On Friday, December 9th, the 4th SUNY Regional Campus Showcase was held in New York City at the SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology (better known as FIT).  SUNY's New York City Regional Showcase featured the campuses of Downstate Medical Center, Empire State College SUNY Maritime, FIT, the SUNY Global Center (including the Levin Institute) and SUNY College of Optometry. 

Each campus highlighted programs that are vibrant and current with regard to serving the New York City and its diverse community.  Visitors to the exposition were exposed to fashions ready-made and sketched designs by students; display of water crafts currently used in training students; information on programs in medicine, optometry, public health, nursing; clinical vision care, research and international programs.

Each campuses was represented by their president.  President Joyce Brown (FIT) welcomed everyone to the showcase.  Chancellor Nancy Zimpher gave opening remarks after which she introduced Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Chair of the New York State Assemby Committee on Higher Education, who brought greetings from the New York State Legislature and expressed praise and gratitude for the work that is being done by SUNY throughout the State.     

Phyllis Milton Renews Support for SUNY Manhattan Homebound Program

Phyllis Milton has awarded the Optometric Center of New York (OCNY) a $5,000 grant in support of the Manhattan Homebound Program.  The initiative will provide much-needed vision care to underserved patients throughout the borough in the coming year.  This is the second grant from Mrs. Milton who is the President of the Arthur and Phyllis Milton Foundation.

For those who are homebound with serious multiple health problems, difficult choices must often be made about the nature and frequency of care received, and may even determine if a vision problem is addressed at all.  Vision issues may be viewed as less critical than other health conditions, putting people at increased risk for impaired sight, or, even blindness from eye conditions that may be fully preventable or treatable.  The Manhattan Homebound Program offers critical services to homebound elders, regardless of their ability to pay.

"Proper eye care is essential for older adults with vision loss to live independently.  Mrs. Milton's generosity will help us bring a high standard of care, as well as an improved quality of life to a seriously underserved population," said Dr. Richard Soden, Vice President for Clinical Affairs and Executive Director of SUNY Optometry's University Eye Center.

Foundation Hosts Trusts and Estates Attorneys

On November 3, the Trusts and Estates Committee of the Optometric Center of New York (OCNY) hosted a reception and dinner for 50 of New York's most prominent attorneys at the Lambs Club in New York City.  The work of the Foundation and the College was described by Dr. David Heath and the video from the Vision and the Promise Campaign was shown.  Mr. Michael Mariani, Sr. Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Fiduciary Trust Company International and a member of the committee, welcomed the group and spoke about the mission of the Foundation.  Each of the five tables had members of the College's faculty and administration to talk about their roles at the institution.  They included:  Dr. David Troilo, Dr. Richard Madonna, Dr. Neera Kapoor, Dr. Daniella Rutner, Ms. Ann Warwick and Ms. Barbara Saltzman, OCNY Trustee.   

Donors Thanked at Christie's Event

More than 50 donors and OCNY Trustees were recognized for their generosity at a reception held October 21st at Christie's auction house.  Guests were given an exclusive look and tour of a new exhibit of Prints and Multiples before they went to auction.  These included works by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.  "This was a unique way to thank the many people who have generously supported the first phase of our Vision and Promise Campaign", said Ms. Ann Warwick, Executive Director.

Chinese Culture Optometric Student Association Hosts Food Festival

The Chinese Culture Optometric Student Association hosted the first annual Food Festival on Monday, October 24, 2011.  Held in Alumni Commons of the College, the Food Festival celebrated Chinese culture and presented the newly established Chinese Culture Optometric Student Association (CCOSA).  The CCOSA is sponsored by the Confucius Institute at SUNY College of Optometry.  The Association promotes interest in Chinese language and culture with a special emphasis on healthcare.  Advisors for the organization include Michael Heiberger, O.D., M.A., and Lili Tu, Ph.D.

The Food Festival featured a presentation about the new student organization, authentic Chinese cuisine, traditional and modern Chinese music as well as a raffle.  The menu included egg tarts, mooncake, dumplings, tofu and string beans, scallion pancakes and other delicious Chinese fare.  The attendees included many students, faculty, staff and College officials.

The Association sends a special thanks to Ms. Emmeline Jang '14 and Mr. Jim Yates for taking pictures during this event.    

