Alumni Weekend 2016

This year’s Alumni Weekend (April 1-3) had much to offer PCO and Salus graduates. The weekend contained many opportunities for attendees to renew old friendships, visit campus and clinical facilities, and attend receptions and the awards dinner.

On Friday afternoon interprofessional and profession-specific continuing education took place on campus. That evening a reception for alumni, preceptors and faculty was held in the Bennett Lounge of the Hafter Center.

On Saturday the rainy weather was no match for the alumni who came to campus for a tour of the academic and clinical facilities. Students and faculty were on hand at The Eye Institute, Pennsylvania Ear Institute and Speech-Language Institute for tours of those clinical facilities in addition to student-run tours of the academic buildings. A buffet lunch in the University’s Café ended the morning’s activities.

On Saturday evening alumni and faculty gathered at the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club for a cocktail reception, alumni awards presentation and dinner. After a warm welcome and a check on Villanova’s score from Salus president, Dr. Michael H. Mittelman ’80, the new Alumni Association president, Dr. Dennis H. Lyons ’73, awarded the Albert Fitch Memorial Alumnus of the Year Award to Dr. Diane Adamczyk ’85. Dr. Kathy Foltner ’03, the Audiology Alumna of the Year Award recipient was unable to attend the dinner but expressed her thanks via a video. Dr. Foltner will receive her award at AudiologyNOW!, the annual American Academy of Audiology conference later this month.

In accepting her award, Dr. Adamczyk - a professor and director of the SUNY College of Optometry residency education for thirty years - told the audience that “PCO is the soul and heart of who I am professionally.” She named the late Dr. Larry Gray and Dr. Lorraine Lombardi as “two people who helped me become what I am today” and recalled seeing her first patient as a student under Dr. Dick Bennett’s service.

Dr. Adamcyzk also spoke of “learning compassion and how to talk to patients” from Dr. Sarah Appel and thanked her “two biggest mentors,” Dr. Sue Oleszewski and Dr. Linda Casser.  She also noted that one of her career’s “most seminal moments” has been being part of the American Optometry Association’s Evidence-based Optometry Committee with Drs. Lynn Greenspan and Lori Grover.

At the end of her heart-felt speech, Dr. Adamcyzk confessed that she was a proud Villanova alumna and that she and her family were following the game at their table, a remark which drew laughter and much applause, along with calls for the updated score.

Live music accompanied dinner and the gathering’s most senior alumnus, Dr. Herbert Schoenes - 92 years old and PSCO Class of 1948 - and his wife, Adrienne, not only were the first on the dance floor but danced more than anyone. The evening proved to be one of shared reminiscences and much laughter among old friends – in short, a perfect end to alumni weekend.

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Photos by Dan Z. Johnson