UMSL College of Optometry - Apublication for the …optometry program. They also had a model the...
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A publication for the alumni and friends of the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry Spring 2009 Continued on page 2 College of Optometry Awarded Continuing Accreditation! On March 2nd, the College of Optometry received the news from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) that, for the second consecutive time, the College was awarded the highest honor possible, continuing accreditation without conditions. Better yet the Council found that no recommendations for corrective action were necessary. In brief, the College could not have possibly received a higher rating. The report did include eight suggestions, defined as “ . . . improvements that would substantially enhance the potential for excellence . . .”, most of which are already being addressed. The Council summary was quite impressive and included the following statements: 2) “The College has made imaginative and constructive use of an older building that was not constructed with Optometry's clinical, teaching and research needs in mind.” 3) “The faculty are dedicated and engaged in the educational process as shown by the program's outcome results, student feedback, and alumni support.” 5) “The Assistant Dean for Clinical Programs effectively utilizes the Compulink Eyecare System to closely monitor clinic utilization and quality of care, allowing for effective quality assurance and improvement of clinical care.” 6) “The UMSL Provost and Vice Chancellor clearly understand and support the College and its programs as they exist today and the College's role in UMSL's future plans.” The constructive sugges- tions made by the Council included that the College should continue to pursue funding for the new building which would allow the College's research and clinical activities to expand. In addition, it was recommended that 1) “The governance structure of the College appears to work well and is inclusive of faculty, students, and staff with open communication among and between these groups and the administration.” 4) “The College's Office of Student Services demonstrates a high level of profession- alism and responsiveness to student concerns, and students’ opinions are given serious considera- tion by the faculty and administration in the governance of the College.” an increase in the number of faculty members should continue to be pursued, efforts should be made to increase patient numbers in local clin- ics, and the College should work to strengthen its scholarly and research activity. The overall report, however, was extremely positive. As this is the second consecutive successful accreditation review by the ACOE under the direction of Dean Larry Davis, he has to be proud of the outcome as it reflects an enormous amount of preparation by the faculty, staff and students which resulted in volumes of information provided to the ACOE. “My impression during the site visit was that the site team was extremely well informed about our program as a result of our comprehen- sive self study report. Of course I am delighted that the site team and ultimately the Council validated the contents of our self study during their visit. The Council also affirmed the critical importance for much of our ongoing work -- faculty and staff recruitment, pursuit of new facilities appropriate for health professions education in the 21st century, fulfill- ment of our full potential for patient service in the community and the revi- talization of our graduate and research programs.” Of course, the absence of any rec- ommendations for corrective action was especially significant. “The lack of recommendations indicates that our program is well grounded in an appro- priate and relevant mission and is effectively fulfilling that mission
Transcript of UMSL College of Optometry - Apublication for the …optometry program. They also had a model the...
A publication for the alumni and friends of the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry
Spring 2009
Continued on page 2
College of Optometry Awarded Continuing Accreditation!
On March 2nd, the College ofOptometry received the news from theAccreditation Council on OptometricEducation (ACOE) that, for the secondconsecutive time, the College wasawarded the highest honor possible,continuing accreditation without conditions. Better yet the Councilfound that no recommendations forcorrective action werenecessary. In brief, theCollege could not havepossibly received ahigher rating. Thereport did include eightsuggestions, defined as“ . . . improvementsthat would substantially enhance thepotential for excellence . . .”, most ofwhich are already being addressed.
The Council summary was quiteimpressive and included the followingstatements:
2) “The College hasmade imaginative andconstructive use of anolder building that wasnot constructed withOptometry's clinical, teaching andresearch needs in mind.”
3) “The faculty are dedicated andengaged in the educational process asshown by the program's outcomeresults, student feedback, and alumnisupport.”
5) “The Assistant Dean for ClinicalPrograms effectively utilizes theCompulink Eyecare System to closelymonitor clinic utilization and quality ofcare, allowing for effective qualityassurance and improvement of clinicalcare.” 6) “The UMSL Provost and ViceChancellor clearly understand and support the College and its programsas they exist today and the College'srole in UMSL's future plans.”
The constructive sugges-tions made by the Councilincluded that the Collegeshould continue to pursuefunding for the new buildingwhich would allow theCollege's research and clinical activities to expand.
In addition, it was recommended that
1) “The governance structureof the College appears to workwell and is inclusive of faculty,students, and staff with opencommunication among andbetween these groups and theadministration.”
