SC VISIONS Spring 2015

ALUMNI MAGAZINE

$4,690,919

With each passing year, SCO’s graduates enter the profession of optometry better prepared to practice 21st century optometry thanks in part to the unwavering support of our alumni and friends. Your gifts benefit scholarships that reward academic and clinical excellence. Recruiting the nation’s top optometry students depends on the quality and quantity of awards that we can provide our students. Congratulations to all our graduates for their hard work and achievement.

PerseveranceWhether you make a gift in honor of this year’s graduates or you support scholarship opportunities that help us recruit future graduates, SCO appreciates your investment in the future of our profession.

Call (901) 722-3290 or visit sco.edu to make your gift.

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INSIDELeadership Message. ......................................................4

Commencement 2015Honorary degree recipients announced ................5

Campaign Success SCO Sets New Fundraising Record ...............................6Meet the Class of 2015 ........................................................... 8

Leading the Profession A Look at SCO’s National Leadership .......................10

Beating Barriers SCO Partnership Assists Schoolchildren ......................11Class Notes ............................................................................12

On Campus Focus ................................................................ 14

Mark Your Calendar! ........................................................... 16

Look for SCO at these upcoming events…

May 8CommencementCannon Center Memphis, TN

June 24-28AOA CongressSeattle, WA

September 24-27Homecoming and Fall CE SCO Campus

Representing SCO’s student commitment to advocacy, members of the Student Society of the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians recently traveled to Nashville for the TAOP’s annual “Day on the Hill.” Students learned about the legislative process and met with state legislators on behalf of the profession.

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From the Interim PresidentSCO Continues Moving Forward

Commencement represents one of those special milestones in the life of a college, as a lifetime of planning, preparation and education leads to the culmination of our graduates’ journey through optometry school and the ful-fillment of our mission at SCO. Graduation also represents a time of transition for our graduates as they leave college and proudly join our profession.

As graduation reminds us, change is a part of life. Here at SCO, former President Richard W. Phillips, OD ’78, recently resigned. He plans to spend more

time with his family and to deal with health chal-lenges. Under SCO’s succession plan, I’m currently serving as Interim President, and Bart Campbell, OD ’87, is serving as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs. To SCO’s graduates and sup-porters, know that our faculty and staff are as committed as ever to carrying out our mission. Nowhere is that more evident than this year’s com-mencement ceremony in which we welcome 130 new graduates to the profession.

Each supporter of SCO has enabled the program to strengthen its stature as one of the top optometry college’s in the nation. Your collective support has enhanced the stature of our academic and clinical programs. We continue to provide more patient care opportunities for our interns as well as the most robust residency program of any of the schools of optometry.

Our faculty remain committed to serving as role models and mentors for our students. We actively encourage collaboration, and this summer, an-other group of students will work with several faculty members as part of our Summer Research Program. Service learning remains an important part of our commitment to emphasizing the importance of giving back to our patients and communities as part of the educational experience.

SCO’s Board of Trustees is committed to sustaining the progress that the SCO community has accomplished together over the past several years. The Board will be appointing a Search Committee for the next president at a later date. Until then, it’s a privilege to work with our Board and an outstanding leadership team to ensure continuity in all our programs.

In my seven years at SCO, I’ve seen nearly 1,000 students graduate and enter our profession. I know that SCO’s alumni and supporters appreciate the school’s enhanced stature over the past decades as the school moved from a regional reputation to one of national prominence.

The caliber of the exceptional students we recruit and the commitment of our dedicated faculty and staff contributes to our success. Your ideas as alumni, and your enthusiasm and continued support, will make the difference as we move forward into the next chapter in SCO’s history. Thank you for your support and encouragement.

Lewis Reich, OD, PhD

VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Kristin Anderson, OD

EDITOR/DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Jim Hollifield

SENIOR CREATIVE DESIGNER

Susan Doyle

MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST

Erin Jaffe

MULTIMEDIA/GRAPHIC DESIGN ASSISTANT

Philip Tribble

Visions is a magazine for alumni, faculty, staff, and other friends of Southern College of Optometry. It is published through the Office of Institutional Advancement. A digital version is available online at www.sco.edu/visions. Please forward comments, address changes, and contributions to:

Office of Institutional Advancement 1245 Madison Avenue

Memphis, TN 38104-2222 800-238-0180, ext. 4 901-722-3379 FAX

BOARD CHAIR

Steven T. Reed, OD ’95

BOARD MEMBERS

Eugene M. Bane, Jr., OD ’65Douglas C. Clark, OD

Steven L. Compton, OD ’78Jarrett A. Johnson, OD ’90

Brian L. Jones, MBASharon Berger Moscow, OD ‘80

Ryan H. Powell, OD ’02James D. Sandefur, OD ’65Carla D. Sanderson, PhD

Dave SattlerA. L. Spivey, III, OD ’67

Leticia W. Towns, FACHE Cristie Upshaw Travis, MS

Terry L. Tucker, OD ’84

ALUMNI COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE

Christopher W. Wroten, OD ’02

FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE

Daniel G. Fuller, OD

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

Feyisayo O. Aworunse, ’16

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SC

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Sattler Named to SCO Board

SCO recently welcomed

retired ophthalmic industry

leader Dave Sattler to the

college’s Board of Trustees.

Sattler began his career

with Alcon in 1986 as a Sales

Representative for the Vision Care Group.

In 1991, he was promoted to Director

of National Accounts, where he was respon-

sible for sales management and marketing

activities for corporate optical chain ac-

counts, HMOs and optometry schools.

In 2001, he assumed the role of

Director Professional Relations and in 2008

he was promoted to Director Professional

Relations – Global Optometry. Peer to peer

professional marketing was added to his

list of responsibilities in 2010. In 2011,

Sattler became the Director Professional

Relations overseeing Academic Develop-

ment. After 28 years of service, he retired

from Alcon in 2014.

Sattler is a Fellow of the American

Academy of Optometry and is currently

serving as a volunteer board member for

the American Optometric Association’s

Foundation and The Pennsylvania College

of Optometry Industry Advisory Board.

