November 2013

SCO To Host Destination CE

Alumni and friends are invited to join us February 8-9, 2014 in New Orleans as SCO hosts its first ever Destination CE event. The college developed this inaugural program after alumni indicated interest in a destination CE event via alumni surveys. Featuring COPE-approved CE in conjunction with the Optometry Association of Louisiana, a number of topics will be offered over the weekend. Lecturers include several SCO faculty members: Drs. Whitney Hauser, Chris Lievens, Scott Ensor and Alan Kabat. Online registration is now open; the fee is $399 before January 7 and $449 after January 7. SCO alumni and preceptors receive a $150 discount for the Destination CE, so we hope to see you in New Orleans!

SCO Opens New External Clinic

University of Memphis Location Sees Patients

Older alumni may recall SCO's former clinical presence on the University of Memphis (formerly Memphis State) campus. SCO now enjoys a new external, stand-alone clinic on the U of M campus to serve more than 25,000 students, faculty and staff. University Eye Care began seeing patients November 4. The clinic offers an optical, contact lens service, four exam lanes and testing equipment modeled after a private practice. Four fourth-year students and two third-year students rotate daily as they assist faculty. The college is currently exploring additional external clinic opportunities to expand patient care encounters for our students.

Alumni to Receive Campaign Update

Students Join Dr. Wroten in Appeal

Alumni support has made the difference over the past two years in making SCO's "Envision Our Progress" campaign the most successful in the institution's history. Alumni Council member Chris Wroten, OD '02, outlines the importance of supporting his alma mater in a new SCO mailer being distributed next week. In this season of Thanksgiving, our students also share how alumni support makes the difference in scholarships and patient care opportunities. You can also read more about how your support made SCO's 2012-13 accomplishments possible in the new Annual Report edition of VISIONS, mailing soon. In addition to coverage of the grand opening of our new academic facility, you'll also read stories about how the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence is helping young alumni such as Rob Szeliga, OD '05, and Keegan Hearn, OD '11, achieve success with practice management programs.

CLASSNOTES AND UPDATES

News about SCO's Alumni and Faculty

Joseph Myers, OD '64, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the West Virginia Association of Optometric Physicians at the WVAOP's fall meeting. William L. Ratcliff, OD '79, was named OD of the Year, and David Laughlin, OD '76, was recognized by the West Virginia Board of Optometry.

Terry Moehnke, OD '77, was elected to the City Council in Fort Dodge, Iowa, earlier this month.

Lisa Rossmeyer Wade, OD '84, has sold her successful Harley Davidson dealerships to the founder of GoDaddy, according to this story published in the Memphis Business Journal.

Kendall Krug, OD '85, recently received the Vision Service Award by the Kansas State School for the Blind in recognition of outstanding contributions to Kansas children who are visually impaired. Dr. Krug played a major leadership role in the development of the KanLovKids program which has served nearly 900 Kansas children with low vision services since its implementation in 2006.

Mike Weeden, OD '92, was named OD of the Year by the Mississippi Optometric Association. He practices in Corinth, MS.

Darby Chiasson, OD '99, pictured, visited SCO this month as SECO President to speak to students during SECO Day, an annual event.

Ben Waldo, OD '04, and Janna Scofield, OD '06, met at SCO and later married. They recently celebrated their five-year anniversary of practice in Vancouver, Washington as noted in this newspaper story.

Greg Loose, OD '06, was named Young OD of the Year by the Mississippi Optometric Association. He practices in Wiggins, MS.

Allison Lyerly, OD '13, has joined Carolina Center for Eye Care in North Carolina. The practice is owned by Ellyn Johnson, OD '00, and Chris Owens, OD '01.

Note to the Class of 2012: Be sure to check your mail and email for a link to an important Class of 2012 survey. Your input as recent graduates will be greatly valued and appreciated.

Faculty Updates

New faculty include Dr. Marie Bodack, Associate Professor and Chief of the Pediatric Primary Care Service, and Jennifer Snyder, OD '12, Instructor.

Dr. Sharon Lee was a visiting professor recently at the Universidad de la Salle, where she lectured on low vision rehabilitation. She also gave a presentation at the Seminario Internacional de Investigacion e Innovacion en Ciencias de las Vision Conference in Bogota, Colombia.

Dr. Zakiya Nicks, SCO's Community Outreach Coordinator, was recognized by the Memphis Business Journal this month as one of the "Top 40 Under 40" young leaders in the city.

Glen Steele '69, recently chaired the Vision Care Section Awards Committee of the American Public Health Association. He's pictured along with Dr. Marc Taub, who received the Outstanding Project Award. Several SCO students were also honored, as was Norma Bowyer, OD '77, who received the Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Taub presented on two APHA panels, gave recent InfantSEE presentations at Michigan College of Optometry and Pacific University College of Optometry and delivered a CE program at the meeting of the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians.

Dr. Marc Taub, in addition to receiving the award noted above in Dr. Steele's entry, recently participated in the Part II Committee for the NBEO. He also completed a three-year commitment to serve on the Fellowship Examination Board for the COVD and participated in workshops at the AAO meeting in Seattle. He also published an article about "Treating Patients with Brain Injuries" in the new issue of Optometry Times.

In Memoriam:

Arthur H. Spitz, OD '47, Andersonville, SC
Laurent Gayle Cowling, OD '64; Jeffersonville, IN
Kent J. Smith, OD '81; Madisonville, TN
Laura Layton, OD '97; Jonesboro, AR

UPCOMING EVENTS

Note the Dates for SCO's Events!

January 8: State Day, SCO campus
February 8-9: New Orleans Destination CE
March 12-16: SECO, Atlanta

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