NSU HPD Catalog 2024-2025

220 College of Optometry Mission Statement The mission of the College of Optometry is to educate and train optometric physicians to practice at the highest level of proficiency, integrity, and professionalism and to provide a multidisciplinary environment that encourages and supports scholarship, community service, and lifelong learning. Administration Linda Rouse, O.D., M.B.A., FAAO Dean Rachel (Stacey) Coulter, O.D., M.S., FAAO, FCOVD Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs Cristina Llerena Law, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Jamie Althoff, O.D. Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Bin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Dean for Research Greg Fecho, O.D. Chair, Optometric Clinical Sciences Kenneth Seger, O.D., M.Sc., FAAO Chair, Clinical Education Optometry Sight is one of our most precious gifts, and the optometric physician is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of this gift. The optometric physician, through academic and clinical training, is able to examine, diagnose, treat, and manage disorders and diseases of the visual system and associated structures. Optometry is constantly evolving as a profession to enable optometric physicians to broaden their scope as the primary eye-care practitioner. The profession of optometry offers many challenges and rewards to those willing to devote themselves to serving others through a lifetime of study and dedication to excellence. Today’s optometrists practice in urban and rural communities throughout the nation, in individual or group practices, hospital settings, centers for vision research, and in the public health service. They also take part in teaching, research, and public health. Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry stands alone as the only optometric academic institution in the state of Florida. Furthermore, the college benefits from the integrated, interprofessional health care programs of the university’s Health Professions Division, represented by optometry, osteopathic medicine, dental medicine, pharmacy, health care sciences, nursing, and allopathic medicine. Nova Southeastern University takes pride in the optometry degree program, which provides a strong didactic and clinical education. Professional Accreditation The Doctor of Optometry Program at the Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE). The ACOE (243 North Lindbergh Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 631417881; telephone number 800-365-2219) is the accrediting body for professional degree programs offered by all optometric institutions in the United States. Core Performance Standards for Admission and Progress Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Qualitative Abilities These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem-solving—a critical skill— requires all of these intellectual abilities. Candidates and students must have critical thinking ability sufficient for good clinical judgment. This is necessary to identify cause-effect relationships in clinical situations and to develop plans of care. In addition, candidates and students should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures. An individual is expected to be able to perform multiple tasks in a diverse, dynamic, highly competitive, and challenging learning environment. Examples include, but are not limited to, identification of cause-effect relationships in clinical situations, development of treatment plans, transferring knowledge from one situation to another, evaluating outcomes, College of Optometry Linda S. Rouse, O.D., M.B.A., FAAO Dean

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