A graduate of Cal State Fullerton, he

and his wife Denise reside in Colleyville, TX.

They have three grown daughters.

Honorary Degree Recipients Announced

Two individuals were selected to receive honorary degrees at this year’s commencement ceremony for their contributions to the profes-sion of optometry.

American Optometric Association President David Cockrell, OD ’81, is this year’s recipient of the Doctor of Ocular Science degree. The 12th SCO alumnus to lead the AOA, Dr. Cockrell was also invited to deliver this year’s commencement address.

In addition to his duties as AOA President, Dr. Cockrell serves as chair of the AOA’s Agenda and Executive

Committees and is a member of the Personnel Committee. Prior to his election to the AOA Board, Dr. Cockrell served as chair of the AOA State Government Relations Center, as well as AOA Primary Care and Patient Management, Statutory SCOPE, and Nominating and Resolutions com-mittees. He has also served in the AOA Federal Government Relations Center.

Dr. Cockrell is a past president of the Southwest Council of Optometry. He is a past president of the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians and a former Oklahoma Optometrist of the Year. He was named the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians Distinguished Optometrist of the Year in 2012. He has also served on the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners in Optometry since 1997. Dr. Cockrell practices in Stillwater, OK, with his wife, Cherry B. Cockrell, OD ’81.

Marty Wall, longtime Executive Director of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, is this year’s recipient of the Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Wall is retiring this year after a quarter century’s service in serving the nation’s optometry colleges.

During his tenure, ASCO saw greater involvement of faculty involvement in Special Interest Groups, the

implementation of a central admissions application process, and the establishment of the Partnership Endowment. He also organized two national symposia on optometric education involving a number of optometric organizations that resulted in strategic plans to guide the professional education of 21st century ODs.

A graduate of Ohio University, Wall earned a Master’s in Public Administration from American University and is a Certified Association Executive. He served as President of the Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions from 1999-2001.

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SCO Surpasses Campaign Fundraising Goal

Three years ago at SCO’s reception for alumni and friends at SECO, the college outlined an ag-gressive, five-year fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $4 million. This year at SECO, SCO announced that it had met and surpassed the “Envision Our Progress” campaign two years ahead of schedule.

In making the announcement for SCO’s top donors, SCO campaign co-chair Jarrett Johnson, OD ’90, thanked each person who helped make the campaign so successful.

“From the start, our leadership level of donors responded with enthusiasm to our plan to improve our campus facilities, enhance patient care op-portunities for our interns to experience, as well as the chance to increase the number and amount of scholarships we provide to attract the best students to SCO,” she said.

“The progress doesn’t stop,” Dr. Johnson added. “We will identify new goals and opportunities.”

Together with co-chair and fellow Board of Trustees member James Sandefur, OD ’65, Dr. Johnson worked with SCO’s other board members and the college’s leadership team to raise more than $4,690,919 and end the campaign early by a year and a half.

SCO will continue to identify opportunities to build upon the college’s successes, noted Kristin Anderson, OD, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. The most important step the college can take is to solidify an annual commitment to sus-taining the level of progress made possible by SCO’s gains in donor support, she said.

“The educational needs of our students in both infrastructure and tech nology improvements is a perpe t ual goal,” Dr. Anderson said. “Solidifying the advances we made means the college will continue stressing the importance of sustained annual giving on the part of our alumni and friends so we can keep the college competitive as we see increased competi-tion in optometric education for the best students.”

With support from the campaign, funding provided by SCO’s Board and an austere level of budgeting and financing, the college completed construction two years ago on the new $9.4 million

academic facility to benefit students.Thanks to the support of nearly 1,000 donors,

SCO’s programs are more robust, Dr. Anderson said. “SCO’s pride in the progress we’ve made is justified. We see our students more engaged and active than ever before.”

Three chief goals will continue to be supported by annual giving programs and future fundraising endeavors:

• Improving campus facilities to ensure that 21st century optometry students’ needs are met through the technology required to succeed;

• Increasing the quantity and quality of SCO’s scholarship programs to recruit and reward academic performance and professional promise by the best qualified students; and

• Meeting patient care needs by simultaneously offering interns a diverse range of patient care experiences to prepare them for practicing optometry at the highest possible standards.

“Perhaps the most gratifying aspect of meeting and surpassing our campaign goals so early was the strength of the support we’ve seen,” Dr. Anderson noted. “SCO is better positioned to undertake new endeavors that will continue to strengthen the college over the long term.”

SGA President Feyi Aworunse, ’16, expressed the appreciation of the college’s 530 students. “We are grateful to all who made this success possible. We look forward to seeing even more progress thanks to the support of each person who recognizes the great potential we enjoy at SCO.”

C A M PA I G N SU

CC

ES

S

Your support of

SCO is important.

To learn more about

other needs and goals

you can help meet,

please contact the

Office of Institutional

Advancement at

(901) 722-3216.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all SCO supporters and especially to the following donors to the “Envision Our Progress” campaign.$100,000+Alcon Laboratories, Inc.The Assisi Foundation of Memphis, Inc.Essilor of America, Inc.Marco Family FoundationRichard W. Phillips, OD ’78 and Lucy PhillipsPlough FoundationVision Service PlanLisa Rossmeyer Wade, OD ’84 and

Martin Wade

$50,000+Kristin K. Anderson, OD and Christopher

Lievens, OD, MSAnonymousEugene M. Bane, Jr., OD ’65 and Becky BaneAmanda Brewer-Lord, OD ’97 and

Stephen F. Lord, OD ’89Cherry B. Cockrell, OD ’81 and

David A. Cockrell, OD ’81Joe E. Ellis, OD ’86 and Rene EllisEye Specialty GroupJohn A. Gazaway, OD ’67 and

Suzanne GazawayWilliam D. Gordon, OD ’82 and

Charvie GordonHaag-Streit USA, Inc.Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

Martha Rosemore Morrow, OD ’74Sharon Berger Moscow, OD ’80 and

Billy S. Moscow, OD ’78Scott Moscow, OD ’13 Precision Optical Laboratory, Inc.James D. Sandefur, OD ’65 and

