUTHWEST CONTACT LENS SOCIETY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Cody Pigott Mia Taylor

Andrew Dahl Joey Luiso

VALLEY CONTAX AWARD

Abigail Klick Lindsay Thornton

ALCON CASE STUDY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

EXCELLENCE IN PEDIATRICS AND VISION THER APY

Riley Juenemann

EXCELLENCE IN CONTACT LENS DR. BERNARD L. KAHN MEMORIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Stephania Carreno Xiaowen Pan

BAUSCH & LOMB ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Robbilyn Verges

SOUTHERN COUNCIL OF OPTOMETRISTS CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

Onyale Donloe

EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL ACHIE VEMENT CHRISTINE AND GEORGE DUCOTE, OD ’40 SCHOLARSHIP

Rachel Steele

ESSILOR LABS OF AMERICA AWARD

Holly Pederson

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X-CEL CONTACTS OUTSTANDING GP FITTING AWARD

Zachary Morrison

Jordan Carlson VISTAKON-JOHNSON & JOHNSON VISION CARE/ AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC FOUNDATION “JOHNSON & JOHNSON AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN CONTACT LENS PATIENT CARE”

Sean Adams

JOHNSON & JOHNSON/ EAGLE VISION AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN CONTACT LENS PATIENT CARE

Karyssa Davis Tessa Lau Ann McLean

COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRISTS IN VISION DEVELOPMENT EXCELLENCE IN VISION THERAPY

Maria Bontrager

Will Feriend

GP LENS INSTITUTE CONTACT LENS CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD NATIONAL VISION, INC. AWARD

DR. MOHAMMAD RAFIEETARY ACADEMIC AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

GOOD-LITE AWARD

EXCELLENCE IN LOW VISION REHABILITATION DESIGNS FOR VISIONS, INC. WILLIAM FEINBLOOM LOW VISION AWARD

Alexandria Cloud

ESCHENBACH OPTIK LOW VISION STUDENT AWARD

Regan Stone

ALICIA A. GROCE SCHOLARSHIP IN NEURO-REHABILITATION

Joey Sciortino OPTOMETRIC EXTENSION PROGRAM CLINICAL CURRICULUM AWARD

Ellilta Mezgebu

Lauren Goettemoeller

OPTELEC EXCELLENCE IN LOW VISION AWARD

THE SOUTHEAST VISION THERAPY FORUM SCHOLARSHIP

Rachel Williams

Christopher Pope

GLEN T. STEELE, OD AND L. ALLEN FORS, OD DEVELOPMENTAL VISION SCHOLARSHIP

Caleb Chesnut Allison Wirt

EXCELLENCE IN STUDENT RESE ARCH

OUTSTANDING CLINICIAN AWARDS

SECO PAST PRESIDENTS ENDOWED AWARD

DR. ROBERT AND EVELYN HENRY OUTSTANDING CLINICIAN AWARD

Emily Patterson TOM AND LOUIS HYDE SCHOLARSHIP BURNETT ENDOWED AWARD FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN RESEARCH

Matthew Bills Gabrielle Gafford Rachel Whitt

DR. DAVID P. SLOAN MEMORIAL AWARD

Gabby Magee

Jared Dix Christopher Pope Braden Sorensen

Shane Benally

Anna Douglass

SOUTHWEST COUNCIL OF OPTOMETRY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Ryan Holiday

SPARROW, EVANS, AND WAYMON ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

FOR COMMITMENT OF SERVICE TO THE PROFESSION OF OPTOMETRY AND THE COMMUNIT Y AT L ARGE BAYS FAMILY ENDOWED SERVICE AWARD

Blade Grupe

Erin Mozingo

Riley Juenemann

DR. FRED H. MOTHERSHED ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Matthew Blaseg Jackson Hawkins Benjamin Lee

JAMES “BEAU” WILLIS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Michael Wagner Rachel Williams

KEVIN ROGERS, OD ’08 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT AWARD

Logan Lineberry

Benjamin Lee

Kelly Nguyen DR. JAMES D. SANDEFUR ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP CLASS OF 1967 MEMORIAL ENDOWED AWARD

Suzanne Falkowski Will Ratliff

TO HONOR A GR ADUATE’S COMMITMENT TO PURSUING PRIVATE PR ACTICE OPTOMETRY DR. WILLIAM M. DICKERSON ENDOWED LEADERSHIP AWARD

SUSAN GRISSOM MEMORIAL ENDOWED AWARD

Katie Boone Allison Wirt

Aaliyah Cole

Anna Douglass Quynh-Nhi Trinh

Alexandra Robertson

Claire Russell

SPIVEY FAMILY ENDOWED AWARD

Micah McCarty Collin Simmons

EDELSTEIN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Jessica Crum

WINSTON FAMILY ENDOWED AWARD

Tanner Beard Brittany Parker DR. MARC A. KRANZ MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Kamden Badger

Macy Sparks

HALPERN FAMILY ENDOWED AWARD

Lindsay Thornton

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S E E K I N G A N E W A S S O C I AT E ?

Presenting the Class Over the past four years, this year’s graduates worked with The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence

to explore placement opportunities. Alumni are invited to post practice opportunities on our recently updated site, Optometry’s Practice Connection at sco.edu/opc.

We’re pleased to introduce the Class of 2022, along with their academic honors and their postgraduate plans, either for a residency or the state or states in which they plan to practice.

