One of the tenets of SCO’s mission is to prepare our students to be capable of practicing full scope optometry. This includes active involvement in the legislative arena in support of our profession. I recently had the privilege of traveling to West Virginia to testify on behalf of optometry regarding proposed legislation that would expand the scope of practice there to include minor surgical and certain specified ophthalmic laser procedures.

You may hear news and ophthalmic press coverage from West Virginia. In essence, I had the opportunity to address the high quality of education and the standards employed by our profession. Specifically, I was able to provide background about SCO, how we’re accredited, and how we have high standards, with an average GPA of 3.5 and a 98% graduation and board passage rate. This year alone, we’ve had more than 800 applicants for 120 seats.

At SCO, we will diligently strive to ensure that the public has the correct information regarding the training optometrists undergo throughout our fully accredited program. Included in our curriculum are courses in anatomy, biochemistry, physical diagnosis, neuroanatomy, human physiology, ocular physiology, pathological sciences, neuro eye disease, anterior segment disease and treatment I and II, posterior segment disease and treatment I and II, 90 hours of pharmacology, advanced ocular disease, glaucoma, ophthalmic lasers, and perioperative management, which involves treating patients before and after medical/surgical procedures.

I also outlined SCO’s commitment to lifelong learning.  At SCO, we train our graduates to be prepared for changing technologies. Optometry knows best how to regulate optometry. Optometrists are accredited, licensed, doctoral level health care providers independently responsible for our patients’ well being. There should be no question in anyone’s mind that optometrists have the background and training to safely, effectively and comprehensively care for our patients.

I just returned from this year’s memorable SECO 2010 meeting in Atlanta. As the old show biz adage says, “The show must go on,” and attendees this year proved that ODs are resilient. Even with snow, we enjoyed great attendance at SCO’s annual reception for alumni and friends.

Thanks to Stan Dickerson, OD ’76, for introducing me that night, and to Martha Rosemore Greenberg, OD ’74, for her gracious introduction at our President’s Reception. My gratitude especially goes to all of you who took the time to attend. It was a privilege to see and interact with you.

As I said in my remarks at both events, it’s more critical than ever for our alumni to rediscover and reconnect with their alma mater. The vitality of optometric education at SCO depends on alumni engagement. Your interest in our programs and initiatives will have a direct bearing on our success.  And it has become more evident to me than ever that the success of our profession and the success of our optometric institutions are interdependent.

As a former SECO president, I would like to also note that it was a privilege to watch the leadership reins pass from one SCO graduate to another as Jonathan Shrewsbury, OD ’81, was succeeded by Ron Bannister, OD ’77, as SECO President. SCO alumni who serve in leadership positions are also role models to our students – the future of optometry.

Last, if you attended the Heart of America Congress in Kansas City, we thank you, too. Dr. Jim Newman from the faculty represented SCO, and he reports that it was also a great meeting. Recognition is also in order for another SCO alumnus, Gary Beaver, OD ’89, who has served this fine organization as president over the last year.

We look forward to seeing you later in the year at your state or regional meeting, as well as the AOA and Academy meetings.

This year’s Martin Luther King Day holiday offered the SCO community an opportunity to serve others in a manner that honored Dr. King’s life and work. A group of more than 30 students, faculty and staff gave up their holiday morning to visit the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences, where several hallways are now covered with a fresh coat of paint.

The work was organized by our Student Government Association in a partnership with Volunteer Midsouth. SGA’s recognition of the need for community involvement has been especially significant given SCO’s recently expanded Mission Statement and Strategic Plan. I am grateful to SGA’s leadership in recognizing the need to “Give a Day” on a day when most simply take a day off. It was a privilege to join this fine group in volunteering our time.

I’m sure many others of you volunteered your time for other causes during this holiday. In 2010, let’s all think about ways we can serve others in making the world a better place.

It was a a real privilege to welcome Kathy Bates to The Eye Center this week on behalf of Southern College of Optometry. She was spending time in her former home of Memphis, speaking on behalf of the Methodist Hospital Foundation and visiting old friends from high school. She was very gracious, and complimentary of our facilities and our care.

