ASCO News
Marty Wall (r) receiving his honorary degree, presented to him by Dr. Bart Campbell, SCO’s Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs
ROCKVILLE, MD, May 12, 2015 – The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry’s (ASCO) Executive Director, Marty Wall, was an honorary degree recipient of the Doctor of Humane Letters at Southern College of Optometry’s (SCO) graduation ceremony on May 8.
Marty was given this prestigious degree to commemorate his distinguished career in academic optometry, specifically as ASCO’s Executive Director for almost 25 years.
“Marty has distinguished himself as a leader in the Association world and has been our leader for decades,” says Lewis Reich, OD, PhD Interim President, Southern College of Optometry. “Everyone at SCO welcomed the opportunity to show our gratitude and respect to Marty in this way.”
“As I complete nearly 25 years as ASCO’s Executive Director it is an incredible and unexpected honor to be awarded an honorary Doctoral degree from SCO,” says Marty. “It has been a pleasure and privilege to have served and represented the schools and colleges of optometry for so long and to have participated in the development of ASCO as the leadership organization representing the optometric academic enterprise. Interim President Reich, previous Presidents Cochran and Phillips, and the SCO staff and faculty have been most gracious and kind to me from the time I began at ASCO. This special honor is a highlight of my association career and I thank everyone involved and all those in optometric education and the profession who have extended their well wishes as I begin this next life phase.”
Marty Wall begins his retirement on July 18.
###
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is a non-profit association representing the interests of optometric education. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Rockville, MD, ASCO is committed to achieving excellence in optometric education and to helping its member institutions prepare well-qualified graduates for entrance into the profession of optometry. Its membership encompasses the schools and colleges of optometry in the 50 states and Puerto Rico. A number of optometry schools outside the United States are affiliate members.
A letter written by ASCO President, Jenny Coyle, to the Mexican Congress has positively affected the state of optometry in Mexico.
On March 17, 2015 the President of Mexico signed into law a modification that adds optometry to the list of health professions that require a university degree in order to practice.
In the letter written by President Coyle she states, “We support the view of the World Council of Optometry that the inclusion of optometry in the Health Bill [will benefit] … the population in terms of provision of higher quality eye and vision care. Universities in Mexico have been educating optometrists for more than 60 years; therefore requiring optometrists to attain a university level degree in order to practice in an excellent first step in establishing the highest standards of eye and vision care that the population deserves.”
ROCKVILLE, MD, March 10, 2015 – The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry’s (ASCO) President-elect and President of the Southern College of Optometry, Dr. Richard W. Phillips was named Optometrist of the South by SECO International, a not-for-profit membership association comprised of optometrists from 12 southern states.
Dr. Phillips was honored in part for his leadership that led to the construction of a new academic complex to encouraging optometry students to become more involved in their profession at the regional and national levels.
“Congratulations to Dick on this great honor, the highest honor, given by SECO,” says Dr. Jennifer Coyle, ASCO President and Dean of the Pacific University, College of Optometry. “On behalf of the entire ASCO Board of Directors, we are grateful for his dedication and expertise.”
“I am humbled by this recognition from my peers and honored to be named OD of the South,” says Dr. Phillips. “As I continue to lead the Southern College of Optometry and soon become ASCO President, I remain committed to the students and graduates of all of our optometry schools and colleges and academic optometry.”
Dr. Phillips will begin his year as ASCO President on July 1.
###
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is a non-profit association representing the interests of optometric education. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Rockville, MD., ASCO is committed to achieving excellence in optometric education and to helping its member institutions prepare well-qualified graduates for entrance into the profession of optometry. Its membership encompasses the schools and colleges of optometry in the 50 states and Puerto Rico. A number of optometry schools outside the United States are affiliate members.
ROCKVILLE, MD, January 27, 2015 – It is bittersweet to announce the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry’s (ASCO) long term Executive Director, Marty Wall, MPA, CAE, is retiring.
Marty will be leaving ASCO in mid July 2015.
“For nearly 25 years, Marty has seen ASCO and optometric education go through tremendous growth and change,” says Dr. Jennifer Coyle, ASCO President and Dean of the College of Optometry at Pacific University. “He has been a wonderful supporter and administrator and I know the best years are ahead of him as he enters retirement. On behalf of all the faculty and board members, past and present, we thank you for all you’ve done for us, our students and the profession.”
As the Executive Director, Marty served as the chief staff executive of ASCO and, under the general direction and supervision of the Board of Directors, was responsible for all elements of its operation. He administered and carried out programs and policies as well as assured attainment of the Association’s strategic objectives and services to members. Through his effective management and leadership, he helped position the Association as the profession’s academic leadership organization while achieving financial growth and advancing optometric education through the staff and volunteer structure.
”It’s been a privilege to have worked with an entire generation of very special volunteer leaders and professional staff and to be a part of such a wonderful organization and profession,” says Wall. “The opportunity to grow as an association executive and to contribute to the development of ASCO as a highly respected leadership organization within optometry and in the broader health professions community has been the most rewarding experience.”
Everyone at ASCO wishes Marty the best of luck in his retirement goals of becoming an executive coach, continuing to travel the world and rooting on his beloved baseball team, the Washington Nationals, for years to come!
###
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is a non-profit association representing the interests of optometric education. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Rockville, MD, ASCO is committed to achieving excellence in optometric education and to helping its member institutions prepare well-qualified graduates for entrance into the profession of optometry. Its membership encompasses the schools and colleges of optometry in the 50 states and Puerto Rico. A number of optometry schools outside the United States are affiliate members.
