OF HO Y US T T I O S N R E V I 7 N U 2 9 f 1 ounded Letter from the Dean p. 1 Convocation Ceremony p. 2 Candidates for Graduation p. 6 Honors p. 14 Awards p. 15 2017 Distinguished Alumnus p. 18 Golden Reunion Class of 1967 p. 19 College Administration, Faculty, and Staff p. 20 Optometry at the University of Houston p. 24 Extern Sites p. 25 UHCO Milestones p. 27 Academic Heraldry p. 32 Reception p. 32 Letter from the Dean Dear UHCO Graduate, First and foremost, congratulations to each of you on this momentous occasion! This is the defining moment in transitioning from your academic career to your professional career, and we celebrate your achievement. I hope you take time to reflect on your journey and to honor the many individuals whose care and support helped you along the way. For those of you receiving a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy in Physiological Optics degree, the need for new knowledge in the vision sciences is significant. We look to you to become thought leaders among your peers as well as for new knowledge that will advance visual health. For those of you receiving a Doctor of Optometry degree, as a second-year student you recited the optometric oath and received your white coat – a significant milestone in your optometric education. With your first patient came great responsibility of upholding the patient-doctor relationship and of providing the highest quality patient care. Going forward, we ask that you remember this commitment, as it will serve you well. As the next generation of optometrists, researchers, and vision scientists, we look forward to your continued accomplishments as you go out into the world and give back of your time and talents while building on the foundation of those who came before you and paved the way. You will play a crucial and ever-expanding role in the health care field. On behalf of the faculty, staff, and administration, we wish you the best in your new endeavors. Remember you always have a home at UHCO, and we will always welcome you back with open arms. You will forever be a part of this family. Again, congratulations on your academic success and on joining the ranks of the entire optometric profession. Sincerely, Earl L. Smith III, O.D., ’72, Ph.D., ’78 Dean Greeman-Petty Professor 1 College of Optometry CONVOCATION CEREMONY PRELUDE Classical Arrangement PROCESSIONAL “Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar MACE BEARER Swati Modi, O.D. Clinical Assistant Professor BANNER BEARER Lanny Shulman, O.D., Ph.D. Clinical Associate Professor INVOCATION Danica Marrelli, O.D. Clinical Professor WELCOME Earl L. Smith III, O.D., Ph.D. Dean and Greeman-Petty Professor RECOGNITION OF GRADUATES Summa Cum Laude Kimberly Lambreghts, R.N., O.D. and Magna Cum Laude Associate Dean for Professional Studies and Clinical Professor Gold Key International Ralph Herring, O.D., M.H.A. Memberships Assistant Dean for Professional Studies and Clinical Associate Professor Beta Sigma Kappa Assistant Dean Herring BSK Silver Medal Award Clinical Excellence Awards Nick Holdeman, O.D., M.D. Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Professor of Optometry Outstanding Grand Rounds Associate Dean Holdeman Presentation Award Special Recognitions Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2017 presented to Michael Kalloniatis, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., ’88, PGCOT Dean Smith 2 College of Optometry CONVOCATION CEREMONY Cora and J. Davis Armistead Faculty Teaching Award revealed Dean Smith STUDENT ADDRESS Zubin Babu Chacko COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS Dr. Kalloniatis Distinguished Alumnus for 2017 PRESENTATION AND HOODING Dean Smith OF THE CANDIDATES PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES Laura Frishman, Ph.D. FOR MASTERS OF SCIENCE Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research IN PHYSIOLOGICAL OPTICS DEGREE and John and Rebecca Moores Professor PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES Amber Gaume Giannoni, O.D. FOR DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY DEGREE Chair of the Faculty and Clinical Professor ANNOUNCEMENT OF CANDIDATES Associate Dean Lambreghts FOR DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY DEGREE HOODING OF CANDIDATES Dr. Gaume Giannoni Julianne Knowles, O.D. Clinical Assistant Professor FACULTY ASSISTING IN HOODING Han Cheng, Ph.D., O.D. Clinical Professor Assistant Dean Herring GUESTS ASSISTING IN HOODING The College has a long-standing tradition whereby parents, siblings, spouses, grandparents, uncles and aunts who are graduates from the University of Houston College of Optometry, or graduates from a peer optometry institution, are invited to participate in the ceremony by serving as an honorary hooder. Candidates are given the opportunity to designate a hooder provided the individual meets the criteria as listed above and is approved by College Administration in advance of the ceremony. 