Lana SandefurSidney J. Stern, OD ’71 and Florence Stern Stuart R. Tasman, OD ’80 and Mary TasmanBarry A. Winston, OD ’74Jerry M. Winston, OD ’67Samuel A. Winston, OD ’11

$25,000+Edwin F. Adams, III, OD ’76Allergan, Inc.The BANZAI ConsortiumDoug Clark, OD and Connie ClarkFred Farias, III, OD ’87Charles G. Glaser, OD ’74 and Cathy GlaserGlenn I. Goldring, OD ’78 and Jamie GoldringWhitney H. Hauser, OD ’01 and

Joseph H. Hauser, MBAJarrett A. Johnson, OD ’90 and Kevin BergerMark R. Kapperman, OD ’87 and

Anita KappermanHelen J. King, OD ’83 and

Christopher B. King, OD ’83Literacy Midsouth

Luxottica Retail, a Luxottica Group Company

David L. Parker, OD ’95 and Ashleigh ParkerSteven T. Reed, OD ’95 and Kendra ReedLewis Reich, OD, PhD and Diane ReichSVOSH at SCOJames E. Venable, OD ’89Cary J. Vincent, OD ’78 and Linda Vincent

$10,000+Charles H. Aldridge, Jr., OD ’80 and

Carole AldridgeTimothy P. Allen, OD ’70 and

Mary Frances AllenAmerican Optometric FoundationDanny and Jan AndersonAssociation of Schools & Colleges of

OptometryAuxiliary to the Arkansas Optometric

AssociationAshley C. Baker, OD ’04 and

John F. Holland, OD ’81 Cynthia E. Baker, OD ’83William H. Ballinger, III, OD ’05 and

Erin BallingerAllan L. Barker, OD ’75 and Susan BarkerAlan K. Bugg, OD ’82Charlene Burnett, OD ’83 and

Frederick R. Burnett, Jr., OD ’80*T. Joel Byars, OD ’63 and Helen ByarsJ. Bart Campbell, OD ’87 and

Dawn CampbellCarl Zeiss Vision Inc.Ramona P. Clifton, OD ’46William E. Cochran, OD ’68 and

Carolyn CochranBrian E. Colletto, OD ’01Community Foundation of Greater MemphisSteven L. Compton, OD ’78 and

Jane ComptonDouglas Conrath, OD ’66*Horace Deal, OD ’97 and Caroline DealStanley M. Dickerson, OD ’76 and

Trish DickersonRichard D. Durocher, OD ’96Scott Ensor, OD ’01 and Lisa EnsorCheryl E. Ervin, ODPatricia Estes Walker, ODTressa F. Eubank, ODAnn Z. FieldsDavid Fisher, Jr., OD ’90 and Nanette FisherMichael D. Gerstner, OD ’97 and

Jennifer R. GerstnerHerman H. Ginger, OD ’72 and

Suzanne GingerMark A. Greer, OD ’87I. Joel Halpern, OD ‘74Ryan Halpern, OD ‘07Hayes Family FoundationMeade H. Kendrick, III, OD ’87

Aaron Kerr, OD ’98 and James HuttoHoward B. Levinson, OD ’76 and

Barbara LevinsonMarchon Eyewear, Inc.Ted A. McElroy, OD ’93 and Kristin McElroyStacey J. Meier, OD ’84Dale L. Morris, OD ’73 and Patricia MorrisMichael Neff, OD ’68 and Jane NeffOptovue, Inc.Geoffrey Ryan H. Powell, OD ’02 and

Amy PowellMichael S. Rothschild, OD ’97 and Christy

RothschildMark J. Roy, III, OD ’02 and Theresa RoyGregory C. Russell, OD ’97Keith A. Schrunk, OD ’03 and

Angie SchrunkSallye Sawyer Scott, OD ’78SECO International, Inc.Robert W. Smalling, OD ’74 and Jan SmallingSouthwest Council of OptometryA.L. Spivey, III, OD ’67 and Vee SpiveyEmily J. Sprague, OD ’04Glen T. Steele, OD ’69 and Brenda SteeleDean SwickTerry M. Swinger, OD ’64Tennessee Eye Care AllianceSharon Holden Thomas, OD ’83 and

Stuart J. Thomas, OD ’84Terry L. Tucker, OD ’84 and Carol TuckerVistakon Division of Johnson & Johnson

Vision Care, Inc.Christine Weinreich and Scott GettigDavid and Susan WestPatricia Flippin Westfall, OD ’99Sarah Futch Wroten, OD ’03 and

Christopher W. Wroten, OD ’02

$5,000+Donna Abney, MBAStephen P. Akre, OD ’75W. Scott Albrecht, OD ’00John D. Buckman Charitable TrustCharles Retina InstituteDarby Chiasson, OD ’99Chris H. Cooper, OD ’97Norman J. Dery, OD ’69* and

Bonny Lou Eads, OD ’69Tommy J. Ducklo, OD ’78Gerald A. Eisenstatt, OD ’84Doug W. Ellenberger, OD ’11 and

Joy Ellenberger, OD ’11Nathan F. Ford, OD ’50 and Mary FordC. Jeff Foster, OD ’81Cecily FreemanDaniel G. Fuller, ODPaul Harris, ODTammy Holsclaw-Jones, OD ’88 and

Randy Jones

Brian JonesMatthew Jones, OD ’09Jeffrey Lawrence Jordan, OD ’00Kentucky Optometric FoundationPatricia Hatley Koester, OD ’96Lakeland Lions FoundationStephen W. Lewis, OD ’86Megan Lott, OD ’06Melissa J. McCulley, OD ’01Brenta G. Medley, OD ’96Memphis Family Vision PracticeAllyson P. Mertins, OD ’97Darwin L. Mormon, ODFred H. Mothershed, OD ’75Optometry’s Charity – The AOA FoundationBobby C. Pankey, OD ’05Mohammad Rafieetary, ODJ. Martin Regan, Jr.Shawn A. Ricker, OD ’97Jennifer Sanderson, OD and

Andrew J. Rixon, ODRichard Savoy, ODPamela H. Schnell, OD ’01 and David SchnellWilliam C. Sharpton, Jr., OD ’64Denise Q. Shepard, OD ’79Brian G. Shipley, OD ’04John M. Simmons, OD ’96Jeanie M. SniderRebecca V. St. Jean, OD ’97Sandra StephensMarc Taub, OD, MSTennessee Association of Optometric

PhysiciansTennessee Independent Colleges and

Universities AssociationChad J. Thompson, OD ’99Cristie Upshaw TravisGregory S. Usdan, OD ’94Wal-Mart Optical DivisionDavid J. Wayland, OD ’97Keith E. Whaley, OD ’96David J. Wichnoski, OD ’96William M. Zilm, OD ’64

* Deceased donors have been included in this listing as a tribute to their lasting legacy.

