Focus On-Line
This page will bring you stories and pictures about alumni, students, faculty, staff at the College. If you have any story ideas, please e-mail: jeanne@pacificu.edu.
Pacific Focus Newsletter
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Oregon Optometric Physicians Association names Pacific faculty member Nada J. Lingel 2009 OD of the Year
by Lusha Kaufmann
Pacific alumna and faculty member Nada J. Lingel ‘79, OD ’81, MS ’88 was awarded the OOPA's 2009 Clarence G. Carker OD of the Year award 
during the OOPA's annual Membership Awards Dinner held October 23. Dr. Lingel, a professor at Pacific University’s College of Optometry, was presented the award by Pacific alumnus Randall Corey ’66, OD ’67, who highlighted her service to the profession. Dr. Corey cited a long list of classroom and clinical teaching accomplishments, the development of care resources for the underserved population of Washington County, and Lingel’s efforts to advance optometric curricula both nationally and internationally. She was selected by the students as the Didactic Faculty Member of the Year in 2005, and recently completed four years of service on the OOPA Board of Directors.
Dr. Lingel is a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry and serves on the Admittance Committee for the Academy. She served for nine years on the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education, which accredits professional optometric degree, residency and technician programs in North America, chairing the committee from June 2002 until June 2004. Additionally, Lingel served as a Senior Fellow for the World Council of Optometry, for which she traveled to Brazil for six weeks to help universities as they worked to develop optometry programs. Additional previous experiences include private practice optometry; serving as the Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs at Pacific University; serving as an attending doctor at Sheppard Air Force Base and the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Portland, Oregon; and performing research at the Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit in Sydney, Australia. Dr. Lingel is published in texts and numerous journal articles. She enjoys presenting continuing education on all aspects of primary care.
This year's recipient of the Young OD of the Year, is also a Pacific alumna: Samantha Caggiano, OD ‘01. She was recognized for her continued efforts as the state AOAPAC representative. In presenting the award, Pacific alumna Cynthia Strawn, OD ’00, cited Dr. Caggiano's contribution to developing support at the national level of the AOA's advocacy efforts of the profession, and her involvement with her local optometric society.
Posted: 10/03/09
Running for Sight
The threatening skies of a cool Saturday morning did not dampen the enthusiasm of the 176 runners and walkers who participated in the Run for Sight on September 19th. The 5K (3.1 miles) route was not much of a challenge for Ryan Goldstein 
who finished with a time of 17:28, ahead of the 2008 winner Daniel Schrempp, OD ’11. Finishing first among the women for a second year was Aubrey Schrempp with a strong 20:56.
Run for Sight is an annual run sponsored by the Lions Club and the College of Optometry. The proceeds from the run provide scholarships for optometry students, the AMIGOS club, and eye care for those in financial need. Lisette Romig was instrumental in planning many of the event logistics, including organizing the AMIGOS volunteers on race day. The optometry students vied for plates of brownies in the class challenge for participation. The classes of 2012 and 2013 did a great job of recruiting participants, with 24 and 22 respectively. Both classes were awarded brownies baked by Lisette Romig and Esther Knox.
Mark your calendar for the 2010 Run for Sight, tentatively scheduled for September 18, 2010. Click HERE to see more pictures from the run.
Posted: 10/10/09
Dr. Jennifer Smythe Appointed Dean of Optometry
(FOREST GROVE, OR) Dr. Jennifer Smythe has been appointed Dean of Optometry at Pacific University. Dean Smythe has been serving a temporary appointment since 2008. Her outstanding performance, coupled with the support of the faculty, led the University to forego plans for a nation-wide search and to instead offer Smythe this appointment.
A resolution was recently introduced by the College of Optometry faculty and met with unanimous approval to offer Smythe the opportunity to remain as Dean, noting her commitment to the College and her exceptional leadership style. "Dean Smythe was commended by the faculty for her demonstrated effectiveness, communication skills and ability to evaluate and promote consensual change in a very positive manner," notes Optometry faculty chair Dr. Nada Lingel.
Smythe's decision continues an illustrious career at Pacific that began as a student in 1989. She received her MS in Clinical Optometry in January 2000 and her O.D. in May of 1993, both from Pacific. Since Smythe's residency in contact lenses in 1993, she has held various roles within the College, including Professor, Chief of Contact Lens Services and Associate Dean for Academic Programs. In 2006, Smythe was named to Vision Monday's "50 Most Influential Women in Optical," and she brings prolific publication, service and experience to her post.
"We are delighted to have Jenny continue her role as our Dean of the College of Optometry," said John Miller, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs for Pacific. "With her knowledge and experience of both the optometric field and the College, she will help us take the next step in a field where Pacific continues to lead the way."
Smythe is "honored by this vote of confidence" and looks forward to approaching her role from a position of permanence. "I'm eager to continue the momentum we've built over the past several years," she said, citing interdisciplinary collaborations, faculty development, alumni relations and the transition of Optometry to the Hillsboro campus as immediate areas of focus. "Pacific is a special place to me. I often say that it feels like this institution is part of my genetic makeup and I'm elated to play a part in its future."
Looking to the possibilities of the College and partnerships with Pacific's Health Professions Campus in Hillsboro, Smythe echoes Miller's excitement. "This is a special and unique time in Pacific's history," she said, "we are in the midst of developing a more comprehensive and collaborative health education approach that will support the type of innovative, interdisciplinary work we want to bring to our students. As we speak, we're building the future of healthcare education."