3 College of Optometry CONVOCATION CEREMONY GUEST HOODERS Janet Baker-Guidry, O.D., ’85 FOR THE CLASS OF 2017 Jennifer Blaschke Arevalo, O.D., ’12 Laura County, O.D., ’14 Linda Nguyen Enciso, O.D., ’06 Bret Ford, O.D. Jimmy Gandy, O.D. Stacy Gandy, O.D. David Hammond, O.D., ’85 Paul Hottel, O.D. Justine Hung, O.D., ’13 Li-Fang Hung, B.Med., O.D., ’04, Ph.D., ’94 Valerie Marten-Ellis, O.D. Danny Mathew, O.D., ’06 Mehri Moshtaghi, O.D. Trang Nguyen, O.D., ’15 Michael Allen Shurtz, O.D. Laurie Sorrenson, O.D., ’85 Michael Wardell, O.D., ’87 PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS Dean Smith Roger Boltz, O.D., Ph.D. Associate Dean for Finance and Administration and Associate Professor ADMINISTRATION Associate Dean Holdeman OF THE OPTOMETRIC OATH THE OPTOMETRIC OATH With full deliberation, I freely and solemnly pledge that: • I will practice the art and science of optometry faithfully and conscientiously and to the fullest scope of my competence. 4 College of Optometry CONVOCATION CEREMONY • I will uphold and honorably promote by example and action the highest standards, ethics and ideals of my chosen profession and the honor of the degree, Doctor of Optometry, which has been granted me. • I will provide professional care for those who seek my services, with concern, with compassion, and with due regard for their human rights and, dignity. • I will place the treatment of those who seek my care above personal gain and strive to see that none shall lack for proper care. • I will hold as privileged and inviolable all information entrusted to me in confidence by my patients. • I will advise my patients fully and honestly of all which may serve to restore, maintain, or enhance their vision and general health. • I will strive continuously to broaden my knowledge and skills so that my patients may benefit from all new and efficacious means to enhance the care of human vision. • I will share information cordially and unselfishly with my fellow optometrists and other professionals for the benefit of patients and the advancement of human knowledge and welfare. • I will do my utmost to serve my community, my country, and humankind as a citizen as well as an optometrist. • I hereby commit myself to be steadfast in the performance of this, my solemn oath and obligation. CLOSING REMARKS Dean Smith BENEDICTION Nimesh Patel, O.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor RECESSIONAL “War March of the Priests” by Felix Mendelssohn 5 College of Optometry CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION Spring 2017 Master of Science in Residents Physiological Optics Tiffany Chen, O.D. Maria C. Dupré Diamond Bar, CA Orange, TX O.D., Marshall B. Ketchum University B.S., McNeese State University Southern California College of Optometry Thesis: Evaluation of Hemidesmosome Residency: Cornea and Contact Lens at the Ultrastructure in the Normal and Wounded University Eye Institute Mouse Cornea Naomi Chun, O.D. Katherine Moore Johns Charlotte, NC Phoenix, AZ O.D., Nova Southeastern University College of B.A., Vanderbilt University Optometry Thesis: Predicting Driving Fitness in a Low Residency: Family Practice at Good Neighbor Vision Clinic: Correlating Two Tasks Eye Clinic Matthew Lentsch Mary Delino, O.D. Ocala, FL Beaumont, TX B.S., University of Central Florida O.D., University of Houston College of Thesis: Approximating Spectacle Wear Time Optometry Through the Use of a Temperature Sensor Residency: Low Vision Rehabilitation at the University Eye Institute Stephanie Marie Marten-Ellis Killeen, TX Dieu-Hong Ho, O.D. B.A., Rice University Houston, TX Thesis: Effects of Luminance and Flanker- O.D., University of Houston College of Target Congruency on Contour Interaction Optometry and Crowding in Varying Retinal Loci Residency: Pediatrics at the University Eye Institute Sara Nourani Plano, TX Waziha Samin, O.D. B.S., The University of Texas at Dallas Irving, TX Thesis: Lamina Cribrosa and Optic Nerve O.D., University of Houston College of Head Geometry as a Function of Myopia in Optometry Older, Normal Eyes Residency: Ocular Disease at Cedar Springs Eye Clinic Kelsea Vance Skidmore Greenville, TX Kimble E. Slonake, O.D. B.S., University of Arkansas Centerville, IN Thesis: Measurement of Tear Flow in Scleral O.D., Indiana University School of Optometry Contact Lens Wearers Residency: Ocular Disease at the University Eye Institute 6 College of Optometry CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION Michael W. Smith, O.D. Kymber Michelle Blaschke Massillon, OH Yorktown, TX O.D., The Ohio State University College of B.S., Texas A&M University Optometry NSU College of Optometry, Tahlequah, Residency: Brain Injury Vision Rehabilitation Oklahoma at the University Eye Institute South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas Marsha Ann Thomas, O.D. Houston, TX Carrie Jean Bolen O.D., University of Houston College of Sugar Land, TX Optometry B.S., The University of Texas at Austin Residency: Family Practice at Good Neighbor Cedar Springs Eye Clinic, Dallas, Texas Eye Clinic Signature Eye Care, Cedar Park, Texas Gabrielle Gandy Boyd Postdoctoral Fellow Mangham, LA Jesus Gabriel Martinez, O.D. B.S., Louisiana Tech University Chino Hills, CA Dr.