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FOCAL POINTS Winter-Spring Newsletter 2013

Alumni Spotlight: MCO Welcomes New Dean, Thanks MCO Welcomes New Interim Dean Assistant Dean for Dr. Bob Kocembo, O-87* *Despite my best efforts to the Clinical Education, contrary Faculty, Executive What an MCO Education Research Director Means to Me Dr. Durkee began as the Assistant Dean for Clinical Education at the Michigan College Dr. David Damari Dr. Bruce Morgan of (MCO) in June. Spring winds are bringing change to our MCO family as He is also we welcome our new Dean, Dr. David Damari. Dr. currently serving Damari's leadership and enthusiasm are contagious and as the interim we are thrilled that he has chosen to lead our talented Director of Externships. Dr. Durkee is team of faculty, staff, administrators and students. He a 1981 graduate with High Distinction began his Dean role officially on March 28, although he of the School of Optometry, Ferris My memories of MCO still teach me has been working behind the scenes to further educate State College. Academic awards to watch, to give thanks and to listen. himself about the program and prepare for his new role. included the Harold Kohn award for The collective familiarity that is MCO As Dr. Damari takes the helm, Dr. Bruce Morgan will be research projects and a Nikon is such a positive energy and attitude stepping down as Interim Dean. He will remain an Scholarship. Upon graduation, he that it never fails to call back the integral part of Dr. Damari's transition into the Dean became a part time clinical faculty with memories of youth, colleagues, career position. MCO owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Morgan. MCO at Duane Waters , foundation and hope. As with you, I His leadership was unmistakeable. His extra time, hard Jackson Prison until 2012. While cannot help but thank those who work and commitment not only carried us through the working his own private practice in nurtured and disciplined me and all of transition period but helped us continue to fluorish. In Lowell, MI for 31 years, he also had us. As usual, I am making good my addition, the leadership and commitment of Dr. Bob part time duties on occasion seeing 30th year of nearly daily memories of Buckingham, Associate Dean, was invaluable to Dr. patients in nursing homes. He was several "See Me - NPK"s and yes, of Morgan in his interim role. He serves the college with very active in his local and state “MPKs” too. I earned an OD, despite a enthusiasm and pride. Thank you to both of you, as well professional associations, having dancing OS. I OU my friends...and my as to our other administrators, faculty and staff who been president of both the West MCO. continued to make MCO shine through this period of Michigan Optometric Association and change. the Michigan Optometric Association See you and your family soon. Please (MOA). The MOA awarded him the pay us a visit as you are overdue. Emil Arnold award twice for literary Come and see the new building with a contributions, along with a Keyperson personal tour or allow our students to How to Support MCO and a Distinguished Service award. perform your annual DFE for the He currently serves on the Electronic practice and to bring back memories We are very appreciative of the support received from Health Records Committee and Third of your student days! Support current our alumni and friends. Our current fundraising need of Party Benefits Committee of the MOA, and future MCO students with your highest priority is student scholarships. Please consider and has written many articles on financial gifts because every little bit donating to one of our scholarship funds at a level of technology and optometric makes a big difference in their lives. giving in which you feel comfortable. Online donations can be made here: applications. He enjoys working at Let us not forget the place that helped https://ebill.ferris.edu/C20079_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp? MCO for the opportunity to work on to mold us into the doctors we have STOREID=4&CATID=22 research projects and with tomorrow's become. I wish you all well and hope future optometrists. to see you soon.

