Focus On-Line
This page will bring you stories about alumni, students, faculty, staff and the College. If you have any story ideas, please e-mail: jeanne@pacificu.edu.
Pacific Focus Newsletter
The "Pacific Focus" is a publication for alumni and friends of the College of Optometry. It features stories about alumni and students, as well as news about the College. Click here to see the latest issue.
To see past issues:
After moving a mountain of paperwork and correspondence, and conducting interviews throughout the country, Admissions Director Janelle Holmboe proudly presented the 92 members of the Class of 2012. Will Perkins, Associate Dean for Graduate & Professional Students, and Melodye MacAlpine, Assistant Director of Student Services, coordinated an orientation program to welcome the Class with two days of activities which included tours of Jefferson Hall and the Pacific University campus and an overview of the myriad student services they will employ over the next four years.
The Class of 2012 includes 57 women and 35 men. Sixteen of them will juggle the responsibilities of marriage and family with the rigors of the academic program. Members of the class range in age from 20 to 41, with the average age being 24. Holmboe boasted that the Class of 2012 holds many academic records: the highest average total science OAT score of 347, the highest average incoming cumulative GPA of 3.57, and the highest average science GPA of 3.50.
The members of the class come from twenty-two states and two Canadian Provinces (10 from Alberta and 4 from British Columbia). Escaping the cold winters of North Dakota are 14 students, the most from any state. Eleven students from Washington and 10 from Oregon are also in the class. The students received degrees from 63 different colleges and universities. The University of Alberta had 7 representatives, Brigham Young of Idaho had 5, and North Dakota State University had 5.
Orientation Day introduced the Class of 2012 to the key administrators in the College of Optometry: Dean Jennifer Smythe led them in the Code of Ethics and Assistant Dean John Smith gave them an overview of the academic program. Representatives of student government: AOSA Trustee Guy Ambrosio, Class of 2010; SOA President Shannon Mitchell, Class of 2010; and Class of 2010 President Kyla Hunter exhorted the in-coming class to take the time to participate in student activities. The importance of active involvement with the profession was stated by local association dignitaries: Oregon Optometric Physician Association (OOPA) Past President Douglas Melzer, OD ’87, and OOPA President Darrin Fleming, OD; OOPA Pacific University Liaison Tara Pinske, OD ’00; and Optometric Physician of Washington President Michael Noble, OD ’83.
Orientation included ample opportunity for the Class to meet and interact with their new classmates. They enjoyed a banquet, lunch and reception where they met the faculty and forged new friendships and future professional relations.
Welcome to four years of hard work and a satisfying and rewarding career in Optometry!
The College Welcomes Debra Avilucea
Ms. Debra Avilucea has recently been added to the College Administrative Staff as Director of Clinical Management. Debra holds an MBA from Western New Mexico University and will be responsible for evaluating and monitoring all aspects of the business operations across our internal clinical program. She will be taking on the responsibility of monitoring and tracking our key market indicators, developing, implementing, and monitoring patient satisfaction surveys, developing marketing and promotional materials for the College clinical program, and working with the clinic managers to develop policies and procedures for operations. Debra will be working closely with the Clinical Directors and the College administration to develop faculty and student clinical schedules; and working with the Director of Ophthalmic Services, Ms. Cathy Evans, to bring further integration of the policies and training regarding the services and products provided within the clinics.
Debra recently served as Executive Director for Enrollment Services and Registrar for Pacific University. Welcome, Debra!
WALK AND RUN FOR SIGHT - Saturday, September 20, 2008
Join in on the fun! Sign up for the 5K Walk & Run for Sight .
Fun, Fashion and Excitement at Pacific Eye Trends
A dizzying array of frames from over 25 lines were on display at a mini-Vision Expo presented by Luxottica Eyewear. Organized by Cathy Evans, Pacific University Director of Ophthalmic Services, this show was an unprecedented unveiling of the entire Luxottica product line. Luxottica Group is the world’s leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of prescription frames and sunglasses in the premium and luxury segments.
