December 2015  


SCO to Launch Online CE Library 
 

SCO will soon launch a new online continuing education video library on the college's website. The CE library's initial offerings will include more than a dozen hours of COPE-approved CE lectures professionally recorded in high definition for easy viewing via computer, tablet, smartphone or other devices. A number of SCO faculty members spent 16 hours over two days recording CE lectures, including Lindsay Elkins, OD '07. Click the photo to see a preview clip of her lecture. Look for additional information soon about the new CE video library launch.                 

SCO to Host Mardi Gras CE Weekend 
Registration Now Open for January 2016 Event


Registration is now open for SCO's third annual Mardi Gras CE Weekend, to be held January 29-31, 2016 at the Astor Crown Plaza in New Orleans. This event offers a great opportunity to obtain 11 COPE-approved hours of CE while enjoying a taste of New Orleans without ever having to leave the hotel. A pre-Mardi Gras celebration will be held on a large private balcony overlooking Canal Street. The site will host breakfasts, breaks, lunches, and evening socials for attendees to enjoy the ambiance of Mardi Gras without the hassle of crowds. The full schedule detailing course topics, descriptions, and speaker bios can be found on our Mardi Gras CE site. Register before December 31 to lock in the $299 price, which jumps to $349 in January. Attendees can also take advantage of the special Astor Crowne Plaza special room rate of $215. We hope to see you in New Orleans next month! 


Financial Planning News for Alumni Older Than 70 
Qualified Charitable Distribution Explained 

Alumni ages 70.5 or older may know that in previous years, traditional IRA owners in this age group could directly transfer up to $100,000 tax free annually to a qualified charity. These transfers are called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). For many IRA owners, one significant advantage of QCDs is that taking a QCD can possibly satisfy the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Because the IRA must distribute a Required Minimum Distribution, usually taxable when originating from a traditional IRA, IRA owners may be faced with what to do with the distribution if they do not need or want the money, or if owners do not want to pay taxes on the distribution. By properly making the QCD directly to a charity, the IRA owner avoids including the distribution as taxable income. One key element in this strategy is for the IRA owner to have "charitable intent." At this point, Congress has not passed legislation to extend Qualified Charitable Distributions for 2015. Historically, Congress has not acted on the renewal until late December each year. Although not guaranteed, the general financial community's consensus is that QCDs will be renewed for 2015. IRA owners and tax professionals should monitor QCD renewal for 2015 and be prepared to take appropriate measures once legislation is passed and signed by President Obama. Contact the Office of Institutional Advancement if you have questions about QCDs or other planned giving strategies to benefit your end-of-year financial planning. 


CLASSNOTES AND UPDATES
News about SCO's Alumni and Faculty
   
January 15, 2016 is the deadline for nominations for The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence third annual Practice of Excellence Awards. The award recognizes successful practices and achievements made by SCO graduates, and fosters joint relationships that benefit both the alumni and current optometry students. The $5,000 award is divided into three sections based on the number of years of practice. Learn more about the criteria and other information here.


ClassNotes

Walter Peterson, OD '59, recently retired after practicing 56 years. Learn more in this newspaper story about his career.

James Crutchfield, OD '65, is celebrating 50 years of practicing optometry in New Tazewell, Tennessee. Learn more in this news story. 

 
Former SCO Board members and classmates Neill Marshall, OD '68, Richard Powell, OD' 68, and SCO President Emeritus Billy Cochran, OD '68, recently enjoyed a mini-class reunion when they visited campus with their wives, pictured. 

Joel Zaba, OD '69, recently received two awards, the Virginia Optometric Association's Distinguished Achievement Award and the Inside Business Hampton Roads Business Journal's 2015 Health Care Heroes Award. 

Stan Dickerson, OD '76, currently serving as SECO President, recently visited campus for SCO's annual SECO Day where he spoke about next year's conference and presented Interim President Lewis Reich, OD, PhD, with student travel grants to SECO 2016. 

Herb Smith, OD '77, visited with a large group of SCO students who attended the North Carolina State Optometric Society meeting in Asheville, pictured. 

Jeff Foster, OD '81, Kurt Steele, OD '95, Joy Stone, OD '10, and William B. Henry, OD '61, joined Nathan Ford, OD '50, in celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Newport, Tennessee practice founded by Dr. Ford in 1950. Read more in this newspaper story.

Joseph Q. Nguyen, OD '94, just completed a Web-based OD online Practice Management & Electronic Health Records program. The program is on the Certified Health IT Product List. Contact Dr. Nguyen for more information. 

Nathan Stocke, OD '05, recently joined Brattleboro Family Eye Care in Vermont. He also owns a practice in Burlington. 

Michelle Mumford, OD '08, was interviewed by Women in Optometry about her North Carolina-based practice. 

Lee Robertson, OD '08, recently opened a new private practice in Elkton, Virginia. Read more in this newspaper story. 

Casey Wells, OD, '08, and Christy Wells, OD, '08, have opened their new practice, Wells Family Eyecare, in Manila, Arkansas. 

Rosalyn Coleman, OD '10, is profiled in this Women in Optometry story about her VT-based practice in Atlanta. 

Ashley Pulis, OD '11, recently joined Accent on Vision, a practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

Baley Petersen, OD '12, is included in this newspaper story about the success of the practice she joined in West Virginia after completing her residency. 

Maria Kirkpatrick, OD '13, pictured, married Robert Louis Hieronymus on September 12. She practices in Danville, Kentucky. 

Addie Smith, OD '13, recently joined North Oaks Eye Care in Hammond, Louisiana. 

Marc Musto, OD '15, received the Distinguished Recent Graduate Award from Thomas University. He's currently serving in the U.S. Air Force. Learn more in this story. 
 
In Memorial...
  • Charles W. Daniel, OD '50, Anamosa, IA
  • Joe McClure, OD '51, Fort Myers, FL
  • Robert Vernon, OD '57, Oakland, TN
  • George T. Coble, OD '60, Gardner, KS
  • Pamela L. Finley, OD '95, Blue Ridge, VA

Faculty Updates

Chris Borgman, OD, was profiled in this article and photo essay documenting a visit back to his alma mater to receive ICO's Young Alumnus of the Year Award. 

Paul Harris, OD, co-chaired the first Conference on Clinical Vision Care (CCVC) meeting ever held outside the U.S. in Melbourne, Australia. He also taught the OEP Clinical Curriculum course for ODs in Australia. 

Whitney Hauser, OD '01, wrote an article on adding aesthetics to a practice for Women in Optometry and a second article on the "Top 5 Reasons to Make Time for a Staff Huddle."

Cynthia Heard, OD, recently spoke to the University of Memphis Pre-Optometry Club about the profession.

Brian Knight, OD '14, pictured, recently joined the SCO faculty. He completed a residency at the Memphis VA Medical Center and currently serves as Vice President for the West Tennessee Optometric Physicians Society. 

Karen Squier, OD, presented a poster on low vision at the recent American Public Health Association meeting. 

Marc Taub, OD, MS, recently spoke at the Young OD Summit of the Optometric Association of the Phillipines. 

Gregory Wolfe, OD, MPH, recently was recognized by the AOA for his extensive work as a member of the Evidence Based Optometry Committee. He and other committee members received the AOA President's Award for service to the profession.    

 

UPCOMING EVENTS
Note the Dates for SCO's Events!
  • Jan. 13, State Day, SCO campus 
  • Jan. 29-31, SCO Mardi Gras CE Weekend, New Orleans
  • Feb. 24-28, SECO, Atlanta
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