All my best, Dr. Brian MCO Prepares to Say Goodbye to McDowell is now Bobby K Dr. Keating an Assistant Robert Thomas Kocembo was born 9 days late on at the 9 October 1963 at Mt Carmel Mercy Hospital in Michigan College Detroit, MI. He remains just as punctual and On May 13, 2013, Dr. of Optometry. He breech. In commemoration of this the hospital was Michael Keating, received a demolished shortly thereafter to make room for a Professor of , will Bachelor’s of Home Depot. Despite this, Bob continues begin his next great practicing in his home town in Detroit. He is a Science degree in member of the AOA, AFOS and NAVAO among adventure- retirement. Biomedical others. His tendency to omit cylinder and go a tad He will be leaving with Science from Western Michigan far into the green, which may serve yet to be his mixed emotions after a University with a minor in Applied professional undoing, is widely regarded and long, distinguished Ethics. After completing his Optometry appreciated by his colleagues. Bob appreciates career as a beloved being your MCOAA Trustee and an Assistant degree at the Michigan College of Editor for your newsletter. MCO faculty member Optometry in 2011, he went on to be and interim the founding resident of Henry Ford administrator. He has OptimEyes’ Primary Care residency touched the life of every where he worked in a high patient Dr. Amy (Crump) Sabin, O-96 MCO graduate through his excellence as an educator volume practice as well as supervising and personal kindness. As he prepares to leave MCO, 4th year interns. His current teaching we asked him a few questions about his time here and responsibilities include supervising plans for the future. 2nd and 3rd year interns at the What are your retirement plans in the short term? University Eye Center’s Primary Care as well as laboratory instruction In anticipation of my retirement, we bought a house in the for the Optometric Procedures course. woods on the North East side of Grand Rapids (about Dr. McDowell also team teaches the 1.5 miles east of 4 mile road and east beltline). Even Physical Exam and Diagnosis course though we moved there last summer, there are still a few and the Environmental Vision course. “new to us” house and yard projects that need to be His clinical areas of interest include done. Primary care and Emergency care, as well as the use of advanced clinical Beyond that, I will have more time to attend grandkid technology to help facilitate learning. activities! My wife, Mary jean, owns and operates MJ Dr. McDowell is also an active Tours LLC, and I will continue to be an “unpaid” member of the Michigan Optometric administrative assistant for MJ Tours - although I have Association and American Optometric been emphasizing to her that I am NOT retiring from Association. MCO to go to work full-time for MJ Tours. I will be taking some MJ Tours trips – the first one to the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the Lake Ontario. A graduate of the In July, we plan to attend a Keating family reunion in University of Nebraska and a family reunion on Mary Jean’s side in Minnesota’s Iowa. In August, we are planning a vacation trip to the Physician L to R: Jeff Chadwick, Jeff Cosgrove, Tim Mount Tremblant region of Quebec . Assistant of Guthrie, Greg Morgan, Amy (Crump) Sabin, David Cook, Debbie (Sheere) Gallatin, Any long term plans? Heather (Burgess) Peterson, Chad Gallatin, program Mr. Angela (Harvey) Flynn, Kevin Flynn Once I get settled into retirement, I plan to do some Craig Norman volunteering activities – possibilities include: a at was hired as the "AZ has been wonderful for me. I the Grand Rapids Art Museum, an “ambassador” for the Director of moved here in 1998 and it was city of Grand Rapids, a volunteer at Meijer Gardens and Research at the Michigan College probably one of the best decisions I Sculpture Park, or a volunteer for other groups that help of Optometry, Ferris State University. have ever made, aside from attending people in one way or another. He will lead the newly formed Vision MCO. My parents move to AZ in Research Institute. A clinician for the 1999, so it has been nice to have my Once I have recuperated past 30+ years, he has been involved family here. I got married in August from the surgery for my in the development and evaluation of and we had our wedding in ruptured left quadriceps numerous products and technologies Frankenmuth. Several of my MCO c/o tendon, I hope to resume in the soft, GP and scleral 1996 alums were able to attend which competitive orienteering category. Mr. Norman is a Consulting was wonderful: Chad & Debbie - including competing in Editor to the Spectrum (Sheere) Gallatin, Tim Guthrie, Jeff National meets. where he has authored a column on Cosgrove, Jeff Chadwick, Kevin & Competitive orienteering Prescribing for for over a Angie (Harvey) Flynn, Dave Cook, & is a race through the decade, an Editorial Board Member for Heather Burgess. It was a great time! woods where you have the Refractive Eyecare journal and to use a compass and a Editorial Advisory Board Member of Go Bulldogs! topographical map to navigate through the woods and hit AllAboutVision.com. He is a Member the specified “control” points. Orienteering is a of the Advisory Panel of the GP Lens Amy" tremendous mental challenge as well as a physical Institute and has been an Advisory challenge. Orienteering meets are held rain or shine, and Panel Member to numerous SCL and the conditions can sometimes be rugged. (In an early GP lens companies. Presently, he is Dr. Elizabeth (Lane) Bow, O-09 December meet in Southern Indiana, it was snowing also an Education Committee Member heavily and the course route zigzagged back and forth 7 of the Global Specialty Lens times across a shallow river. So I did 7 river crossing at Symposium. He has published over about 28 degrees temperature. At the other extreme, I 115 articles, posters, videos and book competed in Colorado at 9000 feet elevation on a day chapters on GP and Soft Lens Design, when there was a record high temperature.) National Presbyopic Contact , Specialty scoring is by age brackets, so I am scored against people Contact Lens Uses and Eye Care who are within 5 years of my age. Practice Management and has traveled extensively throughout the Eventually I would like to travel to some places that I world lecturing on a variety of contact have not yet visited. The first ones that come to mind are: lens and eyecare related topics. and , New Zeeland and Australia, and the (outside London). However there are lots of possible destinations. Did You Know? We have a daughter, son –in-law, and grandson in Austin, . So we will probably “snow bird” some there in the winter. Southern Arizona is another possible (On left) "I'm practicing at Makar snow bird destination. Eyecare in Anchorage Alaska. It's a full scope private practice. I'm I will undoubtedly spend some time reading historical practicing VT two half days/week, low fiction novels, attending plays, going to the symphony, vision one half day/week, and the rest etc. is primary care. I got married last August, I've got an awesome dog, What was your and we're having a great time up here favorite part of adventuring and fishing." teaching at MCO? MCO's University Eye Center I taught for 3 years at operates an active patient care site in the Pennsylvania Baldwin at Family , a Dr. Barbara Horn, O-98 College of Optometry community health center. The (class sizes about 160) combined many types of medical before coming to MCO, services under one roof including and I liked my job at family practice, dental, laboratory, x- PCO. However after ray, full service retail , teaching larger class medical , health education, sizes, I feel that MCO’s smaller class sizes were my perinatal, and school-based teen favorite part. Large class sizes make teaching feel more health centers along with optometry. like an impersonal factory job, whereas MCO’s smaller class sizes make teaching feel more personal. Because of growth, we recently moved our clinical services into an When did you start at MCO? area with more space and additional I was one of the first three faculty hired to start the equipment. This is yet another way we optometry doctoral program at Ferris. When the three of are providing our students with a Barbara L. Horn, O.D., was elected to us arrived in July of 1975: the first MCO student class diverse and engaging patient care the American Optometric Association had been accepted, but there was no curriculum, no experience Board of Trustees at the 114th Annual equipment, no lab manuals, no clinic, no procedural AOA Congress & 41st Annual AOSA policies, etc - and we had less than 2 months to get Conference: Optometry’s Meeting® in ready for the first MCO optometry classes to start. (By June 2011. Prior to her election to the the way - shortly after the first MCO classes started, then Board, Dr. Horn served the AOA by Governor Milliken line-item vetoed the funds for MCO, so volunteering her time as chair of the there was no state funds that year, but that is another Clinical & Practice Advancement story.) Executive Committee, Medical Eye What are your favorite memories of MCO? Care Committee, and Membership Group and as a past president of the In general, my favorite memories are the people: Michigan Optometric Association students, faculty, administrators, and staff. Many Moving photos, thaks to Todd from Walman (MOA). In 2011, she was the MOA’s people fall into this category, but