Sean Adams

Amy Allen

Monroe, LA

Troy, AL

CUM LAUDE

CUM LAUDE

LA

Kamden Badger Jefferson, IA

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

Rachel Barrantes Andrew Barrows

Tanner Beard

Tupelo, MS

Atlanta, GA

Primm Springs, TN

MS, TN

CUM LAUDE

TN

TN

NC

Cynthia BellHulsey Bremen, GA

Shane Benally

Albuquerque, NM CUM LAUDE

CUM LAUDE

RESIDENCY

Caleb Chesnut

Hannah Chustz

Alexandria Cloud

CUM LAUDE

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

IN

CUM LAUDE

Jared Dix

Onyale Donloe

Anna Douglass

Taylor Edwards

CUM LAUDE

LA

Virginia Henderson

GA

Taylor Canamore

Jordan Carlson

Heather Carlton

MA

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

Paragould, AR

Delaware, OH SC

Karyssa Davis Summerville, SC

Caitlyn DeClue

North Little Rock, AR

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

Alexis Grycko

Thomas Hand

AR

Cincinnati, OH CUM LAUDE TN

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Nathan DeClue

Little Rock, AR

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Tullahoma, TN VA, AL

Kevin Deutsch

Columbia City, IN

Stephania Carreno

Jacksonville, FL

Murfreesboro, TN

AR

Solon, IA

Newton, IL

Acworth, GA

Brusly, LA

Lacombe, LA

Pueblo West, CO RESIDENCY

Water Valley, MS

RESIDENCY

Kalina Harrell

Rachel Hart

Jackson Hawkins

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

San Tan Valley, AZ WA

Milan, TN

LaVale, MD

Cartersville, GA

Ashlee Hobson Jackson, MS

2022

of

Salman Bhatti

Matthew Bills

Matthew Blaseg

Haley Bolden

Maria Bontrager

Katherine Boone

Miranda Brafford

Chandler Bryant

GA

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

RESIDENCY

CUM LAUDE

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

CUM LAUDE

TN

Aaliyah Cole

Anthony Cortés

James Counce Paris, TN

Elizabethtown, KY

Fort Atkinson, WI

Andrew Dahl

Serene Darwish St. Louis, MO

Jonesboro, AR

CUM LAUDE

TX, TN, PR

RESIDENCY

CUM LAUDE

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

CUM LAUDE

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

Suzanne Falkowski

William Feriend

Mason Garbs

Lauren Goettemoeller

Teresa Grochowski

Atlanta, GA

Provo, UT

RESIDENCY

Fayette, MS

Dallas, TX

Pierre, SD SD

RESIDENCY

Ringle, WI

Saginaw, MI

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

MI, IL, OH

Ryan Holiday

Savannah Holman

Jackson Fitzgerald

Tazewell, TN

Jessica Crum

Gabrielle Gafford Dallas, TX

Elk Ridge, UT

Bastrop, TX RESIDENCY

WI

Dardenne Prairie, MO MO

RESIDENCY

Sidney, OH

Harrison, OH

Pelham, TN

Sonali Das TX

Boston, MA

Blade Grupe

Alma Center, WI MAGNA CUM LAUDE PA

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

CO

Rio Rancho, NM

Nixa, MO

CO

Lonoke, AR AR

Johnathan Hoopes Afton, WY

Mats Jaslow Miami, FL FL

Ethan Jones Tullahoma, TN

Daniel Jordan Shreveport, LA

Riley Juenemann Phillipsburg, KS TN

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Rachel Kane Grenada, MS

Nathan Keyes Provo, UT

RESIDENCY

Abigail Klick

Madison Kloster

Jessica Kongelf

Jordan Ladnier Petal, MS

St. Louis, MO

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

AZ

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

Elena Martin

Sarah Mastrorocco

Montgomery, IL

Fort Wayne, IN

RESIDENCY

Zachary Makal Germantown, WI WI, IL, IN

Irmo, SC SC

Mineral Wells, WV

Minot, ND

Micah McCarty

RESIDENCY

Lillian McEntire

Tessa Lau CA, CO

Ann McLean

Huntingdon, TN

North Little Rock, AR

Overland Park, KS SUMMA CUM LAUDE

CUM LAUDE

OK, GA, AR

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

TN

Xiaowen Pan

Brittany Parker

Alexandra Pasley

Emily Patterson

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

CUM LAUDE

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

CUM LAUDE

Eryn Laws

Forrest City, AR

Ellilta Mezgebu Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

RESIDENCY

Minh-Khanh Nguyen

Jacob Norris Newport, TN

Oklahoma City, OK

Suwanee, GA RESIDENCY

Jordan Shell

Collin Simmons

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

CUM LAUDE

Covington, TN

Benton, AR

Subiaco, AR

SUMMA CUM LAUDE AR

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TN

Griffin Smith Sheridan, AR

Lakeland, TN RESIDENCY

Braden Sorensen Lehi, UT

Tupelo, MS MS

Sarah Spangler Fayetteville, NC

NV

Holly Pederson

Hughenden, Alberta, CN SUMMA CUM LAUDE

Cody Pigott

Monticello, AR SUMMA CUM LAUDE

CANADA

Macy Sparks

Rachel Steele

Sunrise Beach, MO

Goodlettsville, TN

SC

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

RESIDENCY

Quynh-Nhi Trinh Alexandra Turner Slidell, LA

Union City, TN

RESIDENCY

James Upton Springfield, MO

Robbilyn Verges Lacombe, LA

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

Maria Vitale

Pittsburgh, PA

Landon Voigt

Mount Pleasant, MI

Michael Wagner Woodinville, WA WA

Benjamin Lee

Logan Lineberry

Caitlin Lingg

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

CUM LAUDE

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

Franklin, TN TN

Ashley Millar Freeland, MI

Raleigh, NC

Stockton, KS

Collierville, TN

KS

Jeffrey Morrison Zachary Morrison Fayetteville, NC

Ryan Livesay

Lawton, OK

Christopher Pope

William Ratliff

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

CUM LAUDE

WI

Mt. Juliet, TN TN

RESIDENCY

Eric Stewart Herndon, VA

Orem, UT

Greenbrier, AR

UT

Regan Nicole Stone

Joseph Luiso

Sugar Land, TX

Jerry Luo

Samuel Lupkes Sacramento, CA

West Des Moines, IA

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

TX

CUM LAUDE

CUM LAUDE

OR

Troy Moss

Erin Mozingo Rochester, NY

Windermere, FL

Jamie Myers

Anna Nations

CUM LAUDE

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

CUM LAUDE

Alexandra Robertson

Nathan Robinson Claire Catherine Amelia, VA Russell

Kimberly Santillan

Chattanooga, TN TN

Andrew Plaxco

Olive Branch, MS

Fort Mill, SC

RESIDENCY

Gastonia, NC

Gabrielle Magee RESIDENCY

Brandon, MS

Joseph Sciortino Waldwick, NJ

Russellville, AR

RESIDENCY

Bradley Swaim Raleigh, NC

Namra Tanveer Shreveport, LA

Olathe, KS

Mia Taylor Athens, TN

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

Sykes Thompson Lindsay Thornton Harrisburg, IL

Charlotte, NC

IL

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

