Visions Alumni Magazine - Winter 2023

Visions ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Winter 2023

Record Turnout for Homecoming 2023 PAGE 4

Beating Cancer

Rural Practice

American Dream

Page 10

Page 12

Page 14

Gratitude Your support helps our students graduate with less debt and more freedom to practice optometry.

Thanks to the generosity of SCO’s alumni, ophthalmic partners, and

94 first-year students received 104 awards this fall. Totaling more than $960,000, those numbers mean that more than 90% of the Class of 2027 friends, a total of

received a scholarship and/or a state contract seat.

A M E S S AG E F R O M

Our President Arkansas, is doing well. He’s one

and CE Weekend, with nearly 50

of many alumni who can attest

members from the Class of 2013

to the appeal of a successful

on hand for their 10-year reunion;

rural practice.

they’re pictured on the cover

Also in this issue, you’ll read

LEWIS REICH, OD, PH.D.

As 2023 comes to a close, plans are already underway for 2024. In January, SCO will host our annual State Day event as state, regional, and national optometry leaders

State Day 2024’s theme will focus on rural optometry and the opportunities that rural practices can provide our students. With SCO attracting students from more states than any other

this magazine.

about several other alumni,

Another highlight of Fall

including MOLLY GOODMAN,

Homecoming was the Hayes

OD ’15. Hers is an inspiring

Center for Practice Excellence’s

story of how she faced a devas-

annual OD-Student Meet and

tating cancer diagnosis as an

Greet. This networking event

SCO student but persevered and

gave ODs the chance to meet

graduated, thanks in part to the

students interested in practice

encouragement she received from

opportunities. Be sure to visit the

her fellow students and the SCO

Hayes Center’s placement service

community.

via the SCO website if you’re in

come to campus to network and meet with students.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE Winter 2023

Today, Dr. Goodman is healthy

the search for a practice partner.

and practicing in Illinois. As

There are plenty of opportunities

you’ll read, she’s grateful to SCO’s

to network with SCO’s students

faculty and staff whose support

and other alumni throughout

of our Student Emergency

2024. From SECO to Spring CE

Fund provided her with critical

Weekend, pop-up receptions

assistance when she needed

held in different states, to

it most.

our receptions at the AOA or

optometry school, we recognize

Academy meetings, we look

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 SENIOR CREATIVE PROJECT MANAGER

Philip Tribble CREATIVE SERVICES COORDINATOR

Melissa Hansbro

BOARD CHAIR

Amanda Brewer-Lord, OD ’97 BOARD MEMBERS

Allan L. Barker, OD ’75 Betty Harville Brown, OD David A. Cockrell, OD ’81 Arthur R. Dampier, OD ’97 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 Lynn T. Shaw Chris Wroten, OD ’02 FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE

Michael Dorkowski, OD ’04 STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

Kyle Garner, ’25

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.

that introducing students to

It’s that type of meaningful

the concept of practicing in

support that really defines the

rural areas will give them

character of the SCO family. The

another option to consider after

dedication of our faculty and staff

It’s people like you who make

graduation.

continues to be appreciated by our

SCO such a great optometry

students and graduates long after

school. Thank you for your

sco.edu

their time in optometry school.

continued support and

SCOnews

In this issue, you’ll read about

JOE SUGG, OD ’09, whose practice in rural Heber Springs,

We saw record attendance at this year’s Fall Homecoming

forward to seeing you, too, in the coming year.

enthusiasm.

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

southerncollegeofoptometry southerncollegeofoptometry SCOedu

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Laura Ashe (’13), daughter Allie, and husband Justin traveled from North Carolina to attend.

▶

KICK- OFF PARTY

◀ Gail Cox Gordon (’03), gets a kiss from husband Scott Gordon (’05).

▲ Class of 1983 group

▲ Bridgette Adorno Connorton (’13), Jennifer N. Allee (’13), Addie Smith Holley (’13)

▲ Mary McDavid Pemberton (’98) and

▲ Peter Rothermel (’93) and Farshid Amir (’93)

Christine Cook (’98)

OD/STUDENT MEET AND GREET To learn more about the OD-Student meet and greet, Drs. MICK KLING (’93), KEITH SCHRUNK (’03), and

HANNAH NAIL (’13) were among the alumni interviewed for a video filmed at the event.

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Students enjoyed networking with alumni at the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence’s annual OD-Student networking event.

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▶

SCO’s Fall Homecoming

2 0 2 3

CO N T I N U I N G E D U C AT I O N L E C T U R E S/ WO R K S H O P S

◀ Maria Smith (’03),

Regina Hatch Cutright (’03), Jessica Norris (’03), Crystal G. Whittington (’03)

and CE Weekend drew some of the largest numbers in memory,

▲ Maria Kirkpatrick (’13) and

with several classes setting

Kala Brewer (’13)

attendance records. The Class of 2013 saw 49 members gather for their class reunion.

More than 400 alumni returned to Memphis for a Thursday evening Kick-off Party, the Friday evening BBQ, private gatherings, and a Saturday evening party at the increasingly popular Wiseacre Brewery near FedEx Forum in downtown Memphis.

▲ Ryan Livesay (’22), Tom Currey (’91), Joseph Portera (’61), Rick Hart (’91), Chuck Knudson (’91)

Mark your calendars for

SEPTEMBER 26-29, 2024 for our next Fall Homecoming and CE Weekend! Until then, enjoy these photos taken at this year’s event, with many more suitable for downloading or sharing on SCO’s website photo gallery.

▲ Josh Watt (’13)

▲ Scott Moscow (’13)

▲ James V. Cornetta (’81) and Jodie McAlister (’81)

The Hayes Center’s annual event allowed ODs to meet students interested

▼ in different states and private practice opportunities

▲ Sam Johnson (’13), Jessie Elmore (’13), Stephanie Hahn (’13)

▲ Alex Jackson (’17), Abby Kirk (’19), Aaron Grosman (’25) VISIONS

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HOMECOMING C A M P U S C E L E B R AT I O N

CLASS OF

2003

CLASS OF

1983

CLASS OF

2013

CLASS OF

1998

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AFTER PARTY

CLASS OF

1993

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2023

S C O O N T H E R OA D

U.S. Senator JOHN BOOZMAN, OD ’77, the only optometrist ever elected to the United States Senate, was among the attendees at SCO’s reception during the annual American Optometric Association meeting in Washington D.C.

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Senator Boozman also interacted with the Arkansas Optometric Association, several SCO students, and alumni.

