FY-EYE on UMSL Optometry

The First Annual UMSL Neuroscience Research Showcase was held in the new Patient Care Center on Friday October 14 th .  Professor Erik Herzog from Washington University gave the keynote address “What Wakes US? Networked Circadian Clocks in the Brain”.  There were 28 Neuroscience related posters from faculty, professional students, graduate students, and undergraduate students across many departments including Optometry, Psychology, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Philosophy.  The conference was sponsored by AssayPro

Blue-Blocker Study Gives Student Hands On Learning in Research Pictured (right to left) are Taylor Dahms, Ben DeVilbiss, Bailey Peterson and Shannon Renner. Fellow student Blair Gerratt (not pictured) was also very instrumental in the success of the study. (Photo by August Jennewein). This past summer second year student, Blair Gerratt (’19) and Dr. Carl Bassi, Associate Professor and Director of Research, conducted a research study for JINS, a Japanese eyewear company for a new “blue blocker” eyewear.  The study focused on the effects of “blue-blocker” lenses on eye comfort after working at a computer. Dr. Bassi, who oversees the research at the College of Optometry, took on this study because of prior experience with this type of research, "UMSL turned out to be an ideal site because my lab already had experience in assessing vision in patients with varying levels of macular pigment (a natural blue-blocker, we had ready access to the type of subjects they ...

Optometry Staffers Receive Recognition as Employee of the Month Katie Jessie is awarded June Employee of the Month  In June of this year, Katie Jessie was recognized as the UMSL Employee of the Month for being a “superb communicator.”  Katie has been a Patient Service Representative at the University Eye Center for five years and has recently been promoted to Optometric Technician.  She is a very important part of the UMSL team and a great role model to other employees in the College of Optometry.  Janice White is awarded August Employee of the Month  Once again, the College of Optometry can lay claim to another Employee of the Month.  In August, Janice White was recognized as the UMSL Employee of the Month f or "excellent teamwork ."  The nomination form indicated that Janice deserves the award for one of many reasons; “Having been here over 25 years Janice still is just as committed to ensuring the u...