RESIDENCY

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

RESIDENCY

RESIDENCY

Otha Warren

Rachel Whitt

AR

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

Cabot, AR

Cordova, TN RESIDENCY

Shelby Wilkes Oxford, AL

Rachel Williams

Allison Wirt

Cocoa, FL

Birmingham, AL

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

TN, AL

TN

William Worley III Cassity Youssef Nichols, SC

Crete, NE

CUM LAUDE

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STUDE NT AMBASSADOR FOCUS

Student Ambassador Program Still Going Strong at 30 AS SCO OBSERVES ITS 90TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, THE COLLEGE’S STUDENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IS MARKING ITS OWN 30TH ANNIVERSARY. FOR ONE THIRD OF SCO’S HISTORY, STUDENT AMBASSADORS HAVE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN PROMOTING THE COLLEGE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AND VISITORS. HERE’S A LOOK BACK AT THE PROGRAM’S HISTORY AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO MANY OF OUR ALUMNI.

After the college’s academic program and finances had improved by the late 1980s, Mike Robertson, then the Director of Records and Admissions, and Cheryl McClurg, the Director of Applicant Resources, worked hard to market the school’s strengths to prospective students.

Tours through the years were given by Ben Dixon, OD '11, above, and Todd Lewis, OD '99, at top.

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The Student Ambassador program itself originated with McClurg, the first full-time recruiter the college hired to boost SCO’s applicant program. She

His campus tour was provided in

Student Recruitment for the past

PRESLEE TRAMMELL, OD ‘16, and TIFFANY TANG, OD ‘17, the following year.

20 years, said that prospective

Many of the participants in

“She was extremely knowledge-

SCO’s Student Ambassador

able, approachable, and helpful,

program have gone on to

and I knew then that if she was

positions of leadership or

representative of the rest of the

teaching. Ewing noted that

SCO family, I wanted to be a part

three Ambassadors have served

of it. Fast forward to when I was

on SCO’s Board of Trustees:

given the opportunity to serve as

developed a program that would

Sunnie Ewing, who has managed

assist in student recruitment,

the program as Director of

admissions, and public relations functions.

From the start, ambassadors have been selected annually from the first-year class on the basis of academic performance and interviews. They serve until graduation.

The first group of ambassadors included:

• PAIGE ANDREWS, OD ’95 • MIKE BABATZ, OD ’95 • LORI HUSKINS BALMER, OD ’94

• BRYAN BROWN, OD ’94 • JAMIE DURBIN, OD ’94 • DAVID EVANS, OD ’94

students like hearing actual students talk about the college in a relatable way. Alumni and guests are interested to hear the perspectives of current students.

In recent years, ambassadors

1997 by KATIE SAVAS, OD ’00, who put him at ease.

professions conference at the

STEVEN REED, OD ’95, RYAN POWELL, OD ’02, and CHRIS WROTEN, OD ’02.

University of California-Davis

“I vividly remember my

decision,” Dr. Wroten said.

admissions interview and tour

“I loved getting to meet new

at SCO,” recalls Dr. Wroten, who

people, tour them around our

remembered being nervous

campus, and share my student

about the process and not

experiences with them. I don’t

knowing anyone in Memphis.

think I ever did as good of a job

have joined Ewing on recruiting events, including a major health

for presentations, discussion panels, and a student fair table.

HEATHER ATCHERSON, OD ‘15, and HUNTER CHAPMAN, OD ’16, attended in 2014 and

a Student Ambassador; I jumped at the opportunity knowing how much it impacted me and my

as Katie, but I enjoyed trying, and

• TAMMY GRAMMER,

it was truly an honor to serve!”

OD ’94

• CAROLYN HALL, OD ’93

HEATHER ATCHERSON, OD ’15, credits

• TY HUBBARD, OD ’95 • KELLY JOHNSON, OD ’94

her participation

• TERRY KIRKLAND, OD ’94

in the program

• MICKEY KLING, OD ’93

as one of the

• DALE LADD, OD ’94

most rewarding parts of her time

• SHERYL LEE, OD ’93

at SCO. “The opportunity to help

• NADINE MAKI, OD ’95

recruit, comfort, and encourage

• CHRISTINE PASTILONG,

incoming students was my

OD ’95

initial draw to the program, but I

• VICKIE ROCKWELL

loved being able to help out with

JEWELL, OD ’95

all of the major events at SCO,

• JOEL SCHULTZ, OD ’93

meet alumni and important

• STEVEN REED, OD ’95

players in our profession, and

• TIM SPICER, OD ’93

grow and develop my confidence

• TAMMY THAN, OD ’95

with public speaking and

• JOYCE YESTREPSKY,

leadership.”

OD ’95

After completing her residency

• KENNETH YOUNG,

at the Memphis VA Medical

OD ’93.

Center, Dr. Atcherson went into practice with her dad in Arnold,

Through the years, ambassadors

Maryland. She now owns 50%

have given thousands of tours to

of the practice and co-runs the

prospective students and alumni

business side full time.

as well as other visitors.

Chris Wroten, OD '02, with Jim Sandefur, OD '65, in 2001.

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She credits her involvement with the Student Ambassador program as part of her desire to give back to the profession. She spent three years as the Young OD Committee Chair in her state and now serves on the MOA’s Board of Directors as the 2nd Vice President.

Dr. Atcherson’s favorite memory was the memorable locations selected for annual Ambassador dinners. One year, the group gathered in a suite at a Memphis Redbirds game.

“The best part of the night was when the group started to cheer, and I looked up to see my name on the Jumbotron as ‘Student Ambassador of the Year!’” she said.

JANNA SCOFIELD, OD ’06, said her experience made her feel like she was part of a family. “Sharing my enthusiasm for the school also allowed me to meet lots of new people, which I loved!”

Nebraska Optometric Association, liked the different perspective he received as a Student Ambassador talking about the school to others. “It gave me a chance to step back from the stress of school to better appreciate and promote all the great things that SCO has to offer. Even better, I developed friendships that made it feel like a small family at SCO.”

