2012 Spring Commencement
L to R: Dr. Lewis, Mr. Anderson & Dr. Jones
Verizon Hall was the site for the 2012 Salus University commencement ceremony for graduates of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), College of Education and Rehabilitation (CER) and Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) on Sunday, May 20.
Douglas Crombie Anderson, founder and vice president of Global Advocacy, Optos, was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Science degree. Originally trained in industrial design engineering, he founded Optos in 1992 when his five-year-old son suffered a retinal detachment and lost the sight in his eye. His company now produces retinal scanning devices he and his team of engineers developed that have been used on more than 30 million patients around the world. Mr. Anderson was introduced by William L. Jones, OD, long-time friend and colleague, and founder of Jones Eyecare. President Thomas L. Lewis, OD '70, PhD, conferred the degree.
An awards luncheon was held on May 19 for the 26 honors graduates, were acknowledged by the audience and their classmates. For a full list of honorees and awards, please go to:
The Class of 2012 was awarded 145 Doctor of Optometry (OD) degrees; fifteen Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degrees; four Master of Education (MEd) degrees in blindness and visual impairment, and Master of Science (MS) degrees in low vision rehabilitation (four), orientation and mobility (five) and vision rehabilitation teaching (six).
Thirty three PCO residents in the post graduate residency program, who work in clinical settings across the United States or at The Eye Institute, were awarded post graduate certificates.
The Center for International Studies (CIS) had 141 graduates this year. Master of Science degrees in Clinical Optometry (MSc) were awarded to students from Norway (14), Poland (80), Singapore (19) and Spain (17), and Bachelor of Science in Optometry (BSc) degrees were awarded to 11 class members from Finland.
Class president, Jamie Catherine Wohlhagen gave the graduate commencement address to her fellow graduates. There was a moment of silence for the late Rebecca Jayne Shu Teng Lo, a member of the clinical optometry Class of 2012 from Singapore.
The graduates heard from Dr. Lewis and vice president of Academic Affairs, Dr. Anthony F. Di Stefano before being hooded. They then received their diplomas from Dr. Lewis, and were congratulated by the deans of their respective colleges: Dr. Victor Bray (OCA), Dr. Linda Casser (PCO), and Dr. Audrey Smith (CER), and vice president and dean of Student Affairs Mr. Robert E. Horne.
This year Dr. Lewis offered a special recognition to Dean Horne, who retires next month after 36 years in Student Affairs, and Ms. Jo Surpin, the University's Board of Trustees chairperson, did the same for Dr. Lewis, who will be stepping down as president.
This year's invocation and benediction were offered by Charles M. Wormington, OD, MA, PhD, associate professor. The ceremony concluded with a Salus tradition as all participants recited The Oath to Professionalism.
A commencement slideshow will appear on the University's website sometime next week.
Congratulations to the Class of 2012! - To see photos: