OPT Visionary - Winter/Spring 2015

Y ESTERDAY The College of Optometry—the third college of what was then known as South- eastern University of the Health Sciences— admitted its inaugural class in 1989. It was, and still remains, the only college of optome- try in the state of Florida. Stuart Abel, O.D., the founding dean, led the original program, which was based in North Miami Beach and had 27 entering students. The program re- ceived its full accreditation after the first graduating class in 1993. One year after the merger of Southeastern University of the Health Sciences with Nova University in 1994, the College of Optometry moved to its current location on the Davie campus. The current dean, Dr. David Loshin, was ap- pointed in 1997. T ODAY Today, the College of Optometry has 425 students with 100 faculty and staff members serving more than 32,000 patients annually. In addition to the Doctor of Optometry pro- gram, the college offers a Master of Science in Clinical Vision Research. The college also has three special programs that were cre- ated under Dr. Loshin’s tenure: the Prepara- tory Optometry Program (POP) in collaboration with the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences; the Extended Program; and the Mini-M.B.A. for Optometrists in con- junction with the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship. Because the college prides itself on being education- ally progressive, these programs are the only ones of their type in the nation. The Eye Care Institute (TECI) at NSU cur- rently operates five sites in Davie, North Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Lighthouse of Broward County, and Kids In Distress. The diversity of patient populations, quality opto- metric services, cutting-edge technology, and outstanding faculty members provide our stu- dents with clinical training that is second to none. Clinical excellence continues to be our strength and the long-term goal of the pro- gram. Additionally, the college continues to provide all of our students with experience in primary care, binocular vision, pediatrics, contact lenses, low vision, glaucoma, dia- betes, retina, and electrodiagnostics. NSUCO’s residency programs continue to grow in size, quality, and national reputation. Currently, the College of Optometry over- sees 30 accredited residency programs across the country, including the eight col- lege-based positions in advanced clinical training in primary optometric care with ex- posure to a specialized sub-discipline. In 2012, following an in-depth onsite visit, the Accreditation Council on Optometric Ed- ucation approved full accreditation for the college through the year 2020. Another show of strength is illustrated in the fact that the college has fostered a number of interna- tional relationships, beginning with extern- ships with the Tianjin Medical University in China and since extending to universities in Colombia, Spain, and Guyana. Our optometry students continue to excel with national average passage rates for all three parts of the NBEO examinations that exceed the national level. Admission stan- dards remain high as the College of Optom- etry strives to only admit highly qualified ap- plicants. More than 1,050 applicants annu- ally choose to apply for 1 of our 100 seats at NSU’s College of Optometry. In addition, scholarship opportunities have grown within recent years, helping us attract the best and brightest applicants from 40 states, Canada, Jamaica, Guyana, and China. T OMORROW Clinical excellence remains the driving force for the optometry professional degree program, with standards for admission re- maining high. The college is continually as- sessing its programs for modifications that could enhance both didactic and clinical learning, and we interact with students through the latest social media tools and by visiting pre-optometry/health clubs through- out Florida, the United States, and Canada. The college also is working to engage all 1,700-plus alumni to grow our community of NSU optometrists. Our faculty members will continue to em- brace the technological advances in educa- tion by teaching and testing online and using iPad and touchscreens to present educa- tional material. Similarly, TECI continues its utilization of electronic health records and state-of-the-art equipment, and research is being conducted on many fronts including contact lenses in youth, autism and special populations, e-readers for geriatric and low- vision patients, and many more. The College of Optometry looks forward to a progressive interdisciplinary environment where educa- tion and technology work to improve the stu- dents and the patients we serve. 25 th ANNIVERSARY PAST AND PRESENT Dean’s Remarks 1. D AVID S. L OSHIN , O.D., P H .D., FAAO, D IPLOMATE “It is amazing to realize that 25 years have passed since the opening of NSU College of Optometry. In some ways it feels like just yesterday, and in others, it was a lifetime ago. What tremendous growth and success we have seen in this quarter century. We are very proud of the foundation of clinical excellence we have built and look forward to a bright future. We know that we educate and train some of the finest optometric physicians in the world—and their work defines our success.” 2. T ERRANCE N. I NGRAHAM , O.D., M.B.A. “Patients enter your office seeking your expertise and skill. Remember to treat each and every one of them with the care, guidance, and professionalism instilled in you during your career as a student at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Optometry.” 3. S TEWART A BEL , O.D. “One of man’s most precious gifts is sight. Optometry is an expanding profession that offers many career opportunities to those willing to study, work hard, and assume the responsibilities of a primary health care professional.” 1 2 3