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8 | SCOVISIONS

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The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence is pleased to join SCO in presenting the Graduating Class of 2015.

Meet the graduating Class of 2015. During their four years at SCO, The Hayes Center has worked with them to find placement opportunities online at sco.edu/placementservice. Alumni are invited to post your practice opportunity information on our site for other students or young alumni as well. Contact Anthony Hubbard in The Hayes Center at ahubbard@sco.edu to learn more. Congratulations to the Class of 2015, including Jessica Haynes, Valedictorian, and Jacob Muller, Salutatorian!

Alison BozungSioux Falls, SDUT, CO, WA

Rebecca BriggsAtlanta, GA

Brittany BrinkleyBlack Mountain, NC

Andrew BrownSt. Louis, MO

MO, IL

Drew BrownPiggott, AR

Ryan BunchSpringdale, AR

Stacey ButzGeneva, ILIL, TN, IA

Carissa ChambersHuntsville, TN

Fallon ConeSelmer, TN

TN, SC

Lindsay DurtschiJacksonville, FL

Meghan EarleyWoodbury, MNMN, WI, TX

Elizabeth EllisonPittsburgh, PA

PA, GA, SC

Emily EvansSpringfield, IL

TN, IL, SC

Janice FanNew Orleans, LA

Lillian FasmanSpringfield, NJ

Brenda FloresBrownsville, TX

Kaeleen FransonLincoln, NE

Danielle GaetaGillette, NJ

NJ

Daniel GearyWest Newton, PA

Jenny HinesWilmington, NC

Craig HossenloppChapin, SCSC, NC, FL

Lauren HowardKirkwood, MO

Aron HughesLufkin, TX

Robin HughesArlington, TX

Barbie JodoinMadison, ALTN, AL, MS

Samuel JohansenNinety Six, SC

Alanna KhattarSydney, Nova Scotia, CN

Aja KimreyMendota, IL

WI

Robbie KingLas Vegas, NV

SC

Chelsea McKnightTupelo, MS

MS

Chris MeyerOwensboro, KY

KY, IN

Mark MirielloSanford, NCNC, SC, VA

Mark MixanOmaha, NENE, IA, MO

Danny MonzonMiami, FL

FL, GA, SC

John MoonanRochester, NY

Caitlyn MooreAlamo, TN

TN

Carrie MooreWinston-Salem, NC

NC, TN, VA

Justin MordenMagnolia, AR

AR

Eleanor NullBartlett, TNTN, MS, AR

Nathan OstermanColumbus, OH

HI, NM, Ghana

Thomas Parrish Auburn, NE

IA

Jigna PatelSarasota, FLFL, TN, SC

Cody PattersonJonesboro, AR

AR

Katy PottsRacine, WIVA, WI, CO

Amy Puerto Somerset, KYKY, LA, DC

Amanda RadekeSarasota, FL

Kristi RaessCary, NC

NC, SC, VA

Brian RepkingTeutopolis, IL

Lisa StuartMidlothian, VA

VA, TN, TX

Austin SwainPinetown, NC

Amber TetenNorton, KS

VA

Allyson ThomasFort Mill, SC

Chris ThomasIndependence, LA

Inna TimshinaNorth Port, FL

Brittany TounselChicago, ILTX, IL, LA

Tam Minh VoWichita, KS

Xuetong WeiEllicott City, MD

Katherine WestMartin, TN

TN

sco.edu | 9

Autumn AdamsJonesboro, AR

AR

Braden AndersonGrain Valley, MO

Kyle AndersonBoone, IA

Heather Atcherson Annapolis, MDTN, MD, CO

Travis BaileyJonesboro, AR

Kelly BainEvans, GA

SC, GA

Michael BinghamAdvance, NC

TN, NC

Stephen BollingerLake St. Louis, MO

MO

Madeline BostJacksonville, FL

Jordan Conley Flatwoods, KY

KY

Maxx CraggsTaylorville, IL

Mark CurtisLehi, UTUT, CO

Jordan DauLincoln, NE

FL

Theresa DellaertDubuque, IA

IA

Jennifer DooleyMeridian, MS

MS

Jill DorseyOlathe, KS

Samantha DoughertyBroomall, PAMD, PA, DE

Jacob DufourRogers, ARAR, TX, TN

Michelle GlassCovington, KY

OH, KY

Molly GoodmanPittsfield, IL

IL

Virgilio GozumJackson, TN

Jared GrantOxford, MS

Jill GreenePeachland, NC

NC

Kevin HartWest Des Moines, IA

Brandon HauckHumboldt, IA

IA

Andrew HawkinsPhoenix, AZ

WV

Jessica HaynesManchester, TN

Ashlee HendersonMorgantown, WV

TX, SC, GA

Cade KowallisRoosevelt, UT

Jennie KutschkaSalina, KS

KA, MO, NE

Michael LamGreeneville, TN

Meredith LanhamHuntersville, NC

SC, TN, KY

Carrie LeMemphis, TNTN, TX, CA

Elena LopezMorrilton, AR

Kari MaffittMadison, WI

MN

Nbba Malick Kaitlin MayoMyrtle Beach, SC

SC, NC, TN

Donald McFaddenLondon, KY

Craig MossEagle, ID

Lisa MuillerEllinwood, KS

KS

Jacob MullerClarinda, IA

Marc MustoLutz, FL

U.S. Air Force

Sarah NaborsOmaha, NE

Jordan NetzelSiloam Springs, AR

Aaron NeufeldFremont, CA

Pinto NgMemphis, TNCA, AZ, TX

Tri Nguyen Pensacola, FLTX, TN, FL

Michael RichardsonPensacola, FL

FL

Lois RollinsColumbus, OH

OH, TN

Scott RonhovdeEagle, NE

Jordan RothlisbergerSt. Johns, AZAZ, UT, CO

Landon SherrillCrossville, TN

TN

Janna Shifflett Osceola, IAIA, MO, NE

William SmithMequon, WI

C.B. StebelFayetteville, AR

Crystal StoneHenderson, KY

Ashley StoweJacksonville, FL

FL, GA, SC

Chris WhiteFolsom, CACA, OR, NV

Ryan WiddisonPalmdale, CA

Michael WilesNorman, OK

OK

Cheryl L. WiltseCharles City, IA

SC, TN, GA

Meredith YinglingClarksville, TN

Amy Zhang Toronto, Ontario, CN

CN, CA

Laura ZinkJamestown, ND

TX

Not pictured:

Michael ColeMegan Ebel

Jarvis JohnsonJosh ParmeleeRandal Rabon Chelsea Root

MatthewSteciak Andrea Walker

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SCO is now accepting nominations for the college’s alumni awards: the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Young Alumni Award.See the back cover for all the details for submitting candidates.

SCO LeadersAlumni, Students Lead at the National Level

The recent election of 1 Hunter Chapman, ’16, as president of the American Optometric Student Association, added another SCO leader to the na-tional spotlight. The largest student organization in optometry, AOSA’s 6,500 student membership includes more than 95% of all students in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada.