if forced to pick one Optical for his help (above) Optometrist of the Year. Dr. Horn person for a favorite memory, it would be Jack Bennett, received the Ferris State University MCO’s founding dean and the person that hired me to Pacesetter award in 2007. She also come to MCO. Jack was an efficient administrator and a MCO Student Profiles received the AOA's Young wonderful person who related well with everyone. He had (All photos courtesy of Bill Bitzinger, FSU Optometrist of the Year award in 2006 a charismatic personality and loved to tell his Photographic Services) and the MOA's Young Optometrist of “Granddaddy Barndollar “stories as well as other stories. the Year award in 2005. Chelsea What will you miss most? Richards Dr. Horn has a private practice, I will miss the intellectual challenge of teaching the ExpertEyes, Family Eye Center & MCO graduation material. James Freedman, former president of the Optical, with two locations in year: 2013 University of Iowa, expressed this challenge in the Washington and Chesterfield, Mich. Hometown: Lake following words: “Teaching is a continuous struggle to She is the charter president of her Orion, MI learn afresh what remains fundamental about an evolving local Optimist International chapter; Undergraduate discipline, and to bring that knowledge to life in the minds North Macomb Optimist Club. Education: Ferris of students. “ She has two children with her State University, Honors Program husband, Michael Weisgerber, O.D., I will also miss the intellectual challenge of scholarly Undergraduate Major: Applied Biology Brooke and Mick. activity - learning new things, doing research (my favorite with a Pre-Optometry emphasis research area was in the matrix analysis of astigmatic optical systems), reviewing scientific journal articles, and Why Optometry? I was inspired by writing books (in my case the first and second editions of O.D.s I shadowed while in high MCO Good News (a few of “Geometric, Physical, and Visual Optics”). I plan to school. I have a unique ocular health condition that brought me in to O.D. many) continue some intellectual activity in retirement. As an example: For the last several years, I’ve been slowly offices as a patient. working on learning Geometric Algebra. (Geometric The MCO 3rd year class participated Interesting fact: I love sports of all in the first portion of the Algebra is a powerful, alternate algebra where in 3- STAPLE kinds. I have two different colored program. This is a national program dimensions the fundamental entities are scalars, vectors, irises that also change color in sponsored by Alcon, B+L, and bivectors, and trivectors.) different lighting conditions. I have Vistakon. In the workshop each group of students was able to fit 3-4 Some alumni shared these Dr. Keating memories on been a Resident Advisor throughout pairs of toric contact lenses on real the MCO Facebook page: college. patients. The program organizer informed MCO that it is always one of "Fantastic professor, I still kept my journals that you How would a scholarship help you? the easiest sites in the country actually read and remarked in. Best memory was getting Although loans are available, being in because it is well organized (thanks near 100% on geometric optics portion of national so much debt does not allow young Rhonda Atteberry and Dr. Andrea boards... thanks to you. Genuine interest in the student practitioners to have flexibility to Sewell) and students are better and their academic growth. Michigan was lucky to have choose the type of career we want. I prepared having already had you!"- Dr. Helen Tower don’t want to have to take a higher experience with the lenses in the paying job in a practice setting that University Eye Center. MCO was able "I enjoyed his use of different colored chalk for doesn’t make me happy just to pay off to show off its clinical strength to demonstrating example problems on the board!"- Dr. my loans. company executives. Thanks to the Elysia Talaski doctors who helped out, Drs. Paula Jessica Hartwig McDowell, Allison Jenerou, Amy "The colored chalk that always seemd to end up all over Dinardo, Andrea Sewell, Shawn MCO graduation him by the end of the lecture."- Dr. Lara Eenigenburg Andrus and Josh Lotoczky. year: 2013 Hometown: Iron "The ties."- Dr. Nicole Gdowski Dr. Jim Miller presented 2 hours of Mountain, MI continuing education to optometrists Undergraduate "Ronnie RayGun. He was involved in a lot of Optics at the annual Michigan Optometric Education: Lake Association Fall Educational in questions."- Dr. Bradley Taylor Superior State Lansing, October 10. The first hour University was titled Optometric Ethics Review "I vaguely remeber a story that involved Dr Keating Undergraduate Major: Biology with a and Update and the second hour was recaculating his Rx for his raquet ball due to the Chemistry minor Emotional Pain Management... high wrap."