Awards and recognition included: SCO Professor Emeritus GLEN STEELE, OD ’69, received the AOA’s Distinguished Service Award.

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AMY PUERTO, OD ’15, was recognized as Young OD of the Year.

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STEVEN REED, OD ’95, was installed as AOA President Elect.

MATT JONES, OD ’09, received an Outstanding Service Award for his work as a 2023 AOA Federal Advocacy Representative.

MEGHAN ELKINS, OD ’10, received the AOA’s Media Advocacy Award.

1 SCO students turned out in great numbers for this year’s AOA meeting. 2 SCO Board member Allan Barker, OD ’75, and wife Susan 3 Chris Fisher, OD ’13, SCO Board member Jennifer Lyerly, OD ’11, and Erin Ayers, OD ‘11 4 Keith Schrunk, OD ’03, and SCO Board member Stacey Meier, OD ’84. 5 Alex Bell, OD ’09 6 Belinda Starkey, OD ’04, Paige Harvey, ’24, U.S. Senator John Boozman, OD ’77, SCO President Lewis Reich, OD, PhD, and George Miller, SCO Vice President for Institutional Advancement 7 Linda Johnson, OD, Stacie Travis Moore, OD ’00, Dr. Reich, Jarrett Johnson, OD ’90

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1 Jarrett Johnson, OD ‘90 2 Chase Harter, OD ’18, Allie Gottlieb, OD ’18, Laila Tawfik, OD ’19, Larissa Krenk, OD ’19, Shelby Kruse, OD ’19 3 Alanna Khattar-Sullivan, OD ’15, and Alison Bozung, OD ’15 4 Alumni enjoyed coffee with classmates. 5 Resident Hannah Lewis, OD 6 Greyson Ramos, OD ’21, and Lauren Watson, OD ‘21 7 2013 Classmates Drs. Adam Beaubien, Nathan Rock, Amanda Tompkins, Anna Ablamowicz, and Nora Cothran 8 Faculty member Lisa Koehler, OD, discusses her poster. 9 Nicole Gurbal, OD, Nadira Shadeed, OD ’05, Joe Rouw, OD ’04 10 Mike McKeever, Dr. Lewis Reich, VSAP/AAOF scholarship recipients Deema Mansour, ’25, and Madhurima Kota, ’25, and George Miller 11 Virgilio Gozum, OD ’15, daughter Elaina, and Emy Thompson-Gozum, OD ’16 12 SGA President Kyle Garner, ’25, scanned in guests.

13 Jessica Cummings, ’25, and Melanie Crandall, OD ’77 14 Blake Jarrard, OD ’14, Brett O’Connor, OD ’16, faculty member Christina Newman, OD

More than three dozen SCO faculty, residents, and students presented academic posters at this year’s American Academy of Optometry annual meeting held in New Orleans.

SCO held a coffee event for SCO alumni in addition to the college’s Friday night reception for alumni and friends.

SCO Board member CHARLES GLASER, OD ’74, also hosted an event for top supporters of the college, including members of SCO’s President’s Circle giving society.

Non-faculty alumni who attained their Academy Fellowship included: Drs. POOJA ALLOJU (’21). MATTHEW BILLS (’22), JACOB BOEHME (’20), MARY CHIVETTA (’19), LINDSAY ESTEL (’19), STEPHANIE MARTICH (’21), MARK SCHAEFFER (’11), ELIZA SEROS (’21), CAITLYN STAKELY (’21), MIA TAYLOR (’22), LAUREN WATSON (’21), and BRITTANY WRIGHT (’15).

View more photos from SCO’s alumni receptions on social media and on the college’s website.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

DR. MOLLY GOODMAN, ’15 —

How SCO Helped Cancer Survivor Fulfill Her Dreams Molly Goodman was early for clinic, as usual. It was 2011, the spring semester of her second year at SCO, and Goodman passed the time by practicing with the medical equipment. Her blood pressure was fine, but when she checked her heart rate the reading was abnormally high.

Goodman took her heart rate again and got the same result. She chalked it up to a device malfunction.

But that high heart rate was one of several symptoms Goodman was experiencing that winter — unexplained weight loss, extreme exhaustion, frequent urination. As a healthy 24-year-old, the symptoms were easy to explain away.

Goodman had a full life as an optometry student at SCO. After growing up and attending college in Illinois (she graduated from the University of Illinois in 2009), Goodman enjoyed life in the South, especially its milder winters. She shared a Mud Island apartment with two roommates and frequently visited her boyfriend and twin sister in St. Louis, where both were studying pharmacy. Back at SCO, Goodman played on an intramural basketball team and worked at the campus library.

“It was busy,” she says. “I was making a lot of friends.”

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Then, at a routine appointment in February 2011, Goodman’s doctor found a lump near her right hip.

A CT scan showed a football-sized mass in her abdomen. Within days, a gynecologic oncologist confirmed the worst: Goodman had Stage IV ovarian cancer.

It wasn’t long before help arrived from SCO. The administration held Goodman’s tuition payment when it became clear she wouldn’t return to school that year. Then, the school forwarded $1,000 from the Student Emergency Fund to pay Goodman’s April and May rent.

“I’m sure I was in shock,” she says.

“I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that there was a football in my abdomen.”

“It was one less burden at a time of heavy burden,” she recalls. “I would encourage SCO alumni to think of that fund when they’re making donations…

It’s something that gets used.”

As she waited 10 days for surgery, Goodman’s stomach grew distended.

“I looked really sick,” she says. She informed SCO’s administration of the situation and her plan to return to school: she’d spend a few days in the hospital for surgery, then a few weeks recovering at home before returning to classes in April.

But Goodman would not return to SCO for more than a year.

Her surgery on March 7 did not go well. Doctors discovered Goodman’s cancer had spread to her liver. She needed nine units of blood transfused.

After surgery, Goodman went into respiratory failure, unable to draw a deep breath. She was transferred to a larger hospital, intubated and sedated, and sent to the intensive care unit. She remained there for eight weeks, struggling through surgery complications and beginning chemotherapy.

The SCO community helped in other ways, too. A classmate helped Goodman’s family, who had been living in a hotel during her hospitalization, find an affordable apartment nearby. The Class of 2013 organized a meal train to feed Goodman’s out-of-state relatives.

A classmate’s wife sewed her custom hospital gowns. Classmates’ parents handed Goodman’s mother and father gift cards for groceries, gas,

and coffee. SCO kept her classmates updated with email blasts about her progress.