◀

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BLAKE RUST, OD ’11, recalls how his first experience with Student Ambassadors helped convey excitement about SCO and a sense of reassurance about the intimidating parts of the application process.

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Past President of the Arkansas Optometric Association says, “It was one way I was able to give back and show my appreciation for the education, experience, and foundation that SCO provided me. Sunnie Ewing did a wonderful job mentoring all of us, and I appreciate how she continues to serve in this capacity.”

Thirty years in, the Student Ambassador program is still going strong and should continue to thrive for another 30 years.

Former Student Ambassador ALLYSON EVANS MERTINS, OD ’97, recently brought her two daughters to campus earlier this year; both are hoping to follow in their mom’s footsteps by becoming ODs. There’s always the chance that they, too, could become Student Ambassadors someday.

“Being able to relate to the applicants’ anxiety and trying to calm their nerves on interview day was always a fun challenge,” Dr. Rust said. “Some weren’t always receptive to my humor on those days!”

Dr. Rust even remembers giving tours to FedEx executives, among others. “The

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JOE SUGG, OD ‘09, an immediate

Many of the ambassadors like how they remain loyal friends through the years. As Dr. Matt Willis adds: “It’s a group that continues to stay in touch, even after graduation, thanks to Sunnie Ewing and all the dedication that she devotes to the program.”

MATT WILLIS, OD ‘11, now President of the

Ambassadors still help sell the entire SCO experience to visitors, including talking about what the city has to offer. “As a native Memphian, I loved sharing what made the city a special part of the SCO experience,” says ANDREW BRADBURY, OD ’19.

ambassadors from my class became good friends of mine, and I know it was the program that helped develop those friendships,” Dr. Rust says. “I’ll always look back with fond memories from being an ambassador.”

Addy Adkisson, '24, and Weronika Przepiora, '24 at the Student Organization Fair.

2016 Ambassador Retreat

NOTABLE AMBASSADORS Several have gone on to serve on SCO’s faculty, including JOHN MARK JACKSON, OD ’99, WHITNEY HAUSER, OD ’01, LINDSAY ELKINS, OD ’07, STEPHEN WETICK, OD ’08, AMANDA TOMPKINS, OD ’13, HALIE COTTRILL, OD ’16, and TYLER KITZMAN, OD ’16.

2015 Ambassadors

Ambassadors who have gone on to serve on the faculty at other optometry colleges include BRITTANY TOUNSEL, OD ‘15 at UMSL, MARK MIRIELLO, OD ‘15, at PCO, and AJ MCCLEARY, OD ‘18, at Incarnate Word.

Several ambassadors have gone on be married or engaged, including from the Class of 2020, Drs. CONNER KAPPERMAN and SAMMY MACCHIO (engaged), from the Class of 2017, Drs. BEN ROACH and LISA RUSSELL, from the Class of 2016, Drs. TYLER KITZMAN and HALIE COTTRILL, as well as Drs. KAYLI MALZAHN (’11), and MATT SCHWAMB (’12).

2010 Ambassadors

◀

Ambassadors always give tours to alumni at Fall Homecoming events.

▼

Kayli Malzahn, OD '11, Sunnie Ewing, Mike Robertson and Matt Schwamb, OD '12.

Serena McArthur, ’24, recording a Student Ambassador testimonial video.

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ALUMNI FOCUS

Three Generations at Spivey Eye Clinic Former SCO Board member A.L. SPIVEY, III, OD ’67, recently retired after 55 years of practice in McKenzie, Tennessee. As Joe Hauser, SCO’s Vice President for Student Services likes to note: “There’s perhaps no other graduate who has personally recruited as many SCO students as Dr. Spivey.”

The newspaper in McKenzie recently ran a story about three generations of the Spivey family and granted

SCO is pleased to welcome the following first-time contributors to the

SCO alumni.

those who gave generously between

originated more than 100 years ago,

(COURTESY THE MCKENZIE BANNER)

SCO Donors SCO donor ranks. Listed below are

well before the late O.C. Wells, Jr. bought it in 1937. Dr. Spivey started his practice in 1967, joining Dr. Wells in McKenzie.

January 1, 2022 and March 31, 2022.

ALUMNI

Kristen M. Davis, OD '18 Mark A. Beiler, OD '81 Vikarma W. Brooks, OD '19

Following his graduation from SCO,

Rodney J. Hess, OD '95

SCOTT SPIVEY, OD ’94, joined his

Alissa M. Irons, OD '00

father’s practice in 1994, the same year the senior Dr. Spivey bought out Dr. Wells.

The current Spivey Eye Clinic building

FRIENDS

Lea Joan Cesare James K. Kirchner, OD The Columbus Foundation

was built in 1995. The building has four total patient rooms and modern optometry

Mark A. Adams

equipment. There are eight full-time employees and three full-time doctors to serve

Betsy Bosin

patients from numerous West Tennessee counties.

Rhonda Turner

BROOKE SPIVEY, OD ’21, the oldest daughter of Dr. Scott Spivey, began her practice

Academy of Tennessee Optometric Physicians

at Spivey Eye Clinic last year, making her the third-generation Spivey to practice optometry. She grew up watching her dad and her grandfather practice, which is part of the reason she followed in their footsteps.

Patricia Grycko Larry Lewis Nashaat Youssef

She said that one thing she learned from her dad is that when patients go to the doctor’s

Shannon and Travis Bateman

office, their appointment should be all about them. It is the doctor’s job to not only

Troy Crist, OD

take care of a patient’s eyes but to listen to patients. Now Dr. Scott Spivey is practicing

Douglas K. Crockett

alongside his daughter.

Tim and Lisa Lessard

Meanwhile, the patriarch of the family plans to maintain his optometry license so he

Please contact Lauren Trowbridge,

can fill in for his son or his granddaughter if needed. The senior Dr. Spivey told his

SCO’s Director of Development, at

hometown newspaper that he is proud of his granddaughter joining the family practice

(901) 722-3339 to start making an

and happy to see her serving her hometown. He was also proud that his granddaughter

impact on the next generation of

was taking over her grandfather’s patient exam room.