# # #
Posted by Lance Kissler (lkissler@pacificu.edu) on Sep 28, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Active in COVD
Trishelle Barta, OD ’10, earned the distinction of being the most active
member of COVD (The College of Optometrists in Vision Development) for 2008/2009. According to COVD and OEP Liaison Suzanne Tsang, OD ’10, Trishelle was an active participant at a number of events, including Journal Clubs and round table discussions on topics such as difficult cases in binocular vision, and vision and ocular problems in autism, Parkinson’s, traumatic brain injury, and dyslexia. Trishelle received a set of Lea Grating Paddles, compliments of Good-Lite Company of Illinois.
Current COVD Liaisons are Jasdeep Bassra and Noriko Ho, both from the Class 2011.
Pictured: Trishelle Barta and Suzanne Tsang
Posted: 09/22/09
The Class of 2013 is here!
Ninety students embarked on the beginning of a journey to their future careers in optometry as the College welcomed the Class of 2013. Bucking the recent national trend, the men outnumber the women by 47 to 43. They represent 23 different states and 4 Canadian provinces and the average age is 24. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they all looked ahead to the academic and personal challenges of the next four years.
Their first two days on campus were filled with orientation activities. They were welcomed by the Deans and the administrative staff who populate the West Wing of Jefferson Hall. They quickly lined up to see Bob DeGroat, the technology information guru, who would tackle those computer hardware problems which already bedeviled them.
At the end of the first day, they attended the convocation ceremony where words of greeting were extended by Pacific University President Lesley Hallick. Faculty Chair Nada Lingel, OD ’81, urged the class to accept each other as team mates and they should strive to be successful as a team. SOA President Adam Preston; OPW Vice-President Jim DeVleming, OD ’90; and OOPA President Darrin Fleming, OD; reminded them that academic excellence was about more grades; and to
not neglect the outside activities and to be involved with organized optometry. The program ended with the recitation of the Code of Ethics.
Orientation also gave the students ample opportunity to meet their classmates and to set in motion the professional and personal friendships for the years and career that await them. Welcome Class of 2013!
Posted: September 14, 2009
"Father Preston" Celebrates 81
On the auspicious date of 09/09/09, staff, faculty and students gathered to wish Clinical Professor Emeritus Bill Preston, OD '58, a happy 81st birthday with a cake adorned with a greeting to "Father Preston." Staff member Launa Kind explained the title on the cake: "The guy in line behind me was a priest, so the decorator put Father instead of Doctor on the cake!" While members of the Sports Vision class serenaded him and enjoyed the chocolate cake, 30-year staff veteran, Deanna Andrews, recalled the days when Dr. Preston was the Clinic Director and how he had guided a generation of students through their clinical rotation in Forest Grove.
One interesting historical note: Dr.Preston also has the distinction of being a second generation Faculty Emeritus. His father, Daniel Preston was the former Dean of Pacific's School of Music, retired in 1959. Happy Birthday, "Father" Preston!
Deanna Andrews and Launa Kind help Bill celebrate
Posted 09/10/09, revised 9/16/09
IVAN makes YouTube
Our mobile eye care van, fittingly called "IVAN", has been invaluable in providing vision screenings to underserved populations in our area. IVAN has been under the watchful eye of Susan Littlefield, OD '94, Director of Community Outreach Services. First and second year optometry students go out on IVAN screening events as part of their pre-clinical experience. Dr. Littlefield serves as the attending optometrist at those screenings. Videographer Colin Stapp recently filmed a screening, that can be viewed on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/PacUniv
Posted: August 26, 2009
Filar’s Anterior Segment and Retinal Camera on board Discovery
On August 25th, 2009 NASA will be launching the Space Shuttle Discovery on Mission STS-128 to the International Space Station. On board the shuttle will be a device created by Optometrist Dr. Paul Filar, a 2004 graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry. The Provizion Anterior Segment and Retinal Camera Attachment allows for telemedicine and photo-documentation of the eyeball. Images and video clips from Dr. Filar’s camera can be sent around the world, or in this case, to Earth from Space. The camera attachment is a compact, portable, digital camera that fits onto a PanOptic Ophthalmoscope. The camera attachment is scheduled to be left on the International Space Station as a medical tool for any ophthalmology needs that may arise.
Dr. Filar was inspired to develop the Anterior Segment and Retinal Camera attachment because he travels to a nursing home and also to the rural community of Washington Island, Wisconsin to see patients. He was interested in creating an instrument that was portable but also affordable to practitioners. Dr. Filar comments, “I am extremely excited and proud about the opportunity to work with NASA in this unique capacity. It is amazing that my product will soon be up in space assisting astronauts at the International Space Station!”
Click HERE to read more.
NASA press release, posted 08/24/09
OPW Honors Optometry Alumni
The spring edition of “Washington Optometry Today”, a publication of the Optometric Physicians of Washington (OPW) honored several College of Optometry graduates. Our congratulations to the following:
Ken White, OD ’60
President’s Distinguished Service Award
Thomas Riley, OD ’94
O.D. of the Year
Brian Silverman, OD ’09
OPW Student Member of the Year
Brian Koning, OD ’04
Young O.D. of the Year
Ray Hedahl, OD ’75
Mon G. Wallgren OD Award
Mike Noble, OD ’83
Immediate Past President, OPW
Posted August 25, 2009
A Friend and Leader is Mourned
The optometric community recently lost “one of the best within the community”. J Patrick Cummings, OD ’77, died July 11 in a private plane crash in a densely wooded area in St. Johns County, Fla. Dr. Cummings was the passenger in an experimental aircraft on an outing with an aviation club.