Chapman became the first SCO student to serve as AOSA President since Jeffrey Dunn, OD ’94, was elected in 1993; prior to that, Michael Goins, OD ’81, led the AOSA in 1980-1981. A native of Monroe, Louisiana, he is a 2012 graduate of Louisiana State University. Chapman’s other leadership includes service as an AOSA Trustee, AOA-PAC National Liaison to the American Optometric Association, and as an SCO Student Ambassador.

Chapman’s election to lead the nation’s largest student optometry organization culminates a period over the last five years that has seen a new gen-eration of SCO students assume leadership roles at AOSA, including Megan Moll, OD ’09, as treasurer in 2008-2009, Matt Willis, OD ’11, as secretary in 2010-2011, and Elizabeth Turnage, OD ’12, as treasurer in 2011-12.

This year has seen three leaders of national optometry groups with ties to SCO. In addition to Chapman’s service, fellow student 2 Brittany Tounsel, ’15, has served the past year as president of the National Optometric Student Association (NOSA). A number of optometry colleges maintain NOSA chapters, each dedicated to the organization’s

mission of promoting diversity in optometry, serving members of underprivileged communities, and providing support to multicultural students in the optometric profession.

Tounsel, a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, spent her spring optometry externship at the practice of SCO Board of Trustees member Chris Wroten, OD ’02, a former two-term president of the Optometry Association of Louisiana. Coincidentally, Chapman will enter an externship rotation at the same practice in the fall. Dr. Wroten, meanwhile, was named Young Optometrist of the Year by the AOA in 2012 and has received numerous other accolades in recognition of his leadership to the profession.

Elsewhere at the national level, the American Optometric Association’s current president is 3 David Cockrell, OD ’81. During a recent visit to address SCO students, Dr. Cockrell noted that a significant proportion of state optometry associations are led by SCO alumni as presidents or executive directors.

Dr. Cockrell’s national leadership, along with other alumni before him, helps fulfill one of SCO’s strategic goals in which SCO’s alumni are encouraged to serve as role models to future young leaders through service to their profession and communities.

The call to service and leadership at the national level seems to have a bright future with incoming students. Mike Robertson, SCO’s Director of Admissions & Enrollment Services, noted that several presidents of undergraduate pre-optometry clubs have enrolled or deposited as incoming students for the fall of 2018’s entering class at SCO.

“SCO’s leadership from students, faculty, and alumni in recent years have helped cement the college’s reputation as a leader in optometric education,” added Sunnie Ewing, SCO’s Director of Student Recruitment.

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Removing Barriers to LearningSCO Partnership Provides Care to Students

With The Eye Center established as the area’s leading eyecare provider to nearly 50,000 patients a year, SCO’s Clinical Programs continue to reach thousands of additional patients through a growing number of external programs throughout the Memphis community. These programs are incorporated into clinical education programs yet simultaneously aid patients in need.

One program in particular, The Achievement School District (ASD) School-Based Clinics, represents a bold partnership that has attracted community interest and local media attention in 2015. Launched last fall, the program resulted from SCO’s membership in the Seeding Success Partnership, a national initiative to improve educational outcomes in high-risk areas.

Three full-scale eye exam lanes and other supplies were funded by a United Way Catalyst Grant (administered by Literacy Mid-South) to provide full eye care to children throughout participating schools. The partnership is tracking grades, test scores, attendance and other information for students in kindergarten through the eighth grade to assess how educational outcomes are impacted when at-risk children benefit from improved vision.

The goal is to remove an often-overlooked barrier to a stu-dent’s ability to learn, explained Christine Weinreich, SCO’s Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. She noted that only 36 percent of Shelby County, Tennessee third-grade students read at or above grade level. With so much learning achieved through vision, students with vision issues face greater challenges.

Students at Georgian Hills Elementary School benefited from a comprehensive eye exam and follow-up care without ever having to leave the school’s campus.

“In order to increase literacy in Shelby County, we must consider and address all barriers to learning,” said Jeff Rhodin, Director of Collaborative Action for Literacy Mid-South. “We have to mobilize partners and meet people at all levels with resources to remove those barriers. Reading proficiency by third grade is a critical indicator of high school graduation, so addressing a barrier like vision before a student falls too far behind is very important.”