- Dr. Peter Oppermann Tempering Our Temperaments. Why Optometry? I was inspired by my "He was the Peyton Manning of orienteering!"- Dr. Brian father who is an O.D. I have worked Dr. Bob Buckingham, MCO Schmidt Associate Dean, and Dr. Sara Bush, for him since I was 18 years old and fell in love with the . Alumnus and Former Adjunct "A favorite memory from the class of 2004- I remember , presented a Dr Keating drawing ray diagrams vigorously in his poster titled "Predictors of Success Interesting fact: I am a huge sports famous colored chalks across all three chalk boards... in Optometry School" on October fan– every sport but especially 23, 2012 at the American Academy of His hand was writing at mock 10+ and I was trying so basketball. I also love watching sports Optometry in Phoenix, AZ. The poster hard to keep up drawing with my (famous to my friends) on TV. I am a big fan of NFL football reviewed the ability of Optometry bag of colored pens that I couldn't even pause to try to and love my Green Bay Packers Centralized Application Service learn what he was drawing. Then, when he was done (OptomCAS) variables to predict with his work of art, he whipped around (topic related tie How would a scholarship help you? graduation and cumulative GPA of air born as he whipped around) and said, "Any Student loan debt is huge and federal students in the Michigan College of questions?!?!?" -with chalk dust all over one side of his loans don’t even cover tuition costs, Optometry. In addition, the poster face and his hair all crazy, going the wrong direction. The forcing us to obtain our own individual revealed the importance of the class was silent. (Lol!)"- Dr. Lauren Zabowski Skarnulis loan funding with really high interest Optometry Admissions Test (OAT). rates. Getting a scholarship would "To this day the only man I have known that has a holster make it so much easier to not worry MCO's American Optometric for his calculator."- Dr. Adam Castle about having extra money for rent, Student Association held a equipment, living expenses and other fundraiser for MOAPAC/AOAPACat "First hearing of the 9-11 attack from him...."- Dr. Jodi necessary non-tuition costs. the Blue Cow Café on September Russell Gordon 28th. There were 90 people in Lindsay Reder attendance (breakdown: 54 students, "The calculator holster made him the John Wayne of 16 doctors, 2 Congressmen, and geometric, physical, and visual optics."- Dr. Michael Buck MCO graduation guests). When everything was year: 2013 counted at the end of the night, the "Well I was there in his 1st class -1975! And that is Hometown: West AOSA ended up raising $2,030 where our class first heard of the term Optical Bench! Branch, MI placing MCO first in the nation in Say what?! But the coolest thing was when we got a Undergraduate student fundraising for AOAPAC. laser. Yup he wrote out the acronym on the Board too: Education: Ferris Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation!"- State University, Dr. Daniel Wrubel has been informed Dr. Dan Fortenbacher Honors Program that the Government of the Undergraduate Major: Applied Biology Commonwealth of Dominica wishes to "Mike is to this day, the most remarkable I've with a Pre-Optometry emphasis confer on Volunteer Optometric ever had. He took a rather difficult subject and Services to Humanity (VOSH) Mission approached it so logically, that all who studied under him Why Optometry? I got my first pair of the Meritorious Service Award for developed a keen understanding of geometric optics. I've glasses in high school and saw leaves meritorious service to the found this knowledge invaluable in my career and have on the trees for the first time. The visit Commonwealth of Dominica the Dr. Keating to thank for this. Mike, you have literally made a difference in my life and I ceremony took place on November 3, helped probably thousands of patients see better through want to do that for others. 2012. your wonderful teaching career. Congratulations and best Interesting fact: I grew up on a farm wishes! with horses, sheep, steer and The $10,000 faculty research I will never forget your kindness and wonderful passion chickens. My mom is a carpenter, so I awarded Arinze Okere (), for our profession. Thank you!"- Dr. Paul Marvin learned a lot about construction also includes co-investigators Drs’ growing up, like designing kitchens. I Avesh Raghunandan and Dean "Every lunch time he had his diet Dr. Pepper, the fuel of will be the first on both sides of Luplow from the Michigan College of champions."