Many accolades and honors have been bestowed on Dr. Cummings during his lengthy professional career which included 20 years in private practice in Sheridan, Wyo. He was recognized (twice) as Wyoming’s Optometrist of the Year, Great Western Optometrist in 2000, and received Pacific University Alumni Service Award in 2005.
Dr. Cummings’ service to Optometry includes past president of the American Optometric Association. He joined Vistakon in 2003 and served as Vice President, Professional Development Group. Dr. Cummings was a champion for public health and was instrumental in the development and success of AOA’s Healthy Eyes Healthy People™ program and InfantSEE® program.
“I have always been so proud that Pat was a fellow alum of Pacific University,” says Dean Jennifer Smythe, “His dedication to our profession was tireless and infectious. He was the type of person whose commitment to advancing eye care for all, especially young children with the InfantSEE program, was so inspiring. I will be forever grateful for all that he accomplished on behalf of optometry and he will be greatly missed.”
Smythe noted that Pacific University will be honoring Dr. Cummings at the GWCO Alumni and Friends Luncheon in October.
Dr. Cummings is survived by his widow, Becky; son Josh; daughter Abby; and granddaughter Mia. His son, Patrick, died in 2003.
Posted August 19, 2009
Academic and Corporate Minds Meet at VPI Symposium
The two day symposium “Computer Displays and Vision” brought together representatives from the academic, 
corporate and ergonomics communities to Pacific University in early June. The meeting was coordinated by James Sheedy, OD, PhD.; Director of the Vision Performance Institute (VPI) at Pacific University. Designed to convey scientific research on computer displays and vision, the researchers, academics and practicing optometrists had opportunities to interact with the scientific pre-senters and each other for in-depth discussions on the studies and findings that will impact each of their industries.
Industry representatives from Intel, Microsoft, Shamir, Alcon, Jobson, Hewlett Packard, Bausch & Lomb, and Essilor, as well as researchers and academics from Pacific University, Ohio State, University of Washington and University of California/San Francisco gave rapid-fire presentations on research in the areas of text legibility, measuring visual performance and comfort, vision and workstation design, and vision corrections and interventions for computer users. Presenters developed posters of their research for display during the meeting. Optometrists who attended the symposium were able to earn 12 c.e. hours. Click HERE to read more.
Posted August 25, 2009 Pictured above: Jim Sheedy and Rod Tahran of Essilor
Lt. Col. Dex Peters, OD ’92, off to Korea
Lt. Col. Dex Peters made the army his career since finishing optometry school. He recently flew in from Germany, his base for the past 3 years, to attend the Advanced Ocular Therapeutics Course (AOT) at the College.
Peters is currently Chief of Optometry for
Heidelberg MEDDAC. He spent July 2008 in Romania providing vision care to rural villagers. His team provided vision and glaucoma screenings and dispensed donated glasses.
His next stop is Seoul, South Korea, for the second time in his army career. In preparation for his return to Korea, he enjoyed a plate or two of sushi at Syun in Hillsboro, and sampled some sake at Sake One in Forest Grove. Of course, he also spent ample time studying for the AOT course.
posted August 17, 2009
Bon Voyage, Kristi!
Dispensing optician, Kristi Thomason, received a warm send-off at McMenamin's Grand Lodge, as she and her husband Al embark on their grand adventure to travel the world aboard their boat. Kristi has assisted students and patients at the Pacific Eye Trends in Forest Grove.
Alumnus Profile: Colonel David Meitzner, OD '84
In the years since he graduated from Optometry School, David Meitzner, OD '84, went from Air Force optometrist to a full colonel to Commander of the 99th Medical Group's Surgical Operations Squadron. Writer Wanda Laukkanen visited with him recently and tells us more about his activities. Click HERE to read the full story.
Posted August 3, 2009
Alumni Reunion Brings 'em Back!
With the promise of connecting with classmates, earning CE hours from top-notch speakers, and enjoying an al fresco barbecue lunch all for an 
impossible $15, College of Optometry alumni filled the lecture hall for the annual Alumni Reunion CE Program on June 20. Bob Prouty, OD '84, Lorne Yudcovitch, OD '96, and Fraser Horn, OD '04, received glowing evaluations from an audience that spanned 60 years of optometric practice. The cool spring temperatures and gray clouds did not lessen the enjoyment of the lunch under the oaks and the chance to visit with friends and classmates.
Dean Smythe surrounded by members of the Golden Guard: Larry Hedgren, Larry Semler, Fred Fuerst, and Bob Beaderstadt. Photo by Colin Stapp
Our thanks to ALCON Partner in Education for their support of the Reunion Continuing Education program.