I am very pleased that we had the opportunity to meet her, and to show off the best college of optometry in the country. I didn’t tell her that she scared me half to death in Misery, but I absolutely loved her in Fried Green Tomatoes. I didn’t want to sound like a groupie.

Her visit was just one more in a long line of special occasions I am privileged to enjoy as President of SCO.

Earlier this week, I was privileged to return home to East Tennessee for our an “Evening with the President” event. This newly developed program has been designed to host regional meetings that allow me to take news of SCO’s progress directly to alumni in their own back yards.

My appreciation goes to David Mills, OD ’78, and Kurt Steele, OD ’95, for hosting this event, and special thanks goes to all who attended. We enjoyed a great turn-out, and I was pleased to update these alumni on significant areas of progress made in 2009 at SCO.

These alumni gave me the chance to speak candidly about the importance of alumni support to optometric education. I was heartened to hear from several alumni after the event who recognized the need for greater involvement and support of their alma mater.

I look forward to future events in other areas, but it’s always a good time to think about what you can do to support SCO. As 2009 comes to a close, please consider the college in your year-end giving opportunities.

Your support is crucial in these tough economic times, so thanks to our alumni who understand and have met the challenge. The gifts of your time, your ideas, your moral support, and your financial generosity are always appreciated.

SCO will be hosting an Alumni Reception at this week’s meeting of the American Academy of Optometry in Orlando. Please make plans to join us on Friday, November 13 from 7:30-9 p.m. The reception will be held in Grand Ballroom 10 at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

Joining me will be Dr. Kristin K. Anderson, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, and a number of other faculty. We always look forward to meeting and visiting with our alumni, so we hope to see you there.

Our new Strategic Plan includes a call to action in terms of service. SCO’s mission recognizes the importance of serving our profession, our patients and our communities. This week, 30 faculty, staff and student volunteers joined me and other members of the Memphis Rotary Club for a worthwhile volunteer effort held on campus.

Our group worked to aid the effort of Stop Hunger Now.  Establishing an assembly-line system, our volunteers packaged rice, protein, vitamin packs and other dehydrated foods in bags that make up 6 meals/bag. Some of the volunteers added the appropriate ingredients into the bags. Some weighed and sealed the bags. Others packed the finished products in shipping boxes, aided by even more volunteers who sealed and loaded the boxes onto the Stop Hunger Now truck.  Still others acted as runners, filling containers with ingredients and transporting products from one station to the next.

Click on this photo to go to a photo gallery with more images from the event.

This event turned out to be a terrific evening of sharing with others for a common purpose. I originally thought we would finish 10,000 meals. As the evening went on, the final count was 21,800 meals that we packed for hungry people in Haiti. I slept well later that night with this thought in mind.

My thanks go to all who helped make this event a success. We proved that “Service Above Self” is not limited to Rotary International. Thanks also go to Rotary for paying for the supplies and allowing us to participate and host the event. I know many of you are involved in similar volunteer efforts in your community. Take time to let us know about your good work so we can share the message and inspire our students and prospective students. Together, our work makes a meaningful difference in the lives of others who need our help.

Southern College of Optometry ranks as one of the nation’s leading institutions of optometric education. SCO’s students consistently outscore the national average in board scores and graduation rates. The college is committed to academic excellence and cutting-edge clinical training. Students and faculty enjoy the opportunity to learn and practice optometry in The Eye Center, one of the largest and most clinically advanced vision and eye care centers in the country.

Founded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1932, SCO’s influence knows no boundaries. Our students represent a large cross-section of demographics and regional areas of our nation. Our alumni live and practice in all 50 states and abroad. Many of our faculty received their optometric education at other schools and colleges of optometry but chose to teach and practice at SCO.

SCO and its clinical presence also have meaning for the greater Memphis community. More than 60,000 patient encounters are recorded each year at The Eye Center. These patients rely upon quality vision care overseen by nearly 60 faculty members. Our students benefit from hands-on learning as they accompany faculty on community outreach initiatives at school vision screenings and regional health care settings. SCO students even travel abroad to take eye care to those in need around the globe.

Good looking grandson!

Blogs aren’t blogs without bragging grandpas!