ROCKVILLE, MD, January 27, 2015 – The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is delighted to announce the awarding of the first Partnership Endowment Grants. In its inaugural year, the Partnership Endowment will award $148,000 to 17 schools and colleges of optometry. Grants will be used to support any of the following programs or projects: faculty development; creating a diverse, highly-qualified applicant pool; developing new optometric pedagogies; developing new technologies for delivering optometric didactic education, clinical training, and continuing education; or any other purpose that advances optometric education.
The Partnership Endowment was established in 1996 as the Partnership Foundation for Optometric Education. The American Optometric Association and ASCO created the Foundation as a means to provide financial support for the advancement of optometric education. Since its establishment, every national optometric organization has participated in supporting the Partnership Foundation.
In 2013, the Partnership Foundation was re-developed and transferred to ASCO to establish the new Partnership Endowment.
The Partnership Endowment has two goals. First, a percentage of the investment income will be available through grants to advance optometric education. Second, the Endowment will continue to grow to ensure funding for future generations.
“I am extremely excited about the opportunities the Partnership Endowment is providing to the schools and colleges of optometry,” ASCO President and Dean of the College of Optometry at Pacific University, Dr. Jennifer Coyle says. “We received an impressive list of planned projects and programs. These programs would not be possible if not for the generous and continued support of the Contributing Partners to the Partnership Foundation for Optometric Education over the past 20 years. The endowment has become a genuine ‘partnership’ for the optometric community to invest in the future of our profession. ASCO looks forward to growing the new Partnership Endowment for many years to come.”
###
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is a non-profit association representing the interests of optometric education. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Rockville, MD, ASCO is committed to achieving excellence in optometric education and to helping its member institutions prepare well-qualified graduates for entrance into the profession of optometry. Its membership encompasses the schools and colleges of optometry in the 50 states and Puerto Rico. A number of optometry schools outside the United States are affiliate members.
Dr. Barbara Fink
ROCKVILLE, MD, July 24, 2014 – The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2014 Special Recognition Awards.
Dr. Yi Pang, Assistant Dean for Research and Associate Professor, Illinois College of Optometry (ICO), won the inaugural Rising Star Award; Dr. Barbara Fink, Associate Professor of Optometry and Vision Science and Chair of the Diversity Enhancement Committee, The Ohio State University College of Optometry, is the recipient of the Dr. Jack Bennett Innovation in Optometric Education Award; and Dr. Ryan Anderson, Midwestern University – Arizona College of Optometry, won the Student Award in Clinical Ethics.
Sponsored by Oculus, the ASCO Rising Star Award is given to an outstanding faculty member or administrator with less than 10 years of service. Dr. Pang was recognized for her outstanding contributions to ASCO, most notably in the area of international optometric education and for her achievements at ICO.
“It is my greatest honor to receive the first ASCO’s Rising Star Award. I have been enjoying my teaching, research, and administration work at ICO since I graduated from the New England College of Optometry in 2005 and hope to continue my contribution to the profession of optometry,” says Dr. Pang.
Dr. Yi Pang
Named after Dr. Jack Bennett, a creative leader in optometric education who served as dean at three optometric institutions, ASCO’s Dr. Jack Bennett Innovation in Optometric Education Award recognizes an ASCO volunteer for an outstanding innovation in optometric education through ASCO. Dr. Fink received the Bennett award in recognition of her outstanding work to facilitate the implementation of the ASCO Cultural Competency Curriculum Guidelines at the schools and colleges of optometry.
“I have a high regard for Dr. Jack Bennett, and I feel privileged to receive this award that was named in his honor,” Dr. Fink says. “The list of previous award winners is humbling. I am pleased that my efforts for ASCO have been deemed valuable.”
Optometry student Dr. Ryan Anderson won the Student Award in Clinical Ethics, sponsored by International Vision Expo, for his essay entitled “Tough Talks and Patient Privacy.”
“I’d like to thank ASCO for selecting my essay for the Student Award in Clinical Ethics. It’s an honor to share my experience and I hope it helps other future optometrists in making the right ethical decisions,” according to Dr. Anderson.
A fourth-year student, Anderson plans to complete a post-doctoral residency in Primary Eye Care with the Veterans Affairs San Diego Health Care System in California.
###
Dr. Ryan Anderson
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is a non-profit association representing the interests of optometric education. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Rockville, MD, ASCO is committed to achieving excellence in optometric education and to helping its member institutions prepare well-qualified graduates for entrance into the profession of optometry. Its membership encompasses the schools and colleges of optometry in the 50 states and Puerto Rico. A number of optometry schools outside the United States are affiliate members.
ASCO Welcomes Several New Members to Board of Directors
ROCKVILLE, MD, July 8, 2014 – Pacific University College of Optometry dean Jennifer Coyle, OD, MS has been elected for a second term as president of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO).
Dr. Coyle continues to lead the association comprising of 21 schools and colleges of optometry in the 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Dr. Coyle’s time as president will conclude June 30, 2015.
Additional elected officers to the Board of Directors are: President-Elect Dr. Richard Phillips, President, Southern College of Optometry; Immediate Past-President Dr. David Heath, President, State University of New York, State College of Optometry; Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Joseph A. Bonanno, Dean, Indiana University, School of Optometry; and At-Large Member Dr. Elizabeth Hoppe, Founding Dean, Western University of Health Sciences.
ASCO also welcomed a record number of new Directors to the Board. They are; Dr. John Flanagan, Dean, University of California at Berkeley, School of Optometry; Dr. Lori Grover, Dean, Salus University – Pennsylvania College of Optometry; Dr. Kelly Nichols, Dean, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Dr. Timothy Wingert, Dean, University of The Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry; and Dr. Joseph Zinkovich, Acting Associate Dean, MCPHS University, School of Optometry.
