CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES! CLASS OF 2008
OPTOMETRY
GRADUATE STUDIES IN VISION IMPAIRMENT
AUDIOLOGY
Your fellow students and alumni, the faculty and the staff at PCO are proud of your achievement. We extend our best wishes to you all!
COMMENCEMENT 2008
The commencement ceremony for PCO Optometry and Graduate Studies in Vision Impairment students will take place on Thursday, May 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia PA. All graduates must report to the Kimmel Center for a 10:30 a.m. rehearsal.
The Audiology commencement will be held on Friday, May 23 at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom in Elkins Park PA. Graduates must report to Beth Sholom for a rehearsal at 9:00 a.m.
Since the majority of Audiology graduates are from the distance education program, they and their families will be treated to a variety of festivities on the Elkins Park campus beginning at 9:00 a.m. that will include tours of the campus and the Pennsylvania Ear Institute.
Weather permitting, Audiology graduates and faculty will process two blocks down Old York Road to Beth Sholom, which was designed by renowned American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.
Student News
Jennifer Benfield '09 PA has been awarded one of two 2008-2009 rotations of the Association of Physician Assistants in Obstetrics and Gynecology (APAOG) at the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton CA. This site was chosen by APAOG for its strong reputation as a clinical site and its PA familiar staff and faculty. Jennifer will receive training in inpatient and outpatient obstetrics and gynecology, including instruction on assisting and performing deliveries.
John Bannwarth '08 OD has won the ASCO Student Award in Clinical Ethics. The $1,000 award from the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry is open to third and fourth year students. John won for his submission of a 1500 word essay describing a patient based case study that he encountered as part of his clinical experience at PCO. One student from each of the North American schools of optometry is chosen for this award.
Krystal Largey '09 OD has been awarded a $1,000 grant from Essilor of America for her winning entry in the Varilux Student Grant Program. The competition is open to third year students from all North American schools of optometry and Krystal's essay was chosen as the winning entry from PCO.
Rachel Brackley '09 OD has been awarded a AOF-Carl Zeiss Vision Fellowship. The $5,000 award will be sent to the College and applied to financial aid. As part of her prize, Rachel will attend the AAO meeting in October, where she will attend special functions for the AOF-Carl Zeiss Fellows from 2007 and this year. As part of this award, Rachel also will have her expenses paid to attend the 2009 AAO conference.
NOSA
SOSH + VOSH = HELP 4 HAITI
by Robert Wang, ’10 OD,
President, PCO SOSH
This year, more than twenty years after SOSH (Students in Optometric Service to Humanity) was forced from Haitian soil, four officers of SOSH at PCO had the opportunity to travel to Haiti.
We partnered with two doctors from VOSH (Volunteers in Optometric Service to Humanity), one surgeon from SEE (Surgical Eye Expeditions) and three fellow VOSH members. What we saw was a country of contrasts, with some of the most beautiful land and most devastating diseases.
While there is little doubt that we came too late for some, for others we came just in time. For those we could not help, end stage glaucoma and ocular diseases were fairly common among the patients we saw.
The VOSH/SOSH team worked in satellite clinics, literally bringing the doctors to the people. And while dispensing recycled spectacles is a major goal of SOSH and VOSH, catching ocular pathology and treating it immediately were also large concerns. Patients were literally seen on one day and then operated on the next day - or even on the same day by SEE’s surgeon.
Admittedly, this was hard and very emotional work at times. Some of the days were especially discouraging, but we always jumped at the opportunity of a new day of work. This year PCO’s SOSH students will be returning to Haiti to provide ocular health exams, spectacles and care to the people there.
ATTENTION STUDENTS:
TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT!
We invite you to photograph daily student life - in classrooms, in clinic, in labs, at TEI or PEI, or elsewhere on campus.
Winning photos will be featured in College publications and on our website - and the winning photographers will receive a gift certificate to the College bookstore.
Submit your photos electronically by Friday, June 6
to pshelly@pco.edu.
Please Note! Remember to ask permission before shooting a subject. A signed release form will be needed for any patients appearing in photos.