SCO is appreciative to the Spivey family for its longtime legacy support of the college and sends best wishes to Dr. A.L. Spivey, III for continued good health and happiness in his retirement.

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First-Time

permission for details to be shared with The Spivey Eye Clinic practice

Brooke Spivey, OD ’21, A.L. Spivey, III, OD ’67, and Scott Spivey, OD ’94.

Welcome

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optometrists. You may also give online today at sco.edu/give.

HCPE FOCUS

2022 Hayes Center for Practice of Excellence Awards Congratulations to this year's Hayes Center for Practice Excellence Award recipients: ALAN A. ARABI, OD ’13, SCOTT

RONHOVDE, OD ’15, and CHRISTOPHER STEWART, OD ’13, and KIMBERLY PHILLIPS STEWART, OD ’13.

Dr. Arabi received the Practice Acquisition Award category for ProView Eye Care Optometry in Corona, California.

Dr. Ronhovde was honored with the Partnership Award for Magnuson Hopkins Eyecare, PC, in Wayne, Nebraska.

Drs. Stewart received the Cold Start Award for Stewart Family Eye Care in Oviedo, Florida.

The award recipients spoke to SCO third-years as part of the annual BonVoyEyes program in which students begin preparing for their fourth-year externships. Joined by their spouses, the group gathered for photos afterward with JERRY HAYES, OD '73, and his children, Natalie and Nathan.

SCO is appreciative to Mark Risher of Allergan, Ron Kemper of VSP Global, and Dr. Steve Rosinski of CooperVision for their sponsorship and participation in the program as well as Dr. Peter Kehoe and other speakers from the SCO faculty.

Alumni Partnership Spotlight WOOD VISION CLINIC DALTON MILLER, OD ’18, recently became a full partner in Wood Vision Clinic, the practice owned by husband-and-wife partners AMANDA WOOD, OD ’02, and JAROD WOOD, OD ’02.

Dr. Miller was originally recruited to join the practice four years ago after the Woods reached out to the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence when they were searching for a recent graduate to join their practice.

Wood Vision Clinic has been serving Iowa Falls, Iowa, and Parkersburg, Iowa, since 2006, and a location in Hampton, Iowa since 2016.

Practice partners Jarod Wood, OD ’02, Dalton Miller, OD ’18, and Amanda Wood, OD ’02.

The Woods purchased their first two practices in 2006, their third in 2014, and their most recent in 2016.

A fourth SCO graduate, WHITNEY DRIVER, OD ’21, joined the practice after her graduation last year.

“Numerous opportunities exist for new graduates in rural optometry,” Dr. Jarod Wood said. “If you are willing to live and work in rural America, you will enjoy a tremendous work-life balance and a lucrative career.”

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S C O O N T H E R OA D

20 22

SECO 2022 brought hundreds of SCO alumni, faculty, residents, and students to New Orleans for the first complete in-person format since the 2020 meeting in Atlanta.

Several SCO alumni were honored, including SIDNEY STERN, OD 71, who was named OD of the South. TIFFANI LI MCELROY, OD ’12, received the Young OD of the South Award. STAN DICKERSON, OD ’76, received the President’s Award, and TAMMY THAN, OD ’95, received the 2022 Distinguished Service Award.

The event saw RICHARD DUROCHER, OD ’96, complete his year as president as he passed the leadership baton to another SCO graduate from the 1990s, CHRISTINE COOK, OD ’98. HORACE DEAL, OD ’97, is vice president.

Dr. Durocher said that leading SECO international was the greatest accomplishment of his professional life. “My 23-year journey through organized optometry to the pinnacle of eyecare education has been an amazing journey and humbling experience,” he said.

Dr. Cook is the first female graduate of SCO to serve as president of SECO. She said: “Becoming president of SECO International is an achievement I never imagined for myself. This is the culmination of 25 years of service to optometry and is the highlight of my career. I am honored and humbled to serve, and feel I have gotten far more out of the experience than I ever put in.”

Next year SECO will host its 100th annual Congress back in Atlanta.

Thanks to all our alumni who visited SCO’s booth and attended our Friday night reception.

SCO Board member Charles Glaser, OD ’74, former Board member Jarrett Johnson, OD ’90, Diane Reich, Lewis Reich, OD, PhD

Andrea Thau, OD, Martha Rosemore Morrow, OD ’74

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Nithya Vemula, ’24

Matt Jones, OD ’09, Lauren Trowbridge, Beth Fisher, Joe Sugg, OD ’09, and George Miller

Tiffany Li McElroy, OD ’12, Young OD of the South, Lewis Reich, OD, PhD, and Justin McElroy, OD ’17

Christine Cook, OD ’98, new SECO president

Linda Bui, OD ’04, and her husband, Vincent Tran

Darrell Sorah, OD ’95, Stuart Tasman, OD ’80, Tom Griffith, OD, and Stan Dickerson, OD ’76

Christine Mize, OD ’94, Ben Mize, OD ’93, and Beth Fisher

C E B AC K I N G E A R

Spring CE Returns to Campus SCO’s Spring Continuing Education program attracted nearly 200 alumni and other ODs to campus in April, the first time Spring CE was able to be held in person since 2019.

Faculty instructors and lecturers included: Drs. Frances Bynum, OD ’96, lecturing

JASON DUNCAN (’96), SCOTT ENSOR (’01), MICHAEL GERSTNER (’97), Jennifer Sanderson,

Janna Mixon, OD ’15, and Mark Mixon, OD ’15

Marc Taub, and Melissa Zarn. Other alumni lecturers included Drs. FRANCES BYNUM (’96) and JESSICA HAYNES (’15).