“We have five affiliated EyeTrends opticals and we are expanding our product diversity to better serve our patients.” explains Ken Eakland, Associate Dean for Clinical Programs, “We are very pleased with our renewed relationship with Luxottica.”
Click here to read more and see pictures from the event.
Alumni Weekend Brings out the Best
What would it take to entice a person to drive out to the campus of Pacific University on a beautiful Saturday in June? Would it be a chance to visit the campus in all its summer splendor? How about a lavish lunch buffet under the oaks? Would sitting with former classmates listening to the vast clinical expertise of the nationally acclaimed Dr. Art Epstein? What if the continuing education program was free? The answer is all of the above as ninety (90) College of 
Optometry alumni spanning 53 years attended the annual Optometry Reunion Continuing Education Program on June 21, 2009.
From venerable “old-timers” like Lawrence Chan, OD ’54; Donald Bettger, OD ’57; and Bob Beaderstadt, OD ’59; to new 2007 doctors each person enjoyed the opportunity to see the changes on campus, renew friendships and earn a few hours. Larry Hedgren, ’58, OD ’59, of New Mexico was inducted into the “Golden Guard” in honor of his 50th anniversary of graduating from the undergraduate program. Another inductee, Al Furie, ’58, OD ’60, was honored with the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award for his years of service on the faculty of the College of Optometry. Both Golden Guard members bent down on creaky knees with their other classmates to add their names to the East Sidewalk by Old College Hall.
Be sure to save the third weekend in June 2009 for your chance to be a part of the Alumni Reunion Weekend! Click here to see more pictures from the Reunion CE Weekend.
Perkins Named Associate Dean
Will Perkins was recently named Associate Dean for Graduate/Professional Students. His primary duties remain with the students in the College of Optometry, but he now interacts with professional students at the Hillsboro and Eugene campuses. Will's leadership will help to provide more consistent and dependable support to students, and develop relationships and collaborations that will benefit all professional programs.
Spanish Class ends with a BANG
The members of the Class of 2010 who took “Basic Spanish for Optometry” (Opt. 752) as an elective during the summer semester were in for a treat when instructor, Tracy Doll, OD ’06, brought in Mexican treats and a piñata on the final day of class. Throughout the term, Dr. Doll used fun and engaging teaching techniques to instruct the class in 
basic vocabulary and how to perform a comprehensive optometric exam on a Spanish speaking patient. In addition, she identified the cultural differences in the Hispano-American population with respect to health care beliefs and services in the U.S. compared with the countries of origin. She also identified the health conditions that are prevalent in the population group.
Tracy Doll, OD '06, instructs Opt. 752.
Specs, RX and Rock 'n Roll
Pacific was selected as the host school for the rules video for the Essilor Super Bowl at the AOA meeting in Seattle. A film crew from Essilor and 80 – 90 students gathered at the College on Saturday, June 7, while the 5 members of Near Triad (Guy Ambrosio, Ben Cahoon, Adam Gorner, Nathan Rains and Marc Schmitt) entertained the screaming crowd. Read more.
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2008
94 new optometrists entered the profession on a bright Saturday morning in May. The Class of 2008 completed four years of coursework during which the fourth professional year consisted entirely of clinical rotations at one of Pacific's affiliated preceptorship sites. Those sites are located throughout the US and Canada. For many, graduation is their return to campus after a year away. The busy graduation day began with a ceremony to welcome the optometrists to the profession and ended with the formal commencement ceremony at the Pacific Athletic Center. One final hurdle will be taking state boards and law exams afterwhich they'll take the profession by storm. Read more about graduation and view pictures,click here.
OEPF Donates Readalyzer
At the concluding banquet of the 23rd annual JCTCO, The Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF) donated a Readalyzer to the College in honor of the late Dr. Craig H. Witte. Dr. Witte, from Bloomington, Illinois, was a regular attendee at the Joint Conference. He specialized in children's vision, developmental vision, and visual training, and was well known for his insightful contributions to the program discussions. He was equally known for his quick wit and clinical expertise. 
