OPT Visionary - Spring/Summer 2013

THE V ISIONARY • S PRING /S UMMER 2013 — 10 Beta Sigma Kappa The Beta Sigma Kappa (BSK) International Optometric Honor Society coordinated a successful wine-tasting event in Fort Lauderdale to raise money for the Lighthouse of Broward County. Thanks to the contributions of many, BSK raised $1,000 in support of the blind and visually im- paired. In the beginning of March, BSK board members organized the annual Mock Proficiencies to prepare the second-year students for their Clinical Proficiencies. Over 90 second-year students participated along with many third- and fourth-year students, making this year’s Mock Proficien- cies a great success. Finally, BSK would like to congratulate two top members—Ryan Beck and Nathalie Findlater—who received an award for being the most active within the organization. – OD3 Gaby Olivares, president, Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society Class of 2014 The class of 2014 had a very active year. Even with the impending national boards revolving around everyone’s thoughts, many students participated in school events and chose to extend their academic knowledge to encompass subjects outside the practical scope of optometry. During the academic year, 4 students received a student fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, while 66 students took an intensive seminar in business and obtained a mini-M.B.A. in Optometry. Other highlights included NOPMA reaching its goal of recruiting 100 club members, SVOSH members journeying to Cusco, Peru, to examine over 1,500 patients, and the SGA coordinating a fantastic Hollywood-themed EyeBall that encouraged all NSUCO optometry classes to celebrate the ending school year. In the near future, both NOSA and FCO members will be participating in planned medical mission trips to examine patients. This semester provided the class with a stronger unity and a sense of pride and accomplishment. We have been through three years of schooling and have maintained a strong work ethic and motivating atmosphere. We have helped and congratulated each other on our various accomplishments, and now as we go our separate ways into our internships and externships, we know we have many friends who will motivate us to graduate alongside them. – Mari Holderby, Class of 2014 Class of 2015 That first week of our second year here at NSUCO proved that this year was going to be no joke as we received our BIOs and syllabi—and wondered how we were going to survive. Second year was full of all sorts of challenges, like back-to-back tests, labs, and the dreaded Preclinical Proficiency Exam. With all that, you would think we had no time for anything else, but that was definitely not the case. During the fall semester, we learned new techniques like gonioscopy and binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy, which was a challenge on its own. Classes like ocular disease and pharma- cology haunted us almost constantly. But with all that, we were still able to do much more. Multiple clubs had events to coordinate every month, from bake sales to a dodgeball tournament. We also participated in the South Florida Vision Walk to bring awareness about low vision to the community as well as other community service events such as Yoga for the Blind. However, the following semester was the truly hectic one because it determined, through the Profiency Exam, whether or not you got into clinic. Countless hours of practicing and perfecting techniques in the lab engulfed many students’ lives. The two weeks before proficiencies, we had five exams, including two of our hardest on the week of proficiencies, but that didn’t stop us from being proactive in the community. The entire class divided up into groups of five in Dr. Janet Leasher’s Community Outreach course to conduct an event promoting the objectives of the Healthy People 2020 Program. Each group set up a table at events like NSU’s CommunityFest to promote topics from dilated eye exams to safety eyewear. In addition, multiple students went on a medical mission trip with SVOSH during spring break to Peru, where they provided eye care to many underprivileged in- dividuals in the community. With all that happened this year, we are so excited to start clinic in the summer. Endless classes and exams only prepared us even more for the day when we would finally see our first patient and make all the hard work worthwhile. I certainly am excited and nervous to finally put my training to use in the clinic. With that said, I am proud to have gained my training at a school like NSU’s College of Optometry. – Lawrence Cruz, SGA vice president elect Student Organizations Coordinate Multifaceted Activities