Centennial
President’s Medal Recipients
Many people have been part of the proud history of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) and Salus University. Alumni, faculty, and friends of the College helped establish PCO as a pioneer and leader in the field of optometric education and the profession of optometry. The following people - highlighted on Medal Mondays - were honored on May 20, 1995 at the 75th Anniversary Gala Celebration for their outstanding contributions to the College and the field of optometry and vision care.
During the weekend of the Centennial Gala Celebration, additional alumni, faculty, and friends were honored.
Joseph C. Toland, OD ’54, MD
(Hahnemann Medical College, ’63)
Dr. Toland has been one of the most influential ophthalmologists in the country, promoting the use of pharmaceutical agents by optometrists. Dr. Toland, a United States Air Force Captain and United States Navy Lieutenant, graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) in 1954 and Hahnemann Medical College in 1963, joining the PCO faculty in 1970 as professor of Ocular Pathology.Throughout his career, Dr. Toland ran his own ophthalmology practice in the Olney section of Philadelphia, and served as director of Ophthalmological Services at The Eye Institute (TEI) and clinical instructor of Ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He was a member of Holy Redeemer Hospital staff for 35 years and also served on the Pennsylvania Drug, Device and Cosmetic Board.
Dr. Toland’s accolades are many. He was named PCO Alumnus of the Year in 1974 and a 75th Anniversary Medal recipient in 1995. In 1982, TEI’s Module 3 was dedicated and named in his honor. In the more recent past, a group of PCO alumni organized a donor campaign and surprised Dr. Toland with their intent to dedicate the Toland Classroom at TEI, which was unveiled in October 2014. In 2015, Dr. Toland celebrated his 45th year of service to Salus University.
He passed away on December 4, 2016.