When she grew stronger that spring, Goodman’s classmates visited her in the hospital. She remembers one hot and humid day when a power outage canceled clinic and sent students clamoring for air conditioning. About a dozen of them stayed cool hanging out in Goodman’s hospital room.

Goodman continued to recover, eventually becoming well enough to leave the hospital in mid-May 2011.

She continued chemotherapy in Memphis and St. Louis, completing treatments in December 2011.

Goodman returned to SCO in the fall of 2012 — this time with her boyfriend and their new puppy in tow. She audited the fall semester of the second year (the semester she completed just before her diagnosis) to get reacclimated to optometry school. That October, Goodman’s tumor marker

Dr. Goodman enjoyed reconnecting with 2013 classmates during SCO’s Fall Homecoming Weekend in September.

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Molly Goodman, OD ’15, and Katie Bond, OD ’16 at the 2023 AOA meeting in Washington D.C.

was in normal range: she showed no evidence of disease. Doctors say her cancer is unlikely to recur.

Goodman officially resumed classes in spring 2013, just as her original classmates were preparing for graduation. “It was a lot of work to go back,” she says, adding that support from SCO and classmates helped ensure her success.

Dr. Goodman walked in the spring 2015 graduation, then finished up a semester of additional training.

(Chemotherapy left her with peripheral neuropathy, a numbness in her fingers that made it difficult to manipulate optometric tools.)

Not long after graduation, Dr. Goodman’s boyfriend, Michael Guithues, proposed. The two married in 2016. Dr. Goodman, now Dr. Guithues, took a job at Bard Optical in Springfield, Illinois, where she continues to practice today.

“There are many factors that go into a person’s ability to survive and thrive in the face of grave disease,” she recalls.

“Certainly, the availability of adequate and comprehensive care, but also the support of a community of friends and family. SCO gave me that. They gave me friends to visit me, to cheer me up and to pass the time, and they gave me ways for my family to be there around-the-clock for eight long weeks.”

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

DR. JOE SUGG, ’09 —

Finding Success in a Rural Private Practice JOE SUGG, OD ’09, recommends thinking big

as a strategy to achieve success. “I’m a personality that likes things the way they are and doesn’t really like change, but that thinking will never allow you to grow to your fullest potential.”

Thinking ahead started early for Dr. Sugg. By his junior year at Arkansas State University, he wanted to pursue a healthcare career. His uncle, Dean Gurley, OD ’80, and a cousin, Jean Stone, OD ‘95, were positive influences. Shadowing further helped guide him into optometry as a career choice.

After his graduation from SCO, Dr. Sugg began his career as an associate for another Arkansas family with SCO and optometry roots. Patricia Westfall, OD ’99, had just purchased a Heber Springs practice from Jerry Moon, OD ’78, after his retirement.

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With Dr. Westfall’s primary focus on her main clinic in Searcy, Arkansas, she carried on the family tradition started by her father, Howard Flippin, OD ’59, and needed a new associate to take over the practice in Searcy.

“It was a great situation for me as a new graduate, and a great situation for Dr. Westfall,” Dr. Sugg said.

After four and a half years, the timing was right for Dr. Sugg to pursue his dream of owning his own private practice. In December 2013, he bought the practice outright.

A rural area like Heber Springs was ideal for Dr. Sugg and the primary care he provides. “Heber Springs is a place where my wife’s family had roots already, and it was in between her hometown and my hometown, so it was a natural fit,” he said.

“Access to care is critical in the rural areas as much as anywhere,” he noted. “If we’re not providing that service, patients are having to travel 45 minutes to an hour to get it.”

In 2016, Dr. Sugg added an associate and renovated the practice he bought. “The other building was really built for one doctor,” he said. “As long as we kept growing, we were cramped.”

At a meeting of the Arkansas Optometric Association, Dr. Sugg was inspired by a quote shared during a talk by Chev Ergle, OD ’04. “The quote was, ‘Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.’”

In order to grow and see more patients, Dr. Sugg knew he had to make a substantial investment.

“I was at a point where we had a good business,

add additional staff and another doctor, Cody Pigott, OD ’22.

In addition to primary eye care, the practice offers laser procedures and uses a dry eye therapeutic technology. A few rooms remain unused for potential expansion and additional services in the future.

“Think big. Do your homework. Don’t be afraid to reach out to different resources.”

Upstairs, Dr. Sugg’s wife, Ali, launched her own radio station in the building’s unfinished space.

“There was a time while there was no radio station, but radio in a small town is a very necessary service,” Dr. Sugg said.

At the top of the hour during the radio station’s identification, listeners hear: “101.9, The Lake: Broadcasting from the Heber Springs Eye Care Center Studio.”

“Inevitably, our patients who are listening are hearing about stories from what’s going on in the community,” Dr. Sugg said. “It brings both businesses together and within the community.”

Dr. Joe Sugg is a past president of the Arkansas Optometric Association and currently serves on the Industry Relations Committee for the AOA.

Dr. Sugg credits SCO for helping teach him practice management principles. He also encourages others to utilize similar services provided by The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence, which awarded him a Practice of Excellence award in 2015.

“Think big. Do your homework. Don’t be afraid to reach out to different resources,” he said.

Heber Springs Eye Care provides primary eye care to residents in the picturesque community known for its natural springs and lakes.

a busy practice, and we could have chosen to settle and coast, but it didn’t feel like the right thing to do.”

Dr. Sugg also encourages other alumni to support SCO so the college will always be on the leading edge of education and eyecare.

His experience gave him insights that he shares with new graduates and optometry students. “As soon as you get in practice, you should think about how you’re going to get from there to retirement and what that strategy looks like and what you want to do in those years in between.”

“I think it’s very important to give back, because SCO gave me the foundation to have a great work career and to be able to raise my family in a community like Heber Springs while providing a necessary service to a population. Without SCO, it would not have been possible.”

After consulting other colleagues, including financial advisors and a consultant, Dr. Sugg built and opened a new practice in 2022. Heber Springs Eye Care is flourishing, allowing him to

USE THIS QR CODE TO SEE A VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH DR. SUGG FILMED AT HIS PRACTICE.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

DR. JOSEPH NGUYEN, ’94 —

Achieving His American Dream

IT WASN’T DR. NGUYEN’S PLAN TO BECOME THE FIRST PRIVATE OPTOMETRIST IN THE UNITED STATES TO OWN A ZEISS VISION EXPERIENCE PRACTICE. BUT A CASUAL CONVERSATION WITH A SALES REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE GLOBAL LENS AND EYE CARE INSTRUMENT COMPANY TOOK HIS EXPANSION PROJECT IN AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION.

