 New England College of Optometry
424 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02115
617-266-2030
www.neco.edu
An Update from Dr. Clifford Scott, President
Dear Colleagues,
During the six months that I’ve been in the second-floor office, I’ve regularly sought input from all constituencies of the institution to gauge the pulse of the College’s activities, to determine what makes us proud, and to ascertain what’s troublesome.
Two of our best observers are our alumni – who are passionate about making sure that NECO/NEEI remains at the cutting edge of educating the next generation of optometrists - and our colleagues at other optometry colleges, who face most of the same social and financial issues that we are addressing. The consistent theme that they both echo is making sure that we do everything necessary to prepare students for the changes that they will face in the health care environment.
I want to share with you the newest programs our current students will be exposed to in the next few years:
• Those of you who have already incorporated an Electronic Health Record into your practices are well aware that it is much more than using a computer to record and store your exam findings; it changes how you practice and opens up your work to a review by a variety of regulators, insurers, and even your patients themselves. Through a federal grant, we’re currently having a complete analysis of our current technological capabilities and an assessment of what we need to implement EHRs into our optometric clinical courses over the next few years.
• Over the past few years Bill Sleight, through another grant, developed and validated self-learning, computer-based modules that have built-in tests to supplement classroom education in the ocular disease courses. Bill will be coming full-time with us to develop more modules with the goal to have most of the ocular disease topics available in this format.
• Our clinical education system is expanding. It’s been so successfully woven into the practices of our affiliates in the Greater Boston area that the requests for fourth-year students have now exceeded the number of students in the class.
On the negative side, not only is our tuition significantly higher than our nearest competitor, but three more optometry schools also have opened in the past year. This year, our applications are robust, so we will fill the incoming class with the same quality of students that we have had in the past few years.
My longer term concern, which is the thrust of this letter to you, is the likelihood that ten or so new medical schools will be opening in the next few years. College students in the science majors may not even consider optometry as a career. Therefore, I’m charging each of you to identify at least one qualified candidate per year: a junior or senior in College with a 3.5 GPA and who has the personal characteristics to be an optometric colleague. Call or e-mail me with the contact information and I’ll make sure that our recruiting team follows-up. We need to replace the soon-to-retire generation with a cadre of bright, compassionate, and well-trained primary-care optometrists. You can help make that happen.
Thanks,
Scotty
617-587-5584
scottc@neco.edu
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News From NEEI 
New England Eye recently launched its new website at www.newenglandeye.org. The site now boasts a contemporary look and feel, with updated, comprehensive content and innovative ways for communicating with patients. In addition to accessing information about New England Eye and its providers, patients can take a quiz to help them determine whether they are in need of an eye exam, watch videos on topics ranging from eye health to contact lens care, and make an online request for an appointment at the Commonwealth or Roslindale clinic.
The new website is just one of the multiple efforts that New England Eye has been making to reach out to prospective patients. Another initiative, the Boston University VIP Program, launched on April 1, 2009, has been deemed such a success that it is being used as a model for additional VIP Programs. It has been responsible for over 1,200 patient visits to New England Eye clinics. The second VIP Program, for employees of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, launched on January 1st, is expected to be just as successful. Both VIP Programs offer qualifying patients co-pay waivers, priority appointments and optical discounts, while providing students with increased patient contacts, making the program a winning proposal for all involved. _________________________________________________
A Message from the President of the Alumni Association Board Dear Friends, It is with great enthusiasm I greet you this spring. The year of 2010 will not go without recognition. We will be inaugurating a fellow alumnus as our next President of the New England College of Optometry, Cliff Scott, OD '68, welcome a new Dean of Academic Affairs, alumnus Barry Fisch, OD'71, and Director of Professional Relations, alumnus Tony Cavallerano, OD '72. Career Night was held on March 24. Jennifer Stewart, OD '07 and her committee invited many local NECO alumni to highlight the merits of their particular career choices. We always seem to have a full house of students along with countless NECO Alumni willing to share their experiences. Lynn Brandes, OD'87 and her committee are arranging for a newly formatted Alumni Weekend September 24th-26th. This will be an excellent opportunity for all classes to reunite. The entire weekend will emphasize "reunion" and should be enjoyed by everyone. This summer, we are encouraging all NECO Alumni to make themselves available to mentor a member of the OD 1 class. First year students will be seeking one of us to be their mentor to shadow for a few hours this July-August. If you are interested reviewing clinical skills for the National Board, serving as preceptor for practical tutorials, wish to serve as a mentor for a future colleague, or join your class at our annual reunion... simply let us know. The new office of Development and Alumni Affairs has smoothly transitioned alumni activities into the department. Staff include Nancy Broude, Vice President of Development and Alumni Affairs, Jennifer Teti, Assistant Director of Development and Alumni Affairs, and Kim Carleton, Development and Alumni Affairs Assistant. Dr. Doreen Kleinman has left the college after serving us proudly. Please contact Kim Carleton to get you involved. I look forward to seeing you at one of our events. Philip L. Sutherland, OD'86 _______________________________________________
Dear Fellow Alumni
Life has certainly changed here since December. We have a new president, Dr. Clifford Scott, a new associate dean of students, Barbara McGinley, as well as a new dean of academic affairs, me. I can honestly say it was not one of those opportunities I had on my radar. Retirement was more the option I was contemplating. But, I can truthfully say I am extremely busy and pleased to be so. I am honored and privileged to be the academic dean. This is a unique opportunity to be in a position where one can have a global impact on the future of optometry students and the profession. It is one of my goals to have our students leave this institution with a sense of pride and respect for this wonderful profession and college, the same respect and pride that I have for a college and profession that his given so much to me.
