Tag: College of Optometry

Optometry Professor Named International Optometrist of Year

Janet L. Leasher, O.D., M.P.H., FAAO, FNAP

Janet L. Leasher, O.D., M.P.H., FAAO, FNAP, received the International Optometrist of the Year 2022 Prize from the Polytechnical University of Catalonia (UPC), Faculty of Optometry and Optics in Terrassa, Spain (FOOT) on December 15, 2022.

Leasher received the award at the graduation ceremony for the class of 2022 at the Polytechnical University of Catalonia and delivered the graduation keynote address. The award was presented by Aurora Torrent Ph.D., Dean of UPC FOOT and the president of the COOOC (Official College of Optician-Optometrists of Catalonia), Joaquim Grau I Ingrada.

In conjunction with this award, she became the godmother of their incoming class of 2022 (who will graduate in 2026), and two student travel scholarships will be granted in her name for two students of this class to attend a professional congress of optometry.

NSU and UPC have a long history of collaboration, commencing in 2003 surrounding the work of the UNESCO Chair in Visual Health and Development. UPC housed the chair at the FOOT and NSU was the North American coordinating center until 2016.

Posted 02/05/23

College of Optometry Earns Excellence in Diversity Award

Nova Southeastern University’s College of Optometry earned the 2022 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This is the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

In earning this recognition, which honors U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, NSU will be featured, along with 61 other honorees, in the December 2022 issue of the magazine.

“Diversity is one of Nova Southeastern University’s Core Values, and something we take very seriously,” said Dr. George Hanbury, NSU’s President and CEO. “To be honored this way is something our students and faculty can be proud of – not just in our College of Optometry, but university-wide as this reflects the best of NSU.”

According to Insight into Diversity magazine, the Health Professions HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion.

“We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a Health Professions HEED Award recipient,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Our standards are high, and we look for schools where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”

For more information about the 2022 Health Professions HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com.

Posted 11/20/22

NSUCO Names New Director of Community Outreach

Mariana Ferraz, O.D., FAAO

NSUCO is pleased to announce that Mariana Ferraz, O.D., FAAO is the new Director of Community Outreach. In this role she will develop, implement, and participate in outreach programs for college designed to enhance our presence in the community as well as provide eye care services to various populations.Dr. Mariana Ferraz earned her undergraduate degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2015. While earning her bachelor’s degree, Dr. Ferraz became involved in Retinitis Pigmentosa research at NSU’s College of Optometry with Dr. Ava Bittner. Following graduation, she attended the Illinois College of Optometry. While pursuing her optometric career, Dr. Ferraz and Dr. Bittner continued to work together and presented various posters and paper presentations on their current Retinitis Pigmentosa Research. Her work with Dr. Bittner was finally published in 2019. Dr. Ferraz completed her Primary Care and Ocular Disease residency at Nova Southeastern University in 2020. She currently holds the rank of assistant professor.

Posted 09/25/22

NSUCO Names New Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging

Crystal Victor. O.D.

NSUCO is pleased to announce that, Crystal Victor. O.D., is the new Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. In this role, she will provide strategic leadership and oversight for the college’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives to strengthen our approach to a culture that creates a working and learning environment where people feel comfortable working, teaching, and learning together collaboratively and effectively.

Dr. Crystal Victor received her Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology and Microbiology at the University of Central Florida in 2015. She graduated with her Doctor of Optometry degree with honors at Nova Southeastern University in 2020 and completed her residency in Primary Care with emphasis in Cornea and Contact Lens in 2021. She currently holds the faculty rank of Instructor. On her free time, Dr. Victor enjoys cycling and spending time with friends and family.

Posted 09/25/22

College Names Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions

Jamie Althoff, O.D.

Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry (NSUCO) is pleased to announce that Jamie Althoff, O.D., has been named Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions. Over the past several years, she has worked closely with her predecessor, Nicole Patterson, O.D., M.S., FAAO, with her extensive involvement with interviews, SPAC, student mentorship, and as Director of Outcomes and Assessments. Her knowledge and involvement at this level will help during the time of transition into this important role for our college.

 Althoff graduated from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., in 2005 with a B.S. in Vision Science and went on to earn her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Michigan College of Optometry in 2007. In 2008, Althoff completed a residency in Primary Care with an emphasis in Geriatrics and Low Vision at NSUCO. Althoff has also won multiple student awards, advanced teaching through technology, and been an integral part of our program.

 “I look forward to supporting our students and the changes being made at the program level to train excellent optometrists in an ever-changing environment,” she says.