Click HERE to read more and view pictures from the reunion.
posted July 2, 2009
Class of 2011 Receives White Coats
They made it through two grueling academic years and now the Class of 2011 is moving into the patient and clinical care portion of their education. This transition is signified by the White Coat Ceremony held on May 22, 2009, at the Taylor-Meade Performing Arts Center. Proudly watching their family members receive white coats were Larry Coon, OD ’75(daughter, Natalie); Brian Crain, OD ’78(son, Aaron); Kres Pederson, OD ’82(daughter, Amy); and Carrie Breeden, OD ’08 (brother, Mark).
Our thanks to Essilor of America for their generous grant in support of the White Coat Ceremony. Click HERE to read more and view pictures from the ceremoney.
Even Boxer Gets an Eye Exam
Eye health is important and we even encouraged "Boxer", the Pacific University mascot to have an exam. See it on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYMH7I5fB7o
Dan Perala, OD '92, honored by Wyoming Optometric Association
Dan Perala, OD ’92, was recently honored by the Wyoming Optometric Association(WOA) as they named him their 2009 Optometrist of the Year. He was recognized for his active participation in the WOA and services to the public. He is the optometric liaison with the state Medicaid Agency and serves on the Diabetes Prevention and Control Council. Dr. Perala also developed a diabetes eye care reporting form which received a Healthy Eyes/Healthy People grant award in 2007. The concept has been duplicated in a number of other states. His volunteer services include Sight for Students and Give One Day. Dr. Perala and his wife Julie live in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with their two children.
Dr. Perala is also “Lt Col Perala” and he serves in the Wyoming Air National Guard. He will be deployed July 2009 - February 2010.
Our congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Perala.
Residents Cap Successful Year at Residents Conference
2009/2009 Residents and Residency Coordinators
After completing a year of intense post-graduate training that included patient care and scholarly works, 17 doctors from the 10 Pacific University affiliated residency sites returned to campus for their capstone event. The annual Residents Conference provides a venue for the doctors to give a 30-minute presentation drawing from clinical experiences gained over the past year. Each site offers a specialized clinical experience, including: primary care, contact lens, cornea, ocular disease, refractive surgery, ocular surgery, geriatrics, VT, rehabilitation and pediatrics.
The residents are graduates of Pacific University and five other optometry schools. The complex clinical cases were presented to an attentive audience of optometrists, faculty and students. One attendee enthused: "Topics are interesting – relevant, well researched, well prepared, and well delivered presentations." Click HERE to read more about the conference.
Our thanks to Coopervision and Allergan for their support of the
2009 Residents Conference.
Pacific Alumna, Dori Carlson,'89 O.D., F.A.A.O
Returns to Campus
By Lusha Kaufmann
Pacific University College of Optometry welcomes alumna Dori Carlson, O.D., F.A.A.O to speak at "Welcome to the Profession" ceremony for the Class of 2009 Optometry students at the Forest Grove campus.
Dori M. Carlson, O.D., was first elected to the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees in June 2004, re-elected in 2006 and elected Secretary-Treasurer in 2008.
In addition to her responsibilities as Secretary-Treasurer, Dr. Carlson serves as chair of the AOA Finance, Program Planning and Constitution and Bylaws Committees and a member of the AOA Executive, Personnel and Building Committees, and the Optometry's Charity Board. Dr. Carlson serves as board liaison to the AOA Council on Research, and affiliate associations in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Prior to her election to the Board, Dr. Carlson was the first female president of the North Dakota Optometric Association. She served as Chair of North Dakota's Managed Care Committee, Hospital Privileges Committee and Mentoring Committee. She also served as chair of the AOA Information and Member Services Group, chair of the Membership Development Committee and was a member of the Communications Technology Project Team.
She continues to serve on the North Dakota Blue Cross Blue Shield Advisory Committee and is a long-standing member of the North Dakota Legislative Committee. She is a trained consultant for the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.
Dr. Carlson is a graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry. She then completed a residency at the American Lake and Seattle VA Hospitals. In 1994 she was honored as the North Dakota Young Optometrist of the Year and as the Optometrist of the Year in 2003. She is in private practice in Park River and Grafton, North Dakota.
Posted by Lusha Kaufmann (lusha@pacificu.edu) on May 21, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Edited by Ben Elliott (elliott@pacificu.edu) on May 21, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Summer Road Trip
Ernie Czapla, OD '78, and his wife Mitzi are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary with a road trip across the U.S. Dr. Czapla practices in Buffalo, New York, and has not been back to the Pacific Northwest since moving from Vancouver, Wash, in 1984. He had his first look at the new classrooms and procedures labs in Jefferson Hall. While looking over the class pictures, it was easy to spot Dr. Czapla with the same hairline topped with the additional dusting of grey.
Happy 25th Anniversary, Ernie & Mitzi!
STUDENTS GARNER AWARDS
Despite the rigors of the academic curriculum, many students make their marks as student leaders and spend countless hours volunteering for various professional organizations and their class. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Dr. J. P. Lowery, Chair of the Research and Awards Committee, announced the following merit-based scholarship recipients:
Acuvue Eye Health Advisor Student Citizenship Scholarship
Kyla Hunter (2010)
New OD Magazine Scholarship
Jessica Barbay (2011)
Beisiegel/IRIS Group Scholarship
Brad Macario (2011)
Ziskrout S & N Scholarship
Sam Adelman (2012)
InfantSEE® Scholarship Grant
Chad Anderson (2010)
Ziskrout D & K Scholarship
Oliver Kuhn-Wilken (2011)
Our congratulations and appreciation is extended to all the above.