Ira Davis, OD ’80

Troy Johnson, OD ’20, and Pam Schnell, OD ’01

CE Attendees

Dr. Jennifer Sanderson leads the Injections Procedures for Primary Eye Care Wet Lab

Theresa Cassidy, OD ’18, Carrie Lebowitz, OD ’06, and Rachel Grant, OD

Melissa Holliman, OD ’99, and David Holliman, OD

Doiless Walker Puglese, OD ’86, Louis Puglese, OD ’85, Leesa Smith, OD ’87, Emmett Smith, OD ’86

Resident and faculty posters were on display at this year’s event

Attendees practicing injection procedures

Jason Duncan, OD ’96, spoke on minor surgical procedures

Attendees at lunch in SCO’s atrium

Amanda Tompkins, OD ’13, and Ashley Helton, OD ’13 Jessica Haynes, OD ’15, spoke on diagnostic imaging of the posterior segment VISIONS

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LIFE OUTSIDE OF SCO

1949 Jean. S. Hayden, OD, celebrated his

100th birthday with a party on April 7 at the Lucille McWherter Senior Center in Memphis.

lived in Long Beach, Mississippi since 1972.

1979 Danny Cross, OD, has retired from his practice in Oneida, Tennessee.

Hank Murray, OD, retired from his practice in Bridgeport, West Virginia.

1968 SCO President Emeritus William

E. Cochran, OD, recently published a new book, Optometry in Mississippi: 1920-2020. To order a copy, call the Mississippi Optometric Association at (601) 853-4407.

W.C. Maples, OD, and Glen Steele, OD ’69, received the College of Optometrists in Vision Development Distinguished Service Award at the recent COVD meeting in Ohio. Dr. Maples was the 2021 recipient and Dr. Steele the 2022 recipient.

1969 Walter Cygan, OD, and former

SCO Board member Dick Powell, OD ’68, shared this photo of a recent get-together.

Kay, donated a trial lens set from the 1800s to SCO during a recent visit with SCO President Lewis Reich, OD, PhD, and Lauren Trowbridge, Director of Development.

Max Edrington, OD, recently retired from his practice of 49 years. He, his wife Diane, and their three sons have

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as President of the Mississippi Optometric Association during the MOA's Annual Fall Conference.

2011 Matt Willis, OD, and Chris Fisher,

OD ’13, recently visited Washington D.C. to advocate for the profession.

Dr. Willis serves as President of the Nebraska Optometric Association and Dr. Fisher as a Trustee of the California Optometric Association.

1980 Chuck Aldridge, OD, recently sold his Burnsville, North Carolina practice to Thuc Moore, OD ’19, who joined the practice in 2019.

Dr. Aldridge will continue to see patients one day a week.

Gilan Cockrell, OD, has retired from the Williams Group.

2012 Tiffany Li McElroy, OD, and

husband Justin McElroy, OD ’17, recently appeared on HGTV's popular series Home Town.

1983 Mary Shackleford Carlton, OD,

and her husband recently stopped by for a visit to SCO on a trip through Memphis.

1993 Kenneth Young, OD, was recently 1972 Ronald Blum, OD, and his wife,

2010 Evan Davis, OD, was installed

named Chair of the Tennessee State Board of Optometry.

1995 Darrell Sorah, OD, was recently

installed as President of the Georgia Optometric Association at the GOA's Fall meeting. Melanie Clemmons, OD ’96, is serving as Secretary.

Stuart Tasman, OD ’80, received the Georgianne Bearden Excellence in Leadership Award, while Jody Whisenant, OD ’83, received the Bernard Kahn Award.

1999 William "Scott" Slagle, OD, was

appointed Executive Director for Optometry Services for Specialty Care Services in the VAMC system.

Adam Ramsey, OD, and colleague Darryl Glover, OD, received the presidential medal from New England College of Optometry for their work in founding Black Eyecare Perspective.

2013 Daniel Creviston, OD, visited

the SCO campus for the first time since graduation. He was joined by his family during their spring break from their home in Walla Walla, Washington.

S TATE A S SOCIATION H IG H LIG HTS

2014 Micah Juedes, OD, shared this photo

of his 7-month-old son, Malachi, in his SCO onesie and surrounded by his four older siblings.

SCO ALUMNI RECOGNIZED AT AROA SPRING CONVENTION Congratulations to the many SCO alumni who received recognition at this year's Arkansas Optometric Association (ArOA) spring convention. Several SCO graduates were installed on the ArOA board of directors:

Melia Robertson, OD ’10

James Hertzog, OD ’06

Alex Bell, OD ’09

Joe Sugg, OD ’09

Chevron Ergle, OD ’04

President

President

President

Immediate Past President

Advisor to The Board

Katie Brown, OD ’12

Justin Beavers, OD ’07

Sarah Lunsford, OD ’08

Barrett Brown, OD ’13

Directors include:

2016 Katie Bond, OD, recently opened

Greeley Family Vision in Colorado.

Matthew Boswell, OD, recently joined Andover Family Optometry, owned

by Corey Lindenman, OD ’04, in Kansas.

2019 Parth Amin, OD, recently celebrated

the grand opening of his new practice, Southaven Primary Eye Care, in Southaven, Mississippi.

Kamil Hill, OD ’19, has also joined the practice.

Rusty Simmons, OD ’83

SCO alumni who received awards included: Young OD of the Year: Jessica Dinwiddie, OD ’11, Distinguished Service Award: Bryant Ashley, Jr., OD ’84, Special Service Award: Christina Vranich, OD ’09, Lifetime of Excellence Award: Robert Smalling, OD ’74, and Lifetime of Excellence Award: Howard Flippin, OD ’59.

2020 Colin Hunsaker, OD, is one of

three ODs practicing at a new practice, Eye Care on the Ridge, in Galax, Virginia.

SCO faculty, students, and residents, joined alumni and the TAOP in volunteering at the Special Olympics held recently in Nashville

▼

▲

SCO faculty and alumni were well represented at the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians’ (TAOP) recent CE event in Destin, Florida.

2021 Sara Stockwell, OD, won the

Minnesota Optometric Association's Resident Grand Rounds at the MOA's May Virtual CE event. She is completing her residency at Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

InMemoriam Allan G. Schoen, OD ’72, passed away May 28, 2022. He retired as an SCO Professor in 2013 after serving on the faculty for 40 years in the Pediatrics department and teaching Ophthalmic Optics.