Posted 09/11/22

Alum Named President of Florida Optometric Association

Mark T. Marciano, O.D., was installed as the President of the Florida Optometric Association (FOA) at the annual convention, which was held on July 14-17, 2022 at the JW Marriott Turnberry Miami Resort & Spa.

The mission of the FOA is to advance and promote the quality, availability, and accessibility of primary eye and related health care of Florida’s citizens; to represent the profession of optometry; to enhance and promote the independent and ethical decision-making of its members; and to enable optometric physicians to practice at the highest standards of patient care.

Dr. Marciano is the owner of the Marciano Family Optometric, where he practices along his wife Dr. Brandee Owens Marciano. He has been a trustee for the Florida Optometric Association since 2016 and past president of the Palm Beach County Optometric Association (2004-2005). He is a trustee for the Economic Forum of Palm Beach County since 2015, and is also a member of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of the Palm Beaches.

He was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Dr. Marciano received his Bachelor’s of Science at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario Canada. He graduated in 1998 from Nova Southeastern College of Optometry in Florida where he was on the Dean’s list for academic achievement and received the Chancellors’ Award. Following graduation, he performed his residency at the Braverman Eye Center in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Dr. Marciano performs comprehensive eye exams and specializes in the management of ocular disease, including, cataract, glaucoma and refractive surgeries. He has been practicing in West Palm Beach since 1999.

Dr. Marciano understands the importance of giving back. He graciously opened his doors as an externship location when the COVID pandemic hit and many of our externship sites were unable to accommodate students. He also committed to the Drs. Mark and Brandee Marciano Changing Lives Scholarship. This scholarship will change the lives of multiple future students.

Posted 09/11/22

Optometry Researcher Receives Grant to Treat Amblyopia

Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) has granted Nova Southeastern University Associate Professor Roger Wing-Hong Li, Bsc (Optom) Ph.D., a $100,000 RPB Walt and Lilly Disney Award for Amblyopia Research. Amblyopia, a condition also known as lazy eye, results from a breakdown in how the brain and the eye work together. Symptoms of amblyopia include a wandering eye, eyes that may not appear to work together, or poor depth perception.

Professor Roger Wing-Hong Li, Bsc (Optom) Ph.D.

The RPB award was established in 2002 to strengthen and support amblyopia research. To date, the program has given awards to 29 vision scientists in departments of ophthalmology at universities across the country. Since it was founded in 1960, RPB has channeled more than $397 million into eye research. As a result, RPB has been identified with nearly every major breakthrough in vision research in that time.

Li came to the NSU College of Optometry in 2021. As a clinician scientist, he has a wide range of research interests in vision science – from amblyopia, visual psychophysics, myopic control, aging eye, visual electrophysiology, eye movement, to retinal and brain imaging.

Li, whose research focuses on developing new treatments for amblyopia, has had a long-term interest in amblyopia and spatial vision. In particular, his earlier research showed that adult amblyopia still retains a significant degree of visual plasticity, or potential for development. Using a perceptual learning approach, a wide range of visual functions can be rapidly improved in amblyopia patients.

Over the past two decades, Li and his research collaborators have conducted a series of pioneering perceptual learning amblyopia treatment studies and have developed numerous new treatment regimens. Surprisingly, his recent research shows that video-game play may have potential therapeutic applications for improving amblyopic vision.

With the support of the RPB Disney Award for Amblyopia Research, his research team is currently working toward establishing a novel “stereoscopic” treatment for childhood amblyopia using three-dimensional (3D) video games. This new technique may provide important fundamental principles for improving stereo vision in amblyopia.

For information on the Research to Prevent Blindness grants program, listings of RPB institutional and individual grantees, and findings generated by these awards, go to www.rpbusa.org.

Posted 06/14/22

 

NSU College of Optometry Student Awarded Educational Grant

Crystal Victor, a student at NSU’s College of Optometry, was recently awarded the 2020 Johnson & Johnson Vision Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care Grant. This award recognizes outstanding fourth-year student clinicians who have demonstrated skillful knowledge of the contact lens field. Victor was one of 24 recipients from around the country and will be receiving a $500 educational award and a personalized plaque commemorating their accomplishment.

Eighteen Optometry Students Become AAO Student Fellows

IMG_6347

Nova Southeastern University’s College of Optometry is proud to announce that 18 of its current students completed the requirements to become Student Fellows in the American Academy of Optometry (AAO). This number is outstanding and represents an extensive commitment by these students.

