The Visionary Fall 2009

The Visionary – Fall 2009 • Page #2 DEAN’S MESSAGE As dean of NSU’s College of Optometry (NSUCO), I would like to share with you some highlights of the journey the college has taken in the last 20 years. It is an outstanding story of ingenuity, dedication, learning, perseverance, and growth that even extends beyond the borders of the United States. It is a story that began with 27 students in 1989—and we haven’t looked back since. The College of Optometry was the third professional degree program created and launched by Southeastern University of the Health Sciences, which was already underway with the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Pharmacy. After optometry, Southeastern went on to establish a college of allied health. In 1994, Southeastern University and Nova University entered into a merger agreement that was to change higher education in South Florida in a major way, especially for first professionals. As the compact between Nova and Southeastern continued to unfold, Southeastern “morphed” into the Health Professions Division (HPD), which has also experienced tremendous growth that includes the creation of a dental school, a nursing program, and many other programs and degree offerings that simply didn’t exist prior to 2000. HPD’s innovative leaders, faculty, and staff have created forward- looking, evolutionary change that sets our programs apart. The combined Nova Southeastern University has also grown exponentially year after year. Virtually every unit has developed new degree programs, added majors, and become more integrally involved in community affairs and community outreach. In addition, our physical presence has enlarged beyond the Davie campus so that NSU programs can be found in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ponce, Puerto Rico, Nassau, Bahamas, and many locations throughout Florida. New buildings and venues have also changed the face of the Davie campus. Recent additions include • establishment of the largest library in the state of Florida • construction of an entirely new complex for the University School (grades K-12) • creation of the University Center, which accommodates students, faculty, and staff at a venue where basketball teams can compete or concerts can be held, along with a full-use gym and exercise center I am proud to say that NSUCO is part of this incredible evolution— launching new programs, forging relationships far and wide, and establishing a curriculum that enhances the educational experience of our students, the care of our patients through our Eye Care Institute, and touching the profession and practice of optometry. Over the past two decades, we have established (to name a few): • The Eye Care Institute (TECI) with four clinical locations (including the Lighthouse of Broward) that feature state-of-the-art equipment • superior didactic and clinical teaching with an excellent, highly trained faculty • new specialty areas within TECI, including advanced care (glaucoma and diabetes) neuro-rehabilitation/brain injury, and electrodiagnostic services • an extended professional degree program that spreads the traditional four years of optometry school into five years. • the Master’s in Clinical Vision Research—an entirely online program for optometry professionals who have an interest in research • the college’s magazine— The Visionary —soon to have an online companion version • exchange programs with Tianjin Medical University and Fudan University in China that allow our students to do a three-month externship • the Visiting Scholar program, which is a component of the educational/informational exchange with China in which Chinese scholars spend a year at NSUCO • an honors’ student program • the Preparatory Optometry Program for students who have the potential to be successful in the traditional program once they have shored up their basic science education • a board review for students about to take the national boards (within the regular curriculum) • an ACOE-professional program accreditation site visit that yielded no recommendations (next site visit scheduled for 2012) • expansion of the college and external accredited residency programs Along with our growth came a reputation for excellence, resulting in an increased applicant pool and a concurrent increase in the quality of students applying for and selecting NSUCO as their first choice. Our students have also begun to attain national and Florida board results that are significantly above the national average. With the assistance of the faculty, staff, students, and administration, our momentum continues—always keeping the joint missions of Nova Southeastern University and the college in mind and ensuring that our programs and services integrate with those missions fully. Please stay connected with your College of Optometry—and share in our exciting journey along with us. David S. Loshin, O.D., Ph.D.