Awards & Nominations

Robert Owens, OD ‘80, has served the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO)/Salus University community as a member of the Alumni Board of Directors, having served as president of the Board in 2022. He also was a member of the dean's advisory committee from 2015 to present. 

Dr. Owens was president of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) in 2013. He has represented both PCO/Salus and the profession of optometry at the highest levels. Dr. Owens has dedicated his professional career to advancing the profession of optometry and the Salus University and PCO community.

His constant volunteerism in educational advancement, advocacy at the state and national levels and his community service distinguishes Dr. Owens as one of the finest graduates of Salus/PCO.

Emily E. McMahan, AuD ‘13, exemplifies all aspects of the profession of audiology. Beyond her many accomplishments, what truly stands out is the meaningful and lasting impact she has had on the lives of countless individuals.

Dr. McMahan arrived at Salus University with a graduation goal: going to Alaska for her externship rotation. She made this abundantly clear from almost the first day. Dr. McMahan’s forward-looking, visionary approach to life has led her to achieve success.

While driven from within, success for Dr. McMahan is not focused on self-advancement. In its purest sense, success is making her patients’ lives better and helping other audiologists provide gold-standard care to their patients as well.

Dr. McMahan’s dedication to audiology is not limited to the clinical space. She holds licensure in 10 states enabling her to consult with individuals well beyond her geographic community in Alaska.

Dr. McMahan is active at the state and national levels, supporting the overall advancement of the profession. She is an established and requested speaker on the national lecture circuit for her expertise, with a significant focus on tinnitus assessment and management.

She is one of 15 health care professionals in the United States who have been trained to implement the Lenire treatment device, the only FDA-approved bimodal neuromodulation treatment device for tinnitus. Dr. McMahan also conducts research in the area of tinnitus. She regularly opens her doors to Doctor of Audiology students who want to train under her direction. Dr. McMahan welcomes these students to help foster and develop the skill set necessary to be a well-rounded health care professional. 

Zachary “Zac” Saunders, MSOT ’17, is a distinguished alumni of the University’s Occupational Therapy (OT)  class of 2017. 

He remained deeply connected  to his alma mater through a variety of meaningful contributions. As a student, he served as  vice president of the Student Council and volunteered with Student Affairs. After graduation, he continued his commitment by serving on the Alumni Association Board for six years before becoming president from June 2023 to June 2024 – the first OT to hold the title. 

Additionally, Saunders has generously shared his time as a guest speaker, engaging with current students to discuss his experiences as an OT and in the profession in addition to being a member of the Alumni Association. He regularly supports current Salus OT students by serving as a fieldwork educator for multiple students annually at a hand therapy clinic at Kessler Rehabilitation Center in Eatontown, New Jersey. 

Saunders has advanced his education through the rigorous process of becoming a Certified Hand Therapist, and as a result, is able to provide specialized intervention to clients with hand and upper extremity injuries to help them return to their meaningful activities of daily living. 

Saunders is an ambassador for both the Salus OT program and the profession of OT through his leadership, service, and clinical expertise. 

Samuel Farrand, MS ‘17, is a graduate of the University’s inaugural cohort of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) graduate students, Class of 2017.

During his time on campus, Farrand excelled in his academic and clinical endeavors, providing a strong example of leadership and teamwork amongst his peers and faculty alike.

Since then, he has dedicated himself to impacting the clients and communities he serves. From his first job as a school-based SLP in the Red Clay Consolidated School District in Wilmington, Delaware, to his current position as a researcher at the University of Delaware, Farrand embodies the core facets of this award, "demonstrating extraordinary service and contributions to the SLP profession, while bringing honor and prestige to Salus University."

Mostly notably, his role as the director of Camp Dream. Speak. Live., which provides intervention for children who stutter, was recognized by the American Camp Association with the Eleanor P. Eells Award for Program Excellence, highlighting the camp's focus on developing the well-being of individuals and society.

Charles Baus, OD ‘02, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska and is a 2002 graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), in which he received clinical honors. 

He has practiced in the Palm Springs, California, area for 22 years, currently as the doctor/owner of Advanced Eyecare in Palm Desert. 

In addition to his career in optometry, Dr. Baus has achieved considerable success as a professional sports photographer. He has photographed countless major sporting events, including the Super Bowl, NFL and MLB games, NCAA football bowl games including the Rose Bowl, PGA Tour tournaments, professional tennis tournaments, and many other assignments. Photographs credited to Dr. Baus have been published throughout the world, including Sports Illustrated, ESPN Magazine, Time, US Weekly and the Wall Street Journal. 

Most recently, on Nov. 26, 2024, Dr. Baus was honored by Time Magazine selecting his photograph of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce taken during the Super Bowl as one of Time's Top 100 Photos of 2024. Time wrote: "Every year the TIME photo department sits down to curate the strongest images that have crossed our path over the previous 12 months." 

Dr. Baus has achieved the highest levels of success in professional sports photography, while maintaining a full-service optometry practice for more than two decades. A remarkable example of PCO alumni achievement.