NSUCO - The Visionary Spring 2012

THE V ISIONARY • S PRING 2012 — 25 ALUMNI HAPPENINGS......................................................................................................... It is my pleasure to address you again in our spring edition of The Visionary . The NSUCO Alumni Chapter Board of Direc- tors hopes 2012 has begun with a fresh vision of inspiration to our families, profession, colleagues, and future associates. As faculty members, we spend part of our time interviewing potential candidates that apply to become NSUCO students. The number one answer I hear as to why they want to be- come an optometrist stems from the experiences they had during the comprehensive eye exams they received earlier in their lives. As an optometrist, it’s important to remember that in addition to providing health care, you can also be a mentor and role model to your patients. In an attempt to foster its mentorship aspect, the college decided to aid our alumni by creating the NSU Optometry Ambassadors program. Our most recent graduates and cur- rent students are very familiar with our beloved college re- cruiter, Fran Franconeri, who is the creator of the new program, which offers our alumni some motivating bene- fits if they participate. If you are interested, please contact her at francone@nova.edu and become an eye care profes- sional that inspires the future of our profession. I am frequently amazed that many of the potential candi- dates that apply to NSUCO already have a strong back- ground in giving back to their communities. These candidates become optometric students and continue giv- ing of their time and talent by participating in medical out- reach trips, student organizations, raising awareness of eye exams, and conducting fund-raisers for a cause. The philan- thropy and leadership our students showcase are endless. It was inspiring to witness the NSU Celebration of Excel- lence ceremony in January, which brought together NSU students, alumni, community leaders, and industry pioneers that have made significant contributions to their studies, professions, and communities. One of these distinguished awards was presented to Briana Johnson Shelton O.D., FAAO, a class of 2001 NSUCO graduate. If you know of any outstanding colleagues that dedicate their limited free time to giving back to their communities, we encourage you to recognize these alumni and nominate them for the NSU Dis- tinguished Alumni Award. Alumni Chapter President’s Message Alumni News By Jacqueline Rodena, O.D. Mary Bartuccio, O.D., FAAO, FCOVD (’97) and Marc B. Taub, O.D., M.S., FAAO, FCOVD (’04) are coauthors of a book to be published in May 2012 titled Visual Diagnosis and Care of the Patient with Special Needs . Contributing chapter authors are Deborah Amster, O.D., FAAO, FCOVD (’02), Erin Jenewein, M.S., O.D., FAAO (’09), Kelly Meehan, O.D. (’10), Maryke Neiberg, O.D., FAAO (’05), and Jacqueline Rodena, O.D. (’04). Jeff Cohen, O.D., FAAO (’09) joined the Air Force Reserve as an optometrist and received his Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry designation in October 2011. Branning and Mona Hollis, O.D. (’08) are celebrating the one-year anniversary of their optometric practice named Southern Eye Care Associates in Valrico, Florida. Jennifer Ham Major, O.D. (’04 ) started a new practice called Eyes by Design in Pensacola, Florida, and is serving as treasurer of the West Florida Optometric Association. D. Duane Mohon, O.D. (’98) was sworn in as the 2011-12 president of the Alabama Optometric Association during the association’s 2011 annual convention. Wilnella Patray, O.D. (’09) established a nonprofit organization called Help Eyes Against the Loss of Sight (HEALS). HEALS’ mission is to prevent sight loss in third-world countries by providing basic and routine eye care. Dr. Patray’s inaugural medical outreach trip is planned for April 2012. Recently, the HEALS organization was featured in Women in Optometry magazine. For additional information, please visit the organization’s Web site at www.healsight.org . Nicole Psaltis, O.D. (’10) was honored by the South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association (SCOPA) with its Optometric Horizon Award for initiative and involvement in SCOPA and the community within five years of graduation. Nathaniel Roland, O.D. (’04) is in the process of completing his term as president of the New Mexico Optometric Association and recently became a partner at Eye Associates of New Mexico. Rebecca Schoonover, O.D. (’04) annually organizes a fund-raiser called Cocktails for a Cause that supports blindness research and the Scranton Blind Association. The proceeds are donated in honor of her deceased friends and colleagues, Thom Mann and Heather Baker Romano, O.D. Proceeds benefit Research to Prevent Blindness (www.rpbusa.org) , the leading supporter of eye research directed at the prevention, treatment, and eradication of all diseases that threaten vision, and the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind Lackawanna Branch (www.lackawannablind.org) . Marc B. Taub, O.D., M.S., FAAO, FCOVD (’04) has been named editor-in-chief of the Journal of Behavioral Optometry , the Journal of the Optometric Extension Program , and the Australasian College of Behavioral Optometry . Jennie Smith Zolman, O.D., FCOVD , and Mike Zolman, O.D. (’06) are the co- clinical directors for the South Carolina Special Olympics Opening Eyes organization. Jennie is serving as a trustee of the South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association and has also been appointed to serve on the American Optometric Association’s InfantSEE Committee. Mike is serving as president of the South Carolina Coastal Society. By Jacqueline Rodena, O.D., Assistant Professor President, College of Optometry Alumni Chapter Alumni President’s Message continued on next page...