OPT Visionary - Spring/Summer 2013

THE V ISIONARY • S PRING /S UMMER 2013 — 2 As dean of the College of Optometry, I am pleased that 2013 has been another productive year for the college, the Health Professions Division, and the university. With de- fined core values developed with input from all constituent groups, the university continues to grow as a team with similar goals. NSUCO’s Preparatory Optometry Program (POP), in collaboration with the Farquhar College of Arts and Sci- ences, has increased student interest in optometry this year. This program allows students who are interested in the professional program, but fall short of the entrance re- quirements, to have the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities by successfully completing undergraduate and basic-science courses. The POP brings highly motivated students to the undergraduate and professional programs, thus supporting several core values while enhancing edu- cational programs. Academic excellence remains the driving force for the optometry professional degree program. The number of applicants for all the U.S. optometry programs has only slightly increased this year; however, our standards for ad- mission have remained high. Dr. Michael Bacigalupi, as- sistant dean for student affairs, and Fran Franconeri, college recruiter, have a very robust recruitment program and continually update the college Web site, interacting with both students and applicants through blogs, Face- book, and Twitter and by visiting pre-optometry/health clubs throughout Florida, the United States, and Canada. The Eye Care Institute—NSUCO’s clinical arm, sup- ports five sites—Davie, North Miami Beach, Broward Boulevard, the Broward Lighthouse, and Kids in Distress. With the diversity of patients, services offered, technology available, and outstanding faculty expertise, these sites offer clinical training to the students that are second to none. I truly believe the level of clinical training is the major strength of the NSU optometry program. In addition, Dr. Linda Rouse, assistant dean for finance and chief operating officer for The Eye Care Institute, has been continuously adding vision/health care insurance plans and grants so our students can provide faculty- supervised vision care to the community in primary care, binocular vision, pediatrics, contact lens, low vision, and specialty services (glaucoma, diabetes, retina, and electrodiagnostics). Dr. Melanie Crandall, chair of the Accreditation Com- mittee, led the college through its accreditation process by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education in the fall of 2012. Results from this visit were released in March 2013, and I am proud to relay that this report yielded full accreditation for the College of Optometry through 2020. Dr. Joseph Sowka, department chair for optometric sci- ence, and Dr. Barry Frauens, department chair for clinic education, continue to monitor the professional program and propose modifications that will enhance both didactic and clinical learning, while Dr. Josephine Shallo-Hoffmann, associate dean for academic affairs, formulates ways to assist faculty development through enhancing teaching and research. This year, a new residency-match system was initiated through ASCO (Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry). Utilizing this new system, Dr. Lori Vollmer, di- rector of residencies, has been able to fill the eight college residency positions for the 2013-14 academic year. In addition, our student outcomes continue to excel, with over a 95 percent pass rate for Part I of the National Boards (NBEO) and an overall pass rate for all parts of the NBEO greater than the national average. Our students also receive many awards and grants from local and na- tional sources. As you can see from this message, the college’s faculty and staff members, as well as the administration, are very involved in growing the professional degree program and the college. I look forward to another year full of challenges and opportunities, faculty and student accomplishments, and the exciting future of the College of Optometry and Nova Southeastern University. Dean’s Message By David S. Loshin, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO “I truly believe the level of clinical training is the major strength of the NSU optometry program.”