MORE STUDENT ACCOLADES
Our students have excelled academically. The National Board exams, which represent a national standard of entry-level competence to practice optometry, showed that the Class of 2010 earned a pass rate of 97.7% on part 1 of the exam. The students also scored above the national average in every sub-discipline of the exam.
The Class of 2008 pass rate for National Boards:
Clinical Science 98%
Applied Basic Science 96%
Patient Care 99%
28% of the Class of 2008 accepted post-graduate residency positions.
FACULTY KUDOS
Faculty members honored at Faculty Achievement Celebration.
Optometry seems to be populated by high achievers and over achievers and the faculty of the College definitely set that standard. The faculty was recently acknowledged at the “Faculty Achievement Celebration” where members of the College family gathered to offer congratulations over refreshments and a glass of wine.
The College sets annual faculty objectives in accordance with the American Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) accreditation requirements. Among those goals are providing continuing education lectures, publications and grants/awards. The goal of 50 CE lectures was met almost three-fold, and leading the count were Mark Andre and Patrick Caroline providing a total of 49 lectures on contact lenses, Graham Erickson with 23 lectures and Rick London giving 14. Eighteen other faculty members also presented lectures throughout the U.S. and Canada. The sixty-two publications in both peer-review (26) and other publications easily surpassed the goal of 30. The faculty received 13 awards and grants in the past year, including honors bestowed by students to two faculty members: Fraser Horn as Clinical Faculty of the Year and Lorne Yudcovitch at Didactic Faculty of the Year.
Click HERE to see a partial list of faculty achievements.
Awards and publications addorn the walls at the Faculty Achievement Celebration..
Experiencing Tom Sullivan
College of Optometry faculty, staff and student leaders were dazzled by a recent performance from the man often described as the “blind Renaissance man”. Mr. Tom Sullivan is an athlete, author, songwriter, singer, actor and producer who felt that the inconvenience of being blind meant he worked harder to excel at everything he did, picking up many honors along the way. The eclectic, comfortable Compass Room at 
McMenamin’s Grand Lodge in Forest Grove lent an intimate ambiance to the evening performance of “Adventures in Darkness”. Mr. Sullivan recounted anecdotes from his rambunctious childhood and performed a number of his hit songs. At one point, he led the audience through an exercise to experience one of his 5-mile runs with his guide dog: the sound of his footfalls, the sun and wind on his skin, the gulls calling overhead, and the waves crashing along the shoreline.
Known for his motivational skills, Mr. Sullivan called upon the students to strive to do their best and that they were not just treating conditions, they were treating the entire person and the families. Following the performance members of the audience clamored to shake the hand of the gracious gentleman who inspired them all.
The next day, the University and Forest Grove community were invited to a public performance by Mr. Sullivan at the Taylor-Meade Performing Arts Center. Both performances were made possible by a generous grant from the Allergan I Care Campaign, a partnership between the Allergan Foundation and Tom Sullivan.
Pictured above: Dean Smythe with Tom Sullivan
Spring Practice Opportunities Fair
Representatives of private practices and corporations were on hand at the Spring Practice Opportunities Fair on April 2nd. Students were invited to visit at each table to preview the associate and partnership options were available when they graduate (and pass their boards!). Attractive compensation packages and quality of life features were touted to the students as well as practice locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. On hand to discuss the benefits of associating with a private practice were Leroy Gilge, OD ’67, of Silverton, Ore, and Rock Svennungsen, OD, of Selby, Mont. The Practice Opportunities Fair was organized by Asst. Director for Student Services, Melodye MacAlpine. Please contact Melodye (mmacalpine@pacificu.edu) to book your table for next year's fair.
Pictured above, Dawn Hicks, Leroy Gilge, and Cindy Rodman of Silverton Eyecare.
OptoRock 2009
From the absurd to the sublime, OptoRock provided an evening of entertainment on Friday, April 3rd. Co-chairs Ashley Olson and Michelle Cove (both Class of 2010) put together a program of nine acts with performances from members of the second, third and fourth year classes. The program included filmmaker Mark Schmitt’s (2010) feature film, “Opt Gun” (– yes, a spoof of “Top Gun”); performances on the piano, guitar and French horn; a fire dancer and the “evolution of dance” routine. Though the faculty did not perform this year, their doppelgangers made a hilarious appearance on “Faculty Bowl”.
"Faculty" perform at OptoRock.
Tasked with the daunting task of determining the three top acts was the impartial panel of judges: James Kundart, OD '99; Esther Knox, and Melodye MacAlpine. The first prize went to "Faculty Bowl" with Shannon Mitchell (Hannu Laukkanen), Nate Rains (Karl Citek/Ken Eakland), Frank Kuchera (Nada Lingel) and Glenn Bassett (Dennis Smith). Mark Schmitt's "Opt Gun" took second and Kellen Kashiwa fire-danced his way to third. A DVD is being produced if you missed the fun!
New Application Process Starts July 2009
Starting July 15, 2009, students applying for optometry schools in the United States and Puerto Rico will use a centralized application service, 
“OptomCAS”. This universal application allows prospective students to file one application that can be sent to multiple schools and colleges of optometry. This system will cut down tremendously on the paper requirements when applying to multiple schools, meaning only one set of letters of recommendations and one official transcript versus multiple sets.