Richard C. Lane, OD ’50 Eugene Harpe, OD ’51 William A. McCown, OD ’53 Mack Smith, OD ’54 Charles R. Pruden, Jr., OD ’59 Hobe Ralph Winton, OD ’60 Paul A. Lapoint, OD ’63 Robert Timothy Carter, OD ’64 William W. Stanfill, OD ’65

Fred D. Davis, OD ’88 Harvey P. Mathis, OD ’68 Walter S. Rose, OD ’90 Gary L. Smith, OD ’69 Dudley B. Christie, Jr., OD ’73 Larry C. Otten, OD ’77 Timothy P. Fox, OD ’82 Wesley Walker, OD ’82 Thomas Scibiur, Jr., OD ’84 Victoria Willingham-Schoeneberg, OD ’84 Donald J. Bailey, OD ’87

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CHERISHED LIFE MOMENTS

Sam Chado, OD ’14, and Kelsey Zinck

| December 12, 2020

Shriya Ruparel, OD ’19, and Nathan Dederman, OD ’18

| April 30, 2022

Sydney Cooper, OD ’19, and Brian Chado, OD ’19 August 28, 2021

Anna Prier, OD ’17, and Tyler Henley

The Office of Institutional Advancement is pleased to announce that Kate Allen, OD ’16, and Jesse Denton November 14, 2021

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newlywed alumni can receive these SCO-themed champagne flutes. Just email bfisher@sco.edu a photo with details to share about your wedding, and we’ll be glad to mail you this gift to celebrate your nuptials!

hello, i’m new here...

SCO Board member Mark Kapperman, OD ’87, grandson: Jack Henry Kapperman; uncle is Conner Kapperman, OD ’20

Carolyn Ichter Click, OD ’12, and husband, Gregory: Alastair, December 12 , pictured with sister Gwendolyn

Laura Ashe, OD ’13, and husband, Justin: Avery Peyton, April 17

Kala Brown Brewer, OD ’13, and husband, Spenser: Alena Jade, March 24

Scott Moscow, OD ’13, and wife, Anna: Zane Alexander, July 17; Grandparents are Billy Moscow, OD ’78, and Sharon Berger Moscow, OD ’80, aunt is Michelle Moscow, OD ’17

Anna Ablamowicz Tichenor, OD ’13, and husband, Joey: Thomas Alexander, November 28

Christopher Bright, OD ’14, and wife, Sarah: Harrison, December 15

Erick Henderson, OD ’17, and Erin Keim, OD ’17: Maeve Marie, October 26

Zach Lancaster, OD ’17, and wife, Michelle: Easton Robert, November 1

onesie gallery

Dorothy Kessinger Anderson, OD ’71, grandson, Ian

Terry Williams, OD ’76, granddaughter: Hannah Ruth

Sarah Bassett Edwards, OD ’13, daughter Alice

Jessie Elmore, OD ’13, and Sam Johnson, OD ’13, son: Jack

Joanna Miranda Truong, OD ’17 and Bryan Truong, OD ’17: daughter, Olivia

Sarah Anderson Wright, OD ’17, daughter Emma Elizabeth

Julie Rallo, OD ’18, and Luke Moix, OD ’18, daughter, Rylee Jane, grandfather is Rod Rallo, OD '80

Marly Coleman, OD ’21, son, Foster Myrick

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CAMPUS NEWS

Faculty Spotlights Marie Bodack, OD, was elected President-Elect of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.

Dr. Bodack and Jason Duncan, OD ’96, were among the faculty lecturers at the Heart of America Eye Care Congress.

Dan Fuller, OD, was recently installed as the new President of the Scleral Lens Education Society during the Global Specialty Lens Symposium in Las Vegas.

Cynthia Heard, OD, was featured in an AOA News story about a low vision patient who was helped at The Eye Center.

Chris Borgman, OD, presented at the Iowa and Wisconsin Optometric Association meetings.

Patricia Cisarik, OD, presented a poster at the annual meeting of the Vision Sciences Society in Florida. Dr. Cisarik and Brian Randolph, OD ’21, published a paper in the North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research.

Jason Duncan, OD ’96, and Catherine Hogan, OD ’17, received SCO's Above and Beyond Award for their work in developing and expanding a third-year course to increase instruction for surgical procedures most commonly needed by patients. They also were invited to lecture and provide a wet lab on lid procedures at the Wyoming Winter Conference.

Patrick Fiddler, OD, was interviewed by the Daily Memphian for a story about how ODs can help patients with traumatic brain injuries.

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Kristina Haworth, OD, PhD, was accepted into the Master of Education in the Health Professions program by John Hopkins School of Education.

Michael Gerstner, OD ’97, was accepted into the Optometric Glaucoma Society.

Paul Harris, OD, recently visited with alumni Emily Eisenhower, OD ’17, Pinto Ng, OD ’15, Shawn Joseph, OD ’16, and Heidi Fouch, OD ’12, at the Sanet Seminar in San Diego. Dr. Harris was lead author of an article, “Evaluation of the Melbourne Rapid Fields Test Procedure,” published in the April 2022 issue of Optometry & Vision Science.

Catherine Hogan, OD ’17, and Mary Hoang, OD ‘14, presented to the student chapter of the American Academy of Optometry about how to obtain Fellowship status and other benefits of Academy involvement.

Chris Lievens, OD, and Michelle Kelley, Director of Ophthalmic Services and Materials, recently appeared on Memphis area TV to talk about SCO's participation in clinical trials for eye drops to treat presbyopia.

the largest and fastest-growing minority demographic groups in the U.S. Dan Powell, OD, was a co-author for “Morphological characteristics of Meibomian Glands and their Influence on Dry Eye Disease in Contact Lens Wearers,” published in the February 2022 issue of Ocular Surface.

Shaleen Ragha, OD ’16, authored an article about cold weather affecting the eyes for Memphis Health and Fitness Magazine.

Pam Schnell, OD ’01, and Marc Taub, OD, recently celebrated the publication of their new textbook, Applied Concepts in Vision Therapy 2.0. Three years in the making, the book was edited by both and Dr. Leonard Press. Other faculty authors include Drs. Darah McDanielChandler (’16), Morgan Ollinger, Paul Harris, Marie Bodack, Alicia Groce, and Kris Adams, as well as several residents.

Christina Newman, OD, graduated from the yearlong AOA Leadership Institute program.

