Melissa A. Vitek, OD, FAAO

Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry

 

mvitek@salus.edu

Education:

  • OD, Pennsylvania College of Optometry
  • BS, Pennsylvania College of Optometry
  • Optometric Technician Program, Manor College

Role at Salus: 

  • Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
  • Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry
  • Director, International and Continuing Education
  • Director, Advanced Studies and Electives
  • Academic Liaison to Professional Studies and International Optometric Programs
  • Physiology laboratory instructor
  • Clinical medicine laboratory instructor
  • Clinical problem solving (CPS) facilitator

Clinical Specialty:

  • Clinical teaching and patient care at The Eye Institute, Chestnut Hill satellite clinic
  • Clinical teaching and patient care, working with remedial students
  • Clinical teaching and patient care in the international Clinical Optometry master’s degree program
  • Clinical consultant, teaching and patient care, The Eye Institute and its satellite clinics as needed

Lecture Experience

  • Evidence Based Practice Course: An Interprofessional, Team-Based Approach, Salus University: August 2012-present
    Ocular Emergencies, Chestnut Hill Family Medicine Residents, April 2015
    Salus Time IPE Presentation, Salus University: February 2015
    Case Panel Discussion, Salus MSc degree program, Berlin, Germany: December 2013
  • Can You Trust Your Antibiotic? New Jersey Academy of Optometry:  November 2012
  • Introduction to Optometry, Chestnut Hill Family Practice, Philadelphia, PA:  August 2012 
  • Salus University Interdisciplinary Evidence Based Medicine Course, Elkins Park, PA:  January 2012-present
  • Introduction to Optometry, Chestnut Hill Family Practice, Philadelphia, PA:  August 2012 
  • Orals Credentialing Course: Antifungals, Elkins Park:  May 2012
  • Case Panel Discussion, Elkins Park:  October 2011
  • Latest Topicals, Elkins Park:  July 2011
  • Case Panel Discussion, Poland:  April 2011
  • Practice Management, Poland:  April 2011
  • Case Panel Discussion, Spain:  April 2011
  • Ocular Indications for Oral Antibiotics, New Jersey Academy of Optometry:  November 2010
  • Case Panel Discussion, Austria:  July 2009
  • B-Scan Performance and Interpretation, Switzerland:  July 2009
  • Case Panel Discussion, Norway:  June 2008
  • Goldmann Tonometry, Israel:  January 2008
  • Case Panel Discussion, Spain:  April 2007

Professional Presentations:

  • The Implementation and Assessment of an IPE Interprofessional Educational Initiative at Salus University, manuscript published in Optometric Education, Summer 2015
  • Interprofessional Case Writing Retreat:  Salus University, Summer/Fall 2015
    Developing Mid-Level Leadership in Academia: “Leading From The Middle” at Salus University, University of New Mexico, 2015
  • Implementing Interprofessional Education at Salus University:  The Evolution of the Evidence Based Practice Course: American Optometric Association, Seattle, June 2015 
  • The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry to Convene an Interprofessional Education Summit February 2016, National Academies of Practice, April 2015
  • Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Patient Care in US Schools and Colleges of Optometry:  A Special Report, Optometric Education, March 2015
  • Salus Time Presentation on IPE, Salus University, February 2015
  • Role of Interprofessional Education in Clinical Education: A Study Using Clinical Problem Solving, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Florida, October, 2014
  • Educational Program Strengthens Clinical Proficiencies of Saudi Arabian Optometry Students: A Pilot Project with Salus University and Qassim University, American Academy of Optometry Meeting, Denver, CO, November, 2014
  • Current Practices of Interprofessional Education at Schools and Colleges of Optometry in the US, Paper Presentation, American Academy of Optometry Meeting, Denver, CO, November 2014
  • Jefferson Medical College Interprofessional Care for the 21st Century:  Redefining Education and Practice, Presentation on Salus University IPE Initiatives, October 2014
  • Interprofessional Educational Initiatives at Salus University, National Academies of Practice, March 2014
  • Family Medicine Residents, Optometry Students, and Faculty Members Engaged in Health Professions Education and Collaborative Patient Care: An Example of a Community-Based Interprofessional Initiative by a Member Institution of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), Institute of Medicine, March 2014
  • Interprofessional Education at Schools and Colleges of Optometry in the US:  Current Practices and Challenges, AOA Meeting, June 2014
  • IPE CPS Pilot Research Project:  Spring 2014
  • Optometry Updates: Chestnut Hill Community Outreach, Chestnut Hill, PA September 2013
  • PCO’s Advanced Placement OD Degree Program:  An International Offering for Faculty Members from Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China, American Academy of Optometry, October 2013
  • Family Medicine Residents, Optometry Students, and Faculty Collaborate in Clinical Care at PCO: Interprofessional Education at Salus University, American Academy of Optometry October 2013
  • A 53 Year-Old Woman With “Spots On Her Eyes”, Clinical Cases in Optometry, Medscape Optometry, September 2013
  • Introduction to Optometry, Chestnut Hill Family Practice, Philadelphia, PA:  August 2012 
  • The Refresher Course for Graduates of the Clinical Masters Degree Program at PCO at Salus University, World Council of Optometry Meeting, June 2012
  • Advanced Studies in Contact Lens at PCO at Salus University, American Academy of Optometry, October 2012
  • Corneal Erosion:  An Atypical Ocular Sarcoidosis Presentation, American Academy of Optometry, October 2012
  • Advanced Studies Offerings at PCO at Salus University, World Council of Optometry Meeting, June 2012
  • More Choices for Students:  The Pathways Initiative at PCO at Salus University. World Council of Optometry Meeting, June 2012
  • Injection Techniques Workshop, American Academy of Optometry, October 2011
  • Ocular Indications for Oral Antibiotics, New Jersey Academy of Optometry, November 2010
  • Oh The Pressure! Optometric and Paraoptometric Continuing Education, Atlantic City:  June 2005

Professional Activities/Recognition/Awards:

  • Fellow of The American Academy of Optometry
  • ASCO Interprofessional Education Committee:  June 2013-present
  • Salus University Interprofessional Committee:  Fall 2012-present
  • American Optometric Association:  member
  • Pennsylvania Optometric Association
  • American Optometric Society:  member
  • Pennsylvania Optometric Association:  member
  • Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society:  member during enrollment at PCO

Professional Certification:

  • Pennsylvania license to practice Optometry 1995-present
  • CPR certification (current)
  • First Aid certification (current)
  • ACLS certification (current)
  • Duke University: Teaching and Leading EBM: A Workshop for Teachers and Champions of Evidence-Based Medicine, March 2011
  • Duke University: Teaching and Leading EBM: A Workshop for Teachers and Champions of Evidence-Based Medicine, March 2012
  • Thomas Jefferson University:  Interprofessional Education and Care Winter Immersion Program, February 2013
  • Duke University, Teaching and Leading EBM: A Workshop for Teachers and Champions of Evidence-Based Medicine, March 2013
  • McMaster University: Evidence-Based Practice Workshop, June 2014