Now comes the “however” – according to Janelle Holmboe, Associate Director for Graduate Admissions, “In order to maintain our philosophy on getting to know each applicant as an individual, Pacific will be requiring a supplemental application in addition to the universal OptomCAS application.” This supplemental application will require some additional essays and information about the applicant. Ms. Holmboe adds: “Although this supplemental application will require additional effort by the applicant, we feel strongly that it is what contributes to the overall strength of our program, filled with students that excel not only academically, but in other areas as well, creating what we believe are the most patient-centered, passionate, and well-rounded doctors in the country.”
Please note that any applicant can have his/her $25 supplemental application fee waived by a Pacific University College of Optometry alumnus. If you sponsor a student, that applicant can send in the completed Alumni Fee Waiver form.
If you are interested in learning more about the universal application, information can be found at www.optomcas.org.
Blair Lonsberry receives Tenure
President Phil Creighton announced the granting of tenure to Associate Professor Blair Lonsberry, MS, OD, MEd. Dr. Lonsberry joined the faculty in 2005 and he serves as Clinic Director for the Portland Vision Center. He is a highly sought continuing education lecturer and takes his interactive presentations to audiences throughout the U.S. and Canada. Congratulations, Blair!
PECAA Announces Student Award
Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) recently established the “PECAA Award for Excellence in Future Private Practice” fund which will be presented as an award to a fourth year Optometry student with the most promising future in private practice. The first award will be made to a member of the Class of 2009. Student selection will be based on clinical experience and expressed desire in private practice. The fund was facilitated by Matt Richardson, OD ’04, a member of the Eye Care Group in Grants Pass, Ore., and board member of PECAA.
This award has been funded for the next five years, but private practitioners are invited to make contributions of any size to this fund. “All contributions will have a big effect on the students and it does make a difference to the student,” adds Dean Jennifer Smythe, “so we want to thank PECAA and all donors to the fund for their support of future doctors in private practice.”
Dean Jenny Smythe visits with Eye Care Group doctors: (left to right) Jeffrey Pelson, OD ’02; Scott Walters, OD ’88; Matt Richardson, OD’04; and Dan Vidlak, OD ’97.
The ACHIEVE Study:
Children’s Self Image and Contact Lenses
The Adolescent and Child Health Initiative to Encourage Vision Empowerment (ACHIEVE) study was recently published. Pacific 
University was one of the five clinical centers involved in the study and Professor Bradley Coffey, OD ’81, served as the principal investigator at this site. The primary outcomes paper, “Randomized Trial of the Effect of Contact Lens Wear on Self-Perception in Children,” was published in March ’09 edition of Optometry and Vision Science.
The ACHIEVE Study was designed to determine whether children who were dissatisfied with spectacle wear would benefit more from contact lenses than children who did not mind wearing glasses. Subjects were 8- to 11-year-old myopic children randomly assigned to wear spectacles or soft contact lenses for 3 years. The study concluded that although contact lens wear does not affect global self-perceptions of 8- to 11-year-old myopic children, their physical appearance, athletic competence, and social acceptance self-perceptions are likely to improve with contact lens wear.
Eye care practitioners should consider the social and visual benefits of contact lens wear when choosing the most appropriate vision correction modality for children as young as 8 years of age.
According to Dr. Coffey: “There were 85 children enrolled at the Pacific study. Over the four year course of the study, about ten excellent Pacific students, two residents, and one additional faculty member (Beth Kinoshita, OD) helped with the study. Krisha Hall, now in admissions in Education, served ably as the study coordinator.”
The ACHIEVE study was supported by funds from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. and the Vision Care Institute LLC, a Johnson & Johnson Co.
To read more about the study:
http://ophthalmologytimes.modernmedicine.com/ophthalmologytimes/
Optometry Students Propel Lagers to League Championship
With many optometry students hailing from Canada, it was no surprise that those students would seek out a competitive hockey league to indulge their passion for the sport.
Competing in the elite Men’s Gold Division of an adult hockey league at the Sherwood Ice Arena, the team recently won the league championship after their second-place finish last season. Members of the team, dubbed the “Lagers”, included: Guy Ambrosio (2010), Grant Johnson (2010), Damon Umscheid (2010), Chris Rowland (2010), Mike Koditek (aka the “American”) (2011), Chris Hewitt (2012) and Brandon Bjarnson (2012).
Congratulations to the Lagers!
PECAA Goes National
The idea began percolating in 1999 and was formalized in 2003 with Brad Smith, OD ’87; David Wolf, OD, ’83; and Lance Anderson, OD, ’91, creating Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA), a for-profit corporation with the mission to “provide a higher level of eye care 
and an exceptional experience for patients through professional development and cooperation.” PECAA offers members negotiated purchasing discounts, practice management strategies and group marketing efforts. President Brad Smith explains: “We hear from doctors and other eye care professionals who feel as though they are on an island by themselves, without support or valuable feedback. We address those concerns. . . for the eye doctor as well as their staff.”
PECAA members also have access to consultants who provide web design and other marketing vehicles: television (for half the price), print, radio, and customized DVD loop presentations for the practice. This writer recalled a recent series of PECAA television ads appearing in prime time in the Portland market. Vice President David Wolf remarked that his cost for the ad was less than a placement in the yellow pages.
