OPT Visionary - Spring/Summer 2013

THE V ISIONARY • S PRING /S UMMER 2013 — 25 It is my pleasure to address you again in the spring/summer 2013 edition of The Visionary . NSUCO is celebrating not only a 10- year reunion, but for the first time a 20-year class reunion. Next year, NSU’s College of Optometry will be a quarter of a century old, which is a huge milestone for our pro- gram. It is interesting to reflect back on the evolution of the program, as well as the amazing advancements in our profession locally, nationally, and internationally. In recent news, NSU’s College of Op- tometry and the state of Florida finally won the battle to have the rights to prescribe oral medications. Florida is now the 48 th state to achieve this important legislative victory. In the past 25 years, our college has taught doctors from a vast number of states and countries. We have a unique lo- cation where our patient population is di- versified with different nationalities, which provides a wonderful experience for our students. The combination of learning and hands-on experience, along with the lead- ership of our alumni, all help advance our great profession. Some of you may have never visited our ever-changing campus since you graduated, so it’s important to note that the college cur- rently has four clinics in which the students rotate through—Davie, Broward Boulevard, North Miami Beach, and Kids in Distress. Each of the clinics serves and examines dif- ferent population groups and ages. For example, the Davie NSU Eye Clinic has diversified into different specialty prac- tices. In addition to primary care, pediatrics, cornea and contact lens, geriatrics, and low vision, the students rotate through strabis- mus and amblyopia, electrodiagnostics, glaucoma, and diabetes/macula services. The newest clinic at Kids in Distress, which is located in Wilton Manors, provides serv- ices to primary care and pediatrics patients. We are so proud of our diversity and ex- pansion that we want all alumni to help us celebrate these successful triumphs. Since next year will be the college’s silver an- niversary, we invite all our alumni to join us in reflecting and celebrating this event in 2014 (details to follow). As my term comes to an end, I thank you for the opportunity and encourage all of you to remain in close touch with your NSUCO family and continue to pay it for- ward by donating to our scholarship funds that help our future optometrists. Please remember to join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nsuoptome- tryalumnichapter , where you can receive the latest news about our upcoming events. Catherine Awad, O.D. (’08) had her thesis study for the M.P.H. degree she was awarded by NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in December 2012 published in the January issue of Eye and Brain . The thesis is entitled “Sensitivity and Specificity of the iVue iWellness Exam in Detecting Retinal and Optic-Nerve Disorders.” Douglas Ayre, O.D. (’96) is the current president of the Kansas Board of Examiners in Optometry and is being reappointed to a three-year term. Joanie Bauernfiend, O.D. (’09 residency graduate) conducted a radio interview discussing vision therapy. Ernesto Cepero, O.D. (’12) received the Dr. Lenny Cherdack Student Legislative Award from the Florida Optometric Association. Adrienne Manzo, O.D. (’04) went on a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic and provided eye care to hundreds of people in need of health care. Nga Nguyen, O.D. (’10) will be attending Harvard University School of Public Health to earn her M.S. in Health Policy and Management this fall. Rebecca Schoonover, O.D. (’04) continues to volunteer for the Junior League Scranton and held a food drive and fund- raiser in April for the Army National Guard Family Readiness Group in the Scranton area. She also helped with a fund-raiser benefiting the Lackawanna Branch PA Association for the Blind on Helen Keller Day. In addition, her Eighth Annual Cocktails for a Cause continues to benefit the Lackawanna Branch PA Association of the Blind and Research to Prevent Blindness. Adam Stelzer, O.D. (’07) received the 2012 Florida Young Optometrist of the Year award from the Florida Optometric Association. Jennie Smith Zolman, O.D., FCOVD (’06) was reelected to the South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association Board of Directors as a trustee and published an article entitled “The Profitability Puzzle” in The IDOC Quarterly . On October 2, 2012, she was featured on the Charleston Channel 2 news, where she discussed the benefits of InfantSEE. She also was awarded, along with her husband, Mike Zolman, O.D., the Outstanding Adult Volunteers of 2013 accolade from South Carolina’s Special Olympics and was named the 2012 Young Optometrist of South Carolina. Mike Zolman, O.D. (’06) is the current chair of the South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association’s Membership Committee. By Jacqueline Rodena, O.D. Assistant Professor President, Alumni Chapter NSU College of Optometry News Alumni Alumni Chapter President’s Message