SCO, as a member of the Seeding Success Third-Grade Reading Collaborative Action Network, identified the vision issue and correlation between education and barriers within Memphis schools. SCO is now providing comprehensive initial and secondary care to nearly 1,800 students in high-risk Achievement School District elementary and middle schools. Most of the schools are located in the Frayser community, where a third of students were failing SCO-administered basic vision screenings, with even fewer receiving follow-up care or glasses.

“This project is the first of its kind in the Tennessee, and SCO is thrilled to be part of it,” said Weinreich. “It’s a perfect fit for our mission to provide eye care to people throughout the Mid-South.”

Doctors and student interns visit schools daily to conduct eye exams in fully furnished exam lanes. Students identified as

needing ongoing eye care are immediately prescribed glasses and select their frames. SCO delivers the glasses to students after the frames are completed.

Literacy Mid-South, through its partnership with Seeding Success, is monitoring the impact eye care has on stu-dents’ performance by tracking literacy data through existing assessments. Thanks in part to SCO’s participation, our in-terns receive the experience of assisting at-risk children while the college forges partnerships with other groups to address a host of barriers to good vision and learning.

“By addressing challenges like vision among our students, we are creating the condition for improved student and family well-being, greater achievement gains and a strengthened community,” Weinreich added.

12 | SCOVISIONS

C L A S S NO

TE

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1950 Richard White, OD, was recently profiled by his hometown newspaper for an article recalling his WWII service in the Pacific theater aboard the U.S.S. Pennsylvania. Dr. White spent 40 years in private practice in Fulton, Missouri.

1963 T. Joel Byars, OD, and his wife, Helen, recently celebrated their 50th

wedding anniversary.

1972 Gil Morgan, OD, has been selected for induction into the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be held in October at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

1973 Jerry Hayes, OD, visited the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence’s booth at SECO to sign copies of his recently published book, How to Measure and Improve Staff Productivity in Private Practice Optometry, for the first 30 ODs who visited, including Janine Henry, OD ’13, and Jennifer Henry, OD ’13.

Dale Morris, OD, was honored at SECO upon his retirement as the long-time chair of SECO’s Exhibits Committee.

Jim Newman, OD, SCO Professor Emeritus, recently spoke to Baptist College of Health Sciences students as part of Baptist’s leadership lecture series.

1974 Robert Grand, OD, recently returned to Memphis for the first time in 40 years. During his visit, Dr. Grand recalled the three years he lived at the Holiday Catalina Apartments on North Montgomery across from the school where a parking lot stands today. One night during his senior year, he etched a message (“eye doctor” and his graduation year) on a newly paved sidewalk on North Montgomery with classmate Allan Zeltser, OD ’74. “Believe it or not,” Dr. Grand says, “after 40 years it was still there and we found it.” Pictured with his handiwork that has lasted 40 years, Dr. Grand said that he and his wife enjoyed their trip to Memphis. “I was so impressed with the changes in the school and the quality of education being offered to the students.”

1977 U.S. Senator John Boozman, OD, attended the 2015 Congressional Advocacy

Conference. He’s pictured with AOA President David Cockrell, OD ’81, Glen Steele, OD ’69, and AOSA President Hunter Chapman, ’16.

1978 Billy Moscow, OD, and SCO Board member Sharon Berger Moscow, OD ’80, were profiled in a recent special issue of Optometric Management magazine.

Richard W. Phillips, OD, received SECO’s OD of the South Award in March.

1980 Gilan Cockrell, OD, has been named CEO of the Williams Group, a practice management, consulting and EHR firm based in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Wes Garton, OD, of Wichita, Kansas, was elected to the Heart of America Contact Lens Society Board of Directors for a two-year term at the recent annual meeting held in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Garton is a native of Wichita and served as President of the Kansas Optometric Association Board of Directors from 2009-2010.

Stuart Tasman, OD, recently visited campus for a tour of SCO’s new academic complex and to meet with the Georgia Club students.

1981 Andy Cook, OD, recently was reappointed to a second five-year term on the North Carolina State Board of Optometry.

1986 Joe Ellis, OD, was recently appointed by Kentucky’s Governor to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority.

1987 Fred Farias, III, OD, Texas Optometric Association

President, was named OD of the Year

by the TOA. He also was recently appointed by

Texas Governor Greg Abbott to

the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

1990 Jarrett Johnson, OD, is celebrating her 25th anniversary of practicing optometry, a milestone highlighted on a New Orleans TV promo in which she was interviewed. Dr. Johnson was honored with a plaque at January’s Board of Trustees meeting in recognition of her service as outgoing Board chair presented by her successor, Steven Reed, OD ’95.

2002 Randy Birt, OD, reports that he has retired from the U.S. Navy after 21 years of service. He has joined Weberling & Associates in Bristol, Virginia.

2005 Adam Bryan, OD, and Kristy Tart-Bryan, OD, recently opened a new location for their private practice in North Carolina.

2006  Jennifer Powell, OD, and her husband, Scott Morrison, welcomed a daughter, Zola Michelle, on January 26. They reside in Durham, North

Carolina and own a private practice, Academy Eye Associates.

SECO 2015

sco.edu | 13

2007 Aimee Parker, OD, was recently inducted into Sussex Central High School’s Alumni Hall of Fame in Delaware.

2009 Anita Blanchard Schulz, OD, and her husband, Brenton, welcomed a daughter, Annalise Katherine, on January 23, 2015.

Sean Skierczynski, OD, and his wife, Mary, welcomed a daughter, Molly Francis, on December 19.

2010 Jessica Durham, OD, started her own private practice, Green Hills Eyecare, in Nashville last November, the same week her husband, Jeremy, was re-elected to the Tennessee Legislature.

Dustin Vance, OD, was recently recognized as Ozarka College’s Outstanding Alumni at the Arkansas Association of Two-Year College’s annual All-Star Brunch in Hot Springs. He is also a member of the Lyon College Alumni Council.