PECAA now includes twenty practices in Oregon and Washington and has recently announced plans to expand across the United States. Much of the activities of PECAA are web-based, and they plan an annual business meeting with featured practice management speakers.
We applaud our alumni who are taking steps to help fellow practitioners succeed in these challenging economic times.
| Pictured above L to R: Lance Anderson, David Wolf, Brad Smith and Jeff Carkner |
Globe Trotting Optometrists
Optometry has taken Matt and Nicole Pearce to the far reaches of the world since they graduated in 2002. They started their careers in the Portland/Vancouver area before moving to Atlanta where Matt earned his MPH in Global Health from Emory University in 2006. From Atlanta they moved to Nablus, West Bank, Palestine, where they taught second and third year optometry students at An-Najah National University. Though the work was enjoyable, the constant fear of the area’s instability and financial hardships prompted their return to Atlanta. An 
opportunity arose for them in Nome, Alaska, where a temporary position as independent contractors allowed them to see patients in the hospital clinic and in numerous rural villages to do eye care.
With Matt’s public health and optometry credentials, he found a position at the Pacific Eye Institute in Fiji, where Matt is the Education Manager and Nicole is the Educator/Refraction supervisor. The institute trains nurses from around the South Pacific to take care of basic eye problems and triage those that require further care. The nurses are taught to refract and dispense spectacles and assist in pre-op, surgery and post-op. The nurses spend 10 months training in Fiji and return to their home countries to work in eye care.
Matt and Nicole are enjoying their new jobs and the opportunity to provide eye care in underserved areas.
Hilary Hawthorne, OD '92, Becomes President of COA
Sacramento, CA, February 20, 2009 – Hilary L. Hawthorne, OD, a Los 
Angeles optometrist, was installed as President of the California Optometric Association’s (COA) Board of Trustees during its annual House of Delegates meeting in Sacramento, California, January 30-31, 2009.
“I am encouraged by my role as COA President this year to grow our Association’s membership and advocacy efforts and to ensure that the public understands an optometrist’s vital role in healthcare as the primary eye provider,” Dr. Hawthorne says.
An active member of COA since joining the Association in 1991, Dr. Hawthorne been a member of COA’s Board of Trustees since 2002. Additionally, Dr. Hawthorne has held a number of committee appointments, including California trustee for the Great Western Council of Optometry (GWCO), education chair for the COA Education and Conference committee, and chair of the Hispanic Communications Project Team for the American Optometric Association (AOA). She is also past president of the Los Angeles County Optometric Society. Dr. Hawthorne also serves on the College of Optometry's Alumni & Friends Advisory Board.
Dr. Hawthorne has been practicing optometry in the Los Angeles area for 15 years, primarily as a solo practitioner at Community Eye Center Optometry in south central Los Angeles. She is an active member of the business community, including volunteer service on the City of Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA/LA) Vermont – Manchester Community Advisory Committee (CAC).
California Optometric Association was established in 1899, and is California’s oldest organized community for optometrists. Representing more than 2,700 optometrists, COA is dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of health care for the public through the advancement of
optometry.
Adventures in Preceptorships
Clinical rotations are an important part of the optometry program. During their fourth professional year, students complete four 11-week clinical rotations. Linnea Stonecypher was delighted with her assignment to the Guam SDA Seventh Day Adventist Eye Clinic in the U.S. Territory of Guam.
This clinical site had not been active since Typhoon Omar roared over the island in 1992, cutting power, destroying homes and causing floods.
The affiliation with the site was re-established in 2006 through the efforts of long-time Portland Family Vision Center office manager, Linda Fields, and her friendship with James Christian, OD, of the SDA Eye Clinic. Stonecypher is the first Pacific student to rotate through the site since then.
Stonecypher, from Calgary, Alberta, was enthused about the wonderful clinical experience she had at the clinic. The patient traffic was heavy and she saw a lot of disease conditions. Of course, the tropical location made her off-hours very enjoyable. She admits that her interest in Guam was sparked by her parents’ stories of having lived there for six years.
The College of Optometry has affiliated sites throughout the United States and select locations in Canada, Japan, Korea, Germany, China, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Practice Opportunities Site Up and Running
The College of Optometry at Pacific University provides this forum to help connect current students and alumni with career opportunities in their field. Practicing optometrists are welcome to post their openings and opportunites or to browse job seeker profiles. Post your opportunities today: http://pacificu.edu/optometry/practices/
Faculty and Students at Special Olympics Opening Eyes
College of Optometry faculty and students participated in the “Opening Eyes Program” for the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes event held at Park Lanes in Hillsboro, Ore, on Saturday, November 22nd. The 
Open-ing Eyes Program provides free vision care and glasses for Special Olympic athletes.
The Opening Eyes Team consisted of faculty members: J P Lowery, Hannu Laukkanen, Graham Erickson, Dina Erickson, Rick London, Len Hua and Paula Handford; staff members Cathy Evans, Marcy Apple and Launa Kind; and thirty optometry students who gave up their Saturday to help. Pictured to the right are second year students Oliver Kuhn-Wilken and Hans Bjorn with one of the Special Olympiads.
The team took over the restaurant area of Park Lanes and established stations to provide the various components of a comprehensive vision exam, including: auto-refractor, visual acuity, dilation, and full slit lamp evaluation. IVAN, Pacific's mobile clinic, was also on hand in the parking lot.
