OPT Visionary - Summer 2014

PAGE 36 By Arnie Patrick, O.D., Assistant Professor President, College of Optometry Alumni Chapter Alumni News Alumni Chapter President’s Message This is an exciting time for me as I begin my tenure as alumni chapter president, taking over from Jacqueline Ro- dena, O.D., who did yeoman’s work in this posi- tion. I also wanted to acknowledge Sherrol Reynolds, O.D., FAAO, past alumni chapter president, and Vanessa McDonald, manager of continu- ing education, for helping me navigate the intri- cacies of my new position. Besides my personal excitement, this is a special time for us all at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry (NSUCO). Not only are we celebrating the university’s 50 th an- niversary, but the college’s 25 th as well. My per- spective is unique because I’ve been associated with NSUCO for 23 of those years, having started my career as a member of the second entering class in 1990, and being away for just one year to complete my residency at the University of Houston College of Optometry from in 1994 and 1995. Few of us from the early days in North Miami Beach could have predicted the great success NSUCO has come to have. At that time, our classrooms and equipment were not as modern as those at the established schools. The charter class received its academic educa- tion in the Department of Basic Sciences’ fac- ulty break room. Because the OTM Lab was off campus in the Broward Clinic, it had a single practice lane that was housed in a converted closet in the library. My own second-year classroom was in the former osteopathic hospital’s ICU waiting area, with the surrounding glass-enclosed patient rooms serving as the OTM Lab. I vividly re- member sweeping the floors of the ICU rooms as the medical equipment was removed from the walls and the projectors and Snellen charts were installed. We students were as interesting as the facilities, having come from a variety of different backgrounds. Many of us were older and hoping for a second career, while some had spent time at other optometry schools. Stacey Coulter, O.D., M.S.Ed, FAAO, FCOVD, has always believed that we saw our- selves as part of a grand experiment, although I think that gives us more credit than we de- serve. Rather, we were just happy to be given the opportunity to study optometry. Unfortu- nately, some graduates from the early classes have forgotten about the unique chance they were given, choosing instead to concentrate on their negative experiences. I completely under- stand this. I can tell you, however, that those days are long gone. Today, NSUCO attracts some of the most capable young people in the country because of the quality of its education and fac- ulty members, as well as its student-centered administration. With the start of four new op- tometry schools in just the last five years, and more in the pipeline, it has been a buyers’ market for candidates. Needless to say, the price of an optometric education is substantial, and to continue to attract the best, money is needed to supplement student loans and fam- ily support. I therefore challenge our early graduates to celebrate the opportunity they were given and support our future colleagues with scholarship gifts. NSUCO gave us the chance to build a career many years ago. Let’s thank our alma mater by giving our new students the opportu- nity to succeed as well. Jaime Balaguer, O.D. (’04) currently serves as treasurer of the Broward County Optometric Association. Joanie Bauernfiend, O.D. (’09/residency) held a grand opening for her vision therapy practice—Vision Development Center—in Jasper, Indiana. Teresita Bollar, O.D. (’12) was elected vice president of the Miami-Dade Optometric Physicians Association. Brandon cornish, O.D. (’07) is the current vice president of the Broward County Optometric Association. Stephanie Davis, O.D. (’98), Michael Mull, O.D. (’09), Amanda Nanasy, O.D. (’10), and Thuy Lan Nguyen, O.D. (’02) participated in the annual vision and eye health evaluations of the Miami Dolphins’ football players. Dean Gogerdchi, O.D. (’12), vicky wong, O.D. (’12), Bryan rogoff, O.D. (’99), and Andrew Morgenstern, O.D. (’99) represented NSUCO with distinction at the AOA’s Congressional Advocacy Conference held this April 27-30 in Washington, D.C. D. Duane Mohon, O.D. (’98) was the recipient of the College of Optometry’s 2013 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, which recognized his contributions to his community in Alabama and the optometric profession. willnella Patray, O.D. (’09) is the founder of HEALS (Helping Eyes Against the Loss of Sight), which went on a medical outreach trip to Liberia in November 2013 to perform eye exams for 300 patients. Susan Tran, O.D. (’10) had her blog entitled “Getting Down to Business: When You Enter Your Own Practice, Eye Care Becomes the Easy Part” featured on the Review of Optometry Web site. Dr. Mohon accepting his award from Dr. Loshin. Curtis Scott Goodman, O.D., class of 2006, tragically lost his life in an automobile accident on the morning of August 13, 2013, after leaving work early because he was not feeling well. He left behind his beloved wife, Re- becca, and four young children. The 37-year-old had been practicing in Casa Grande, Arizona, working for America’s Best Contact Lenses and Glasses—a Na- tional Vision company. NSUCO faculty members and class of 2006 alumni described Dr. Goodman as a wonderful and genuine person who was always wearing a smile. An inspiration to his classmates, Dr. Goodman balanced the duties of becoming a father while thriving in optometry school. He is missed but fondly remembered by all who knew him. In Memoriam NEWS BRIEFS