Janette Pepper, OD, graduated as a 2022 Pressnell Fellow from the TICUA Executive Leadership Institute. She also was recently appointed to the Transitions Optical Diversity Advisory Board for 2021-22. The 11-member board represents expertise in

Dr. Karen Squier was joined

by Theresa Cassidy, OD ’18, and other faculty members and interns in assisting several children with low vision devices provided by Sight Savers

America. The half-day training program was covered by three Memphis news stations. Dr. Squier also was interviewed by the BBC for a a story about how technology improvements can benefit low vision patients.

HOAECC | KANSAS CITY, MO

COVD | COLUMBUS, OH

Darah McDaniel-Chandler, OD ’16

Rachel Slater, ’22, BS; Marc Taub, OD, MS

Pediatric Pars Planitis: A Snowglobe in the Vitreous

Jennifer Jones, OD ’06; Blade Grupe, ’22, BS Retinal Arterial Plaque: A Case Report and Comparison of Retinal Emboli

Sylvia Sparrow, OD ’98; Jeelan Rahhal, ’23, BS Filamentary Keratitis: A Review

Smooth Vergence Testing: Static or Dynamic – Does It Make a Difference?

Evaluation of Parental Knowledge of Contemporary Myopia Control Techniques

GSLS | LAS VEGAS, NV Aspen Chun, OD ’21 (Resident); Daniel Fuller, OD Clinical Application of a Bitoric Lens Design

Karen Squier, OD, MS Near-Induced Transient Myopia and Stand Magnifiers: Is There a Link?

Laurel Kelley, OD ’18 Contact Lens Intolerance Secondary to Ocular Rosacea

SECO | NEW ORLEANS, LA Chawan Rasheed, OD ’20; Daniel Fuller, OD; Subba Gollamudi, MD Glen Steele, OD ’69, was announced as the recipient of the 2022 Dr. W. David Sullins, Jr. InfantSEE award. A co-founder of the national InfantSEE program, Dr. Steele received the award on June 16 at the AOA meeting in Chicago. He also recently lectured at the Ontario Association of Optometrists 2022 Symposium in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Augmenting Corneal Thickness in Thin Keratoconus Corneas During Corneal Cross-Linking via FDA-Approved Hypotonic Riboflavin

New Board Members SCO recently welcomed three new members to the Board of Trustees:

ALLAN BARKER, OD '75 Dr. Barker served as North Carolina Optometric Society President and the AOA’s Charity Foundation Board President. A charter member of the AOA Contact Lens and Cornea Section, he received SCO’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.

CHARLES GLASER, OD '74 Dr. Glaser opened St. Charles Vision’s first office in Boutte, Louisiana in 1976 and remained managing partner through 2018. He has served as President of the Board of Lighthouse Louisiana and other organizations.

CHARLES W. KINNAIRD, OD Dr. Kinnaird has been on the staff at the Jesse Brown VAMC since 1995. He has been active in the American Academy of Optometry’s Disease Section and the Illinois Chapter as well as the National Board of Optometric Examiners.

GRT Summit Set SCO Board member CHRIS WROTEN, OD '02, and former SCO faculty member PAUL MORMON,

James E. Venable, OD ’89, Vice President for Clinical Programs, has been appointed to a five-year term on the Tennessee State Board of Optometry.

OD '01, will host an OD Summit and CE meeting, November 2-6, in Springdale, Utah.

Lisa Wade, OD ’84, organized this year’s Capstone Program for the Class of 2022 and the BonVoyEyes program for the Class of 2023.

dedication to serving the profession and promoting Independent Optometry was paramount in the design

The GRT Summit (Grow Retain Transition) is an exclusive, limited attendance, optometry education event that will focus on growing your office, retaining your office's legacy, and transitioning associates to partners in a modern OD practice.

This meeting was designed from the culmination of ideas by Drs. Mormon and Wroten. Their of the GRT Summit.

Attendees will experience first class medical and practice management continuing education, amazing group outdoor activities, and will be placed in a collaborative study group that will be moderated for implementation post-meeting success. Visit grtsummit.com for additional details.

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S VO S H B AC K I N AC T I O N

Don't Stop Belizing After being hampered the past few years by the pandemic, SCO’s SVOSH chapter was able to resume its first mission trip this year. For the first time since 2019, students, alumni, and other ODs were able to help others in need.

SCO’s group traveled to Belmopan, Belize, where the volunteers saw a total of 892 patients over four days and made hundreds of referrals. Chawan Rasheed, OD ’20, from SCO’s faculty, and Eliza Seros, OD ’21, resident, were interviewed by a local TV station on the first morning of the trip to promote the clinical care being offered at the event.

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TA K E S C O O U T T O T H E B A L L G A M E

SCO Partners with Memphis Redbirds Southern College of Optometry recently partnered with the Memphis Redbirds to promote the college and its clinics to the local community. AutoZone Park remains one of the better regarded minor league baseball stadiums in the country and a popular, affordable venue with SCO’s students.

The day after commencement, SCO was invited as the main attraction for an Education Day game that attracted more than 2,000 local schoolchildren to watch a daytime game.

SCO’s MobilEYES unit was parked in AutoZone Park’s courtyard for visitors to see. Meanwhile, a group of Pediatric and Vision Therapy faculty members interacted with kids in the first marketing outreach effort on a large scale since 2019.

Dr. Janette Pepper from SCO’s faculty spoke to the crowd about the importance of good vision, especially when playing sports.

Having played first base from age 7 through 17 as a student herself, Dr. Pepper was invited to throw out the opening pitch. She impressed the crowd by throwing a strike.

Faculty volunteers were then treated to lunch in SCO’s new suite. Decorated with the SCO logo and displays showing all the states represented by SCO’s alumni and students, the suite will be used for entertaining prospective students, alumni, and other college guests.

IF YOU’RE AN SCO GRADUATE WHO LIVES WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE OF THE MEMPHIS AREA OR IF YOU’RE PLANNING TO VISIT MEMPHIS BETWEEN NOW AND EARLY FALL, EMAIL BFISHER@SCO.EDU TO REQUEST YOUR FREE TICKETS TO WATCH A MEMPHIS REDBIRDS GAME IN THE SCO SUITE.

VISIONS

[SUMMER 202 2]

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

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Memphis, Tennessee Permit Number 151