4) “The College's Office ofStudent Services demonstrates
a high level of profession-alism and responsivenessto student concerns, andstudents’ opinions aregiven serious considera-tion by the faculty andadministration in the
governance of the College.”
an increase in the number of facultymembers should continue to be pursued, efforts should be made toincrease patient numbers in local clin-ics, and the College should work tostrengthen its scholarly and researchactivity. The overall report, however,was extremely positive.
As this is the second consecutivesuccessful accreditation review by theACOE under the direction of DeanLarry Davis, he has to be proud of theoutcome as it reflects an enormousamount of preparation by the faculty,staff and students which resulted involumes of information provided tothe ACOE. “My impression during thesite visit was that the site team wasextremely well informed about ourprogram as a result of our comprehen-sive self study report. Of course I amdelighted that the site team and ultimately the Council validated thecontents of our self study during theirvisit. The Council also affirmed thecritical importance for much of ourongoing work -- faculty and staffrecruitment, pursuit of new facilitiesappropriate for health professions education in the 21st century, fulfill-ment of our full potential for patientservice in the community and the revi-talization of our graduate and researchprograms.”
Of course, the absence of any rec-ommendations for corrective actionwas especially significant. “The lackof recommendations indicates that ourprogram is well grounded in an appro-priate and relevant mission and iseffectively fulfilling that mission
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Nutrition & the Eye Symposium
Accreditationcontinued from page 1
through the dedicated work of the fac-ulty, staff and students,” stated DeanDavis. “Our current and future stu-dents and alumni can have confidencethat the education received from theCollege of Optometry compares favor-ably alongside other programs. That isof course one of the reasons that weworked so hard preparing for accredi-tation.”
Certainly this outcome is causefor celebration and confirmation thatthe College of Optometry continues to
NEWS & NOTES
D r. Guoqiang Li was awarded$30,000 from the University ofMissouri Research Board.
D r. Ed Bennett received the Dr.Leonard Bronstein MemorialAward presented at the A n n u a lBronstein Contact LensSymposium, January 24th inScottsdale, A Z .
FAAO Class of 2008!Congratulations to the followingalums who are among the newestFellows in the American A c a d e m yof Optometry:
Tina R. Porzukowiak (‘05)Khan Ghen Wai Lau (’90)Gina A. Stokes-Johnson (’04)Tomohiko Yomada (’03)Barbara W. Brown (’88)Carrie (Wright) Riley (’07)
Dave Ernst (’09) performed twoshows in front of 600 people at“Stand Up” a production ofComedy & Song at Shiloh UnitedMethodist Church on February28th. Dave sang vocals as theopening act to entertainment thatincluded several performers whohad appeared on The To n i g h tS h o w, David Letterman, and othernational television shows.
Ryan Read (‘09) was awarded anEducational Grant and Jamie Gold(‘10) was awarded a Student Tr a v e lGrant. Both students received theirgrants from the Heart of A m e r i c aannual meeting in Kansas City,Missouri on February 14, 2009.
Tonia Batts (‘11) was selected forthe A O A - PAC National Liaison.
Dane Peterson (’09) and his wifeKristen completed the Twin CitiesMarathon in Minneapolis this pastO c t o b e r.
Continued, page 3
move in a very positive direction. The progress we experience is, most
certainly, a collaborative effort. Thedean agrees. “Our goals and aspirationsare large and will require substantialinfluence from not only the Collegeleadership but many others throughoutthe campus and UM-System. I aminspired by the many ways in whichour friends and alumni are stepping upto help us meet those goals. Togetherwe will succeed.”
The Second Nutrition & the EyeSymposium was hailed as a success bythe nearly one hundred optometrists inattendance at the March 22 program onthe UMSL campus. Coordinated byStuart Richer, O.D., Ph.D., the pro-gram featured keynote presenter LorenCordain, Ph.D., whose studies include
the relationship ofPaleo diets to mod-ern day health anddisease. Dr. Cordain addressedthe origins, evolutionand implications ofWestern diets; pale-olithic food groups;hyperinsulinemic dis-eases; and the role ofnutrition in juvenileonset myopia. Dr.Richer reported on hisstudies on vitamin Ddeficiencies and the“Brighter Side ofSunshine”, and JeffryGerson, O.D. exploredthe relationship ofantioxidants andhuman vision. CarlBassi, Ph.D. con-
tributed information onhis ARMD studies ofmacular pigment,carotenoids and visual
function, and Jeffrey Anshel, O.D.,President of the Optometric NutritionSociety, discussed the importance ofnutrition considerations in primary careoptometry practice. The knowledgeableaudience engaged the presenters in stim-ulating exchanges and follow-up discus-sion.