“The prevalence of vision problems in the special needs population is ten times greater than in the general population,” explained Dr. J P Lowery. Athletes from underserved areas like Gold Beach, Brookings and Klamath Falls traveled to Hillsboro for the event. Over sixty (60) vision exams were given during the day-long program. In addition to the free vision exam, the athletes were able to receive glasses within 45 minutes. Santinelli International was on site to provide the lens edging and produce the completed eyewear. Essilor donated lenses and Safilo provided quality frames.
Joann Stoller, Director of Sports for Special Olympics Oregon, reported the story of a mom who was so thankful for the free eye exam which revealed that her middle-aged daughter had cataracts in both eyes, which accounted for her daughter’s recent poor performance in track and bowling. With only the Oregon Health Plan, she was unable to have her daughter’s eyes examined.
The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program was started in 1997. It has grown to provide seven different health screenings with the goal to improve athletes' ability to train and compete in Special Olympics. These free health screenings and services are offered to athletes at local, State/Provincial, National and World Games. Volunteer health care professionals and students are trained to provide the screenings in an effort to educate the professional community about the health needs and abilities of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Fall Practice Opportunities Fair
Students crowded the classroom in Jefferson Hall for the Fall Practice Opportunity Fair. The lure of "goodie bags", give-aways and TMOD study guides (from Luxottica Retail) was secondary to the chance to talk with representatives from private practices and corporations to learn about the practice options available to them.
Gerald Berges, OD '73, traveled from Kennewick to represent the La Grande, Ore practice of Chad Lusk, OD '73. Dr. William Wickline and his wife Patti talked enthusiastically about their practice in Sequim, Wash. Darin Closson, OD '97, and Christ Thorsland, OD '05, represented their companies at the Fair. The Canadian students were able to learn about opportunities in Canada with Optometric Services, Inc., from Quebec.
Plan to participate in the Spring Practice Opportunity Fair and showcase your business to our students. Contact Melodye MacAlpine for more information or to reserve your table.
Kreidler Re-Elected
Mike Kreidler, OD '69, was elected to a 4 year term as Insurance Commissioner for Washington State, winning more than 61% of the vote. He was elected Insurance Commissioner in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. Dr. Kreidler practiced optometry for 20 years and also served as a school board member, state representative, state senator, and in the U.S. Congress.
Congratulations Fellows!
Congratulations to faculty members Fraser Horn, OD’04; and Tracy Doll, OD’06; who became Fellows of the American Academy of Optometry during the Academy meeting in Anaheim, California, in October 2008.
The following College alumni also became Fellows of the American Academy of Optometry: Richard Baird, OD’07; Aaron Bronner, OD’07; Randall Fuerst, OD’83; Winter Lewis, OD’00; Amanda Mendez-Roberts, OD’05; Ronda Olson, OD’04; Nathan Price, OD’96; Nidhi Rana Ashwani, MS ’01, OD’03; Jennifer Tam, OD’04; and Walter Whitley, OD’02.
College of Optometry Announces Patient Assistant Program
In these times of economic uncertainty, many people have to make difficult financial choices and often cut back on expenses like new frames and lenses. Unfortunately, for a child this can create problems in the classroom or on the playground. To address this problem, Pacific EyeTrends announced their new Patient Assistance Program which offers income-based discounts for frames, lenses and lens options. Discounts are given on a sliding scale based on household income and the federal poverty guidelines.
“This allows every patient to have access to the best optical options to meet their vision needs,” says Cathy Evans, Director of Ophthalmic Services. She explained that this program was implemented in mid-September and added that a generous partnership with Opticraft Laboratories in Portland has made this program possible. “Opticraft was very anxious to participate in a program that helps people in our community who are facing financial difficulties,” added Evans.
Pacific EyeTrends are the optical shops located at each of the College of Optometry’s clinics in the Portland area. The optometry program includes coursework in clinical optics and hands-on laboratories with certified optical professionals.
2008 Great Western Council of Optometry
Over 250 optometrists enjoyed a spectacular lunch and had the chance to visit with friends, classmates and former instructors at the annual 
Pacific University Alumni and Friends Luncheon at the Great Western Council of Optometry (GWCO) 2008 Congress at the Oregon Convention Center. Dean Jennifer Smythe, OD ’93, approached the podium to greet her former classmates, students and peers. She expressed her honor at introducing the distinguished guests who are part of the lore of the College: Professors Emeriti Don West and Niles Roth, and crowd favorite, Mrs. Willie Teeter. The purpose of the luncheon was to thank the doctors for their support of the College and to keep them abreast of how the College is changing to meet the demands of a dynamic profession. Read more.
Optometry Marathoners
The cold, rainy Portland morning didn't discourage the hearty Optometry students from giving their all at the 2008 Portland Marathon. Pounding the pavement for 26.2 miles were second year students: Dan Schrempp (2:56:23), Mike Young (3:43:25), Kelly Minnich (4:17:30); third years: Frank Kuchera (3:47:37) and Lindsey Edmonds (3:52); and fourth year Eli Hall (4:01:06). Traveling from Minnesota to participate was Tim Nelson, OD '01(3:50:42) who ran with Eric Reisler, OD '01, from Fort Collins, Colorado. With 70 live musical groups and cheering crowds along the way, this annual event is known for being runner friendly and attracts more than 12,000 participants.