- Mrs. Maureen Watson my family. Optometry. The study will be on the Use of Alpha Lipoic Acid for the How would a scholarship help you? Treatment and Prevention of Diabetic The best O.D. is focused on patient Retinopathy. care and lifelong learning. A Dr. Michael P. Keating and Michigan scholarship would allow me, as a Congratulations go out to Drs. Dean young O.D., to focus on those things Luplow, Jeff Bates, Stephen Lee, College of Optometry Student, Alana instead of worrying about paying the Susan Owens, and the loan bills. The amount of debt I have Interprofessional Wellness Clinic for Herron, Honored by Michigan is a huge financial burden and a long- being awarded the 2012 Building Michigan’s Healthcare Award for Optometric Association term stress that would be greatly reduced with scholarship money. Interprofessional Education (Press release from the Michigan Optometric Initiative. The Michigan Health Association) Council recognized that Ferris State Mark Debano University’s Michigan College of EAST LANSING, Mich. – MCO graduation Optometry, School of Nursing, and (Feb. 11, 2013) – Dr. the College of Pharmacy have all put year: 2014 forth outstanding efforts to improve Michael P. Keating, optics Hometown: patient care through a delivery of a professor at the Michigan Kaleva, MI comprehensive educational program College of Optometry Undergraduate in an inter-professional format. The (MCO) at Ferris State Education: Interprofessional Education Initiative University, has received the Westshore Award was presented at the Michigan Michigan Optometric Community College then Ferris State Health Council (MHC) Annual University Association’s (MOA) Jack W. Bennett Optometric Luncheon on November 13th, 2012 at Undergraduate Major: Biochemistry Educator of the Year award and Alana Herron, MCO 4th the University Club in East Lansing, with a minor in Cellular and Molecular MI. year optometry student, has received the MOA Student Biology of the Year award. Why Optometry? I wanted a career Dr. Alison Jenerou held an induction The two were presented their awards during the MOA’s that would work well with commitment ceremony on November 27th and Winter Seminar at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference to my family as well as be financially welcomed 15 new student members Center in East Lansing on Feb. 6. to the Beta Sigma Kappa rewarding. International Optometric Honor Society. The ceremony was held on Dr. Keating has a PhD in physics from Indiana University Interesting fact: I am married with two November 27th in the MCO atrium. (1972) and has taught optometric optics courses at the young children and that makes time The members represent scholastic Pennsylvania College of Optometry, University of management a very important skill in excellence as honor students at MCO, College of Optometry and for 30 plus years at my education. How would a membership is based on GPA. MCO. He currently teaches Geometric, Physical, Visual, scholarship help you? I am fortunate and Ophthalmic Optics, and Optics of Low Vision Aids to have received the Health th Scholarship with the MCO 4 year student, Chelsea and is the author of "Geometric, Physical, and Visual Richards had an article published in Optics" - a 613 page textbook, now in its second edition. Navy. The stipend allows me to go to the AOA's Vision Rehabilitation Dr. Keating is the recipient of numerous awards school and my wife to stay home with Section Cross Sections newsletter. including: 1972 Indiana University Physics Department our children. Without this scholarship The link is entitled, "Vision Award for Outstanding Performance as an Associate support, I would not be here. It would Rehabilitation for Anoxic Brain Instructor, 1994 Michigan Association of Governing have been impossible in my family Injury Induced Vision Loss". Bodies Distinguished Faculty Award, 1996 Ferris State situation. I am extremely grateful for University Distinguished Teacher Award, 2002 Michigan the scholarship assistance. Drs. Jenerou, HInkley and Wrubel Optometric Association Optometric Educator of the Year coordinated a Visual Information Award, 2008 Ferris State University Student Government Nina Glauch Processing Assessment- Academic Faculty of the Year Award and 2005 & 2009 Michigan MCO graduation Service Learning Project with White Optometric Student Association First Year Student Cloud Upper Elementary school. The year: 2014 Choice for Outstanding Professor. He was selected as project was a win-win for both MCO Hometown: Ann Educator of the Year by his students for his abilities to and White Cloud; the project targeted Arbor, MI elementary students who are teach complex subjects in a simple, effective and Undergraduate struggling in school and provided organized manner and for his dedication to, and