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Issue 42
April 2012
M E S S A G E - 
Letter from the President

Wenzhou Medical College In this month's FY EYE, we highlight the 2012 Forum on Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation held in Wenzhou, China.  Co-sponsored by the Wenzhou Medical College and the SUNY College of Optometry, many in attendance thought that it was the most significant meeting on vision rehabilitation in China in recent years.

 

The importance of the meeting was not its size nor the impact the SUNY Optometry is having globally, but, rather it is the increasing importance that governments around the world are now placing on vision care issues that have been the traditional domain of the profession of optometry.  The prevention of avoidable blindness has been a priority of the World Health Organization (WHO) for many years, but the emergence of the issue as a priority in countries such as China, signifies a shift that makes the goals of WHO all the more achievable.

 

China's Office of Persons with Disabilities has the stature equivalent to other national ministries.  Its plan to establish a network of vision rehabilitation centers in each of the country's provinces underscores the importance of the issue for the Government and the people of China.

 

It is with great pride that SUNY Optometry, with its partner, Wenzhou Medical College, is taking a leadership role in extending services for persons with visual disabilities in China. 

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

Annual "Eye On New York" Gala Honors Two Leaders    

 

Over 325 people attended the "Eyes on New York" Gala held March 23rd at Cipriani 42nd Street.  The gala, which benefits the Optometric Center of New York, the campus-related foundation of the College, paid tribute to two prominent leaders -- Dave Brown, President, Johnson and Johnson Vision Care, and Harold Wilshinsky, Chief Executive Officer, KAP Planning, Ltd. and an OCNY Trustee.

 

Read More 

   
 
- D I D   Y O U   K N O W ? - 
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that globally there are now 314 million people who are blind or visually impaired.
             
  • Ninety percent of the world's visually impaired live in developing countries.
             
  • Uncorrected refractive errors account for 43% of the world's visually impaired population.
       
  • At the 61st World Health Assembly, the WHO Secretariat developed an action plan to address the prevention of avoidable blindness:  "Action Plan for the Prevention of Avoidable Blindness and Visual Impairment".       
    Source:  http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=hb_tab_pro_top

 

- C A M P A I G N   U P D A T E S - 
Vision and the Promise Campaign
Another Way to Give!

Donating stock can be a wonderful way to support The Vision and Promise Campaign and receive tax benefits.  Alumni Association President, Dr. Julie Appel and her husband Ron have supported the Campaign with a donation of stock.  Speak with your financial advisor about the type of donation that makes the most sense for you.

Feel free to contact the Development Office at ext. 5600 if you have any questions.

Many thanks for considering a donation to the campaign.  


 
 
- H I G H L I G H T S -

2012 Summit Forum on Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation held in China

 

2012 Summit Forum on Low Vision in ChinaThe SUNY College of Optometry (SUNY) and Wenzhou Medical College (WMC) sponsored the 2012 Summit Forum on Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation on March 28-29.  The Forum  was held on the campus of the School of Optometry and Ophthalmology at Wenzhou. 

Dr. Lu Fan, Vice President of Wenzhou Medical College 

Over 180 practitioners from China, including 30 from WMC, attended the event which

was one of the largest low vision meetings ever held in China.

   
 

 

    

AOA President, Dr. Dori Carlson, 2012 Commencement Speaker

 

The first female President of the American Optometric Association (AOA) will be the College's commencement speaker on June 3rd.  Dori Carlson, O.D. became President of the AOA in the Summer of 2011.

 

A graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry, Dr. Carlson has private practices in Park River, North Dakota and Grafton, North Dakota.  She serves on the North Dakota's Blue Cross Blue Shield Advisory Committee and was chair of North Dakota's Managed Care Committee, Hospital Privileges Committee and Mentoring Committee.  In addition, she was featured on the cover of Women in Optometry in June 2011.

 

 

 

 

The College Will Bestow Two Honorary Degrees at its 2012 Commencement

 

 

William T. Newsome, Ph.D.On Sunday, June 3rd, the SUNY College of Optometry will award, on behalf of the University and the SUNY Board of Trustees, two honorary degrees.  Dr. William T. Newsome, III and J. Anthony Movshon, Ph.D.Dr. J. Anthony Movshon, prominent researchers who collaborated on research of how the brain functions and  converts signals from the eye into images, will receive the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa.