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JOSEPH NGUYEN, OD ’94,

“We have the freedom to run [the

high school in California, graduated

at the time, Dr. William Cochran,

started his optometry practice, Eyecare

practice] the way we want to make

from the University of California,

’84, arranged for Dr. Nguyen to

Leaders, in Houston, Texas, in 1995.

it successful,” Dr. Nguyen says. “But

Irvine, and was accepted into SCO’s

take a three-month speech therapy

Twenty-five years later, Dr. Nguyen was

whenever we need their help and

Class of 1994.

course, which helped improve his

considering a second practice location

support, they’re there for us.”

when he learned that Zeiss could help.

Dr. Nguyen was already familiar with the company, a trusted, high-quality eye care brand since 1846, because he used some of its products in his Eyecare Leaders practice.

Zeiss would provide Dr. Nguyen’s new, Zeiss-branded practice with support, such as architectural guidance, advertising materials and, of course, lenses, in exchange for exclusive use of Zeiss equipment and lenses at the practice. Dr. Nguyen toured a Zeiss laboratory in Kentucky, and has found that lens production is quick and easy.

Though he could read and write

English pronunciation. “I was treated really well,” Dr. Nguyen says.

Dr. Nguyen’s Zeiss Vision Experience

in English when he arrived at SCO,

in Pearland, Texas, celebrated its

Dr. Nguyen says understanding the

grand opening in July 2022. “We have

nuances of optometry in his second

Dr. Nguyen says his four years of

patients who come 50 or 60 miles

language posed a difficult challenge.

optometry school prepared him well,

because they hear the name,” he says.

“When my classmates would take an

both to be a leader in clinical practice

“They trust the brand.”

hour to study, it would take me three,

and in practice management. “It gave

four hours to study the same subject,”

me the confidence to go out and

he recalls. “Every single time, I had

practice optometry,” he says. That

to open the dictionary.”

confidence, plus a loan from a friend,

Dr. Nguyen, who was born in Vietnam, escaped the country as a young teenager among the “boat people,” who fled after the Vietnam War. After

As one of only two Asian students in

spending 18 months in an Indonesian

his class, Dr. Nguyen sometimes had to

refugee camp, where he began to

communicate with professors through

learn English, Dr. Nguyen was sent to

the written word, as they struggled to

the United States in 1983. He finished

understand his accent. SCO’s president

“I loved SCO.”

led Dr. Nguyen to launch his first practice, from scratch, in 1995.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

DR. CARISSA CHAMBERS, ’15 —

Realizing Her Potential you’re walking around at

has qualified for Team USA’s 30-34

the Olympics,” Dr. Chambers

age-group division, competing against

recalls. She qualified again

athletes worldwide.

in 2022 and returned to Utah,

Dr. Chambers makes time for training

where this time the skies were clear but the temperatures were freezing.

“Doing this lets me realize the potential that If there was an intramural

we all have,” Dr. Chambers says. “You

sports team at SCO, CARISSA

can be successful in many different

CHAMBERS, OD ’15, was

probably on it.

ways.”

Dr. Chambers’ signature event is the

A sports enthusiast with a penchant

half-Ironman, a punishing triathlon that

for running, Dr. Chambers had already

includes a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile

raced her first triathlon by the time

bike ride and a half-marathon of 13.1

she entered optometry school. While

miles. She raced her first half-Ironman

at SCO, Dr. Chambers competed in an

in Alabama in 2017, also with SCO

off-road triathlon with SCO classmate

classmate Bingham.

Michael Bingham, planning to ramp up her training after graduation.

“There was just so much room for improvement,” she says. “I wanted to get better.”

same time, she is co-owner of a private optometry practice in Jonesborough, Tennessee, and a triathlon coach, inspired by her SCO classmates.

workout. When she drives to the local

“This was an unforgettable experience

gym to swim, she makes sure to also

to race in Scandinavia,” she says,

do a strength-training session. Her one

“swimming in a pristine Finnish

rest day per week: the day she’s in the

lake, biking the rolling hills through

clinic for 11 hours.

traditional Finnish villages and running

Races are usually local, and on the

through the Lahti Sports Center.”

weekends, while trips to far flung

When Dr. Chambers raced a half-

competitions become “race-cations”

Ironman in Georgia in 2018, her SCO

for Dr. Chambers and her husband.

classmates Andy and Kaitlin Hawkins

“[These] are basically vacations that

supported her from the sidelines.

include me doing a race,” she says.

After the race, Andy Hawkins asked if

Dr. Chambers says racing even benefits

Dr. Chambers would help him train for his first half-Ironman. That question launched Dr. Chambers’ triathlon Andy and Kaitlin Hawkins through

one, in Memphis, where she was

half-Ironman prep, and now coaches

cheered on by classmates Alanna

a rotating stable of would-be triathlon

Khattar and Jessica Haynes. That year,

competitors.

Ironman World Championship.

World Championship qualifier. At the

to Finland for the championships.

half-Ironman races in 2021, including

Chambers is a three-time Ironman

on her bike or treadmill in her living room for an early-morning or evening

coaching career. She coached both

Dr. Chambers qualified for her first

by scheduling efficiently. She can hop

In 2023, Dr. Chambers traveled

Dr. Chambers competed in five

Fast forward a decade and, today, Dr.

— usually about eight hours a week—

her optometric practice. Her connection with the local triathlon community has brought new patients in for eye care. And the practice staff got a taste of Dr. Chambers’ active lifestyle on a recent team building day. “We hiked a local mountain,” she says. “During our break at the top, we discussed how our

In her own racing, Dr. Chambers now

personalities fit together and how we

focuses on shorter distance events,

can work best as a team.”

She traveled to Utah to race—on a

such as the aquathon (1,000-meter

stormy day of torrential rains and

swim, plus five-kilometer run) and the

severe crosswinds—alongside competi-

duathlon (10-kilometer run, 25-mile

tors from around the world. “It’s like

bike ride, then five-kilometer run). She

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LIFE OUTSIDE OF SCO

1950 Nathan Ford, OD, enjoyed

a visit for his 96th birthday from Nora Cothran, OD ’13.

1977 Melanie Crandall, OD, was

among the lecturers at this year’s Academy meeting in Louisiana.

1978 Billy Moscow, OD, and

1968 Frank Gibson, OD, and his

daughter, Jenny Uhl, OD ’97, enjoyed a visit from Cheryl Mengelt, OD, Director of SCO’s Residency and Externship Programs.

