ASCO News
Contact:
Kimberly O’Sullivan
Director of Communications
301.231.5944 ext.3019
kosullivan@opted.org
www.opted.org
New Partnership Endowment Results from Dissolution of the Partnership Foundation for Optometric Education
Endowment Will Fund Grants to Schools and Colleges of Optometry
ROCKVILLE, MD, August 2, 2013 – An agreement was signed establishing a new Partnership Endowment at the June Board of Directors’ Meeting of the Partnership Foundation for Optometric Education, and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO).
The Partnership Foundation’s fund balance has been transferred to the new Endowment to aid the schools and colleges of optometry through grants for programs and projects to advance optometric education. The Partnership Endowment will continue to grow, ensuring that funding is available for future generations. The new Partnership Endowment maintains the spirit of the original Foundation, except that ASCO will now both govern and manage the fund.
Since its establishment in 1996, the Partnership Foundation had become a true “partnership” for the optometric community to invest in the future of the profession. However, the Foundation deliberated about the direction of the organization given the combined challenges of the economic climate and the changing needs of the profession over the years. Additionally, the original goals of the Foundation, which focused on using funds for capital improvements and modernization, are no longer a priority for optometry’s educational institutions.
The Foundation’s President, Dr. Pete Kehoe, noted the positive impact of establishing the new Endowment, “The original creators of the Partnership can be proud that their vision to support optometric education will live on for generations to come. The collaboration and spirit of cooperation between ASCO, the American Academy of Optometry and the American Optometric Association to transition to the Endowment is a testament to the passion that the organizations have for the future of our profession.”
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About the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
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 United States and Puerto Rico. A number of optometry schools outside the United States and allied organizations are affiliate members.
John Nishimoto
Congratulations to John Nishimoto, O.D., M.B.A. on his recent appointment by ASCO’s Executive Committee to The Interprofessional Professionalism Collaborative (IPC).
Dr. Nishimoto, vice president and dean of interprofessional health studies professor at Marshall B. Ketchum University, will serve as ASCO’s representative to the Collaborative. Dr. Nishimoto succeeds Dr. Shilpa Register, dean, MCPHS, School of Optometry, who stepped down after four years on the Collaborative.
The IPC strives to develop resources for a toolkit, including a valid and reliable assessment tool for interprofessional professionalism behaviors; and develop a list of references, and related educational resources for use by educators across all health professions.
Contact:
Kimberly O’Sullivan
Director of Communications
301.231.5944 ext.3019
kosullivan@opted.org
Jennifer Smythe, OD, MS, Elected President of Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
Dr. Smythe is First Woman President of the Association
ROCKVILLE, MD, July 18, 2013 – Pacific University College of Optometry dean Jennifer Smythe, OD, MS, has been elected president of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). She is the first woman elected to the office of the president.
Dr. Smythe will head the association comprising of 21 schools and colleges of optometry across the United States and Puerto Rico.
“A goal of mine this year is to increase awareness of the value of inter-professional education,” president Smythe says. “Optometry is a very diverse field and inter-professional education will only enhance the experience of our students but also the patients they serve.”
“Because of Dr. Smythe’s passion for our profession and concern for the future of optometric education, she will be an excellent leader for ASCO in the upcoming year,” says Dori Carlson, OD, president of the American Optometric Association.
Dr. Smythe’s term as president is from July1, 2013 – June 30, 2014.
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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 United States and Puerto Rico. A number of optometry schools outside the United States are affiliate members.
Rockville, MD, July 18, 2013 – The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) www.opted.org, held its 5th Summer Institute for Faculty Development Program (SIFD) July 14-17, 2013 in St. Louis, Missouri at the Eric P. Newman Education Center.
This year’s program comprised of 47 colleagues from 20 schools and colleges of optometry and two affiliate schools who have been full time faculty members for 16 years or less. The SIFD was kick started by Dr. Charles Haine, EMRlogic Systems, who gave an empowering keynote address entitled “How to Succeed in Academic Optometry Without Really Trying”. The following three days, attendees attended educational workshops in the areas teaching and learning, scholarship, and academic culture. Each attendee developed long-term career plans with specific goals, objectives and action strategies and was mentored in this process by the program faculty. Participants also networked with their peers, as well as with sponsors to learn of their latest products and services available to the industry.
The SIFD builds on ASCO’s major initiative, addressing its strategic priority of “Faculty Promotion and Development” and was formed for the purpose of “providing participants with an opportunity to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance their success in an optometric academic environment as lifelong productive faculty, thus contributing to increased retention of faculty in the schools and colleges of optometry.” The program is held biennially (in odd years). The SIFD is valued by the deans and presidents from the schools and colleges of optometry because it helps attendees become a more valuable resource to their institutions. SIFD attendees return to their institutions excited and rejuvenated to implement real solutions and new ideas to use immediately.
ASCO wishes to thank Alcon, Essilor, Luxottica, Vistakon, the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, and Allergan for their contributions to the program. Without them, the SIFD would not be possible.
For more information regarding ASCO and its programs, please visit www.opted.org or contact ASCO, 301-231-5944.
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ABOUT ASCO
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is the academic leadership organization committed to promoting, advancing and achieving excellence in optometric education. Since 1941, ASCO has achieved this vision by representing the interests of institutions of optometric education, enhancing the efforts of these institutions as they prepare highly qualified graduates for entrance into the profession of optometry and serving the public’s eye and vision needs.
ASCO proudly represents all accredited schools and colleges of optometry in the fifty states and Puerto Rico. Our organization’s affiliate members include the Canadian schools of optometry, other foreign schools, allied organizations, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
ASCO’s activities cover a wide range of programs including applicant development and diversity, faculty and executive development, advocacy, residency promotion, data development, and communications.
ASCO shows its support to optometrists worldwide by writing a letter to the President of the Republic of Brazil asking her to veto Medical Bill No. 268/2002 which, if passed, “will significantly reduce access to immediate and affordable eye healthcare in Brazil”.
ASCO, and its World Council of Optometry colleagues, persuaded the President to veto the item that affected optometry.
A victory for optometrists.
You can read the letter here.
From left to right: Dr. Andrew Buzzelli, Dean of the University of The Incarnate Word, Rosenberg School of Optometry; Dr. Elizabeth Hoppe, Founding Dean of the Western University of Health Sciences, College of Optometry; Dr. Donald Jarnagin, Dean, Midwestern University, Arizona College of Optometry.
Congratulations to the University of the Incarnate Word, Rosenberg School of Optometry; the Western University of Health Sciences, College of Optometry; and Midwestern University, Arizona College of Optometry.
ROCKVILLE, MD, May 23, 2013 – The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) launched its new redesigned website at www.opted.org. The site is geared toward potential optometry school and college applicants, internal audiences, members of the media and the general population.
Visitors can expect more up-to-the-minute news including information on the application process to ASCO’s 21 member schools and colleges of optometry, links to ASCO’s social media feeds and more.
Additional enhancements to the website will continue to be made that will include a podcast series, multimedia elements and a password protected section for members of the Board of Directors and other faculty.
“ASCO’s redesigned website incorporates bold colors and pictures that tell stories of doctors of optometry enhancing people’s lives,” President of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, David A. Heath, O.D., Ed.M. says. “The new navigational tools will improve the experience of those visiting the site.”
Visit ASCO’s new website at www.opted.org.
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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 United States and Puerto Rico. A number of optometry schools outside the United States are affiliate members.
Contact:
Kimberly O’Sullivan
Director of Communications
301.231.5944 ext.3019
kosullivan@opted.org