 

 

 

 

 

   

Read More 

 

 

SUNY Students Participate in the AOA 2012 Congressional Advocacy Conference In Washington, DC

 

SUNY Faculty and Students at 2012 AOA Congressional Advocacy in DCOn April 1-3, 2012, a record number of optometrists and optometry students traveled to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to help raise awareness of the optometry profession and the advances being made by the profession, as a whole, with the assistance of the American Optometric Association's (AOA) goals and policies.

 

 

 

       

 

New Jersey Academy of Optometry Renews Scholarship  

 

Dr. Chang and Dr. HeathIn a long history of supporting optometric education, the New Jersey Academy of Optometry (NJAO) presented David Heath, O.D., Ed.M. F.A.A.O. a check for $7,500 at their annual meeting on March 14th.  The New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) has been giving a scholarship grant to the SUNY College of Optometry for students who come from New Jersey and are attending SUNY.  The scholarship to SUNY students began four years ago and the donations given to date total over $20,000.

 

 Read More 

 

 

AOA Appoints Dr. Diane Adamczyk as Chair of  the Clinical Resources Group Executive Committee

 

Dr. Diane AdamczykDr. Diane Adamczyk has been appointed chair of the American Optometric Association's (AOA) Clinical Resources Group Executive Committee by Dr. Ronald Hopping, the President of the AOA.  The duties of this committee are to "provide counsel and oversight on diverse and extensive topics and issues that assist our members in their practice of Optometry today and in the future, no matter the mode practice".  This is a prestigious position in the field of optometry and recognizes the clinical knowledge and experience of the individual appointed to this position. In addition, Dr. Adamczyk was also appointed Chair of the AOA's  Evidence-Based Optometry Committee whose purpose is "to follow the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in developing guidelines for optometric practice".

 

These are volunteer positions that require the individual to maintain an active participation in committee activities and communication; attend state-level affiliate meetings; attend the annual AOA Meeting and, support the AOA-PAC.  Dr. Adamczyk is Director of Residency Programs at the College.  We congratulate Dr. Adamczyk on these very important appointments.  

   

 




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

Getting Ready for Spring and Allergy Season       

 

Spring is officially in the air.  Along with this season comes the mold spores, dust, pollen and, a host of other allergens that can cause eye problems.  Many people will experience red, itchy and watery eyes.  If you experience these symptoms, it is important to remember that there are many options available to help reduce the effects of eye allergies.


 
 

National Glaucoma Awareness Week

 

The Advanced Care Service held its second annual Glaucoma2012 National Glaucoma Screening Awareness Screening and Presentation during National Glaucoma Awareness Week, March 11 - 17th.  The goal was to screen patients for glaucoma and to educate them on what is glaucoma; who is at risk for glaucoma, and, what one can do to protect their vision.  Dr. Andre Stanberry and Dr. Mitchell Dul spent time with the screening participants and answered many questions along with any concerns they had.  The event was well-received and another screening is planned for next year.

- R E S E A R C H -
 

Publications, Posters and Presentations      

 

Puhl, A.C., Bernardes, A., Silveira, R.L., Yuan, J., Campos, J.L.O., Saidemberg, D.M., Palma, M.S., Cvoro, A., Ayers, S.D., Webb, P., Reinach, P.S., Skaf, M.S. and Polikarpov, I. (2012).  "Mode of PPARy Activation by Luteolin".  Journal of Molecular Pharmacology.

 

Benavente-Perez, A., Nour, A, Troilo, D. will present two abstracts at the Annual ARVO Meeting in May in Fort Lauderdale, FL.  The topics will be on  "Peripheral Refraction as a Predictor for Induced Changes in Vitreous chamber Growth Rates in Marmosets".  They will also present a poster at ARVO on "Changes in Eye Growth and Refractive State in Marmosets after Imposing Peripheral Myopia or Hyperopia using Bifocal Contact Lenses".     

 

Scholarly Accomplishments

 

Dr. Peter Reinach was interviewed at the end of March by the most widely read news magazine in Brazil, Veja.  He was asked about research being done in Brazil and responded that it has grown and gained world-wide recognition.   

 

 

 
 

 

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

Ms. Nicola Carter joined the staff of the University Eye Center as Call Center Representative.  Ms. Carter has worked at several healthcare organizations in New York City in the areas of medical billing and in registration, including Harlem Hospital and CWRC at Columbia University.




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