Sharon Berger Moscow, OD, ’80 visited with SCO President Lewis Reich, OD, PhD, outside the President’s Conference Room bearing the name of the Moscow family in recognition of their generous support for SCO.

1986 Don L. Weiss, Jr., OD, was

re-elected in September to his eighth four-year term as mayor of Dickson, Tennessee. He is the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history. His wife, Lori White Weiss, OD ’85, their sons, daughters-inlaw, and grandchildren were also on hand.

1987 Mark Kapperman, OD,

SCO Board member, was recognized for his volunteer work with a 2023 Champion of Health Care award in Chattanooga.

1990 Angela Howell, OD, 1971

Larry O’Connell, OD, has set up a seven-figure scholarship in the name of his late wife, Elizabeth, at Central Carolina Community College. The O’Connells were married for almost 55 years.

1974 John B. Lewis, OD, received the Florida Optometric Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

1976 Robert L. Burns, OD, and

his wife, Debbie, recently toured the SCO campus and paid a visit to the donor signage honoring Dr. Burns’ father, the late Robert D. Burns, OD ’42.

1983 Sharon Holden Thomas,

OD, Julianne Stuck Kleckley, OD, and Mary Shackleford Carlton, OD, took a celebratory retirement trip to Iceland earlier this year before joining up again to celebrate their 40th anniversary reunion during Fall Homecoming in Memphis.

at far right, was among the alumni who accompanied SVOSH members to Ecuador during the summer.

1998 Christine Cook, OD, received the Virginia Optometric Association’s Distinguished Service Award.

1999 Jill Cox Browning, OD, recently joined a new practice in Jacksboro, Tennessee.

2006 Stephanie Price, OD, left, was installed as President-Elect of the TAOP at the annual meeting in Gatlinburg.

Emily Eisenhower, OD ’17, is serving as Chair of the Executive Committee, and Wayne Connell, OD ’08, far right, as Secretary/ Treasurer.

2008 Amanda Dellinger, OD, was named Tennessee’s OD of the Year.

1993 Lisa Privett, OD, received

the 2023 Trustee of the Year Award from the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians.

1996 Steve Girisgen, OD, was

recently installed as president of the Nevada Optometric Association.

2010 Pinakin Davey, OD, was appointed as chief medical and science officer for EyePromise, a provider of nutritional supplements for eye health.

2011 Lauren Eaton, OD, opened a newly renovated practice in Kosciusko, Mississippi.

Mark Schaeffer, OD, and Jade Coats, OD ’16, were among the speakers for the New Technologies and

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Treatments in Eyecare

Nebraska Foundation for Children’s Vision and on the NOA Board. She’s also been elected NOA Vice President for 2024.

conference.

2012 Jessalyn Halsted, OD, received the Emerging Philanthropist Award from The University of the Ozarks, her undergraduate alma mater.

JJ Lant, OD, has been named a faculty member of the Optometric Extension Program as a Clinical Instructor. He'll be teaching CE courses on Behavioral Optometry and Vision Therapy.

2013 Walter Pang, OD, was named Young OD of the Year by the Mississippi Optometric Association.

2014 Joe Ballard, OD, has opened a new practice in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Jeffrey Coats, OD, was named to the 2023 Arkansas Forty Under 40 list published by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal.

Optometric Association’s Young OD of the Year.

2019 Shelby May-Parmley, OD, is among SCO’s 2023-24 on-campus residents.

Joanna Vrotros, OD, was traveling through Memphis on a drive back to California when she stopped for an SCO visit with Pam Schnell, OD ’01, Security’s Joyce Smith, and Christina Newman, OD.

2015 Jessica Haynes, OD, was named Tennessee’s Young OD of the Year.

2017 Inga Fors, OD, joined

Kristin Reed, OD, received a Presidential Citation for her work as Chair of the

EyeCare4Kids Arizona, a nonprofit serving underserved families.

Zach Lancaster, OD, was named the Iowa Optometric Association’s Young OD of the Year.

Christine Paschal, OD, was named the Virginia

InMemoriam

ALICIA GROCE, OD, who served on SCO’s faculty from 2015 until she was diagnosed with ALS in 2021, died on August 5. She was honored with a celebration of life service attended by many colleagues and former students who have also made gifts in her memory to an SCO scholarship established to honor Dr. Groce’s love for optometry.

MARION UTECH, OD ’78, who served on SCO’s faculty from 1998 until his retirement in 2016, died on September 4, 2023.

After his graduation from SCO, he served as an Optometry Officer in the U.S. Air Force Biomedical Sciences Group. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a life member of the Armed Forces Society. His family requested memorials to be made in his memory to SCO.

2020 Conner Kapperman, OD, has joined the practice founded by his father, Drs. Kapperman & McGarvey Eyecare.

2022 Aaliyah Cole, OD, has

Katherine Jones, OD, joined SouthEast Eye Specialists in Murfreesboro and Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Zachary Morrison, OD, joined Eye to Eye Family Vision Care in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

2023 Jon-Erik Kampwerth, OD, and Karli Boober, OD, recently graduated from their first Army training (AMEDD Officer Direct Commissioning Course) in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, before heading to San Antonio, Texas, for the next phase of their training.

Adam Reichert, OD, has joined Fishbaugh Family Eyecare in Ohio.

Braiden Werth, OD, has joined Dan F. Schmidt, OD ’85, in practice in Hays, Kansas.

joined Hattiesburg Clinic Eye Physicians & Surgeons.

Louis “Pete” Baucom, OD ’52 Robert Jensen, OD ’52 Rene Pigeon, OD ’54 Bernard Jason, OD ’55 Harold L. Meister, Jr., OD ’59 Cosby M. Davis, Jr., OD ’60 William A. Schobel, Sr., OD ’60 William Davis, OD ’63 Paul K. Douglas, OD ’63 Charles Brantley Aycock, OD ’65 Earl Rock, OD ’68 Peter Mueller, OD ’71 Ron McCoy, OD ’74 William F. Casteel, III, OD ’77 Larry E. Forth, Sr., OD ’77 Thomas Casella, OD ’78 Joseph Bakowski, OD ’79 Charles Cadenhead, OD ’80 Tommy Latimer, OD ’82 Craig Rock, OD ’87

Paul Heavner, OD ’91 Kelly Batey, OD ’07 Charlie Horning, the son of Eleanor Null, OD ’15, and faculty member Dr. Christina Newman, died August 21 at age 21. Having grown up around the SCO community, Charlie was honored with a celebration of life service on the SCO campus on September 9. His family requested memorials be made in his honor to SCO.

