Alumni News

PCO to Receive First Rick Bay Memorial Scholarship

The Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University will receive the inaugural Rick Bay Excellence in Eyecare Education scholarship in Optometry from the Rick Bay Foundation for Excellence in Eyecare Education.

The late Rick Bay, publisher and president of the Review of Optometry and Review of Ophthalmology, passed away in December 2012. Jobson Healthcare LLC established the Rick Bay Foundation and the announcement that PCO was to receive the first scholarship was made last month.

President Lewis said, "Rick Bay was a wonderful friend to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry... Over the years Rick collaborated with PCO on many Continuing Education programs and other projects..PCO is proud to be the first recipient of the Rick Bay Excellence in Eyecare Education Scholarship in Optometry." The University will work with the Rick Bay Foundation to finalize the operational details of the scholarship, according to Dr. Larry McClure, associate dean for Student Financial Affairs.

04.26..2013

Scholars Program To Begin Summer 2014

Dean Linda Casser recently made several important updates and announcements pertaining to the PCO Scholars Program. Designed for well-motivated and well-qualified students, the Scholars Program is a year-round, accelerated, educational pathway to the Doctor of Optometry degree.

The program's development began in Spring 2010 and received approval from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) in March 2011. After a series of discussions and a review involving faculty members and Salus president-designate, Dr. Michael H. Mittelman, the decision was made to launch the full Scholars Program in June 2014. Dr. Melissa Trego was named associate dean of the Scholars Program and Dr. Beth Tonkery was named the director of Clinical Education for the program in January.

An innovative program utilizing guided independent learning (GIL) to accommodate a variety of student learning styles during a maximized 36- month academic calendar, the Scholars curriculum is educationally equivalent to PCO's traditional OD degree program. Additionally, students can complement the Scholars Program with Advanced Studies courses and/or a residency program.

Also in January, the Scholars Program Track (SPT) for selected students in the PCO Class of 2016 was launched. The Scholars Program Track involves a redesign of the clinical skills laboratory experience and related professional practice activities. This educational approach is similar to the anticipated Scholars Program curriculum, yet is designed to fit within the traditional Doctor of Optometry degree program. Dr. Trego, Dr. Tonkery, and Dr. Helene Kaiser, director of the Traineeship Program and instructor of record for Clinical Skills 2 and 3, have successfully developed and implemented the Scholars Program Track, according to Dean Casser.
The inaugural Scholars Program class will begin in June 2014, with a commencement date of May 2017.

03.29.2013

The most common clinical measurement of visual function is visual acuity, measured by means of a Snellen chart.  Recently, its use has been expanded not only to measure visual acuity, but also to measure the progress of disease or the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. In a test-retest mode however, the main difficulty with a Snellen chart is the lack of a precise scoring system. Traditional line-by-line scoring typically requires only that 50-80% of the letters in a line be identified correctly in order to score a successful reading of the entire line. Thus, the variability in line-by-line scoring is inherently high.  When letter-by-letter scoring (which inherently has a lower variability) is used, test-retest visual acuity measurements are known to be - up to a factor of two - more precise.

We have developed a unique method of scoring Snellen chart responses through the use of LogMAR transformations that account for each letter read. The final, cumulative letter-by-letter LogMAR value is converted into an effective Snellen fraction. The mathematical processes are embedded in an EXCEL-based tool and are transparent to the practicing clinician. This letter-by-letter, LogMAR-based, scoring tool is available from this web site. In addition, the tool has a similar ETDRS spread sheet for those who use ETDRS charts.

We have designed this tool for clinicians, who are untrained in LogMAR use, so that they can: 1) apply these visual acuity data as a refined diagnostic tool, 2) assess progression of eye disease, or 3) quantify the efficacy of treatment of certain pathological eye conditions with greater precision.  Potentially, this tool has broad applications for clinicians who, for a variety of reasons, have been hesitant to incorporate LogMAR principles into their clinical patient databases. Moreover, this tool has possible beneficial medico-legal implications. It could protect clinicians who are struggling to quantify visual performance in a manner that is: a) subtle enough to have scientific credibility, b) sufficiently established to supply a defensible metric acceptable to scientists worldwide, and c) robust enough to stand up in courts of law.

Instructions to Download, Customize & Use the Effective Snellen Chart.

The Campaign For The Eye Institute

by Lynne C. Corboy, Director of Development

The major renovation and rebuilding of The Eye Institute is now completed. Our students and faculty now see patients in a facility that is modern, attractive, easy to navigate and  accommodates technology more readily.

This $11.2 million project is being financed by a combination of bond funding, government grants, University capital budget and a fund raising campaign. The Setting Our Sights campaign seeks to raise $2.5 million for the project.

As of January 30, 2012, contributions total nearly $2.1 million. These generous donors include members of the Salus University Board of Trustees, faculty and staff as well as corporations and alumni. PCO alumni have been very generous with contributions of nearly $1.1 million, about half of the total so far.

The campaign is now focusing on a brick campaign. Donors of $500 and $1,000 will have a brick installed in front entrance of The Eye Institute engraved as they wish. All donors will be recognized on a large donor plaque in the main lobby of the new TEI, and other naming opportunities are available, from engraved bricks to room dedications.

To make a contribution online go to http://www.salus.edu/alumni/donateOnline.html.

For more information contact Lynne Corboy at 215.780.1392 or at Lcorboy@salus.edu.

For complete details on the project