Education: MCO 3rd years experience availability to assist in, their learning. University of performing Visual Information Alana Herron graduated with a Bachelor’s of Vision Michigan Processing Assessments. Science. She is currently the class representative for the Undergraduate Major: German major, MCO class of 2013 and has served as Treasurer for the Bachelors of Science with Pre- MCO has four faculty members who Michigan Optometric Student Association and Secretary Optometry focus have been accepted into the for the Michigan Optometric Private Practice Association. prestigious Pediatric Eye Disease Why Optometry? I wanted a career She also acted as the student liaison for the College of Investigator Group (PEDIG) which is involving patient care that allowed me Optometrists in Vision Development for two years. She is a national research consortium. Drs. to have a family life. I considered other active in student organizations and optometric events Mark Swan, Alison Jenerou, Sarah professions but they lacked and has participated in a American Optometric Hinkley and Paula McDowell appreciation by patients. I fell in love Association (AOA) Volunteer Optometric Services to (Principal Investigator) will be after shadowing a couple of O.D.s. Humanity (VOSH) mission trip to Dominica and provided participating in and recruiting patients vision screenings at the Michigan Special Olympics. She for national pediatric eye disease Interesting fact: German was my has a passion for pediatric optometry and enjoys working studies, following established native language so I had to learn with a variety of patients. She is currently completing her protocols. English better in elementary school. I final optometric externship at the Grand Rapids VA was a figure skater on Team USA in Outpatient Clinic and will graduate this May with her Under the leadership of Sarah 2003-4, attending nationals and an degree in Doctor of Optometry. Hinkley, OD, the University Eye international competition in Center has begun an The MOA Jack W. Bennett Optometric Educator of the Year has . interdisciplinary Vision been awarded annually since 1995 and is given to an MCO faculty Rehabilitation Service in partnership member as selected by students. The Student of the Year award has How would a scholarship help you? been given annually since 1971 to a student, selected by faculty, Undergraduate scholarships saved my with the Grand Rapids non-profit the who has demonstrated a commitment to their studies and the Association for the Blind and Visually profession of optometry. dad’s life by allowing him to retire and Impaired (ABVI). MCO fourth year not have to worry about paying for my clinical interns will continue to perform Drs. Gormezano, Raznik and Horn schooling when he had health vision rehabilitation examinations problems. I am a frugal person and under Dr. Hinkley's direction and then Make Generous Contributions to have saved as much money as follow their patient through a vision possible but the debt load is still rehabilitation appointment with a MCO overwhelming. Scholarships would certified low vision therapist or lessen my financial burden, especially orientation and mobility specialist from We are incredibly grateful to our many alumni who have after getting married and taking on ABVI. Dr. Hinkley and her students donated to our new building, schoarship programs or each others’ debt. will also participate in home visits with who have made donations to our general funds. Here are ABVI where a patient's activities of some examples of the generosity of our alumni and daily living, home environment and supporters: safety can be more accurately assessed. This partnership embraces Drs. Susan Gormezano and Dr. Philip Raznik have the interdisciplinary model of donated significant funding to support the Vision healthcare and student education and Rehabilitation Grand Rounds Workshop with its goal of received a Fredric Rosemore Low inspiring MCO graduates to consider a career in the Vision Educational Grant from the practice of low vision rehabilitation. American Optometric Foundation. Dr. Barbara Horn donated this infant examination cart, The Michigan College of Optometry is complete with the equipment necessary to complete an initiating a Vision Rehabilitation infant examination. Students and faculty have been Club to stimulate student interest in benefiting from the cart for months and are incredibly low vision rehabilitation as a career grateful. option. Dr. Sarah Hinkley will be the founding advisor and students will be represented by the American Optometric Association Vision Rehabilitation Section student liaison for MCO and the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association Student liaison for MCO.

Dr. Dan Wrubel recently got back from VOSH Mission #19 to Dominica with MCO Interns Joe Morse, Cory Grifka, and Anna Baumgartner. Other MCO Alumni Dr. Paul DeWitt, Dr. Joe Lawless, Dr. Jamey Seals, Dr. Wendy Moyle Joins the MCO Dr. Aimee Bronson and Dr. Rita Messing also were in attendance. Alumni Association Board The Team of 33 Members did; almost We are pleased to announce the 1,600 eye exams, over 2,500 pairs of appointment of Dr. Wendy Moyle to glasses dispensed, over 1,000 pairs the MCOAA Board. Dr. Moyle came of Plano Sunshades given out, and highly recommended and will be a over 100 referrals for medical eye fantastic addition, replacing Dr. care. Gregory Ford who will assume MCO hosted Dr. Peter Bradley, FSU duties as the president of the MOA Honors Program Director, on Monday, this summer. If you have an interest March 4th. Drs. Buckingham, in serving on the MCOAA Board, Hinkley, and Morgan provided Dr. please contact Dr. Sarah Hinkley at Bradley with information on MCO as [email protected]. We currently need one well as a tour of the facility. additional member and can always use additional names for the future! Interns Josh Smith-Hanen and Sonya Iverson-Hill along with Dr. Paula McDowell and Dr. Shawn Andrus provided an all day vision screening to approximately 50 high- risk students at Nelson Elementary in Muskegon on Wednesday, March 6th. The staff and students at Nelson Elementary greatly appreciate the MCO faculty and interns performing this valuable screening each spring.

The Annual Vision Rehabilitation Grand Rounds Workshop was held on March 1 for the third year students. The workshop provided an opportunity for students to perform comprehensive vision rehabilitation examinations on two patients with vision impairment while being mentored by vision rehabilitation optometrists from across the state, MCO residents and fourth year students. The workshop was funded by the Michigan College of Optometry, the Michigan Optometric Association Vision Rehabilitation Section and from a private donation from Drs. Susan Gormezano and Phillip Raznik. Dr. James Miller and optometry third year student Cynthia Brown represented FSU and MCO at the 2013 Grand Valley State University Professional School Fair on Thursday, March 14 in Allendale, MI. The event was sponsored by GVSU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and College of Health Professions and was promoted to over 1400 pre- professional students at GVSU as well as students attending other colleges in west Michigan including Aquinas College, Calvin College, Grand Rapids Community College, and Hope College.

Jamie Brady was notified by the New Jersey Attorney Generals’ office that he has been awarded the contract to author/deliver the licensing examinations for in the state of New Jersey, which marks five consecutive years.

Dr. Sarah Hinkley was chosen as a "Champion" in the FSU Strategic Planning efforts led by Provost/VPAA Erickson and Dr. Sandy Balkema. She will be engaged as an active member of the planning team over the next year or so.

Dr. Andrea Sewell, the current Cornea and Contact Lens Resident, was awarded one of the Sheldon Wechsler and George Mertz Contact Lens Residency Awards from the American Optometric Foundation. These awards are intended to promote the practice and development of the field of contact lenses by providing incentive and support to talented optometric residents who demonstrate a passion and commitment to practice, research, and education.

4th year MCO student, Danielle Smith received a Student Fellowship of the American Academy of Optometry. Danielle is the first MCO student to receive this prestigious .

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