The Readalyzer is a device that accurately records eye movements while reading and assesses reading fluency while isolating reading problems. The instrument works by recording how the eyes focus, how they move and how long they stop on each word, how accurately they jump from place to place and how the reader is able to piece together the story in sequence to provide understanding and comprehension. With the use of the Readalyzer it is possible to diagnose problems associated with reading including comprehension difficulties, tiredness after reading and general difficulties.
Our thanks to OEPF and to the memory of a colleague and friend, Dr. Craig Witte.
2007 Graduates Complete Residencies
Ten members of the class of 2007 participated in one of Pacific’s affiliated residency programs: Brian Arvidson, Ashley Bement, Dave Coulson, Kirk Halvorson, Tracy Jacobsen, Shannon Kessler, Van Ly, Mark Maraman, Mary Miller and Sheila Wadhwa. In addition to patient care, their residency year included scholarly activities and case presentations to their peers. Each June, the doctors at each of the programs present at the annual Residency Conference, a day-long continuing education program open to doctors in the community. Their presentations showcased the depth and breadth of their clinical experiences.
For more information and pictures from the conference, please click here.
Playfully describing them as ‘siblings”, Jeff Hiett (R), Residency Program Coordinator for the Puget Sound VA, also offered many words of praise for Kirk Halvorson, Tracy Jacobsen and Mark Maraman.
CAPSTONE EVENT 2008
After a year of preceptorships throughout the country, the Class of 2008 returned to campus for the final educational seminar of their academic program. The “Capstone Event” was organized by Associate Dean Ken Eakland and featured speakers on topics that are critical to their 
immediate futures as optometrists. For photos and a story on the event, please click here.
Alan Homestead, OD ’80, presented the myths and facts of a successful practice to the students at the Capstone Event.
Rick London honored with President's Award
Professor Rick London was recently awarded the President’s Award for Excellence in Professional Education at the Faculty and Staff Honors and Awards Ceremony in May. With his myriad interests including rehabilitative optometry, pediatric optometry, binocular vision dysfunctions and perceptual skills, Dr. London “epitomizes the ideal researcher/clinician/educator.” In addition, the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigation Group (PEDIG) recently bestowed “Site of the Month” (May) honors Dr. London and his team for PEDIG and the Amblyopia Treatment Studies.
Transitioning to Clinical Education
After completing the second year of coursework, students tansition into the clinical portion of the program. This transition is marked by the WHITE COAT ceremony, which was held Monday, May 12, at MacCready Auditorium. (Read more)
Forrey at VOSH NW
After over forty years in practice, Jeffrey Forrey, OD ’65, could sit back and enjoy the leisure activities he postponed because of his practice. Instead, his energies are focused on Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH)/ International, where he serves as Vice-President. The primary mission of VOSH / International is to facilitate the provision and sustainability of vision care worldwide to people who can neither afford nor obtain such care. Their objective is to improve people’s vision so they can be more productive and enjoy a better quality of life.
Dr. Forrey and Paul Caletti, VP VOSH Northwest, were recently on campus to select from donated instruments, books, lab tools and other supplies for an upcoming medical mission to Samoa. Our alumni have made generous donations of these items over the years and those items have been put to good use in training our students and supporting activities from organizations such as VOSH and AMIGOS, the student affiliation of VOSH at Pacific University.
Remember to think of the College when you upgrade your tools and equipment. Please contact Ken Eakland (eaklandk@pacificu.edu) or Jeanne Oliver (Jeanne@pacificu.edu) for more information.
Faculty member Karl Citek, OD, PhD, was a featured presenter on eye movement and intoxication at the 9th Annual Mid-Atlantic Regional DUI Conference in Virginia Beach, VA, last week (Mar 18-19). Karl is frequently called upon to provide expert testimony on DUI cases throughout the U.S.
To view a video clip of Karl in action from that conference, go to the following link: http://hamptonroads.tv/index.cfm?locvid=139185&ch=New