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CHERISHED LIFE MOMENTS

Lauren Bruehl, OD ’18, and Jack Ross September 9, 2023

Victoria Howard, OD ’19, and Josh Taylor, OD ‘19 October 14, 2023

Karen Ezelle, OD ’20, and Dane Dumesnil March 4, 2023

Maria Layton, OD ’23, and Jacob Bray, OD ’23 | June 3, 2023

Athena Mears, OD ’21, and Jonathan Eide, OD ‘21 September 2, 2023

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Blade Grupe, OD ’22, and Heather Zulkowsky September 23, 2023

Morgan Mathis, OD ’23, and Logan Parson September 30, 2023

hello, i’m new here...

Meredith Yingling Parmelee, OD ’15, and Josh Parmelee, OD, ’15, a son: Oliver Reed

Zach Lott, OD ’21, and partner, Meghan Riley, a daughter: Riley Anne

Leah Herron, OD ’16, and husband, Major, a daughter: Isla Jordan

Randy Goodman, OD ’79, and Betsy Goodman, OD ’79: granddaughter Ava Beth and grandson Henley [born separately throughout 2023]

Taylor England-Wells, OD ’17, and husband, James, a daughter: Wrenley Ann

Jessica Brown, OD ’18, and husband, Joseph, a daughter: Jordyn Olivia

Jeffrey Kuck, OD ’20, and wife Abby, a daughter: Lylah Rae

Sagar Desai, OD ’20, and wife Sejal, a son: Shaan

Christine Paschal, OD ’17, and husband, Isaac, a son: Lane Monroe

Braiden Werth, OD ’23, and wife, Mindy, a daughter: Kinley Lauren

Alexis Clay Hogan, OD ’21, and husband, Conor, a son: Arthur Remi

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21

CAMPUS NEWS

PROMOTIONS

Chris Lievens, OD, PhD, was named Director of Research, succeeding Mike Christensen, OD, who remains on faculty.

Scott Ensor, OD ’01, was named Chief of Internal Clinics, succeeding Dr. Lievens.

Jennifer Sanderson, OD, was promoted to Professor.

Jason Duncan, OD ’96, was named Chief of SCO’s Optometric Surgical Service. The new service exposes interns to a greater number of surgical encounters, including cataract pre- and post-op care, eyelid and adnexa surgical care, and anterior segment laser surgical care.

WELCOME TO NEW FACULTY

►Jacqueline Fiddler, OD, completed her primary eyecare residency at

SCO. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri, St. Louis College of Optometry.

►Barbie Jodoin, OD ’15, previously served as the Regional Medical

Director and Optometry Compliance Officer at Elevate Eyecare in Littleton, Colorado. She is pursuing a Master of Jurisprudence Health Law at Loyola University.

►Abigail Klick, OD ’22, completed a residency in ocular disease and low vision at the Kansas City VA. ►Chelsea Spalding, OD ’14, and Tyler Roberts, OD ’14, married during their residencies, which were both at the Lexington VAMC (Kentucky) in Ocular Disease and Low Vision. The couple joined SCO after practicing several years in Florida.

Dr. Fiddler

Dr. Jodoin

Chris Borgman, OD, recently appeared on Modern Optometry’s podcast talking about using OCT technology.

Patricia Cisarik, OD, and Jon-Erik Kampwerth, OD ’23, published an article on cone-isolation contrast sensitivity in the June 2023 issue of Clinical and Experimental Optometry. Dr. Cisarik and Andrew Shum, OD ’16, published a paper comparing differences in the nutritional status of elderly vision care patients in Optometry & Visual Performance, Volume 11.

Michael Dorkowski, OD ’04, was named to the Executive Leadership Institute Presnell Fellows by the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association.

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Dr. Klick

Dr. Spalding

Dr. Roberts

Drs. Jackie Fiddler, Patrick Fiddler, Lisa Koehler, and Elyse Rayborn, (’20), were awarded Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry at the annual meeting.

Dan Fuller, OD, wrote about topography and tomography advances for the September 2023 issue of Contact Lens Spectrum.

Glenn Goldring, OD ’78, received the James Brownlee OD of the Year award from the Mississippi Optometric Association.

John Mark Jackson, OD ’99, wrote about Centration of Ortho-K Lenses for the August 2023 issue of Contact Lens Spectrum.

Brian Knight, OD ’14, Cheryl Mengelt, OD, and Beth Sparrow, OD ’98, joined students in volunteering at the Special Olympics in Nashville.

Chris Lievens, OD, recently completed his PhD at Anglia Ruskin University in England.

Drs. Chris Lievens, Lily Wang, Catherine Hogan (’17), Elyse Raborn (’20), Michael Christensen, and others, wrote about digital device users treated with Systane in the September 2023 issue of JFO Open Ophthalmology. Dr. Lievens also published an article in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery about Pilocarpine Hcl 1.25% for Treatment of Presbyopia after Laser Vision Correction.

Janette Pepper, OD, (center) received the Dr. Paula Boone Community Service Award at the National Optometric Association’s annual conference. Dr. Pepper was also recognized by the Memphis Business Journal as a nominee for the publication’s new Diversity in Business Awards.

Rick Savoy, OD, and David Hall, OD, joined 28 FCO students on a summer mission trip to Costa Rica.

David Maze, OD, wrote an article for the June 2023 issue of Vision Development & Rehabilitation about Vision Therapy ODs working with consultants to enhance sports vision services.

Wil McGriff, OD, was honored by the Midtown Rotary Club as a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his service to the organization.

Karen Squier, OD, was interviewed

by HealthCentral for a story about maintaining activities for patients diagnosed with AMD. Marc Taub, OD, was presented his Academy Diplomate by Daniel Taylor, OD ’06, a fellow Academy Diplomate and Dean of the Michigan College of Optometry.

Cheryl Mengelt, OD, and Carrie Lebowitz, OD ’06, were among the faculty members who represented SCO at the Memphis Redbirds’ annual Education Day for several thousand schoolchildren.

Marc Taub, OD, and Pam Schnell (’01), wrote about visuoscopy in the August 2023 issue of Review of Optometry.