2011 Brandon Ross, OD, and Laura England, OD, were wed on February 14, 2015 in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Kayli Malzahn Schwamb, OD, and Matt Schwamb, OD ’12, are married and practicing at Clarkson Eyecare in Missouri.

Sam Winston, OD, was featured in the “OD Scene” column in a recent issue of the Optometric Management magazine.

2013 Melissa L. Broaddus, OD, has joined Chesterfield EyeWorks in Springfield, Missouri.

David Hite, OD, and Canaan Montgomery, OD ’14, recently spoke to SCO’s third-year class via a webcast about practice management and opening their own practices. The online session was arranged by Lisa Wade, OD ’84, Director of SCO’s Hayes Center for Practice Excellence. Dr. Montgomery was also featured on the cover of Paducah Life as part of the paper’s “Next Generation of Leadership” feature story.

2014 SCO residents Elizabeth Gault, OD, and Brian Knight, OD, were elected to leadership positions within the West Tennessee Optometric Physicians Society. Dr. Gault will be Secretary/Treasurer and Dr. Knight will be Vice President.

Lauren Nelson, OD, wed Justin Morden, ’15, in December.

INMEMORIALMurray Schulman, OD ’42Darrell Broadway, OD ’49William H. Causey, Jr., OD ’49Sylvester W. Hora, Jr., OD ’49Alvin Labens, OD ’49Harold Don Montgomery, OD ’49Willis Akre, OD ’50Raymond Kolocek, OD ’51Toni Todd, OD ’51Burton Bodan, OD ’53Robert J. Houston, OD ’57Robert Koch, OD ’57James McClellan, OD ’57George Orm, OD ’57Ronald C. Byars, OD ’60Robert G. Settimi, OD ’60Paul Thomas, OD ’60David George, OD ’61Roger Deshaies, OD ’67Alan Gorman, OD ’78Rachana Shah, OD ’13

New SECO President Stan Dickerson, OD ’76, past SECO President Darby Chiasson, OD ’99, Nickole Chiasson

Kendra Reed, Board Chair Steven Reed, OD ’95

Chev Ergle, OD ’04

Lindsay Armagon ’17, Jennifer Anderson ’16, Adam Young, OD ’14, Jennifer Elumelu ’17, Shanelle Jenkins ’18, Dominique Garcia-Robles ’16

AOA Trustee Andrea Thau, OD, Martha Rosemore Morrow, OD ’74

David Foutch, OD ’87, Kimberly Foutch, Hunter Foutch, ’17

Class of 2018’s A.J. Hickman, Laura Aelvoet, Kelly Arnhart, Jillian Duhon

Lisa Wade, OD ’84, Terry Tucker, OD ’84

Jessica Ellis Durham, OD ’10, Ross Lumpkin, OD ’10

14 | SCOVISIONS

O N C A M P U S FO

CU

S Faculty NewsKristin Anderson, OD, and Chris Lievens, OD, MS, trav-

eled to Australia to lecture at the Southern Regional Congress & Trade Expo. Dr. Lievens was interviewed by the Australian ophthalmic press for a story about Meibomian Gland Regeneration.

Marie Bodack, OD, was recently interviewed by the VTworks blog about vision therapy. She also reviewed “Visionary Kitchen: A Cookbook for Eye Health” in Optometry and Visual Performance.

Chris Borgman, OD, authored an Optometry Times article entitled, “Why residency was the best thing I ever did for my career.” He also authored a Primary Care Optometry news article on inexpensive treatment options for common conditions. Dr. Borgman also was a speaker at The Eye Specialty Group’s 10th Annual Optometric CE Seminar where Dennis Mathews, OD, an ESG partner and SCO faculty member, presented.

Patricia Cisarik, OD, PhD, was one of the supervising faculty, along with Robert Binkley, OD ’13, who accompanied a group of SCO interns and alumni on a RAM trip to Smithville, Tennessee. The group saw 281 patients and prescribed 250 pairs of glasses.

Jason Duncan, OD ’96, Lindsay Elkins, OD ’07, Scott Ensor, OD ’01, Michael Gerstner, OD ’97, Whitney Hauser, OD, ’01, Alan Kabat, OD, Karen Kehbein, OD, Chris Lievens, OD, Jennifer Sanderson, OD, Jennifer Snyder, OD ’12, and Patricia Walker, OD, were among the lecturers at this year’s Spring CE weekend held on campus.

Tressa Eubank, OD, published an article in the February issue of Optometry and Visual Performance entitled, “Timing-Rhythmicity-Movement: How we get from ‘hear’ to ‘there.’”

Malinda Fitzgerald, PhD, was named an ARVO Gold Fellow, presented a poster at the Society of Neuro-science, and published a paper in the Frontiers in Psychology, section Perception Science.

Dan Fuller, OD, was recently featured on The Ohio State University College of Optometry’s website as his alma mater’s Notable Alumnus of the day.

Michael Gerstner, OD ’97, Whitney Hauser, OD ’01, and Mike Dorkowski, OD ’04, were among the lecturers at SCO’s second annual Destination CE event held in conjunction with the Optometry Association of Louisiana meeting in New Orleans. Joanne Smith, OD ’11, served as Faculty Course Master.

Paul Harris, OD, recently traveled to Australia to present an Optometric Extension Program in multiple venues. He co-authored an article in Optometry Times about using tinted color lenses to help migraine sufferers whose headaches are triggered by lighting.

Whitney Hauser, OD ’01, is authoring a regular column about dry eyes in Memphis Magazine’s “Ask the Expert” series.

Cynthia Heard, OD, recently completed certification training as an ACOE consultant.

John Mark Jackson, OD ’99, MS, lectured at the Contemporary Management of Keratoconus seminar series held in conjunction with UT’s Hamilton Eye Institute in Memphis. Dr. Jackson continues to publish in Contact Lens Spectrum, including a recent article co-authored with resident Catherine Tuong, OD.

Alan Kabat, OD, was recently interviewed by ABC-24 in Memphis about BlephEx as a treatment being offered at SCO’s TearWell: Advanced Dry Eye Treatment Center. Dr. Kabat also recently participated in the Dry Eye Summit along with 27 other experts hosted by BioScience Communications and 12 industry partners. He co-authored an article on filamentary keratitis in the March Review of Optometry.