 - H I S T O R Y   O F  T H E  C O L L E G E :  T h e  F i r s t  4 0  Y e a r s  -

The Raymond J. Greenwald Rehabilitation Center       

In July 1994, Dr. Irwin B. Suchoff founded the Head Trauma Vision Rehabilitation Unit to assist victims of traumatic brain injury who also developed vision disorders.  The unit was renamed the Raymond J. Greenwald Rehabilitation Center (RJGRC), the Center serves the greater New York area as a wheelchair accessible clinical care and clinical research unit within the University Eye Center (UEC).  It continues to provide primary eye care and vision rehabilitation to enhance visually-related activities of daily living (ADL) such as, reading, computer use, writing, driving, walking and cleaning for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) which is a secondary result of trauma, stroke, tumors, aneurysms, vestibular dysfunction and other post-surgical complications.

The RJGRC receives referrals from health care professionals at rehabilitation hospitals, centers and private practices within the greater metropolitan New York area.  It treats individuals with ABI whose vision signs and symptoms may have not been previously diagnosed; reports functional vision symptoms which may or may not slow down the rehabilitative progress and impair the ability to perform ADLs.  Using a team approach, an evaluation at the Center involves initial clinical intake performed by a social worker to aide the optometrist in addressing patient needs; meeting with the optometrist after the social work intake to undergo a comprehensive review of the patient's vision problem and associated medical history along with a series of diagnostic tests; referrals to other specialty practices within the UEC for additional evaluation and treatment, as needed.  Two to three additional visits is necessary to complete the testing and to form a diagnosis and treatment plan with prognosis.  The information from the social work report, the referring professional's report and the optometric examination will assist in the determination of how the patient is processing information; prepare individualized treatment plan and recommend periodic re-evaluations to monitor progress with the treatment plan and communication with the referring professional in order to assure the most favorable outcome.

The Raymond J Greenwald Rehabilitation Center is currently under the directorship of Dr. Neera Kapoor and has maintained its leadership in the area of optometric care with state-of-the-art diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative measures and the education of optometry students and residents through clinical rotations, as well as a residency program dedicated to Vision Rehabilitation (ABI) /Primary Eye Care.  It also maintains an inter-disciplinary faculty who work together in clinical research endeavors, continuing professional education on vision rehabilitation and clinical care to best serve its patients.




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*Many thanks to Dr. Neera Kapoor for her contribution to this article.   

 

 

SUNY Office of Continuing Professional Education Plans for 2012   

SUNY is Awarded 2011 Essilor Optical Technology Grant 

The SUNY College of Optometry was awarded one of three $20,000 2011 Essilor Optical Technology Grants from the American Optometric Foundation for the project "Sports Vision:  Raising Awareness for the Patient and the Optometry Student".  Ms. Nancy Kirsch submitted the grant request to support a special project to promote the use of safety eyewear and sports vision for athletes of all ages.

    

 

Dr. Thomas Wong Receives Awards from Alma Mater and the Maryland Optometric Association 

Georgetown University awarded its William Gaston Alumni Award to Dr. Thomas Wong, Chief of Adult and Pediatric Primary Care in the University Eye Center (UEC).  The award recognizes outstanding service by graduate and undergraduate alumni who have exhibited leadership across many activities such as regional clubs, class programs and/or participation in other school activities.  A maximum of five awards are presented each year.  Named for the first student to enroll in Georgetown College, William Gaston obtained Georgetown's charter as an educational institution while a member of the United States Congress.  He later served as Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina.  Dr. Wong will receive the award on February 3, 2012 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.  Congratulations to Dr. Wong from the faculty, staff and students at the SUNY College of Optometry.

Falls are Preventable!   

Each year, one in every three adults, age 65 and older, falls.  Falls can cause moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas and can increase the risk of early death.  Every 17 seconds an older adult is treated in the Emergency Department for a fall-related injury, and, every 29 minutes an older adult dies from a fall.  Fortunately, there are steps that everyone can take to stay healthy and reduce the risk of falls.

Most falls happen in the home.  Risks like tripping hazards, certain types of medications, poor eyesight, muscle weakness or any combination of these can lead to falls.  Understanding risks for falls can help seniors take stpes to stay safe.

How big is the problem?

• In 2008, over 19,700 older adults died from unintentional fall injuries.
• In 2009, 2.2 million non-fatal fall injuries among older adults were treated in emergency departments and more than 581,000 of these patients were hospitalized.
• In 2000, direct medical costs of falls totalled a little over $19 billion -- $179 million for fatal falls and $19 billion for non-fatal fall injuries.  This equals $28.2 billion in 2010 dollars.  

