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Issue 41
March 2012
M E S S A G E - 
Letter from the President

This past month, we had the privilege to announce the establishment of the College of Optometry's Career Development Center.  Launched with a day-long Career Development program on February 12th, the Center embraces a student-centered, proactive approach to career planning, the success of which can only be measured years after graduation.

 

Career Symposium Attendees

 In an era when public accountability for higher education is a common policy concern, efforts to measure success often fall short, relying on proxy indicators such as degree completion, retention rate or licensing exam results.  None of these effectively measure the impact of the educational process on career satisfaction or post-graduate achievement. For post-baccalaureate, professional degree programs the bar should be high and the relationship between the graduate and the educational program extended well beyond graduation.

 

The State University of New York has, over the past two years, undertaken an ambitious strategic plan, including an embrace of accountability through the periodic issuance of the SUNY Report Card.  The College of Optometry supports this effort, but hopes to extend the effort further by partnering with our students in their career development efforts and monitoring their professional development for at least five years, after graduation.

 

 
David Heath, O.D., Ed.M.   
President
 - M A I N   F E A T U R E -

First Annual Career Symposium Held At College  

 

Career Symposium PosterThe SUNY College of Optometry held its first Career Symposium on Sunday, February 12th at the College.  Over 200 people were in attendance that included students, faculty, residents, alumni and administrators.  The keynote speaker was Dr. Peter Shaw-McMinn, a national consultant and Assistant Professor at Southern California College of Optometry.

   

The establishment of the symposium generated from a survey on student career interest and action plans written by students who attend the College's Summit on Student Engagement last February.  

  

   
Read Mo    
- D I D   Y O U   K N O W ? - 
  • The US Department of Labor Statistics projects a 24% increase in the demand for optometrists by the year 2018.
       
  • US World and News Report and Kiplinger's continue to include optometry as among the most promising career choices for the coming decade.
       
  • Although the cost of an optometric education can be high, the graduates from the SUNY College of Optometry graduate with an average debt which ranks among the lowest nationally. For the past nine years, no SUNY graduate has had to default on their educational loan obligations.   
        

 

- C A M P A I G N   U P D A T E S - 
Vision and the Promise Campaign
Contributions Can be Made Through Payroll Deduction

Payroll deduction is a quick and easy way to contribute to the Vision & the Promise: Campaign for the SUNY College of Optometry.   Many of our colleagues have chosen this method as a way to make their contributions.  It enables you to determine the total amount you would like to contribute and have it deducted in increments that is easy for you.  Payroll deduction forms are available from the Development Office on the 18th floor.  Once the forms are completed, you can send them directly to the Payroll Office on the 9th Floor.

If you have any questions about giving through payroll deduction, kindly contact the Development Office at ext. 5600.

As of this month, the Vision & the Promise: Campaign for the SUNY College of Optometry is at 34% of reaching 100% participation from faculty and staff.  Thank you to everyone for their support!



 
- H I G H L I G H T S -
Dr. William Feinbloom Low Vision Unit Re-dedicated

Ribbon Cutting CeremonyOn Wednesday, February 15th, the College re-dedicated the William Feinbloom Low Vision Unit.  The event was attended by Mr. & Mrs. Richard Feinbloom,  family, friends, College administrators, staff and students.  A small reception was held after the ceremony in the Alumni Commons on the 18th floor of the College.

 

To view pictures of the event, click below.       

 

Read More 

 

 - 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  -

1999 - The SUNY College of Optometry Gets A Permanent Home  

 

After nearly 30 years in rented facilities, the College o Optometry was approved for a permanent home by the University.

 

Columbia University closed its Department of Optometry inbuilding4 1956.  The same year, the Optometric Center of New York (OCNY) was founded to continue providing clinical vision care services to the New York City community.  With the assistance of the New York State Optometric Association (NYSOA), the leadership of the Optometric Center was able to convince the State of New York, as well as the State Department of Education, to establish a college of optometry within the State. At the time, Optometric Center was located on East 25th Street and was faced with finding a home for the college.

 

 

Read More 

 

 


Consul-General of the Peoples Republic of China in Celebrates Chinese New Year in New York    

Dr. Heiberger, President Heath, Amb. Sun and Consul CenPresident Heath and Dr. Heiberger, Director of International Programs and the College's Confucius Institute attended a reception for Ambassador Sun Guoxiang, the Consul-General of the Peoples Republic of China which was held at the Chinese Consulate in February.  Consul Cen Jianjun, head of the Education Section of the consulate, was in attendance.  Consul Cen is a friend of the College and has been very helpful to the College's international programs related to China.

 

  
Rear- U N I V E R S I T Y   E Y E   C E N T E R -

March is "Save Your Vision" Month!      

 

The doctors and staff at the University Eye Center would like to remind everyone about the importance of good vision and healthy eyes.  Seeing clearly and maintaining healthy eyes are important for all.  Vision is needed to see clearly to read and to work efficiently.  As you get older you need to be aware of the risks of age-related eye diseases.  As the month of March is "Save Your Vision Month", here are a few tips regarding "Healthy Vision at the Computer":
  1. Sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time often encounters a variety of uncomfortable symptoms (headaches, neck strain, backaches, wrist pain).  But, the most prevalent symptoms of prolonged computer use are blurred vision and dry eye.        

Read More 

 

     
- R E S E A R C H -
 

Publications    

 

Springer, A.D., Troilo, D., Possin, D., AE Hendrickson (2011) "Foveal cone density shows a rapid postnatal maturation in the marmoset monkey".  Visual Neuroscience, 28:473-84.

 

Madonna, R.J. (2012) "The financial value of glaucoma patients to your practice".  Advanced Ocular Care, 3(1):38-40.

 

Zaidi, Q., Ennis, R., Cao, D., Lee, B. (2012).  "Neural Locus of Color Afterimages".  Current Biology,  22(3):220-224.

 

Song, J.H., Rafal, R.D., McPeek, R.M. (2011).  "Deficits in reach target selection during inactivation of the midbrain superior colliculus".  Proc Natal Acad Sci USA, 108:1433-1440.

 

Harrison, S. and Backus, B.T. (In Press)  "Associative learning of shape as a cue to appearance:  A new demonstration of cue recruitment". (Journal of Vision)

 

Scholarly Accomplishments

 

Research on the topic of computer vision syndrome by Dr. Mark Rosenfield and colleagues was recently featured in Men's Heath, Which? (U.K.), Real Simple and La Revue D'Optometrie et de Contactologie (France) magazines.  Dr. Rosenfield was also interviewed by Men's Health on the topic of eye injuries.  This will appear in a future edition of the magazine.  

 

 

Invited Talks 

 

Dr. Richard Madonna was invited to talk at Western University's California Glaucoma Certification Course.  The topics he spoke on were "Pigment Dispersion Syndrome and Pigmentary Glaucoma", and "Pseudo-Glaucoma: Differentiating Glaucomatous from Non-glaucomatous Optic Neuropathies".

   

 
 

 

- P E R S O N N E L -
Welcome

Ms. Jennifer Budner has joined the staff as Senior StaffJennifer Budner Assistant and will be working with both the Office of Continuing Professional Education and the Office of Institutional Advancement.  She comes to the institution from the Notre Dame School where she served as school counselor and college advisor.  Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science degree from Providence College and a Master of Science in Education, School Counseling from Long Island University's C.W. Post campus.  Please join us in welcoming her to the SUNY College of Optometry.




*The College would like to remind everyone that all job openings are posted on the College website --  http://www.sunyopt.edu/HR/jobs.shtml.