Dr. Scott provided a wonderful overview of our programs and objectives in the last issue of Visionaries . We have many challenges facing us as we move ahead, but with a wonderful and dedicated didactic and clinical faculty as well as a terrific staff, I know we will meet these challenges because we will view them as opportunities. Our student body, our future alumni and your future colleagues, will carry forward the result of our efforts. I am confident they will be prepared to succeed whether as clinicians, educators, researchers or administrators.
For many of us, the term dean is synonymous with Dean Kamens. To paraphrase Senator Lloyd Bentsen, I served with Hy Kamens, I knew Hy Kamens, Hy Kamens was a friend of mine, but alas, I am no Hy Kamens. I will, however, strive to bring his many wonderful qualities to this position.
I encourage all of you to find the time to discover the new NECO and to become active alumni. I look forward to seeing you at upcoming college events. Certainly, if you are in the Boston area, I would love to have you stop by and give me the opportunity to show off our wonderful programs and facilities.
Best regards,
Barry
Barry M. Fisch, O.D.
Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs
fischb@neco.edu
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SAVE THE DATE!
Alumni Weekend
September 24 -26, 2010
Join us for a weekend of celebration
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The Installation of President Clifford Scott
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White Coat Ceremony for 2nd year students
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Reunions for 1st, 5th, 10th, 25th, and 40th class years ______________________________________
A Student Perspective
By Amanda Powers, Executive Student Council President, Class of 2011 Spring is here already, and it couldn't have arrived sooner for us students. We have been busy since last semester. In November, the First Year Students enjoyed their privileging ceremony. This ceremony welcomes them into the clinical community, having now met credentialing standards and learned basic entrance exams used on vision screenings. Also in November, the Fourth Year Students took Part II of the Board exam. In March, they started their fourth rotation and are gearing up to take Part III in April. I know that they are very eager to graduate in May and join the optometric community. Everyone had midterms at the beginning of March, and the Third Year Students stuck around for Spring Break to study for Part I of the Board exam. It was an exhausting two days, much like a marathon of sorts, but we all had the endurance to finish the race. Student Council organized a ski trip to Sunday River in Maine for Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. There was plenty of fresh snow and no injuries! VOSH had their annal Alcon Night, a fundraiser for April's trip to the Dominican Republic. NECO students will be conducting vision screenings and providing glasses and sunglasses to anywhere from 1,500-2,000 patients during their week there. We have a new Associate Dean of Students in Barbara McGinley. She is growing into her new role well and accepts the challenges as they come along. The Preceptors Conference brought in many preceptors from Greater Boston and throughout the country. Students learned about their future sites, and provided entertainment with their own talent show. Who knew optometry students could sing and act? The semester is coming to an end, and we will all be another year older and wiser, in optometry years. ______________________________
EYE-SPY
David DeRuosi ('87) became a member of the American Academy of Optometry
Stacy Lyons ('88) is the new Chair of the Vision Care Section of the American Public Health Association
Joseph Molinari ('74) published "Corneal Hysteresis: A useful tool in the diagnosis and management of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma", appearing in volume 174 of Military Medicine (2009).
Bezalel Schendowich ('78) authored an article in the November 2009 issue of the Contact Lens Spectrum intended to help practitioners understand some of the interesting and ingenious things their keratoconus patients might say during an exam.
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Congratulations!
Congratulations to: Bradford Shingleton, MD; Alicia Marvin, OD; Anu Laul, OD; Brian Wolfe OD; and Mark O'Donoghue, OD for the acceptance of their manuscript entitled "Pseudoexfoliation: High Risk Factors for Zonule Weakness and Concurrent Vitrectomy during Phacoemulsification" for publication in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. NECO residents and lead author Dr. Shingleton have been involved in publishing several landmark studies in the last ten years. This is the latest in the series.
Catherine Johnson, OD '06 was selected by her peers for the 2010 Dupuis-Pellerin Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award was presented by Dr. Syvio Dupuis, former president of the College.
Dr. Nancy Coletta, OD, PhD, FAAO, was elected as a Fellow of the Optical Society of America
Deborah Nickla was recently named Section Editor of Current Eye Research ________________________________
Tribute Gifts
A donation to NECO is more than just a monetary gift; it is a way to maintain our legacy of superior eye care and education for future students, community members, and patients. Your gift can also be a way to honor a loved one, friend, or colleague. When you make a gift in honor of someone, they will receive a tribute card from the College acknowledging your generous consideration. By supporting the missions of NECO and NEEI, such gifts can help ensure a successful future for the College. When making your gift, please indicate the name of the person you wish to honor, and provide a mailing address as appropriate. We will send a tribute card notifying the individual of your contribution (not including the gift amount). To make a donation, please contact the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs at carletonk@neco.edu or call (617) 587-5647. Please also refer to the "Giving" section of our website at www.neco.edu. ________________________________
Departed Friends
Our sincere condolences are sent to the families and loved ones of the following alumni who have recently passed:
Anthony Iacovelli, OD '44
Wilfred Butterfield, III, OD '73
Larry Friedman, OD '78
**We apologize if any names were omitted from this list.
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