March, 2008
RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
On February 28, NOSA (National Optometric Student Association) sponsored a blood drive and the PCO community responded with its best ever numbers.
Prior to the day of the drive more than fifty people had volunteered to donate much needed blood to the Red Cross.
Mia Fripps ’10, president of NOSA, was encouraged by the number of donors and hopes that this will be an ongoing trend for future blood drives, as the need for blood donations has reached a critical point in blood banks across the country.
Although sponsored by NOSA, the Blood Drive Committee that arranged the drive and recruited members consisted of two Physician Assistant students, Joseph Lamb ’09 and Melissa Rosenthal ’09, one Audiology student, Busisiwe Merritt ’11, and two Optometry students, Mia Fripps and Caryn Jones ’10.
Ms. Fripps believes because this was a joint initiative between three of the programs of study at the College participation was higher this year than in any other PCO blood drive.
O.A.S.C.: NOT FOR PARENTS ONLY!
The Optometric Association for the Support of Children (O.A.S.C.), a student group that welcomes all PCO students from all programs as members, held its first general meeting last month in Elkins Park.
The organization's mission is to promote the academic success of all students and be a support system to all students, by supporting those who may have - or plan to have - children.
The group's officers, Timothy Brown '10, President, Ashley Westbrook '10, Secretary and Renae Welke '11, Treasurer, stress that students do not have to be parents to be members.
Membership is free and the name is optometric only because a group of OD students founded the organization in 2005.
The group would like to introduce the professions of optometry, audiology, physician assistant and vision impairment rehabilitation or teaching at local schools in the surrounding communities.
O.A.S.C. officers hope to organize/perform pediatric screenings; provide information on available financial resources for students and parents, hold social events such as potluck dinners, bowling, movies and perhaps provide free babysitting support for students who have children.
STUDENT NAMED SCHWEITZER FINALIST
Karen (Frey) Heaney ’09, has been selected as a finalist for the 2008-2009 Greater Philadelphia Schweitzer Fellows program.
Begun in 1991, the Schweitzer Fellows program was named for Dr. Albert Schweitzer, a physician, minister, musician, philosopher and humanitarian, who was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1952.
Candidates are chosen from health and human service professional studies students who are leaders in service and dedicated to working with underserved populations.
Schweitzer Fellows receive a year’s stipend that allows them to work with a community organization on a service project, which the students develop and propose.
Ms. Heaney’s interview will take place on March 6 at Thomas Jefferson University.
STUDENTS RECEIVE ARMY SCHOLARSHIPS
Optometry students Johnetta Askew ’11 and William Garrison ’11 have each been awarded a Health Professions Scholarship from the United States Army.
Each of the scholarships is for three years and both students will be commissioned as officers, serving as Army optometrists after graduation from PCO.
February, 2008
PCO And MLK Day of Service
On the 40th anniversary of performing a day of community service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., PCO had three groups of volunteers participate in optometry screenings in Philadelphia. NOSA (National Optometric Students Association) members had two groups at different schools, while a group of students with no student group affiliation served at a third location. In addition to performing many screenings and referrals, PCO students and faculty had a great time giving back to the community and were proud to represent the College. Thanks to all who participated - the College community is proud of you.
Pictured above is the group of NOSA volunteers who spent the day at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School, where they performed vision screenings.
First row: Dr. Neal Nyman, PCO faculty.
Second row: Carl Eckman ’10; Ashley Westbrook ’10; Sherelle McCoy ’11; Kavitha Jayachandran ’11; Laura Alexander ’11.
Third row: Mahdokht Davoodi ’11; Ogechi Ukegbu ’10 (NOSA Vision Screening Chair); Tiffany Humes ’11; Ajobola Ogunnusi ’10; Lisa Chow ’11; Teju Olagoke ’11 and Tia Villeral ’10.
Aboved photo is of a second group of NOSA volunteers who spent their holiday at Germantown High School, where the group performed 60 screenings, resulting in quite a few referrals. The group posed before screenings began and are shown here from left to right: Sandy Dang ’11; Samantha Rodriguez ‘10; Sybil Kompancaril ‘10; Renee Gomez ’10; Mark Axford ’10; Dr. Felix Barker, PCO faculty;
Ashley Hudson ’10 and Mia Fripps ’10 (NOSA President).
Pictured above is the third group of students and faculty who volunteered to participate in this annual day of service and represent PCO. This group held vision screenings at Philadelphia Community College. Pictured from left to right are: First row: David Hwang ’10; Dr. Bryn DeBass, TEI Resident. Second row: Darryl Glover ’11; Johnetta Askew ‘11; Hugh Steer ’10; Dr. Clark Chang, TEI Resident. Third row: Sherita Seward ‘09 (holding daughter, Tycianna Brown); Chelsea Mathis ’11; Angela Davis ’11. Fourth row: Jacobi Cleaver ’11; Daniel Baruffi ’10; Trakena Cole ’11; Essence Robinson ‘10. Top: Timothy Brown ‘10.