Chris Lievens, OD, MS, co-authored an article in Optometry Times entitled, “Managing Healthy Aging and Vision.” He also lectured at the National Opto-metric Association meeting in Jackson, Mississippi.

Wil McGriff, OD, MPH, helped organize SCO’s Saturday Service Experience event for interns to assist residents of Synergy Treatment Centers, a local drug and alcohol assistance center.

Jared Powelson, OD ’96, coor- dinated the spring’s annual Laser Symposium for SCO’s third-year interns with vis-iting professionals from TLC Laser Eye Centers. Other

participating faculty included Jason Duncan, OD ’97, Bill Edmondson, OD, Scott Ensor, OD ’01, Michael Gerstner, OD ’97, and Esla Subashi Speth, OD ’10.

Lewis Reich, OD, PhD, Bart Campbell, OD ’87, and Marc Taub, OD, MS, have been elected to Distinguished Fellowship in the National Academies of Practice and the Optometry Academy as Distinguished Practitioners and Fellows.

Jennifer Snyder, OD ’12, had an in-depth review of her research on differences in ophthalmic medicine com- fort based on age published in the February issue of Primary Care Optometry News. Her study was previously presented in an American Academy of Optometry poster with co-authors Bill Edmondson, OD, and Andrew Neighbors, ’16.

Glen Steele, OD ’69, received the AOA President’s Award in Washington D.C. in recognition of his contributions for developing the InfantSEE program. He was also recently interviewed by Optometry Times about how the Affordable Healthcare Act can help improve access to pediatric eye care.

Marc Taub, OD, MS, co-authored an article published in Optometry and Vision Science on “Astigmatism and Early Academic

Readiness in Preschool Children.” Dr. Taub also is joining Paul Harris, OD, in authoring a new column in Review

of Optometry.

Amanda Phelps Tompkins, OD ’13, pictured, has joined SCO’s faculty. She completed her SCO residency

in 2014.

James Venable, OD ’89, represented SCO at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new multi-purpose renovation of the former Sears Crosstown building in midtown Memphis. The mixed-use redevelopment will include St. Jude, Methodist Le Bonheur, the Church Health Center and SCO among the first tenants.

Patricia Estes Walker, OD, is President-elect of Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians and recently led a delegation of Tennessee optometry leaders, students and faculty in meeting with U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker on Capitol Hill during the AOA Congressional Advocacy Conference.

Greg Wolfe, OD, MPH, has joined SCO’s faculty as an Associate Professor. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and holds a Master’s degree in Public Health. He completed a residency in ocular disease and low vision at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Wolfe previously taught at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and on the faculty of Southern California College of Optometry. He comes to SCO from the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System.

Lisa Rossmeyer Wade, OD ’84, MPA, was recently named Director of the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence (HCPE) at SCO. Founded in 2005 by 1973 SCO graduate, Dr. Jerry Hayes, and his wife, Cris, The Hayes Center is one of the first centers to focus on teaching independent optometrists business principles applicable for their practice, including strategic planning, budgeting and increasing profitability.

Dr. Wade spent 20 years on the college’s faculty, including service as SCO’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Under her leadership, the college expanded scholarships for students and raised the funds for constructing The Eye Center at SCO. She earned a master’s in public administration from the University of Memphis.

In 2005, Dr. Wade retired to become the Dealer-Principal of Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson, one of the southeast region’s most successful motorcycle dealerships, a $20 million enterprise with 50 employees. Dr. Wade oversaw a $9 million expansion to additional locations and a complete rebranding of the dealership’s new flagship store. Prior to selling the dealership in 2013, Harley-Davidson Motor Company named it one of the top six in the U.S. based on customer satisfaction scores and other business metrics such as growth and profitability.

“The entire Hayes family joins me in expressing our confidence in Dr. Wade’s enthusiasm for growing The Hayes Center’s programs at SCO,” said Dr. Jerry Hayes. “Dr. Wade shares our vision of enhancing the value of providing students and

alumni with the resources and business tools they need to ensure successful practices of optometry.”

A 2009 recipient of SCO’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Wade also was named Executive of the Year by the Memphis Business Journal in 2011 and to the Top 50 Mississippi Business Women list in 2012. She was named Professor Emerita following her initial retire-ment from SCO. Her appointment has been covered with a number of press stories, including an interview by Women in Optometry magazine.

Joining Dr. Wade in administering the Hayes Center’s initia-tives is Program Coordinator Anthony Hubbard, who previously served as Career Services Coordinator for Davenport University. A graduate of Delta State University, he has worked in similar roles with higher education, recruiting, career counseling and commu-nity organizations to attract job and internship opportunities for students and college graduates.

Visit sco.edu/hcpe to learn more about the Hayes Center.

sco.edu | 15

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38104-2222

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September 24-27

2015 HOMECOMING/ FALL CE WEEKEND

June 25-27AOA CONGRESS,

SEATTLE, WA

M A R K Y O U R C A L E N D A R !

Nominations Welcomed for Alumni Awards

SCO is now accepting nominations for

the college’s 20th Annual Lifetime Achievement

Awards. The highest honor presented to alumni,

this award recognizes outstanding achievement

to the profession, college and the graduate’s com-

munity. Any SCO graduate may nominate fellow

alumni by using nomination forms available on

SCO’s website. Completed forms may be mailed,

emailed, or faxed to the designated information

listed at the end of the form. All nominations must

be received by June 30, 2015.

Nominations for the Young Alumni Award

are also being accepted. Alumni may nominate

any graduate from 2005-2014. Service to the pro-

fession, leadership and other criteria are to be

provided in the nomination. Nomination forms for

this award also may be found on SCO’s website.

Completed forms may be mailed, emailed, or

faxed to the designated information listed at the

end of the form. The deadline is also June 30th.

The awards will be presented at this fall’s

Convocation ceremony on Friday, September 25,

2015. Contact the Office of Institutional Advance-

ment at (901) 722-3216 for additional information.