FACULTY AND STAFF HONORED AT SCO FALL CAMPUS ASSEMBLY BURNETT FACULTY RECOGNITION AWARD

CLASS OF 2024 TEACHER OF THE YEAR

David Hall, OD SPIRIT OF SCO AWARD

Melissa Hansbro

CLASS OF 2025 TEACHER OF THE YEAR

DIDACTIC

DIDACTIC

David Hall, OD

CLINICAL

CLINICAL

FAC U LT Y

Drs. Taylor O’Daniel (’23), Kristin Adams Atypical CHRPE: Finding Familial Adenomatous Polyposis in Non-Verbal, Pediatric Siblings

Raphael Sahayaraj, MS (’25), Dr. Patricia Cisarik Effect of Intermittent Visual Disruption on Fine Motor Skills Performance

Dr. Patricia Cisarik Comparison of GRIT Scores in First Year Optometry Students: Late Pandemic versus Post Pandemic Responses

Esla Speth, OD ’10 Drs. Reena Lepine (’11), Teresa Cassidy (’18) Determining Food Insecurities in Southern College of Optometry Students

Drs. Chris Lievens, Elyse Rayborn (’20), Catherine Hogan (’17), Michael Christensen, Quentin Franklin, BS, et al.

Frequency of Successfully Bringing Contact Lens Dropouts Back into a Modern Daily Disposable Contact Lens at 6-Months

Drs. Christina Newman, Patricia Cisarik, Tyler Kitzman (’16), Lily Wang Is Student Performance in Soft Contact Lens Handling Associated with Probable Fine Motor Skill Deficits as Ascertained by the ACD Checklist?

Inter-Examiner Repeatability in the Assessment of Eyelind Laxity

The Effect of Creatine on Eye Movements, Reading Comprehension and Visual Memory

Drs. Lindsay Elkins (’07), Halie Cottrill (’16), Carrie Lebowitz (’06), Patricia Cisarik Relationship Between Self-Assessed Scores of Anxiety and the Outcome of the Part III Clinical Skills Examination

Raphael Sahayaraj, MS (’25), Dr. Kristina Haworth Ocular Surface Disease: Differentiation Allergic Conjunctivitis and Dry Eye Disease

Sai Oak (’25), Drs. Laurel Kelley (’18), Lily Wang, Mary Hoang (’14) Non-invasive Keratography Tear Break-up Time and Dry Eye Symptons in Daily Disposable Silicone Hydrogel Lens Wearer Over a 6 Hour Period

Drs. Lisa Koehler, Kristin Adams From Visual Snow to Clarity: Vision Therapy’s Role in Treating Visual Snow and Facilitation of an Autism Spectrum Diagnosis

Scott Ensor, OD ’01, MS

CLINICAL

CLINICAL

Reena Lepine, OD ’11

Bryanna Hall (’25), Dr. Morgan Ollinger, Kendra Davidson (’25),

Comparison of BRFSS Dietary Intake Items to Carotenoid Levels Assessments

DIDACTIC

Daniel Powell, OD

Ghazal Mansouri BS (’24), Drs. Michelle Yan (’23), Daniel Fuller, Patricia Cisarik

Zach Groves (’24), Dr. Patricia Cisarik

BSK AWARDS TEACHER OF THE YEAR

DIDACTIC

Scott Ensor, OD ’01, MS

Jason Duncan, OD ’96

AAO POSTERS | NEW ORLEANS, LA

CLASS OF 2026 TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Dr. Marc Taub Does it Make the Grade? Clinical Grading in an Optometric Program

Esla Speth, OD ’10

Dr. D’Ajanee Smallwood Unilateral Lipid Keratopathy in a Patient Misdiagnosed with Recurrent Scleritis

Dr. Heidi Volos, et al.

A Case of Diffuse Corneal Endotheliitis Secondary to Suspected HSV in a 14-year-old, Complicated by Concurrent Peripheral Infiltrate

Dr. Marsha Zaman Atypical Spontaneous Resolution of Bilateral Maculoschisis in a Hyperopic Individual

Dr. Breanna Zeller, et al.

Covering the Dystrophy Mystery: Exploring the Management of Recurrent Corneal Granular Dystrophy with PKP and Scleral Lenses

Dr. Molly Bute, et al.

A Rare Case of Congenital Retinal Macrovessel and Associated Cerebrovascular Malformations

Dr. Hannah Lewis A Rare Case of Peripheral Exudative Hemorrhagic Chorioretinopathy with Associated Retinoschisis

Brianna Aheimer (’25), Drs. Lisa Koehler, Marc Taub Comparison of Three Tests of Visual Motor Development in Inter-Rater Reliability

Drs. Melissa Zarn, Janette Pepper Impact of Information Session on Transgender Health Concerns on Second-Year Optometry Students RESIDENTS

Dr. Gabrielle Crockett (’23) Multimodal Imaging Aids in Diagnosis of Presumed (Inactive) Opthalmomyiasis with Atypical Location for Retinal Damage

Dr. Marija Novakovich Dorsal Midbrain Syndrome

Dr. Shaily Sheth

AOA POSTERS | WASHINGTON, DC Drs. Chris Lievens, Jason Duncan (’96), Catherine Hogan (’17), Mike Christensen, Elyse Rayborn (’20), et al.

Managing Symptomatic Digital Device Users with Systane Complete PF.

Drs. Chris Lievens, Elyse Rayborn (’20), Mike Christensen, et al.

Troubleshooting Contact Lens Dropout with a Daily Disposable Contact Lens.

Dr. Marc Taub, et al.

National Academies of Practice-Optometry

Exploring a Presentation of Necrotizing Herpetic Retinitis: Acute Retinal Necrosis

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HCPE FOCUS

Nominations are Open for

10th

THE

A N N U A L

HCPE

CRIS HAYES, JERRY HAYES, OD ’74

AWARDS

In 2024, the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence will mark 10 years of bestowing the prestigious Practice of Excellence Award on young SCO alumni for the pursuit of excellence in private practice optometry.

Award recipients each receive $5,000 and will be honored at the Annual Practice of Excellence Awards Program to be held on April 10, 2024.

“SCO is so grateful to the Hayes Family

Travel expenses to Memphis for the program and a plaque recognizing this achievement

Foundation for making these awards

also will be provided.

possible over the last decade. Not only does

Individuals are invited to submit themselves or others as a nominee for one of three 2024 Practice of Excellence Awards by sending a message to Lisa R. Wade, OD ’84, MPA, Director of the Hayes Center at SCO, lwade@sco.edu.

To qualify for the 2024 awards, candidates must have graduated from SCO between 2014-2021 and have secured an ownership/equity position in a private practice in one of three ways:

SCO stand alone in recognizing such high standards of excellence in private practice, but current students benefit so much from networking with successful young ODs and learning about their unique professional journeys. These recipients provide an outstanding example and inspiration for

NEW PRACTICE AWARD given for a cold start; applicant holds a majority

what the profession of Optometry can

or equal ownership interest in a practice for which he/she participated

offer,” said Dr. Wade.

in writing the business plan, securing financing, and in operational development for a newly formed private practice.