What outcomes are linked to falls?

• Twenty to thirty percent of people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries, such as lacerations, hip fractures or head traumas.  These injuries can make it hard to get around ro live independently and increase the risk of early death.  Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).  In 2000, TBI accounted for 46% of fatal falls among older adults.
• Most fractures among older adults are caused by falls.  The most common are fractures of the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelis, upper arm and hand.
• Many people who fall, even if they are not injured, develop a fear of falling.  This fear may cause them to limit their activities leading to reduced mobility and loss of physical fitness which, in turn, increased their actual risk of falling.   

Fall injuries:

• The chances of falling and of being seriously injured in a fall increase with age.  In 2009, the rate of fall injuries for adults 85 and older was almost four times that afor adults 65 to 74.3.
• People age 75 and older who fall are four to five times more likely than those age 65 to 74 to be admitted to a long-term care facility for a year or longer.
• Women are more likely than men to be injured in a fall.  In 2009, women were 58% more likely than men to suffer a non-fatal fall injury.  Men, on the other hand, are more likely to die from a fall.   

How can older adults prevent falls?  Older adults can remain independent and reduce their chances of falling.  They can:

• Exercise regularly.  It is important that the exercises focus on increasing leg strength and improving balance, and, that they get more challenging over tieme.  Tai Chi programs are especially good.
• As their doctor, or pharmacist, to review their medications -- both precription and over-the-counter -- to identify medications that may cause side effects or interactions such as dizziness or drowsiness.
• Have their eyes checked by an eye doctor, at least once a year, and update their eyeglasses to maximize their vision.  consider getting apair with single vision distance lenses for some activities such as walking outside.
• Make their homes safer by reducing tripping hazards, adding grab bars inside and outside the tub or shower and next to the lavatory; adding stair railings and improving the lighting in their homes. 

Joseph Stamm, O.D., F.A.A.O., Appointed Chief of Advanced Care/Ocular Disease

The appointment of Dr. Joseph Stamm as the new Chief of Advance Care/Ocular Disease in the University Eye Center (UEC), was announced by Dr. Richard Soden, Vice President for Clinical Affairs.  The patient care delivery system has been reorganized to better serve its patients and to anticipate changes with health care reform.  As Chief of Advanced Care/Ocular Disease, Dr. Stamm will provide the leadership needed to achieve these changes within this service.  His appointment completes the reorganization of the UEC clinical services into three distinct areas:  adult and pediatric primary eye care; advanced care/ocular disease; and, vision rehabilitation.

Dr. Stamm received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1978 from Harpur College at SUNY Binghamton and his Doctor of Optometry degree from SUNY College of Optometry in 1982.  He spent 19 years in private practice with a specialty in contact lens care in Rochester, NY and joined the faculty of the University of Rochester Medical Center where, for the past 10 years, he staffed the Department of Ophthalmology's refractive surgical center.  While there, Dr. Stamm was actively involved in the education of the University's medical students, ophthalmology residents and corneal fellows.

A Past-President of the New York State Optometric Association, Dr. Stamm is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.  In 2007, he became the first Clinical Refractive Technologies Diplomate in the Academy's Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies.  He currently serves on the Section's Leadership Committee.  Dr. Stamm has lectured extensively on anterior segment topics and serves a a reviewer for several refereed journals in the profession.

Dr. Soden said "...this new organization reflects the important role that all clinical services will assume at SUNY and within existing and future health care models".  He expects the Advanced Care/Ocular Disease service to continue to expand under Dr. Stamm's leadership thus enabling the UEC to meet the needs of the patients it serves.

We join Dr. Soden and our UEC colleagues in welcoming Dr. Stamm to the College community.

Diabetes Awareness! 

November was National Diabetes Awareness Month.  The Ocular Disease & Special Testing Service held its second annual Diabetic Eye Screening & Presentation on November 3rd to screen patients for diabetic retinopathy and to educate them on the effects diabetes has on vision.  The screening was well-attended with 30 patients attending.  Dr. Jordan Skyer gave a presentation on "The ABC's of Nutrition and Your Eyes"; Nurse Brian Martin spoke of the "Facts About Diabetes" and Dr. Richard Madonna addressed "Diabetes & Your Eyes, Get the Facts!".  A positive feedback on the screening and presentations was received from the attendees.