OPT Visionary - Winter/Spring 2015

NSUCO TIMELINE PAGE 16 1989 – Southeastern University of the Health Sciences in North Miami Beach opened the first college of optometry in the state of Florida. The college was directed by Stewart Abel, O.D., dean, Lester Janoff, O.D., associate dean, Roland Gaudett, O.D., associate dean, and Howard Purcell, O.D., assistant dean. The original four faculty members were Bob Gilliam, O.D., Manuel Bergman, O.D., Martha McKay, O.D., and Wanda Abel, O.D. 1993 – Southeastern University College of Optometry graduated its first class of 27 students—17 men and 10 women. 1994 – Southeastern University of the Health Sciences merged with Nova University in Davie to create Nova Southeastern University. 1995 – Terrance “Terry” Ingraham, O.D., served as the interim NSUCO dean. 1996 – Classrooms, laboratories, and faculty offices moved to the new $60 million Health Professions Division complex on the NSU main campus in Davie. As a result, state- of-the-art equipment and modern classrooms transformed the learning experience. Additionally, a second location for the patient care clinics was opened on the main campus. 1997 – David S. Loshin, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO, Diplomate joined the college as dean. Previously, Dr. Loshin had served as dean of the University of Missouri St. Louis College of Optometry and as assistant dean at the University of Houston College of Optometry. Prior to becoming assistant dean at the University of Houston in 1992, he served as a faculty member since 1977. 1998 – Paul Abplanalp, O.D., Ph.D., joined the college as the associate dean of academic affairs. 2005 – The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education evaluated the entire professional program at NSUCO and made “no recommendations,” providing the college with the longest possible accreditation. Linda S. Rouse, O.D., FAAO, was appointed chief operations officer of The Eye Care Institute. 2006 – The inaugural issue of The Visionary was published. 2007 – The Eye Institute, NSUCO’s patient care clinic, became The Eye Care Institute in order to better portray its mission of providing high- quality, cutting-edge eye care to patients and providing ultramodern facilities for its student doctors to learn and prosper. The Optical Service at Davie was remodeled, which was made possible due to the generous contributions of Marchon Eyewear, EyeDesigns, and Essilor. In addition, a larger selection of frames and lens options were presented for patients. The practice management software NextGen was implemented in NSUCO clinics along with EPM and OPTIK. 2008 – Michael Bacigalupi, O.D., M.S., FAAO, was appointed assistant dean of academic affairs. The electronic medical record (EMR) module becomes a reality at NSUCO. In fact, The Eye Care Institute became the first of 10 university health care practices to use this system, which translated patients’ paper medical records into an electronic format. The Eye Care Institute coordinated its inaugural Optical Style Show. 2009 – The Neuro-Optometric Visual Rehabilitation Service opened, which focuses on visual problems associated with head injuries and strokes. 2010 – Josephine Shallo- Hoffman, Ph.D., FAAO, was appointed associate dean for academic affairs. 2011 – The official grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the college’s fifth patient care location—The Eye Care Institute at Kids In Distress (KID). 2013 – NSUCO fully accredited by ASCO until 2020.