FY-EYE on UMSL Optometry

Please Join Us . . . The College of Optometry invites you and a guest to attendthe Alumni Reception as part of  the Class of 2017 Commencement Ceremony  on Friday, May 12, 2017 Noon to 1:15 pm Lee Theater of the Touhill Performing Arts Building. Please RSVP by May 1, 2017 via google form or by email to Nick Palisch  Please join us in celebrating your accomplishments! A recent and very honored tradition is to invite all alumni who graduated 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years ago to a reception to be held immediately before graduation.  This year, as graduation will be held 2PM on Friday, May 12th, the reception will be held from Noon – 1:15PM at the Desmond Lee Theater inside the Touhill Performing Arts Center.  All alumni from the Classes of 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, 1992, 1987 should be receiving an invitation very soon.  The 25th anniversary class - the Class of 1992  - are also invited to proceed in with...

There is so much to be said about bringing diverse abilities and talents into the profession of optometry.  It is typically a win-win proposition for both the student and the profession.  Certainly, it is an area that the Admissions Committee looks at carefully as they always like to envision – not only how a student will succeed academically and be an effective member and leader within both their “family” (i.e., class) and within the College of Optometry – but also how they positively impact others after graduation.  An outstanding representative of this type of individual is a talented student leader in the Class of 2019.  Meet Rachel Simpson. Rachel’s past life was that of an actress.  Not just your normal actress . . .  but a New York actress!  She describes how it all started: “I've always loved plays and musicals. I started doing theater when I was little and I never stopped. I studied theater in undergrad at Indiana University. Du...

Taylor Dahms (’18) was appointed as the American Optometric Student Association National Liaison to the AOA Contact Lens and Cornea Section.. Taylor represents UMSL’s second student to achieve this prestigious position in the past five years as Rob Ensley, OD (’13) was the National Liaison in 2012-13. UMSL AOSA Trustee Kate Hamm (’19) authored an article on the topic of “Parent O.D.” in the Spring 2017 edition of Foresight. This article featured Jacob Pieper (’19) and his family and Ellen Braley (’20) and her son. Peter Jacques (’19) was quoted in the article entitled “What Does Your Attire Say to Patients” in the March issue of AOA Focus.

Clinical Assistant Professor, Dr. Erin Brooks (‘11) was featured in the April issue of AOA Focus.  The article pertained specifically to her work associated with the Family Care Health Center (i.e., “Carondelet”).  It highlights the important vision services provided to communicate health centers by our students and faculty with the focus pertaining to Dr. Brooks’ important role with the Carondelet center and her passion about caring for those in underserved communities.  Dr. Brooks was also quoted in a news article on the AOA website. Assistant Dean for Student Services and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Ed Bennett, was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow into the Optometry Section of the National Academies of Practice on March 18th.

Drs. Mark Wahlmeier (‘00) and Seth Thibault (‘04) were recognized for great mentorship by Dr. Kristin O’Brien in the March, 2017 issue of Women in Optometry. Dr. Rebecca Wartman (’87) was featured in the March issue of AOA Focus due to her expertise in optometric coding. Craig Steinberg, OD, JD (’84) was featured in the March issue of AOA Focus as it pertained to the article entitled: “Ensure Protection Against Harassment Allegations”.  

Alumni Newborns Sara Pyatt, OD (‘08) and her husband Dan are the proud parents of Zachariah Ray, born February 15th. Katie Farris Painter, OD (‘07) and her husband Seth welcomed Nora into the world on February 21st. Jenny Furstenau, OD (‘06) and her husband Cory are the proud parents of Luke Easton, born March 23rd. Erin Dobleo, OD (‘04)  and her husband Francis welcomed Xavier Agustin into the world on March 24th. Christine Mitts, OD (‘11) and her husband Alex are the proud parents of Everett Alexander, born March 24th. Pam  Wendlandt, OD (’13) and her husband Andrew introduced Zoey Grace into the world on April 2nd. Dalton Brothers, (’19) and his wife Arielle are the proud parents of Novie Rosie, born April 2nd Mark Abrahams, OD (’14) and his wife Amanda welcomed Nora Jane into the world on April 7th. Drs. Melissa Schmidt Enevoldsen (’12) and Jeffrey Enevoldsen (’12) are the proud parents of Rory Carter, born April 10th. Dr. ...

The College of Optometry has numerous centers for excellence, areas in which they excel and help educate the profession.  One of these centers for excellence is most certainly the annual “Nutrition and the Eye Symposium” which has become a very popular and well-regarded program by those in the profession.  In fact, it has literally become the “must attend” program for those optometrists and vision researchers who have an interest in this important and growing area in the vision care field.  This program is the brainchild of a renowned expert in the field Stuart Richer OD, Ph.D., FAAO – Director, Ocular Preventative Medicine at Lovell Federal Health Care Center - in collaboration with Director of Research, Carl Bassi Ph.D.  They celebrated their 10th year and this year’s program, held April 1 and 2 on the UMSL campus, was attended by no less than 115 eye care practitioners.  The faculty always includes the foremost national and international leaders in ...