OPT Visionary - Fall 2016

2 • NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY The growing legacy of the NSU College of Optometry (NSUCO) continues to sur- pass expectations. From my many years of experience in higher education and in this profession, I believe that optometric physicians have served, and will continue to serve, a vital role in today’s health care system. From our inaugural entering class in 1989, through our current curriculum, NSUCO has kept ahead of the pace in optometric training, ensuring that our graduates are leaders in the profession. Our mission is to prepare, educate, and train optometric physicians to practice at the highest level of proficiency, integrity, and profession- alism and to provide a multidisciplinary environment that encourages scholarly activity, service, and life- long learning. NSUCO is an integral part of the NSU Health Professions Division, reflecting the interdisciplinary direction current health care incorporates. We em- brace the newest teaching modalities with the use of iPads, e books, and videos. In addition, we are striving to enhance student education through grants and donations that will allow us to acquire simulation equipment and renovate our laboratories. Students receive a portion of their clinical training in The Eye Care Institute, which consists of five clinical sites, state-of-the-art equipment, and a diverse patient population. Our students, who are trained in all areas of optometry, also have the opportunity to select from clinical sites throughout the United States and in China for external clinical training. Additionally, the college has increased its research by acquiring grants from several sources, including the National Institutes of Health, NSU, and private industry. A number of the grants involve multiple optometry faculty members who contribute their specific expertise. Faculty members are publishing in peer-reviewed journals and are presenting papers and posters at professional meetings as well. Significant progress is also being made in developing the research skills of the optometry faculty members, who are able to enroll in the college’s Master of Science in Clinical Vision Research program at a reduced cost. We continue to build our alumni network through The Visionary , alumni receptions at annual optometry meetings and conferences, and continuing education classes offered by the college at a reduced cost to NSUCO graduates. Scholarships make it possible for us to attract and retain an exceptional, diverse student body and develop the next generation of outstanding optometric physi- cians. I encourage you to make a contribution to the college to assist current and future students with their educational costs. Your support will enhance the college now and sustain its excellence in the future. If you would like to initiate a pledge or make a one-time donation, please visit realizingpotential.nova.edu/give/ . On a similar note, I would also like to express grati- tude to our alumni and faculty and staff members who generously donate to the college. We were recently recognized by the NSU Division of Advancement and Community Relations for exceeding our goal regard- ing the number of faculty and staff members who give. Every gift, regardless of the amount, assists in our con- tinuous growth as a premier optometric institution. David S. Loshin, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO Dean, College of Optometry Nova Southeastern University Dean’s Message