The students who achieved this are:

Molly Buchanan (’20)

Amit Chohan (’20)

HaeMi Choi (’21)

Samantha Krueger (‘20)

Tychnia Madison (‘20)

Hayden Matz (‘20)

Veronica Mirabent (‘20)

Julianna Mola (‘20)

Thuy Nguyen (‘20)

Alyssa Panagos (‘20)

Rajsee Pandya (‘20)

Rigen Pamin Saltivan (‘20)

Shadaanan Singh (‘20)

Trenisha Smith (‘20)

Natasha Taleff (‘20)

Steffani Tiomno (’19)

Crystal Victor (‘20)

Megan Webb (‘20)

The students received a Student Fellow lapel pin, a certificate, and their Candidacy for Fellowship application dues will be waived during their year of graduation. They will also enjoy free registration to the next Academy meeting.

Nova Southeastern University’s College of Optometry Celebrates 25 Years of Education, Scholarship, and Service


Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) College of Optometry recently held its Silver Anniversary celebration at NSU’s Alvin Sherman Library, coinciding with NSU’s 50th anniversary. Nearly 300 guests, including philanthropists, alumni, administrators, faculty and staff joined together to celebrate 25 years of education, scholarship and service.

Ice sculpture commemorating Nova Southeastern University’s College of Optometry’s 25th anniversary
Ice sculpture commemorating Nova Southeastern University’s College of Optometry’s 25th anniversary

Upon arrival, the guests were greeted by a winged performer and an aerialist as they stepped onto the red carpet to have their photographs taken. Aerial drummers astonished attendees as they put on a brilliant performance, dangling 30 ft. in the air. Guests enjoyed musical entertainment by a jazz fusion band, which performed throughout the evening, and a harpist, who serenaded attendees in the second floor gallery. Samplings of exquisite culinary treats were provided at various stations, including a carving station, a seafood martini station, a sushi station, and much more.

Throughout the evening, speakers reflected on the college’s accomplishments and successes.

“It is amazing to realize that 25 years have passed since the opening of NSU College of Optometry,” said David S. Loshin, O.D., Ph.D., dean. “In some ways it feels like just yesterday and in others, it was a lifetime ago. What tremendous growth and success we have seen in this quarter century. From humble beginnings with Southeastern College of Health Sciences in North Miami Beach to today’s world class facilities in Fort Lauderdale at Nova Southeastern University, we have come a long way. We are very proud of the foundation of clinical excellence that we have built and look forward to a bright future. We know that we educate and train some of the finest optometric physicians in the world and their work defines our success.”

Dr. David S. Loshin, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO, diplomate, dean, NSU’s College of Optometry, Jacqueline A. Travisano, M.B.A., CPA, NSU executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Dr. Michael Bacigalupi, O.D., M.S., FAAO, assistant dean for student affairs, NSU’s College of Optometry
Dr. David S. Loshin, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO, diplomate, dean, NSU’s College of Optometry, Jacqueline A. Travisano, M.B.A., CPA, NSU executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Dr. Michael Bacigalupi, O.D., M.S., FAAO, assistant dean for student affairs, NSU’s College of Optometry

NSU’s College of Optometry opened its doors 1989 as part of Southeastern College of Health Care Sciences as the only college of optometry in Florida. Today, it remains the only one in the state and one of only 21 in the United States. Students study the most advanced techniques from world-renowned faculty members while caring for South Florida’s culturally diverse patient population.

More than 32,000 patients visit NSU’s Eye Care Institute’s facilities in Davie, Fort Lauderdale, and North Miami Beach (along with Broward Lighthouse in Fort Lauderdale and Kids In Distress’ Wilton Manors campus) annually. The institute is Florida’s largest and most comprehensive optometric center.

The Institute’s services include primary eye care and specialized services for pediatrics and binocular vision disorders, low vision rehabilitation, advanced contact lens fits, management of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma, as well as electro-diagnostic testing.

The college has continued its innovative path, offering the only five-year extended optometry and one-year preparatory optometry programs in the United States. The program also offers a dual M.B.A. program to help students prepare for their careers and the only online Master of Science degree in Clinical Vision Research in the United States.

For more information on NSU’s College of Optometry, please visit www.nova.edu/optometry.

# # #

About Nova Southeastern University: Situated on 314 beautiful acres in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at all levels. NSU is a not-for-profit independent institution with 27,000 students. NSU awards associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. NSU is classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and it is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification. For more information, please visit www.nova.edu. Celebrating 50 years of academic excellence!

Media Contact:
Jeremy Katzman, M.B.A., APR | Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5408 (office)
954-661-7000 (cell)
j.katzman@nova.edu
https://nsunews.nova.edu/nova-southeastern-universitys-college-of-optometry-celebrates-25-years-of-education-scholarship-and-service/

1 2 3