PARTNERSHIP AWARD given for a buy-in; applicant has purchased

Additional criteria and a complete application form may be found on the Hayes Center section of SCO’s website at sco.edu/practice-of-excellence-award or by using this QR code.

or earned an equity interest in an existing private practice and actively participates in its operation/management.

PRACTICE ACQUISITION AWARD given for a buy-out; applicant has completed the buy-sell process of acquiring a previously existing private practice and currently holds a majority or equal ownership interest in that practice.

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Completed applications should be received

by February 11, 2024. Questions may also be directed to Dr. Wade at lwade@sco.edu or at 901.722.3365.

PHIL ANTH ROPY FOCUS

Donor-Funded Scholarships Make Great Impact

First-Time SCO Donors Southern College of Optometry is pleased to welcome the following first-

time contributors to the SCO donor ranks. Listed below are those who gave

The record number of entering Class of 2027 scholarship recipients was made possible by a significant number of donor-funded scholarships.

On behalf of our student recipients, SCO wishes to acknowledge the following donor-funded scholarships provided by alumni and other supporters: MARK W. FRANK AND MARY FRANKS SCHOLARSHIP

generously between April 1, 2023 and October 31, 2023.

ALUMNI

FRIENDS

John B. Lewis, OD ’74

Danielle Alperin

Lee N. Hoglan, OD ’76

Lindsey Authement

William T. Frye, OD ’77

Mike and Sharon Britt

Alan M. Uyemura, OD ’82

Teresa Carr

Dena Amerine-Harris, OD ’84

Clark Chang, OD

Nolan R. Ng, OD ’93

Costa Del Mar

Tammy T. Tully, OD ’94

Tabatha Dailey

Paul K. Kim, OD ’95

Rajnikant and Aruna Daya

Reagan L. Ford, II, OD ’00

Haley Durocher, OD

Micah R. Girard, OD ’03

Sarah Evans

Scott R. Lewis, OD ’05

Jeffrey Farris

Jeremy Goetsch, OD ’09

Douglas Frohlich

Mark D. Wesoloski, II, OD ’12

Sallie Graves

Kailey A. Daniel, OD ’20

Keith and Debbi Hansen

Brian T. Post, OD ’20

Judith Hildebrand

Elyse Rayborn, OD ’20

LeChelle Hunt-Davenport

Haylee M. Taylor, OD ’20

Jennifer A. Jerrolds

Ishan Gandhi, OD ’21

Ted Kirksey

Mason M. Garbs, OD ’22

Nan Mosier

Lauren Goettemoeller, OD ’22

Selina Oelberg

Miranda L. Packard, OD ’22

Corinna Shelley, OD

Lane E. Herndon, OD ’23

Emily Sweeter

Edgar F. Judd, OD ’23

John G. Turner

Phaedra J. Lipsey, OD ’23

Heather Tyrrell

Braiden J. Werth, OD ’23

Joey Vickers

Carly Buuck

Abby Cazayoux

Ellie Fields

Rachel Eschete

Chloe Nguyen

DR. BARRY AND ANNETTE WINSTON SCHOLARSHIP

Alex Coker DRS. HELEN AND CHRISTOPHER KING ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Hannah Eberts SOUTHERN COUNCIL OF OPTOMETRISTS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP THE OLIVER FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Yolanda Vranich Michael Ward Melody Young Contact Lauren Trowbridge, SCO’s Director of Development, at (901) 722-3339 to join the growing list of SCO’s supporters. You may also give online today at SCO.EDU/GIVE.

Davis Horne

Alumni donors wishing to learn more about funding endowed scholarships should contact Lauren Trowbridge, SCO’s Director of Development, at 901.722.3339 or ltrowbridge@sco.edu.

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NEWS BRIE FS

Dr. Lewis Reich, President, and George Miller, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, recently enjoyed an alumni visit in Knoxville. Pictured L-R from Winston Eye & Vision Center: BLAKE RUST (’11), Mimi Rust, Annette Winston, BARRY WINSTON (’74), Lea Winston, Dr. Reich, SAM

WINSTON (’11), and George Miller.

The late JEFF FOSTER, OD ’81, was recently named among the 2023 inductees to the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Hall of Fame recognizing outstanding graduates of TICUA member institutions. Dr. Lewis Reich, SCO President, and George Miller, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, traveled to Dr. Foster’s former practice in Newport, Tennessee to present the award to DRS. KURT STEELE (’95), EMILY EISENHOWER BAXTER (’17), and JACOB MORRIS (’22) as they carry on the practice. Also present for the occasion were DR. NATHAN FORD (’50), who founded the practice, and Mrs. Liz Henry, wife of the late DR. WILLIAM B. HENRY (’61), who previously co-owned the practice with Drs. Foster and Steele.

At SCO’s fall meeting of the Board of Trustees,

AMANDA BREWER-LORD, OD ’97, and CHRIS WROTEN, OD ’02, were recognized for their service and leadership as their terms were set to end in early 2024. Each had served as Board Chair.

A group of West Tennessee lawmakers recently toured campus to learn more about optometry and SCO. The group visited a demonstration in The Eye Center’s Optometric Surgical Center.

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ENTRANTS ENTRANTS

APPLICANTS APPLICANTS

3.68 3.68 MEAN GPA GPA MEAN

333

92 42 FEMALE FEMALE

MALE MALE

19 20-45 20-45 115 23 MARRIED MARRIED

AGE RANGE RANGE AGE

SINGLE SINGLE

MEAN AGE AGE MEAN

STATES STATES REPRESENTED REPRESENTED

MEAN OAT OAT MEAN

PERSONAL PERSONAL STATISTICS STATISTICS

134 674

TESTING TESTING

ADMISSIONS ADMISSIONS

BY T H E N U M B E R S

34 STATES

CANADA

SCO CLASS OF 2027 STATS VISIONS

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27

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

PAID

1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38104-2222

Memphis, Tennessee Permit Number 151

Cheers to Years

SCO ’ S C L A S S O F 1 974 TO C E LE B R ATE 5 0 -Y E A R R E U N I O N

MAY 6-7, 2024

Celebration Dinner at The Peabody Memphis

Commencement Morning Brunch and Ceremony Special Recognition

Induction into SCO’s Golden Circle