Dr. Stuart Richer with registered dietician Elizabeth Somer onbreak February 26th during a satellite media tour whichincluded NBC’s TODAY SHOW.(Photo courtesy of the AOA News)
NOSA Participates in ScienceCenter Showcase
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Members of the UMSL NationalOptometric Student Association(NOSA) volunteeredat the Saint LouisScience CenterScientist Showcaseheld January 17-19.The showcase was athree-day exhibitionof different scientific disciplines.WashingtonUniversity-School ofMedicine, Universityof Phoenix-St LouisCampus, St Louis College of HealthCareers, Rawlings, the Water Divisionand the Building Division of City ofSt. Louis, ABNA Engineering, and
St. Louis Community College weresome of the other participating schools
and companies.NOSA provided hand-outs and informationconcerning eye care, ourcampus clinic, and ouroptometry program.They also had a modelof the eye, stereopsiskits, and color visiontest booklets for specta-tors. The kids especiallyenjoyed the visual aids.NOSA volunteers
included Allison Coleman, SarahBurgett, Janice Le, Eric Harris, ErinBrooks, Courtney Wilson, KatreenaWashington, and Duyen Xin.
NEWS & NOTES
Congratulations to Lori EhlersSwopes (‘03) on the birth of herd a u g h t e r, Paige Kay on October 1,2 0 0 8 . She was 7lbs. 15 oz. and 20inches long.
Congratulations to Derek Swader(‘10) and his wife, Kimberly, onthe birth of Carter Edward. He wasborn on December 16th, 2008,7lbs. 13oz.; 20in.
Congratulations to Arraya Paksin-Hall (‘02) who gave birth to PeterJerran on February 2, 2009. Heweighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces andwas 20 1/2 inches long.
The National Optometric StudentAssociation (NOSA) sponsored a
presentation entitled "Seeing People."Social worker, video producer, and lifecoach, Harlan Hodge delivered a pow-erful message to the UMSL College ofOptometry. His presentation allowedfuture optometrists to grasp the essenceof seeing a person in the examinationroom versus an ID number, diagnosisor generic tag. "Seeing People" ulti-mately helped UMSL optometry stu-dents to realize that success in eyecaredoes not rely on the number of diseaseswe treat, but the number of positiveconnections we make with our patientsand our local communities.
From left to right: Allison Coleman,Janice Le and Sarah Burgett .
Harlan Hodge Presents “Seeing People”
From the left, Harlan B. Hodge, BSW(UMSL '96), MSW (Wash U.) andEric Harris, second year student,President of NOSA
Mark your calendar for UM-St. Louis Alumni WeekendApril 17 & 18, 2009
http://www.umslalumni.org
The EYEwire is published by the Office of the Dean at the University ofMissouri-St. Louis College of Optometry.
D r. Edward Bennett, EditorE B e n n e t t @ u m s l . e d u
Janice White, Designerj a n i c e . w h i t e @ u m s l . e d u
D r. Larry J. Davis, Deanl j d a v i s @ u m s l . e d u
If you have missed a previous issue of the EyeWire you can locate the archivepage as well as the current issue at: e
http://optometry.umsl.edu/news/EyeWireArchives.html
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Office of the Dean
One University BoulevardSt. Louis, Missouri 63121-4400
Telephone: 314-516-5606Fax: 314-516-6708
http://optometry.umsl.edu
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Upcoming EventsCorneal Classic
The 2009 Corneal Classic will be heldSunday, April 26th with a shotgun startat 1 p.m. It will be a a four person 18hole scramble format and will be heldat the Crystal Springs Quarry GolfClub located near Creve Coeur Park.For more information please contactco-coordinators Jordan Jones([email protected]) or Chris Boschen([email protected]).
Sprint for Sight
The AOSA is hosting the Sprint forSight event, a 5K run benefiting theSociety of the Blind and DeltaGamma. The event will take place atTower Grove Park on May 3rd: $20early registration fee and $25 on theday of the race. Registration starts at10:00 a.m. and the race will start at11:00 a.m.
Continuing Education — http://optometry.umsl.eduApril 18 & 19 - Care of Ocular DisordersMay 11 - Coding Update 2009August 16 - Annual August Academe
